Thursday, September, 19, 2019 Edition

Thursday, September 19, 2019/ Muharram 19, 1441 AH

1987 Days after

Vol. 39 No. 046 N150

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

FG: Host communities Another 314 Nigerians return from South Africa frustrating road projects Xenophobic attacks:

>>>page 5

Electricity: Estimated billing enrages Speaker, Gbajabiamila >>>page 3

>>>page 5

Says DISCOs unduly exploiting Nigerians Plans bill to stop the practice

Some wheel barrow pushers wadding through flood after a downpour, at Ketu along Ikorodu yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Insecurity, drug abuse: Northern govs wives meet on solution pAGE 3

Prisons official, 5 others in EFCC net over ATM Fraud pAGE 7

Kogi PDP primaries: Exgov. Idris’ son challenges Wada’s emergence pAGE 16

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

News CONTENTS News

2-10, 14

Editorial

11

Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Health

18

Business

19-20

Feature

21

World News

22

Africa News

23

World News

24

Residents task FCT minister on transformation of satellite towns

By Usman Shuaibu

F

ollowing the re-appointment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello by President Muhammadu Buhari, some residents of the FCT, have charged the minister to focus on the transformation of satellite towns.

They said the re-appointment of the FCT Minister by the President was destined by Almighty God, while urging the minister to continue steering the FCT Administration for good this time around.

The inhabitants, who gave the charge in separate interviews with our correspondent at their respective area councils, also asked the minister to provide the gains of democracy for the residents in the territory.

An aggrieved APC member who spoke on condition of anonymity in Gwagwalada, alleged that the first tenure of the minister had not carried out enough projects in the FCT. The worried APC member said with the return of the FCT minister, he should provide the

needed facilities for the people across the six area councils in the interest of the residents.

Another APC member in Kwali, Mr Audu Danladi called on the minister to put in place a government of integrity and a government that cares for the masses, while noting that during the first tenure of the minister, he had failed to focus on human development.

Danladi charged the minister to swing into action to carry out meaningful projects at the grassroots level, and urged the minister to take the Abuja indigenes along in the scheme of things.

According to him, going by bitter experiences by the residents during the first tenure of the minister, he urged the minister to give the nation’s capital the required attention to enable the Abuja indigenes/ residents to feel the impact of his administration this time around.

Expressing contrary view on the FCT Minister’s reappointment, Friday Oke appealed to the minister to repair the dilapidated roads within the satellite towns of the FCT, and pleaded with him to

complete the abandoned projects in the territory for the sake of development.

An inhabitant from Kuje, Mr Wakili Danyibe tasked the minister on the completion of Kuje-Gwagwalada road which is under construction since the first term of his administration, expressing the dismay over the slow pace of the work.

Danyibe called on the minister to always use the FCT budget judiciously in order to provide basic necessities of life for the residents, lamenting the state of the infrastructural decay in the territory.

Mr Ismail Yusuf, a resident in Kuje also, complained that the FCT minister during his first tenure left the area councils chairmen unchecked in terms of their performances.

He said that during the first tenure of the minister, he had failed to initiate the town hall meetings to enable the residents or Abuja indigenes to discuss on issues affecting them.

On his part, a resident from Abaji, Mr Rulwan Suleiman, charged the minister to initiate people’s oriented projects that

would impact positively on the lives of Abuja people.

Similarly, one Mrs Salamatu Salisu who residents in Garki, Abuja , said the minister should put the necessary measures in place to arrest some pending problems facing the traders in the territory, and urged the minister to provide an enabling environment for business men and women.

She begged the minister to checkmate the activities of the officials of Abuja Environmental and Protection Board (AEPB) on the illegal extortion of money from the traders.

Not left out, a public analyst based in Gwagwalada, Mr Emmanuel Ogbonna, challenged the minister for the abandonment of cottage hospital in Kutunku, noting that the project was initiated by the former minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed Meanwhile, the general feelings of Abuja indigenes is that the FCT minister who is reappointed to consolidate the FCT Administration would only be remembered if he changes his administrative style, as well fast tract development in the satellite towns.

Dangote trucks, others not banned from night journey -FRSC Page6

Environment 25 Feature

26

Sports 30-31 Back Page

32

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L-R: Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila in hand shake with the Managing Director/CEO Air Peace Airline, Mr. Allen Onyema at plenary, during commendation session for airlifting stranded Nigerians at the recent xenophobic attack in South Africa, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Masari: Katsina govt constructs, rehabilitates 3,342 schools

T

he Katsina State Government says it constructed, rehabilitated and upgraded 3,342 public schools across the state in four years.

Governor Aminu Masari stated this on Wednesday in Katsina in a chat with journalists.

“The state government

accorded the Education Sector high priority as it received the greatest share of the annual budget allocation,’’ he said.

Mr Masari said government had provided classroom furniture for 156,000 students and their teachers.

“The purchase of the furniture is to prevent students from sitting

on the floor during lessons.

“Our government has recruited 4,047 permanent teachers in the state primary schools,” he said.

Mr Masari disclosed that government also recruited 5,000 primary school teachers under the state’s S-Power Teachers’ programme.

He maintained that

government is ever ready to invest in the promotion of the education sector, saying education is the backbone of development.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the S-Power Scheme was introduced to rejuvenate primary school teaching in the state through the recruitment of 5000 teachers.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

News

From Yakubu Minna

News Editor, Ese Awhotu Mustapha

T

he wives of the 19 state governors have gathered in Minna, Niger State capital to proffer solutions on increasing rate of insecurity, drug abuse and other vices in the North, The wives led by its chairperson and the wife of the Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello during a courtesy call to the Niger State

SADR Libration: NMLWS plans picketing Nigerian coys receiving Saharawi goods illegally

Insecurity, drug abuse: Northern govs wives meet on solution Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said that they are in Minna to brainstorm on the best way to assist their husbands with the growing level of insecurity in the region as a concern.

She said that the essence of the the Northern Governors Wives Forum is to support the good works being done by their husbands in their various states.

“By supporting our husbands, they will be able to achieve their economic goals in their states for the overall benefits of the people,” She said.

Bello said that the wives of the Northern State Governors are concerned about the level of insecurity in the region which has led to the loss of lives of many innocent Nigerians especially women and children.

The chairperson pointed out the northern governor’s wives have taken upon themselves to embark on construction or rehabilitation of a social rehabilitation center across the entire northern states, with a special focus on drug rehabilitation centers to cater to

youths that are into drug abuse.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who received the Governors’ wives appreciated their support adding that their initiative in addressing social vices will go a long way towards addressing the problems being faced in the region.

Meanwhile, the Governor has commissioned the Niger State Rehabilitation Center built 25 years ago during General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime which was remodeled and fully renovated for more

befitting outlook then charged for maintenance culture.

It was revealed that the Centre has treated 4,232 patients since inception while 65% were fully integrated into the society 35% were returned for treatment as they went back to drugs again.

Wife of Niger State Governor, Dr Amina Sani Belli appreciated the efforts of the state government in actualizing the project and vowed to continue to fight the menace of drug abuse in the society.

By Ochiaka Ugwu

T

he Nigerian Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS), an umbrella body of peoples committed to the decolonization of Western Sahara may have concluded plans to picket Nigerian companies receiving Saharawi minerals from Morocco which they termed illegal.

The group in a press conference addressed yesterday in Abuja, the leader of the group, Oladipo Fashina said that after giving notice to Nigerian companies dealing in Western Sahara’s resource, they will picket them across the country and bring them to court.

His words, “Ladies and Gentlemen, our history as a people, sense of morality and fairness does not permit us to be silent in the face of tyranny, subjugation and exploitation of a people. Our three main religions; the African Traditional Religion, Islam and Christianity do not permit that the head of the weak be crushed, or, stealing be accepted under any guise.

“So, we put all those dealing in stolen Western Sahara natural resources including their fishes on notice that they cannot continue to do business as usual.

“After giving this notice to the Nigerian companies dealing in stolen Western Sahara resources, we will picket them across the country and bring them before our courts. This also includes super markets selling sardines and fishes from Morocco, because 92 percent of these fishes are stolen from the Western Sahara coast.

“It is in furtherance of this, we have invited these lawyers to meet, exchange ideas and plot our legal strategies and commence legal actions” he said.

Also speaking, a Human Right Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) informed they have decided to take the legal battle to the doorsteps of the exploiters saying that the importance was to warn such parties currently receiving phosphate to cancel such agreements.

Falana said that Article 20 and 21 of African Charter of Human Right gave every territory the right to control its natural resources.

The European Lawyer for the Liberation of Western Sahara, Mr. Maitre Gilles Devers noted that Morocco has no right of sovereignty over Western Sahara but occupying it illegally.

L-R: Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of Federation; Mr Boss Mustapha; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari during the Federal Executive Council , yesterday in Abuja. Photo; State House

Gov. Badaru appoints new MD for JARDA From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

T

he Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru has approved the appointment of Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad Adamu as the new Managing Director, Jigawa State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority ( JARDA).

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Fanini and issued to news men yesterday in Dutse.

The statement that said the new appointments is with immediate effect added that the new Managing Director appointed to serve the State

Government in this capacity is purely on merit, competency and personal integrity. “it is hoped that the new Managing Director would discharge his duties diligently with dedication and probity” the statement said.

Until his appointment Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad Adamu was the Director Agric

Services, Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

A specialist in agricultural extension, and expert in agricultural education, crops production and agribusiness, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad Adamu attended several local and international seminars and workshops.

Xenophobic attack: Another 314 Nigerians return from South Africa

By Ese Awhotu

A

nother batch of Nigerians who have volunteered to return to Nigeria following Xenophobic attacks, have arrived Lagos from South Africa on board an Air Peace plane from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.

314 out of the 319 returnees who were expected to arrive on Tuesday and the Head of

Immigration and Consular Matters at Nigeria’s Consulate General in Johannesburg, Mr. Anthony Ogbe, had boarded the Air Peace flight and left South Africa around 3:00 pm on Wednesday.

They arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 7:20 pm yesterday.

“We wish to inform that the 2nd Batch of about 319 willing Nigerian returnees from

South Africa has departed O. R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg, South Africa today 18th September, 2019 at 14h58 local time.

“The returnees whom were airlifted by Air Peace Airline are expected to arrive Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos today 18th September, 2019 at about 18h58 local time,” spokesman to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa had stated

yesterday.

Recall that the 319 returnees expected on Tuesday could not takeoff because of flight delay arising from the airline not obtaining a landing permit on time.

Of the 319, four passengers were later dropped over documentation issues.

A first batch of 187 Nigerians had been voluntarily evacuated and profiled according to their states.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

News

Flood submerges Kogi high court From Ahmad Ibrahim Lokoja

A

High Court in Koton- Karfe, Kogi State has had its fair share of the floods ravaging some parts of the state, thereby momentarily halting proceedings in the court.

Flood has submerged the entire building housing the High Court and the magistrate

Court, along Okpareke road in the ancient town , displacing the judicial officers and other staff of the judiciary working there.

The ugly development has compelled the staff to abandon their duty post, watching with disbelief from a nearby distance, even as they await further directive on the next line of action.

Speaking during an inspection

visit to the area, the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah disclosed that the High Court would be relocated momentarily from the area to the upper area court, pending when permanent solution would be found on the matter.

He said flooding in the area have become a recurrent issue, adding that he would meet with

the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, with a view to relocating the High Court, and find a lasting solution to the problem.

The chief judge who disclosed that the natural disaster has equally affected some courts in Ibaji local government area of the state, further averred that he cannot estimate what the judiciary in the state had lost to the current

flooding ravaging the state.

While stressing that the director of estate management was already collating what they had lost so far, he equally revealed that the paramount ruler in the area, the Ohimege, Igu was looking at the possibility of allocating a suitable land for the judiciary, so as to solve the problem once and for all.

MDAs: All my approvals got Buhari’s nod-Osinbajo

By Lawrence Olaoye

V

ice President Muhammed Buhari has said that he had never taken any action in all the agencies under his supervision without President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.

Reacting to a report interpreting the President’s directive that he must henceforth seek and get his approvals before taking actions on agencies statutorily placed under him, Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, yesterday stated in “Our attention has been drawn to a

sensational report... published on September 17, 2019, which claims that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to seek approvals for agencies under him.

The report suggests, falsely,

that agencies under the supervision of the Vice President do not normally comply with established rules where presidential approvals are required.

This is obviously misleading and aims only to plant seeds of discord in the Presidency, while

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state (2ndleft) with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (2ndright), Chief of Staff to Governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Abubakar Kari (right) and Dr. Bala Bello Tinka, during the Governor’s visit to Chief of Defence staff, at Defence Headquarters, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Assembly approves N5bn loan for Nasarawa Govt.

From Gambo Ahmed, Nasarawa

N

asarawa State House of Assembly has approved the request of the state government to secure N5 billion bond from the capital market to undertake vital projects across the state.

The approval was given at plenary on Wednesday in Lafia, presided by the Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi.

The request for the bond acquisition was forwarded by

Governor Abdullahi Sule in a letter read on the floor of the Assembly by the Deputy House Leader, Daniel Ogazi.

Mr Ogazi, while reading the governor’s letter, urged the members to support the request in the interest of development.

“I am seeking for your support and approval of N5 billion only which will be through private bond issuance to enable the state government undertake some vital projects for our development agenda in the state,” he said.

Leading the debate, the Minority Leader of the House, Danladi Jatau (PDP-Kokona West), urged his colleagues to support and approve the governor’s request in the interest of development.

“This House should give the governor’s request accelerated passage so as to move the state to the next level of development.

“I urge you my colleagues to support the governor’s request to initiate projects that will have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state,” he said.

After deliberations and approval of the request, the speaker lauded his colleagues for their maturity and understanding.

“The request of his Excellency is hereby granted, “he said.

The speaker said the loan would help the state government to achieve its developmental agenda which will impact positively on the lives of the citizenry.

The speaker directed the clerk of the House to communicate the House resolution to the governor for necessary action.

FG commissions 90kw solar mini hybrid project in kebbi From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

T

he Federal Government has commissioned a 90 kilo watt of solar mini hybrid project in Kare, dadin kowa community in Arewa local government area of kebbi State.

The project Which was commissioned yesterday was executed and funded under the supervision of Rural Electrification Fund of Federal Ministry of Power, aimed at

reducing over dependence on electrical energy and create jobs opportunity to rural Communities and improve their living standard. .

Delivery his address, the Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency Miss, Damilola Ogundeyi explained that the solar panel project would boost the socio economic development of rural communities..

She assured that, the solar panel energy is more reliable

and affordable Damilola Ogundeyi who was represented by Dr, Sunusi Uhiyare pointed out that about three thousand residences would benefit from the project.

Miss Ogundeyi noted that four hundred and twenty eight houses have been connected to the solar projects with eighty two commercial out reach.

Also in his remarked, the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said that the state is committed to the improvement

of welfare of people across the state.

The governor who was represented by the permanent secretary ministry of water resources Engineer Aminu Umar, commended president Muhammadu Buhari for executing developmental project that touched the lives of citizens.

Alhaji atiku Bagudu stressed the need for communities to imbibe the culture of safeguarding government property in their domain.

attempting to create unnecessary national hysteria.

The agencies in question are established by law and the Vice President has always insisted on due compliance with the enabling statutes and other established regulations.

Depending on the particular scope of activity in question, agencies may require management approval only, at the level of the Director-General or Chief Executive Officer. In this category falls the great majority of their day-to-day activities.

However, other activities, or procurements, with value exceeding a certain threshold, require Board approval. These may get to the agency Board chaired by the Vice President. In a few cases where Presidential approval is required, the Director-General must seek such approval from the President, through the Vice President. These rules have always guided the activities of statutory agencies and the ones under the Vice President’s supervision have always been so guided.

To claim that in the first term of the Buhari administration, agencies of government have not been complying with the provisions (of getting final approvals from the President) is false, and the attempt to suggest the Vice President’s complicity in such irregularities is simply mischievous and reprehensible.

The effective and mutually respecting relationship between the President and the Vice President is well known to Nigerians and it is futile to insinuate otherwise.

Even though the Vice President has a statutory role as Board Chairman of some government agencies under his office, with appropriate approval limits, which often do not include contract approvals; it is ludicrous to even insinuate that a Board Chairman approves contracts.

Evidently, the Federal Executive Council, which oversees Federal Ministries and agencies of government, is chaired by the President, and it is in its purview to approve or ratify award of contracts within the prescribed threshold.

The Vice President remains committed to the service of his fatherland and will continue to do so despite the purveyors of fake news. We urge media organizations, as gatekeepers, to uphold truth, balance, fairness and objectivity in their reports.”

Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the House would ensure that Nigerians get adequate supply for the electricity they pay for.

The Speaker said the House would give adequate attention to the practice of estimated billing by electricity distribution companies (Discos) to address the challenges Nigerians face.

He said the House would not tolerate a situation where discos take advantage to present outrageous bills to Nigerians, hence the resolve of the Green Chamber to revisit it and come up with a law that would put a stop to the practice of estimated billing.

Speaking when he received the management team of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) during a courtesy call in his office in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said it was the responsibility of the House to make life easy for the citizens.

It would be recalled that the Speaker had during his term as House Leader in the 8th Assembly, presented a bill to criminalise estimated billing, though it did not get presidential assent. Upon the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, the bill was reintroduced for another consideration.

“The issue of estimated billing has been in the front burner. It has been in this House, and we will revisit it soon. We can’t allow discos to continue to do what they have been doing over the years.

“You said discos need to be recapitalised. I don’t know what you mean by that. These are private companies, do you mean that the government should come in? Maybe you should explain more on that,” the Speaker said.

While commending the current management of the TCN led by its Managing Director, Malam U. G. Mohammed, the Speaker tasked them to work closely with the leadership of the House and the relevant committees to achieve its goals.

News

Electricity: Estimated billing enrages Speaker, Gbajabiamila *Says DISCOs unduly exploiting Nigerians *Plans Bill to stop the practice “We’re going to be engaging you on the correlation between electricity supply and how to improve poverty. You have done well, I must commend you so far.

But what we would like to know is for you to give us a breakdown of your real challenges, your real

problems,” the Speaker said.

He called for a periodic review of the performance of discos, saying the house would do everything within its powers to ensure that TCN delivers on its mandate to Nigerians.

Earlier in a presentation,

the TCN MD said the company has been repositioned since the current management under him took over.

He said some of the challenges have to do with discos, noting that there has been no investment in them, saying they need 4.3 billion

dollars investment at the moment.

The MD also noted that the past management of TCN under Manitoba did not perform well in the four years that it managed the company, with several challenges, including non-audited accounts for the period.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, 6th right in Janaza prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Katsina Central Mosque, Imam Gambo, for the remains of Magajin Modoji Alhaji Ado Shinkafi.

•

FG: Host communities frustrating road projects

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he federal government has lamented that host communities in the country are frustrating its efforts to deliver infrastructural projects across the country by making incessant demands for compensation.

Briefing newsmen after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday alongside his Information and Culture, Sports and Youth Development counterparts, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola said the demands for compensation by hostile communities have led to several uncompleted projects across the country.

Responding to question on the poor state of Nigerian roads despite a plethora of approvals by the Council, Fashola blamed a funding gap saying most times funds are not made available to

contractors to execute the projects when awarded.

He said that even though roads contracts worth N300 billion were awarded by his ministry last year, releases made to his ministry fell short of the sum.

He added that his office was yet to get funds since his reappointment as minister for second term as paper works were still ongoing.

According to Fashola, some of the ongoing projects in his ministry were being executed by the contractors based on goodwill even as criticism a continued to trail borrowing in their first tenure.

Stressing the need for communities to support government efforts at building road facilities across the country, the minister lamented that compensation demanded by host communities in the construction of the Second Niger Bridge had risen to N10 billion.

“Getting FEC approvals is one

half of the story, but we don’t get all of the cash. Even the local communities are not helping issues.

“As we speak, some people are asking us to pay N10 billion now as compensation for the 2nd Niger bridge.

There is a gap between infrastructure needs and income.

People are also complaining that government is borrowing too much,” he lamented.

“We have heard that funds have been released, but we are yet to get anything. I have not received any money since I came to office, this time around,” the minister added.

Speaking further on abandoned projects, Fashola equally blamed “obsolete rates, under budgeting and underfunding” as major factors.

Responding to the claims that the government abandoned about 20,000 by the National Assembly, Fashola said “I think first of all it is important we all speak the

same language. There is a clear distinction between uncompleted and abandoned projects. First of all my ministry does not have 20,000 projects. The right question should be what are we doing about completing projects?

One of the things we have done is finding out why projects are not completed. In some cases the rates have become obsolete so the price range has changed, cement price has changed, the change rate has changed, inflation has gone into the quantity it was awarded before it came.

So, we are trying to resuscitate some of those projects because we know that the contractors will not go back to work if the pricing is not right.”

The Minister also disclosed that the FEC yesterday approved a total of N8.2 billion for roads projects.

He said two of the approvals were to revise the estimates of cost to enable the contractors continue

work.

He said Council approved N519 million revision of contract sum of Oba Nnewi Okigwe Road to cater for change in cost of materials since the project was awarded in 2009. The contract sum was revised from N3.7 to N4.3 billion.

The council also the revised cost of N2.052 billion for 67 kilometers Alasi-Ugep road in Cross Riverstate. The council approved a revision from N9.16 billion to 11.22 billion.

Fashola added that the Council approved the change of contractor for the Chachangi bridge linking Takum and Wukari in Taraba State and rewarded at the cost of N2.132 billion.

Council also approved Katsina Ala bridge at the cost of N3.576 billion, which include total bridge repairs, changing of expansion joints, changing of bearings and rehabilitation of the 3.2 kilometers access road at Ugbema junction in Benue State.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

PAGE 6

News

Dangote trucks, others not banned from night journey -FRSC

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

T

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that Dangote trucks nor any motorist has not been banned from night journeys.

The Corps’ Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, stated this while clarifying a report attributed to him on the subject matter.

The reports had quoted Mr Kazeem as saying his commission and Dangote Group

had agreed that the company’s trucks would no longer ply roads at night.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Mr Kazeem said the FRSC never said it would stop Dangote vehicles from plying roads in the country from 7 p.m

to 7 a.m.

“FRSC did not say Dangote vehicles shall be impounded after 7.p.m.,” Mr Kazeem said.

“The commission never said so. We were quoted out of context that we will impound their vehicles.

L-R: International Finance Corporation( IFC)’s Vice President for the Middle East and Africa , Mr Sergio Pimenta; Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Mr Hafez Ghanem; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting with World Bank Vice President at the Presidential Villa, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

“We usually have safety meetings with Dangote group and others.

“One of such meetings was held on Tuesday where far reaching decisions were made and nothing was said that we were going to impound their vehicles.”

He explained that the FRSC did not have powers to impound vehicles at night saying that there is no law empowering the commission could restrict such vehicles.

He further said that what the commission could do was to only highlight dangers of night journey.

Reports had it that the Corps had tasked the Dangote group on prompt removal of broken down vehicles and the need to intensify efforts towards achieving professionalism in the recruitment, training and certification of its drivers.

Mr Kazeem quoted the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, to have directed that all Dangote trucks to be fully installed with Speed Limiting Device before Dec. 31.

“Dangote to provide details of any driver who commits traffic infraction to FRSC for subjection to Emotional Stability Test.

“The Company to provide details of any driver who runs away after a crash to FRSC for flagging on the database so as to track such drivers.

“Foreign number plates on the company’s trucks to be replaced with Nigeria Number Plates before Dec. 31.”

Delta to spend N1bn on federal roads rehabilitation CJN Tanko swears in 38 T new SANs Monday From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

he Government of Delta says it will spend more than N1 billion to rehabilitate degraded federal roads in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Asaba.

Aniagwu, who was in company with his Economic Planning counterpart, stated that the meeting which was presided by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, also approved the construction of some roads in the state.

He listed the federal roads whose failed portions would be rehabilitated by the state

government as Benin-Sapele, Benin-Onitsha and AgborAbraka-Eku. He disclosed that Federal Government’s permission to Delta Government to rehabilitate the roads was received on Thursday, adding that contractors had been mobilised to the spots.

“You are aware that commuters are facing a lot of hardship on the roads; it has become so difficult to enter Onitsha, because the road at the Asaba end of the bridge is very bad.

“The good news is that Federal Government has reached out to us to repair these roads and we are very optimistic that by the time we are done, the government will attend to us for the purpose of refunds.

“We are more concerned with the safety of our people and that

is why we are committed to fixing these roads which will take more than N1 billion,” Aniagwu said.

He said that the council approved the construction of 2.3 km Benekrukru road in Warri South West and that it also approved Obi Frederick Egbankonye as the traditional ruler of Aballa Kingdom in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

At the briefing which was also attended by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, the commissioner stated that the establishment of 19 new technical colleges across the state.

He stated that the approval was not only in line with fulfilling the campaign promises of the governor, but for the consolidation of the successes recorded from the

revamped technical schools in the state.

He also stated that to check the impact of flood on Deltans who are living in coastal communities, five amps for internally displaced persons was approved to be set up in Asaba, Kwale, Patani, Ozoro and Ashaka.

Aniagwu added that more than 10 camps would be set up “depending on the impact of the impending flood on the people”.

On his part, Gbe said that the council had approved for the governor to present the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly in October.

He added that the Fiscal Strategy Framework for the state was presented to the council at the meeting and that it discussed and approved.

Jigawa emirs assure support to DAG on anti- corruption campaign From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

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he Jigawa State Emirate Council has assured support to a nongovernmental organisation known as Dispute Resolution and Development Initiatives (DAG) on fight against corruption in the state.

The Chairman of the Council and Emir of Hadeja, Dr Adamu Abubakar Maje who was represented by Wazirin Hadeja Alhaji Haruna Amar gave the assurance when the organisation’s team paid an advocacy visit to the

emirates.

He explained that, thetraditional leaders in the state are always ready to support any move that would help in fight against corruption at any level in the state.

The emir maintained that, as fathers to the communities they would do all their best to involve citizens in fight against corruption through providing the useful information for a better Jigawa state.

While making his remarks during the visit, the national

executive director of the organisation Dr Mohammad Mustapha Yahaya said, the organisation is in the palace to seek for royal fathers support on anti-corruption campaign in the state.

According to him, involvement of traditional rulers in anticorruption campaign is best way to reduce the level of corruptions in Nigeria.

“Our traditional fathers can help in anti-corruption campaign by getting the community involved through the formation

of clubs and other platforms aimed at preventing corruptions practices in the state” he said.

Dr Yahaya maintained that, through the formation of clubs and other platforms encourage by the chiefdom would easily promote information dissemination on matters related to corruption in the communities.

He then said, the objective of the project is to engage the traditional leaders and other state and non-state actors to promote and advocate for effective anticorruption campaign in the state.

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

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he Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko, will Monday, 23rd September, swear-in 38 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria(SAN) In a statement released by the Director, Press and Information, Dr. Akande Festus, the swearingin ceremony is one of the several programmes lined up to herald the 2019/2020 legal year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

According to him, the CJN will as well on that day, deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address to highlight the performance of the Supreme Court, and by extension, the Nigerian Judiciary in the outgoing 2018/2019 legal year.

It will be recalled that out of the 117 legal practitioners that applied for the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2019, 38 were successful at the end of the rigorous exercise.

Out of this number, three are academics while 35 are advocates.

The Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation after a remarkably successful 2018/2019 legal year on Monday 29 July, 2019.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

Lesbianism: NCAC, NYCN want Bobrisky, others arrested

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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he National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), yesterday called for the arrest of transgender celebrity, Bobrisky.

They agreed that Lesbianism, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), which Bobrisky is a strong advocate should be discouraged.The Councils made the call yesterday during a peaceful protest in the nation’s capital to register their discomfort with the activities of Bobrisky and his partners.

Specifically, the protest served as avenue to alert the security agencies and the National Assembly that such display of indecency must be punished.

Speaking while addressing newsmen, NCAC Director General, Otunba Runsewe, said such display by Bobrisky we’re not germane to African culture and should not be tolerated.

“This act has gone too far and should not be allowed. He and his cohorts must be arrested to serve as deterrent to others. I am happy that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu is on top of the issue. We will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote sanity in our society.

“I am happy that the youths have come out to tell the world their position on this issue. That shows that we are on the same page.”

Earlier, NYCN Vice President North Central, Akoshile Mukhtar said, “the National Youth Council or Nigeria (NYCN) under the leadership of Ambassador Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, with the support of the entire Nigeria youths condemn in its entirety the activities of one Ogunleye Idris Olarenwaju, popularly known as Bobrisky and his likes who engage in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

“NYCN described the LGBT as ungodly, unhealthy and disgusting, noting that what Bobrisky and his likes are promoting is completely against our moral, cultural and spiritual values. Our laws as a nation also frown at the LGBT activities in Nigeria.

“It is a well-known fact that Bobrisky and some have for a while now being promoting this despicable act in Nigeria via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among others. The implication is that if this is left unchecked many of our youths can unknowingly get to be part of this ugly situation. While we urge parents to continue to monitor and guide their wards, they should inculcate in them the good morals and values of our culture and religion. They should also be mindful of their children’s friend both online and offline.”

CRIME News

Prisons official, 5 others in EFCC net over ATM Fraud From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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peratives of the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested an Inspector with the Enugu Command of Nigerian Correctional Service Urulo Ikenna Henry for Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Fraud.

The Head, Public Affairs EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office Zainab Sani Ahmed disclosed this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday According to him, Urulo Ikenna Henry is part of fraudsters who specialize in defrauding innocent Nigerians by using bank details obtained through sim swaps and Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

The statement disclosed that other members of the gang are Ugonna Nelson Owete, Ugonna Samuel Okafor Obinna,

Chigbo Paschal Chidiebere, Oha Chukwujekwu Kingsley and Ahamefula Francis Izuchukwu “ The suspects were arrested in separate operations, sequel to a petition by a customer of Access Bank, alleging that monies were illegally transferred from his account without his authorisation. “ According to the petitioner, sometime in February, 2019, he opened an account with Diamond Bank (now Access Bank) which he funded to the tune of N5m and instructed the bank to open a fixed deposit account, with the sum of N1m from the earlier account, as opening balance. “ The complainant said he was receiving regular alerts until the end of March, 2019 when the alerts stopped coming, prompting him to demand his statement of account from the bank. “ Upon receipt of his bank statement, he discovered to his chagrin that the sum of two

million nine hundred and eleven thousand four hundred and eighty naira (N2,911,480m) had fraudulently been transferred to several accounts between April 5 -9, 2019 without his authorisation. “ Upon the receipt of the petition, the zonal office of the Commission immediately swung into action and traced some of the funds to three of the suspects, Samuel Okafor Obinna - N1,500.000; Chigbo Paschal Chidiebere -N210,000 and Oha Chukwujekwu Kingsley N300 000. All three were promptly arrested.

“Further investigation revealed that Ikenna Henry, Nelson Owete (a known criminal who was earlier arrested and paraded by the Enugu State Police Command for crimes bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery) and Ahamefula Francis Izuchukwu were equally complicit in the fraud.

“They were arrested. Upon

arrest, items recovered from Urulo Ikenna Henry included a Toyota Camry, documents of 2 plots of land, 2 Nigeria Housing Fund Passbook (one belonging to him and the other bearing Ani Wilfred Ochechukwu), 17 ATM cards of different banks bearing different names, 2 Nigerian Correctional Service Identity Cards, 2 smart phones and 2 Nokia phones, 1 NHIS card, 1 voter card, 26 Starter Packs and 15 SIM cards of various networks. “ Two sachets of Cannabis Sativa, 8 ATM cards bearing different names and banks, 6 Starter Packs, and 4 SIM cards of various networks, One empty ECOWAS Passport, 1 NDA dependent ID card and a voter card were also recovered from Francis Izuchukwu “The suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, “ the statement reads.

L-R: Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. M.A Etsu-Ndagi; GOC 81 Div. Nigeria Army, Maj.-Gen. Olu Irefin; Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, during the visit of the GOC to the Governor, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Lagos: Task Force arrests 71 suspected miscreants in Oshodi

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peratives of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested 71 suspected miscreants around railway-line in Oshodi, as part of efforts to rid the state of all criminal elements, especially those operating at notorious black spots.

The Chairman of the agency, Olayinka Egbeyemi, made this known in Lagos on Wednesday.

Mr Egbeyemi, a chief superintendent of police, said the crackdown was in line with the determination of the task force to curtail the activities of hoodlums who robbed unsuspecting members of the public.

He noted that some of those arrested were in possession of suspected illegal substances such as Indian hemp, codeine, skunk, tramadol and other dangerous drugs.

The arrest comes days after a similar crackdown on hard drugs dealers at various locations around Alausa and the African Shrine vicinity.

“All identified black spots across the state will be continuously raided and arrested suspects will be fully prosecuted.

“The present administration has zero-tolerance for all forms of crimes and criminality, ‘’ Mr

Egbeyemi said in a statement signed by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs Unit, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to him, Lagos State is the most populous in Nigeria as well as its economic heartbeat.

“As such, the state government is committed to providing a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors,’’ he said.

He, however, noted that 13 of the arrested 71 suspects were released after undergoing a thorough screening process.

Mr Egbeyemi said the only under-aged male among

them, an 11- year-old, had been transferred to the Lagos State Correctional Centre for proper rehabilitation.

He noted that one of the suspects confessed to be part of criminals who attacked and robbed innocent members of the public of their valuables on Oshodi Bridge both early in the morning and at night.

Mr Egbeyemi said the raid would be a continuous exercise in accordance with the policy of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, aimed at eradicating activities of miscreants and cultists. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

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News

Quality education remains my priority, Sanwo-Olu reiterates From Idowu Abdullahi, Lagos

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he Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday reiterated his commitment to providing quality education for pupils in the state.

This is coming as he also pledged the government’s support for secondary schools established by the military formation across the State to increase access to education for residents.

Sanwo-Olu stated this when he received the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, MajorGeneral Olu Irefin, on a courtesy visit at the State House in Marina.

Sanwo-Olu, in statement by his

spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, said the State’s intervention for the military schools would specifically address deficits in staff strength, training and teaching materials.

He added that the Ministry of Education would be meeting with the Army leadership to agree on modalities of the partnership.

The Governor said: “Our administration is prepared to provide quality education to all our pupils in public schools. We will also be extending the same gesture to children attending schools established by the Nigerian Army, regardless of whether their parents are personnel or not.

“The Commissioner for Education will be meeting the Army’s education department for collaborations on recruitment of teachers

and provision of teaching equipment. Our education policies and programmes will not be exclusive only to pupils in public schools. Those attending schools established by the military and private investors within the State will also feel the impacts of our government because we believe all of them are our citizens.” the Governor said.

Sanwo-Olu hailed the Army for its cooperation with his Government in the coordination of joint security operations across the State.

Maj-Gen Irefin, who took over the leadership of the 81 Division on July 22, said his visit to the Governor was to seek support for schools owned by the Army and also to show appreciation to the Lagos Government

on its “constant” logistic assistance rendered to the military formation in the State.

The Army chief thanked Sanwo-Olu for consenting to the Division’s request of support for its schools, stressing that the State Government’s interventions would boost the education services rendered by the schools to members of their host communities.

He said: “Our secondary schools which are mostly in the barracks accommodate 70 per cent of pupils whose parents are not military personnel. Most of the teachers in these schools are on temporary engagement, which could limit the services provided by these schools. This is the reason why we urgently need assistance to enroll teachers in our schools for permanent engagement.”

L-R: Representing the First Lady of Nigeria, SSAP on Administration, Dr Hajo San presents a gift to President of the 74th Session of the UNGA, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande accompanied by his wife, during a reception for the new President of 74th Session of the UNGA, yesterday in New York. Photo: State House

Unknown youths allegedly kill Okada rider in Delta community Court remands house Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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nknown youths have allegedly killed a motorcycle rider popularly known as Okada at Ifiekporo community in Delta State and carted away his bike.

The incident which happened at about 11pm Wednesday night at Amorighoye Street jolted residence of the street who were woken up from their deep slumber by the vigorous barking of dogs around compounds close to the scene of incident.

A resident who does not want his names in print disclosed that he gave the killers, two men, a hot chase but could not march the speed

with which the hoodlums took off with the bike while their victim wriggled helplessly on the ground in pains and agony with blood gushing out of his neck region from multiple stabling calling for help while battling for survival.

According to him, he started making calls to others residents of the street immediately who came to convey the corpse of the Okada rider said to be a Calabar indigene whose names could not be ascertained to Ekpan police station in Uvwie Council area from where they referred to “A” Division in Warri South where they formally lodged the case with the Police taking the remains to the Warri Central Hospital morgue.

It would be recalled that similar incidents have occurred in the area in recent times where one seller of such stolen bike was apprehended at Jeddo community in Okpe council area leading to the arrest of some persons.

The Wednesday incident in which the two assailants where carrying an empty petrol jerrycan is about the third in the area even as the Hausa bike riders in the neighborhood threatened to go on a revenge mission soon before the community leaders took steps to pacify them to avoid a bloody clash.

A community youth leader disclosed that the community is schedule to hold a meeting Tuesday next week to discuss

the issue with a view to seeking solutions to the problems that is capable of giving the community a bad image, saying that they have at various times cautioned bike riders to desist from taking passengers into the bush streets at night but they would not adhere to reasons for pecuniary gains.

But the Police Commissioner in the state, Adeleke Adeyinka who confirmed the incident, said the Police were on top of the killing of the Okada rider, disclosing that three persons were arrested and are being detained at the state CID for further investigation and assured that the Police will do everything possible to reduce crimes in the state.

Emir Sanusi commends Buhari over Economic Advisory Council From Kano

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Mustapha

Adamu,

he Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for forming Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

Addressing newsmen at

his palace yesterday, Sanusi said the president has done the right by appointing professional economists who know the nitty gritty of Nigerian economy.

According to him, at this time when the nation is facing economic problems, and the global economy facing uncertainty due to trade wars,

the president had done a good things by forming what he described as “first class economic team.”

The monarch described the members of the team as season economists who, according to him, would turn the nation’s economy around, adding that their appointment could have

been the best policy of the Buhari administration.

He added that Buhari deserved commendation and support for taking the bull by its horn in fixing the ailing economy of the country, expressing optimism that the EAC members would be fantastic in accomplishing the mission.

wife for pouring hot water on neighbour From Femi Oyelola, kaduna

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Chief Magistrate Court No1 sitting at Chediya GRA Zaria has remanded a housewife, Nnennaya Edmond in prison custody until 15th October 2019 for continuation of hearing on a case of criminal force and causing hurt contrary to section 224,216 CPC Kaduna State law 2017.

Nnennaya Edmond is standing trial on causing serious injuries to one Gloria Cyril and her 10 months old baby, Bright Cyril after pouring hot water on them.

The incident was said to have occurred on Tuesday 10th September 2019 at about 1.00 pm when one Mary Ejoemah who resides behind ECWA Church Wusasa, Zaria reported to Danmagaji Divisional Police Headquarters that at about 8.00pm Nnennaya Edmond without provocation, poured hot water on her daughter.

After reading the FIR to the accused, by the Prosecutor, Inspector Mannir Nasir, the defendant denied committing the offence.

The prosecutor informed the court that police have completed their investigation and applied for the date to commence hearing.

Nnennaya was ordered by the court to be remanded in the prison custody until 15th October 2019 for the commencement of hearing.

Presently the victims are receiving treatment at St. Lukes Anglican Hospital Wusasa.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

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News

Institute urges lawmakers to key into peace building projects

By Usman Shuaibu

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he Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution has urged lawmakers to consider creating peace building offices in each of the country’s senatorial districts towards promoting peace and strengthening security nationwide.

The Director General of the institute, Dr. Bakut Bakut gave the advice in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja.

According to Bakut, one of the mandates of the institute is to conduct research into the causes, patterns, dynamics, actors and forces behind conflicts and insecurity in the country and Africa at large.

He described legislators as critical pillars in peace building as they were in a position to strengthen peace structures at the local level where most conflicts manifest.

The DG said that the institute had also designed a major conflict prevention strategy to get people and their communities involved in governance.

“The policy will consider and integrate the people as the first line for the development policy based on their priority needs.

“Different groups such as traditional institution, religious leaders, youth, women and people with disabilities within a community will be equipped with relevant skills and knowledge to design their community development plan.

“Legislators have the responsibility to

ensure that people live in peace in their various communities.

“They are expected to sensitise their people and to come up with a decision on the kind of project to embark on, that will not create conflict, but engender unity,’’ he said.

According to him, peace is an all-inclusive phenomenon that can only be achieved with the involvement of all, especially in an arm of government such as the legislature.

He, therefore, advised legislators to work closely with the institute in the execution of some of their constituency projects in order to sensetise the people to the importance of peace building and prevention and management of conflict through capacity building.

“This is the reason behind the idea of creating peace building offices in each senatorial district across the country,’’ he said.

“We need more hands and funds to sustain the offices when created. That means it will require us to recruit more staff.

“We are taking it gradually; we will get there some day.

“By 2020 I will be asking the government to give me permission to recruit some people that will be posted to the various peace building offices,’’ the DG said.

Our correspondent reports that the institute had designed a framework that would deliver peace and development programmes/projects to mitigate conflict and promote peace across the country.

NDLEA arrests 25 drug suspects, seizes 166.95 kg hard drugs in Adamawa

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he Adamawa Command of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 25 suspected drug dealers and seized 166.95 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the state in the last three weeks.

The NDLEA State Commander, Yakubu Kibo, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Wednesday in Yola.

Mr Kibo said during the period under review, the command, on September 5, arrested a notorious drug dealer in Jimeta-Yola, 59year old Mohammed Kawuwa, and allegedly recovered from him 600 grammes of Cannabis Sativa. ”Equally, on September 9, our operatives in Mubi Area Command recovered a total of 218 bottles of Cough syrup with codeine weighing 29.5kg, and 350g of Rohypnol capsules. ”Similarly, the Gombi Area Command of the

Agency intercepted a truck carrying 107 kg of Tramadol concealed with other pharmaceutical drugs and two suspects were arrested. ”Furthermore, one Yusuf Mohammed was arrested with fresh Cannabis Sativa weighing 10.2Kg, which was planted within his compound in So,o Village of Jada LGA” Mr Kibo said.

He further said the agency arrested Abdurrashed Mohammed and Mohammed Ali, with 10Kg and 3.8kg samples of Pentazocine injection and Cannabis sativa respectively.

Mr Kibo gave the names of other arrested suspects to include Lawal Abdullahi, Sulaiman Waziri and Nura Musa.

He said they were all arrested with 168 gm of Diazepam, five cartons of pentazocine injection, as well as 21kg and 195 kg of Cannabis sativa respectively.

He said those culpable would be charged to court on completion of investigation.(NAN)

World Peace Day: Group harps on peaceful coexistence From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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group, Eye Opener Women and Youths Foundation has called on government at all levels to ensure peaceful coexistence among the citizens.

The President and Founder of the Group, Mrs. Margaret Kwa’ada Julius, made the call during a ‘Walk for Peace’, to mark the World Peace Day held in Kaduna yesterday.

She urged the governments at all levels to work for peace as no meaningful development can be achieved without it.

According to her, everybody should start this peace initiative from his/her neighborhood and the peace will be restored.

The peace Walk was in conjunction with the members of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders, took off from the Secretariat of the council through to the heart of the Kaduna city, Leventis roundabout to create awareness in their campaign for peace in Kaduna, Nigeria and World at Large.

Speaking to journalists after the Road Walk for Peace Campaign, Mrs. Margaret Kwa’ada Julius said the organization is a non-governmental and non-profitable initiative set up to campaign for peace in the society especially as it seems that the much more valuable ‘peace’ is going out of hand.

“We are peace advocates especially out to bring peace to reign in the society mostly among the youths and reason we introduced what we called “Together We Stand”.

Also speaking, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sabon-Gari, Kaduna, Chief Superintendent of Police Uzairu Abdullahi who was represented the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna state CP Ali Janga said Police especially is happy with the way people are getting it right now, talking about peace in Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.

Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adamu Yusuf also commended the group for bringing up this initiative at the time it is most needed in Nigeria.

UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL

(Office of the Chief Medical Director) BAMA ROAD, PMB 1414, MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA INVITATION FOR TENDER FOR CONSTRUCTON WORKS, DRILLING OF 2 ND AQUIFER BOREHOLE AND SUPPLY UTILITY VEHICLE 1. INTRODUCTION:

This is to inform the general public that the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital is desirous of commissioning competent contractors to undertake the following Works and Supply and Installation of Goods and Services. In view of this, the Hospital is hereby inviting competent and interestedcontractors to submit bids for the following Works/Supply/Installation in accordance with Public Procurement Act, 2007: 2. SCOPE OF WORKS/SUPPLIES: Lot Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4 Lot 5 Lot 6 Lot 7 Lot 8 Lot 9 Lot 10

Description Construction of Trauma Center (Works) Construction of Trauma Center (Equipment–Procurement/Installation & Training) Construction of Trauma Center (Purchase/Supply various equipments) Construction of Trauma Center (Supply of Furniture) Construction of Trauma Center (Supply of Ambulance) Construction of One (1) No. Hostel Block (Works) Construction of One (1) No. Hostel Block (Furnishing) Completion of Radiotherapy Center (Works) Completion of Radiotherapy Center (Furnishing) University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Outreach Centre at Potiskum.

(Construction of Quarters and Hospital Extension) Lot 11 University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Outreach Centre at Potiskum.

(Supply of Medical Equipment, Drugs and Furniture) Lot 12 Procurement of General Medical Equipment i. Supply of General Medical Equipment ii. Procurement and Installation of Radiotherapy Equipment iii. Procurement and Installation of Theater & SCBU Equipment iv. Procurement and Installation of ICU and Obstetric & Gynecology Equipment Lot 13 Procurement and Installation of Mortuary Equipment and Facilities

3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: a) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including

Forms CAC2 and CAC7. b) Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31 st

December, 2019. c) Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31 st December, 2019. d) Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31 st December, 2019. e) Evidence of current Nigeria Social Industrial Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31 st December, 2019. f) Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/1/2020 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g) Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant Committees of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars. h) Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years – 2016, 2017 and 2018. i) Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of a Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed. j) List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease (for Works); k) For Supply of Medical Equipment: Letter of Authorization from the Original Equipment Manufacturers listed in the Approved Policy for Procurement of Health and Medical Equipment for Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria is required; l) Only companies included in the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s approved list of local manufacturers of vehicles or their authorised representatives should bid for the Ambulance; m) All documents for submission must be transmitted with a covering letter under the Company/ Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorized officer of the firm.

4. COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS

Interested companies are to collect the Standard Bidding Document (SBD) from the Office of the Secretary, Tenders Board on evidence of payment of a non-refundable tender fee of N10,000.00only per Lot, paid into the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital’s Remita Account in any reputable commercial bank in Nigeria.

5. SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS

Prospective bidders are to submit bid for each of the Lot desired, two (2) hard copies each of the technical and financial bids with softcopy of financial bid only in MS Excel format, packaged separately in sealed envelopes and clearly marked as “Technical Bid” or “Financial Bid”.

Thereafter, put the two sealed envelopes together in a bigger sealed envelope addressed to the Chief Medical Director, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and clearly marked with (the name of the project and the Lot number). Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box not later than 12:00 noon on Monday, 4 th November, 2019.

6. OPENING OF BIDS

Only the technical bids will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at12:00 noon on Monday, 4 th November, 2019in the presence of bidders or their representatives, while the Financial bids will be kept un-opened. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register as the University will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids. For further enquiries, please contact the “xxx (Procurement)” on e-mail xxx@xx.gov.ng 7. GENERAL INFORMATION a) Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder. b) Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned un-opened. c) All claims will be verified by the Hospital. d) All cost will be borne by the bidders. e) The University of Maiduguri teaching Hospital is not bound to pre-qualify any bidder and reserves the right to annul the Procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Signed: Management

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

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N ews

By Christiana Ekpa

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he House of Representatives yesterday set up a 17- member committee to investigate the $9.6 billion judgement debt and the controversial contract.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent National Importance on “act of negligence of the P&ID Limited’s transaction by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Petroleum Resources respectively” sponsored by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

Followed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila set up 17-member Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Sada Soli, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract without Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.

In his lead debate, Hon. Ihonvbere lamented that the recent judgement debt of $9.6 billion (with daily interest accruing) by a commercial court in the United Kingdom against Nigeria, in a matter between P&ID Limited leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.

“For a country with a foreign reserve of only $45 billion and a sovereign debt profile of over $80 billion, this judgment debt was not only punitive but would devastatingly affect the Nigerian economy.

$9.6bn judgment debt: Sada Soli heads Reps probe panel “The House is aware of the fact Nigeria has a penchant for disregarding the sanctity of contracts and terms of agreement, coupled with the failure of Nigeria’s representatives in many cases, to carefully or diligently scrutinize agreements they sign knowing that the consequences will affect past and future generations.

“Nigeria had entered into a Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) with P&ID Limited, in January 2010, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the understanding that Nigeria would supply natural gas (wet gas) at no cost, through a government pipeline to P&ID’s production facility, while P&ID in return would construct and operate the facility, process the Wet Gas and return to the government of Nigeria lean gas for the generation of power at no cost to Nigeria.

“The House is further aware that two years down the line, P&ID had not built any gas plant to which Nigeria could supply wet gas for processing, signifying in the first place that the move

to Arbitration was opportunistic and grossly self-serving.

“The House is cognizant of the fact that, the matter went before an Arbitration Tribunal, under the Rules of the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 2004, with London, England as place of Arbitration. After affirming its jurisdiction in the matter, the Tribunal began hearing to determine whether or not there was any repudiator breach of contract.

“At this point, there was an attempt by the Ministry of Petroleum to reach a settlement agreement with P&ID Limited to the tune of $850 million, payable in instalments which obviously was not diligently pursued.“The House is alarmed that the agreement was somewhat shrouded in secrecy and as such apparently dubiously procured, as those who ought to know about its existence did not and more importantly, the relevant Laws in Nigeria for the transaction to be consummated was not applied especially, Part IV of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act 2007 which deals with the Fundamental

Principles of Procurement.

“The House is further alarmed that it took the new Nigerian government more than 4 months to respond to the vital arbitration judgement of about $6 billion with a ridiculous excuse that there had been a change of administration in Nigeria and that Ministers, including the Attorney General had only just been appointed thus asking for an extension of time to act on the outcome of the Arbitration Tribunal.

“Rather than engage P&ID in the matter before the tribunal with robust legal arguments and interpretations, Nigeria was busy shopping for a favourite forum to plead her case in a court in Lagos, Nigeria.

“The House is worried that the lack of diligent prosecution of cases in which Nigeria is involved by those whose duty, it is to do so, is due to our tendency to either politicise everything or focus more on personal interests, or failure on the part all parties involved,” he noted.

He observed that that Butcher, J. (the Judge in the matter) in his August 16, 2019

ruling made heavy weather out of several acts of omission on the part of the Nigerian authorities, especially when he noted that “… the FRN had remedies for many procedural unfairness, but it did not utilise them.”

He argued that Nigeria could also have objected to Procedural Order No. 12 or question the Final Award. In the words of Butcher J., “it did neither and the time for doing so is long past.”

Hon. Ihonvbere maintained that “these are serious indictments of the incompetence and gross negligence displayed by our representatives/agents/ arbitrators in the matter. The House further observed that this embarrassing judgement exposes a deep decay in our governance and leadership infrastructure with far-reaching implications for the credibility of the country’s capacity to handle business and legal cases,” he stressed.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion are: Hon. Luke Onofiok, chairman, House Committee on Federal Judiciary and Hon. Benson Igbakpa.

President, Rotary Club of Jos Central, Mrs Yemisi Ikwu (2nd L) with some beneficiaries during the presentation of umbrellas by Rotary Club of Jos Central to market women, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

RTEAN threatens to suspend dissolved Lagos State council chairman

By Albert Akota

T

he Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) yesterday threatened to suspend Alhaji Musa Muhammed, Chairman of the dissolved Lagos State Executive Council, for allegedly disrupting the activities of the union.

National President of RTEAN, Mr Osakpanwan Eriyo, at a news conference in Abuja, insisted that the dissolution of the Lagos State Executive Council on Sept. 13 remained legal and binding.

Eriyo cited the expiration of the branch’s tenure as provided

in Article 9(I) of the association’s constitution as the reason for the dissolution.

It would be recalled that Lagos State Executive Council members, on Monday disagreed with the action of the national body, describing the dissolution as illegal, null and void, saying that their tenure would lapse on Oct. 31.

They said that the resolution for the continuity of their executive committee had been passed at the chapel, zonal and state executive levels, adding that it had since been forwarded to the national body.

On the contrary, Eriyo, while

insisting on the dissolution, urged Muhammed to refrain from interfering with the activities of the caretaker committee constituted to manage the affairs of the branch, pending the emergence of new executive members.

He said: “Every member of the union as well as members of the dissolved Lagos State Executive Council have the right to contest. Members of the dissolved executive can therefore re-contest.”

“It is unfortunate because there are series of petitions against Muhammed by the same people he claimed endorsed him for a second term in office.

“I was invited to Lagos to affirm his continuity bid, but only for me to realise that he forged signatories to an endorsement for second term in office.

“It is evident that Muhammed forged the signatures of those people he claimed unanimously resolved to support his second term bid.

“I cannot affirm that, because union members have petitions against him.

“Rather than allow the police to carry out their investigations, Muhammed had gone ahead to invade the state secretariat with thugs and disrupted the activities of the caretaker committee.

“We don’t want him to take laws into his hands, neither do we expect our supporters to take laws into their hands.

“He was sworn in on June 26, 2014 and his tenure of five years has elapsed, however, he has the right to recontest.

“The national body will have no option than to suspend or dismiss him from the union if he fails to respect the authority,’’ Eryo said.

On his alleged expulsion as the National President, Eriyo said that the people who held a news conference in Lagos do not constitute the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

Old wine in a new bottle

P

resident Muhammadu need arises”.

The new team is made up of Buhari, Monday, replaced his first term technocrats, experts in various Economic Management fields that are related to the Team (EMT) with a more economy. Soludu, for instance, independent minded is an Economics professor and 8-member Economic Advisory one-time governor of CBN. Council (EAC) that will report He is a member of the British directly to him. Vice President Department for International Yemi Osinbajo who headed the Development’s International Advisory Group. old team is not even He is only a member of this new 59 years old. one. It is headed by Bismark Rewane Prof. Doyin Salami. is the Managing The new team A statement by Director/Chief is made up of Buhari’s Special Executive Officer technocrats, Adviser on Media, Financial Femi Adesina, named experts in various of Derivatives fields that are Dr. Mohammed Sagagi Company Limited related to the as vice-chairman.

The secretary is Dr. economy. Soludu, in Lagos. He has Mohammed Adams for instance, is an more than 30 years Salisu. He is the Economics professor experience as an economist, banker and one-time President’s Senior financial Special Assistant on governor of CBN. He and Development Policy. is a member of the analyst. He is a A former governor British Department chartered member of Central Bank of for International of the Institute of Bankers of Development’s Nigeria (CBN), Prof.

England and Wales International Chukwuma Soludo, is a member. The Advisory Group. He and a Fellow of The others are Professor is only 59 years old. Nigerian Institute of Bankers.

Ode Ojowu, Dr. T h e Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha and Mr. Bismark preponderance of experts, particularly economists and Rewane.

The presidential statement financial analysts is what said the EAC “will advise the distinguishes this new team President on economic policy from the old one. It was made matters, including fiscal made up of politicians and analysis, economic growth and bureaucrats. Many Nigerians a range of internal and global wrote it off as no economic economic issues working with team at all. That Buhari has the relevant cabinet members dispensed with it shows he has and heads of monetary and listening ears. It also means fiscal agencies. The EAC that his government will this will have monthly technical time pay more attention to the sessions as well as scheduled economy. Yes, the war against quarterly meetings with the corruption will still be on the President.

The Chairman front burner but the priority may, however, request for will be how to return the unscheduled meetings if the economy to the path of growth.

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Letter to the Editor

Corruption: Before they inflict further punishment on us

By Abdulkadir Inuwa Suleiman

I

n many Nigerian cultures, there is this concept that one should grip offenders by the wrist as opposed to holding them by the elbow since they will not be able to easily wriggle free when held by the wrist.

Some cultures also warn of the perils to the farmer if he tarries in arresting the thief since the thief could make the first strike of accusing the owner of the farm of theft.

So it is with the vampires that have over successive governments pillaged the resources of our country. We left them to help themselves to the public till as we cheered them on as “elites” or “ruling class” even when their self-chosen kleptomaniac makes such appellations antithetical.

A brave administration, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, finally rose up to the task of apprehending these thieves and they have today turned on the rest of us, branding us as the offenders that are trampling on their right to loot the treasury. They have even gone the extra length of meting out punishments because we are finally growing the spine to call time on their crimes.

We are all gritting out teeth as the economy gets more challenging but the global slump in demand for crude oil and falling prices were enough to bring us to this sorry pass. What did us in is the insurrection by “militants” that have been blowing up pipelines to disrupt revenue from crude oil.

Gas infrastructure also took hits leaving the nation mostly in darkness. But these are no militants as the demands presented on their behalf by geo-political leaders gave a clear indication of what the real issues are.

For one, they think we have no right to investigate or prosecute Niger Delta persons that stole or helped themselves with money derived from oil sales – their warped logic is that we cannot stopped them from stealing money sourced from their own part of the country.

Of course, in furtherance of freeing anyone they decided to invite to share out of the oil money, the militants also curiously demanded the unconditional release of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and all charges dropped against him in the record setting arms purchase scandal.

This suggests that the points at which crises are exploited to blackmail government may differ but those pulling the strings remain the same.

Any indignation we felt from those perverted demands has now been dwarfed by the natural outrage that accompanied the claims that military officers that stole money meant for buying weapons for the anti-terror war should have been allowed to continue in service simply because they are from certain geo-political zones. It turned out that those mandatorily sent on retirement cut across the country and across religious divides. The common denominator with all of them was the theft they engaged in or being political officers as was the case with others.

The leniency shown this officers, who were mostly just retired without prosecution, is turning out to be a national misstep.

Instead of retreating into retirement with contrition – rueing the ignominy that should prevail until their dying days, these exmilitary men appeared set to surpass their original crimes with that of insurrection as they are reported to have teamed up with the militants with each one allegedly running independent groups as a franchise for the larger destabilisation machine. Thugs who until a few weeks ago were fugitives are now bragging about their military capabilities and skills after possibly getting training from their disgraced seniors. They also

boast about superior weapons that could only have been purchased with proceeds from the vandalised public tills.

But one thing stands in between them and the punishment they want to inflict on Nigeria, on the rest of us. The nation’s only saving grace is its professional military, the same one the compromised officers were sacked from. This perhaps explains the ploy to destabilize the military being the only obstacle in their way. After series of propaganda against the present crop of service chiefs failed to dent their impeccable standing among Nigerians, militants were used to fly the kite that there was a military coup in the offing.

Several intentions can be adduced from this ridiculous claim. One is to expect that the news would leave President Muhammadu Buhari jittery and untrusting of the military leadership and therefore carry out a cleansing that will get rid of patriotic officers and open the way for other possibilities. A second possibility is that the ex-military officers in their desperation to distance themselves from the ongoing atrocities in the Niger Delta gave the militants the script meant to make serving officers look like the threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

In both scenarios, the accusers conveniently omitted to mention or give indications as to who these officers are that told them to sustain attacks in the creeks.

Could it also be a slip that the officers they allude to are now the same one that has joined them as patrons? What else should we be worried about in terms of the chain of command of this threat?

Ordinarily, Nigerians have nothing to fear about a coup so we should be able to continue demanding that those who have stole our money should return it or face the wrath of the law. To do this effectively however, we must look higher than the militants and the ex-military officers to their connections in government. That the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) through Presidential Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement had a pilfering member in the person Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd), who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on suspicion of corruption, created a credible link for trailing those bent on destroying credible national institutions.

Worryingly, the DSS dragnet has also fingered the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) alongside the National Security Adviser, Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Boss, Ibrahim Magu as co-travellers with Air Commodore Mohammed. In fact Dan Ali lives in the guest house of the arrested Air Commodore who offered him the accommodation as soon as he was appointment as minister.

They are yet to convince Nigerians that they did not all conspire to perpetrate the ONSA scandal. They must all therefore be investigated as they can never deny their association with the Air Commodore. It must be established if they are the remnant of the insidious threat to national security that have been propping up the militancy in the Niger Delta. Like we later discovered that Boko Haram was allowed to grow in order to justify diverting huge sums for arms purchase only for them to be stolen, there is something fishy about the way militancy has been given free rein in the Niger Delta and the ONSA scandal is not isolated from it. We must thus apprehend the thieves in this case before they apprehend us.

Suleiman wrote in from Katsina, Katsina State.

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

Aregbesola and the Correctional Centres

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

O

ddities they say make the news. This time-honoured saying explains the recent reaction elicited when Rauf Aregbesola, upon assumption of office as the new Minister of Interior Affairs, declared that; he does not really know much about the operation or policies of the ministry apart from stories about the ministry on the pages of the newspapers; that his relationship with the ministry is distant.

Essentially, apart from the fact that we are in a nation where one size is expected to fit-all, what particularly characterized the comment as newsy is that the declaration came from a highly placed public officer in a country where every political leader, irrespective of how lowly placed, see themselves as all-knowing, more generous, more nationalistic, selfless, more honest or kind, more intelligent, good looking or well-briefed than other stakeholders.

Coupled with the fact that it came at a time when the Federal Government was making effort to reposition the Nigeria Prison service-a major parastatal in the \Ministry that recently transformed via an Act recently passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by Mr. President- which among other structural and administrative modifications changed its name from Nigeria Prison service to Nigeria Correctional Service.

Indeed, while many may construe Aregbeshola’s comment to mean a self-declared vote of no confidence, it could to others, represent a smart way of telling Nigerians not to expect much from his office, but the truth judging from the global leadership model, is that by exposing his

weakness, Aregbeshola demonstrated a leadership. trait that is in short supply in Nigeria.

Put in plain words, in the words of Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones, both Professors of Organizational Behaviors at London Business School, in a research report, titled; Why should anyone be led by you, among other findings stated that; when a leader shows the followers his/her weakness(s), it presents him as someone that is genuine and approachable – human and humane, And offers a leader valuable protection.

However, in a country like Nigeria where prisons (now correctional centers), are presently reputed for; congestion, ‘graced’ with dilapidated buildings and laced with overstretched facilities, one need not remind the Minister that declaration of weakness before the people may not be a necessary remedy-but the need to awesomely develop a clear, detailed, purposeful goal rooted in reality.

To create a valuable source of insight for the Minister, If the aim of the new Act that transformed the Nigerian Prison Service to Nigeria Correctional Service, is to bear the expected result, the demand from Rauf and his team must include but not limited to; establishing sustainable collaboration/ partnership with the Justice Ministries at both state and Federal levels; open admission and adoption of both structural and managerial changes; development of a strategic approach that imposes more leadership discipline than conventional, and creating governance framework that is less extractive but more innovative in operation; as well as switch over to a leadership style that is capable of making a successful decision built on a higher quality of information.

It has also been argued elsewhere that an

organization’s capacity to execute strategy depends on it’s hard’ infrastructure-its organizational structure and systems-and on its ‘soft’ infrastructure –its culture and norms. More than any other, culture determines whether an organization can cope with the crisis and discontinuities of growth.This shift in action is important as ‘we cannot solve our challenges with the same thinking we used when we created it’.

To explain these points beginning with the congestion challenge, available records show that about 65,000 inmates are currently locked up in different prisons in Nigeria. Out of the number, 72% are said to be awaiting trial while only 28% are convicted.

This has two different but similar implications to this narrative.

First, next to bringing to the fore the nation’s faulty criminal justice system, it calls for more synergy with, and finding a middle ground by with the Ministry of Justices at both Federal and State to access and introduce alternative to the custodian sentencing possible as it has manifested visible challenges such as an increase in cost, keeping the inmates as well as congestion which places pressure on the prisons’ facilities.

Clearly, the habit of resource-saving has served developed nations well in this respect. If you analyze the history of successful nations, you may easily get the impression that they were developed by ‘Prophets’. But the truth is that they only adhered to the basic principles underlying strategic choices.

Regardless of what others may say, noncustodian measures such as community services, industrial attachment/labour where the inmates can learn skills, earn a stipend while contributing

U

the substance of choice because of the ease of accessibility, more and more Nigerians were receiving treatment for opioid use disorders: “Cannabis is the main drug for which drug use treatment is sought in Africa, but many countries, most notably Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania, have reported an increasing number of people entering treatment for opioid use disorders.”

Young Nigerians were being sucked into addiction and fast. An urgent intervention was necessary and it became apparent that this was needed on a larger scale than anything Nigeria had ever seen. To tackle the hydra-headed menace of substance abuse, Nigeria had to protect itself the only way possible - together. Triggered by these and more, leading ICT firm, MTN Nigeria, through is CSR-focused arm, MTN Foundation, sought the support of multiple organizations. It amassed a network of stakeholder organisations spanning non-profits, regulatory agencies, professional associations, advocacy champions and individual experts. Stakeholders include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); the Police; Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Christians Against Drug Abuse Mission (CADAM); Freedom Foundation, etc.

At the launch, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation, explained the burning necessity for the programme: “Every day, millions of young Nigerians are at risk of opioid addiction. They could be our family members, neighbours, and friends. This is why we must ensure that the conversation does not stop and all hands must be on deck. We must also do as much as we can; as fast as we can to educate our fellow citizens before they succumb to the temptation of taking drugs for the first time and we owe it to ourselves and children, the task of creating a world where they can become useful members of society.”

Thus, began an over 12-month birthing process that conceived the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), a passion project specifically designed in scope to help reduce the rate first-time drug use, especially within the 10 to 25- age bracket. To have a far-reaching impact on its target, it was essential that the message of abstinence from substance abuse penetrated to the grassroots in every community, that each person was aware of the concept of substance and substance abuse and its dire consequence.

After months of liaising and preparations, The pilot phase kicked off on December 19, 2018, in Lagos with a promise to execute the programme in six states across all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria - Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Bauchi, Kano, and

the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.) Abuja. As of Friday, July 26th, 2019, all promises were fulfilled when the pilot phase concluded with hundreds of young Kano residents walking in the streets of Kano has part of the programme’s awareness walk.

Over a period spanning 7 months, the ASAP platform served as a platform where stakeholders with the common interest of tackling the menace of substance abuse convened to establish plans geared towards ensuring that the target audience was reached using various channels that are designed to engage, enlighten and empower the target audience. Using tools such as round table discussions, the ASAP microsite, lectures, advocacy walks, stage plays, and music, the span of the programme was expanded. Social media was also used as an important tool to reach the technology-savvy quota of the targeted demography while on-the-ground activations were utilized for the others.

Applying a rounded approach, the MTN Foundation collaborated with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) to set up the Influencer’s training workshop in each of the 6 states. The workshop was an intervention measure aimed at training individuals to become enlightened influencers using well-researched contents provided by the UNODC on substance abuse. Also, the two-day course spanning a 13-module curriculum focused on the state of drug abuse in the country, and the world at large. The training served as an initialisation point which set each volunteer on the path to becoming trainers ready to impart knowledge of substance abuse on others in their community.

With the crux of the project leaning towards awareness and enlightenment to curtail the scourge of substance abuse, special focus was placed on assessing the state of substance abuse at a round table discussion in each state. There, current drug use trends and challenges that favour the proliferation of drug culture were discussed.

The roundtable served as a parley where stakeholders from various organisations met with the general public to deliberate on the issues of substance abuse and proffer sustainable solutions towards reducing drug use cases. The Lagos round table witnessed a record attendance of over a thousand participants; the other round tables held in Rivers, Imo, Bauchi and Kano witnessed impressive turnouts as well.

From Ayobo in Lagos to Rumeme in Rivers, Okigwe in Imo state, Mohammed Maccido in Abuja, Wunti Dada in Bauchi and Wudil in Kano, the Brighter Life Campus activations, a two-hour entertainment show for tertiary institutions that employs the use of drama, music, and lectures with informational materials to pass the message

PAGE 13

Comment

Ending open defecation in Nigeria; the role of private sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the way to go. The Interior ministry can draw a similar lesson from most of the foreign construction companies currently operating in the country.

To, therefore, succeed in this new position, the minister must first recognize that the era when nations lock up their youths that will provide the future leaders has passed. And one that will be responsible for the development and implementation of policies, programs and projects in their various ministries, departments, and agencies in line with the government priorities; and also ensure that agencies under their ministries are effective, efficient and accountable in their responsibilities, there is for Rauf to widen his view, to take in more of the world around him, to see things for what they are and for how they may play out in the future, not for how you wish them to be.

The minister must learn not to be a prisoner of any theory, he must develop a practice of finding out who else had met with the problems we currently face, how they tackled it, and how successful they had been.

Finally, developing a strategic success for the Ministry cannot be reduced to a formula, or merely by reading books. But by developing habits of mind and moods of thinking that can be acquired through practice to help free the creative power and improve chances of coming with winning strategic concepts.

This is a primary responsibility before Rauf Aregbeshola and his men.

Utomi, a Lagos-Based Journalist Writes from Lagos and could be reached through;Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com

MTNASAP: The Journey To Freedom ntil 2017 when the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) carried out an investigation to ascertain the extent of opioid abuse amongst young people in Nigeria, millions of Nigerians were largely unaware of the far-reaching impact of the country’s opioid epidemic. It was brimming at the outskirts of our consciousness, we knew it existed, but only at the fringes of our national discourse. To acknowledge the epidemy would require us to face it head-on and there was little appetite for that.

The harsh realities revealed in the documentary surely left a mark in the context of the awareness and the conversation it helped spark nationwide. Nigerians cringed and moaned at the images that the documentary presented before them. ‘It couldn’t be so’, many exclaimed at what they were already mostly aware of.

In Umuahia, Abia State, that same year, the National Alliance Drug Abuse for Sustainable Development stated that “the threats posed by drug abuse to the society are real and alarming.

The least it deserves is a strategic, sustainable alliance by stakeholders.”. The message was hitting home loud and clear.

The UNODC released the 2017 World Drug Reports and even more alarming information was thrown at Nigerians. The country was an official hub for the smuggling of banned substances.

African countries that possessed the most frequent transit routes were South Africa (2nd), Ghana (3rd), Mali (4th) and Niger (4th) as Nigeria led them all.

Consequently, the largest seizures in the continent were also recorded in Western and Central African territories - Cabo Verde (1st) Gambia (2nd), Nigeria (3rd), Chad (4th) and Ghana (5th). “The largest cannabis herb seizures worldwide were reported by Mexico, followed by the United States, Nigeria, Paraguay and Egypt”, the report stated.

One thing had become extremely clear Nigerians were in danger. The danger had slowly been coiling itself around the country for decades.

In a world were addiction was rising, so were the deaths. In a report, ‘Pattern of Comorbidity, Problem among Drug users Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria’,

by Oni OD, Erinfolami AR, Olagunju AT, and Ogunnubi OP, it was stated that “an estimated 183,000 drug-related deaths were reported in 2012 corresponding to a mortality rate of 40.0 per million in the global population of those aged 15– 65 years. In the same report, it is estimated that 324 million people (3.5-7% of the world’s population) have used an illicit drug.”

The World Drug Report 2017 confirmed the BBC documentary, in that while cannabis was

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

of drug abuse, continued to impart unquantifiable knowledge on its trek through various campuses.

The campus activation leveraged the power of drama through Riveting Ltd’s rendition of the stage play ‘Area Boy’. The piece was able to captivate students each time whilst exposing the vices tethered to abusing a substance. With music being a significant portion of the messaging strategy, Nigerian musician, David Jones David joined the ASAP project right after the Lagos activations in May 2019. With his songs’ lyrics centred on substance abuse, his discography was an effective tool that helped pass the message on the dangers of abusing drugs through its cautionary lyricism.

Harnessing the wealth of knowledge from professionals in agencies like the Nigerian Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other agencies, the Brighter Life Hour campus activation delivered lectures on various aspects of substance and substances abuse in digestible versions to the students.

These also focused on the public in open market places. With the exception of a drama cast and performance by singers, the market crowd was engaged using popular music and dance competition to pique their interest in the outreach. During this process, the basic message of substance abuse was passed to them via a public address system using the local dialect. Also, informational contents were distributed. A similar version to the Brighter Life Hour is the Assembly Xtra. The Assembly Xtra was beamed at primary pupils and secondary students to drive home points bordering on substance abuse.

The advocacy walk dubbed ASAP Walk for Life, where music, dance, exercise and sensitisation on substance abuse all converge for the common goal - enlighten the general public in their communities, was well attended by young residents in each stage.

After months of spreading the anti-substance abuse movement, across 6 state conferences, 6 advocacy walks and countless school and market activations that have impacted hundreds of millions of young Nigerians and, the pilot phase came to an end last month on the streets of Kano State.

The gauntlet has been thrown - the onus is now on every Nigerian to either rise up to the challenge and continue the movement against substance abuse with the fervor that it demands.

The journey to freedom will not be easy, as will any journey worth its salt, but to save the young ones, is a task that must be done by all.

Sylvia Kumtong, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja

By Zaid Jurji

A

t nearly 200 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. With a population of this scale, any progress or regression in development clearly has a significant impact on both African and global development indicators.

In 2018, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, National Bureau of Statistics, and UNICEF initiated a survey to assess the state of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sector in Nigeria. The results were appalling. The survey revealed that only 11 per cent of Nigerians have access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services, 24 per cent of the population practice open defecation and rural dwellers have an average per capita share of fewer than 4 liters of water per day. Nigeria’s level of access to WASH services lags far behind those of other countries in the region.

The initial results of the survey were so shocking that they were used as one of the platforms to declare a state of emergency in the WASH sector by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.

There is sufficient evidence to suggest that WASH has a huge effect on many other development aspects of the population.

Safe water and sanitation services positively impact the health status of people. For instance, proper WASH reduces WASHrelated diseases and sustains the nutritional status of children by avoiding/reducing episodes of diarrhea, which translates into improved school attendance and learning opportunities, as well as improved work productivity and family income in the case of adults.

In November last year, President Buhari committed to ending open defecation.

He reiterated the commitment made earlier through the 2016 endorsement of the national roadmap on ending open

defecation by the year 2025. This was followed by the establishment of an open defecation free secretariat, which was in turn approved by the Federal Executive Council and is now fully functional and with budgetary allocations.

The Community-Led Total Sanitation approach that empowers communities to self-assess their sanitary practices and initiate actions to practice safer ones has been widely and successfully used. So far, out of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, 13 have now been triggered using the CLTS approach and certified as open defecation free. There are also thousands of communities, in other local government areas that have attained an ODF status.

These are all steps in the right direction that have led to good results. However, the scale of these results will always be overshadowed by the rapid increase in the Nigerian population, with recordable achievements tiny in comparison to WASH service gaps.

If Nigeria is serious about tackling the challenge of open defecation, then the country needs to explore every single available asset to progress exponentially instead. But what does that mean in practical terms and how should the country move from where it is right now?

Firstly, and very importantly, Nigerian leadership needs to appeal to and attract the private sector by providing an enabling environment for the latter to effectively engage in sector development. The PS can bring a wide spectrum of skills that the public sector usually lacks; innovation, efficiency, effectiveness, trust, confidence to name a few. Also, and unlike other public and external resources, the PS avails a critical local resource that is never depletable. Once given the opportunity, this unexplored treasure could potentially play a critical partnership role in revitalising and developing the WASH sector and help

ending open defecation.

Moreover, the commitment at the federal level needs to be replicated at state levels. State leaders need to hold their state WASH authorities responsible for domesticating the roadmap and closely and continuously follow up on progress in implementation – this is implicit in true leadership to face and combat this challenge. Financial commitment is also needed to construct public toilets and support communications campaigns for behavioral change so that people start rejecting open defecation as a norm, then build and use toilets. Part of this campaign would entail leaders directly appealing to their communities and help defeat open defecation by constructing household latrines. Nigerians listen to their leaders who, in turn, should also make sure that all operational hurdles to reach this goal are eliminated.

This is in line with UNICEF senior management’s set vision with regards to PS engagement, as voiced by ED Fore, who stated, “Often, nonprofits and government think of businesses to give them money to fund their programs or to be a contractor to deliver something. They don’t think of them as a partner to co-create with. If you’re really going to have a country that has a literate, engaged, safe, protected, healthy, well-nourished population, then you will need all of the assets of business co-creating with you.”

The private sector can work closely with the government, states and local authorities and communities to actively create sustainable solutions to address the WASH needs of unserved and underserved communities through the lens of corporate social responsibility, Public Private Partnerships and else. This includes but is not limited to sustaining WASH facilities in public places, building toilets, training WASH entrepreneurs and toilet business

owners, providing loans to the poor to construct their toilets, using innovations in sanitary materials technology to enhance construction quality or manage sludge treatment, relaying the correct hygiene message to the population through toiletry products and telecommunications, etc.

Through donor funds, UNICEF is already using its convening power in supporting sanitation marketing by empowering toilet business owners and local masons to build improved sanitation facilities, establishing the connection with local manufacturers of sanitary components and trigger a demand for its use. UNICEF is also supporting sanitation financing by advocating for the use of and canvassing local resources to loan to the poor who can in turn build their latrines. These successful experiences could be shared amongst the different states to expand the impact.

This is a big challenge – but in Nigeria, big challenges come with big opportunities.

Nigeria is a resourceful country – both in terms of human and financial resources – and has the largest economy in Africa.

There is also the highest-level commitment to address the WASH sector’s deficiencies.

The goal to end open defecation – as daunting as it may appear – can be achieved should a sustained will to change be adopted. Nigerian leaders and people need to continue to look inward and explore every single asset in the country, build partnerships with the private sector, adopt successful approaches, and learn from best practices. UNICEF will continue to play its role as a catalyst and convening power to help Nigeria translate these plans into reality and achieve the goal of eradicating open defecation.

Zaid Jurji is the Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene section at UNICEF Nigeria. Connect with him on Twitter: @zaidjurji.

Student as victims of escalated incidences on campuses

By Agidike Abdul Onu

I

t is no longer news that quite a number of corporate bodies and organizations now seek to employ only candidates who are less than 26 years of age. This will naturally exclude persons who did not gain admission to tertiary institutions early, as well as those who stayed longer in their institutions due to industrial actions or some other factors beyond their control.

Consequently, as a student in public school where strikes have become prevalent, there is every tendency that his mate in a private school will graduate before him and by implication become his boss in the office. The trauma and psychological effect of this on the student is quite unimaginable.

It was in view of the above concern that the Department of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja invited Presidents and Secretaries of Students’ Union in public tertiary institutions in the country to a workshop where they were roundly reminded that students are indeed the real victims of escalated incidences on campuses.

The workshop with the theme “Towards a Win-Win Conflict Resolution to Prevent Escalation, Shut-Down and Disruption of Academic Calendar in Tertiary Institutions,” drew participants

from public universities, colleges of education and polytechnic and provided a robust opportunity for rubbing minds on how to achieve harmony in the school system.

The founder and president of Mediation Training Institute Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunyannwo who was one of the resource persons at the workshop restated the tripartite role the institutions play, which include teaching, research and community services. “They are suppose to impart high level skills to a reasonable proportion of the workforce, developing intellectual capability of individuals and engaging in training of competent and responsible professionals needed virtually in all aspects of human endeavour,”he said.

However, Mr. Segun in his presentation noted that a number of challenges faced students of higher institution in Nigeria including limited access, increasing cost and decreasing quality occasioned by out dated equipment and obsolete organizational structure. These according to him are some of the obstacle militating against achieving the objectives for which tertiary institution were established.

Various speakers at the workshop dwelt extensively on the need for the students to join forces with their school management and to be in one accord towards enhancing

harmonious relationship, rather than engage in actions that could disrupt academic activities on campus.

A lecturer at the Department of Law, Baze University Abuja, Barr. Effiong Esu, highlighted the legal and regulating framework for student’s unionism in Nigeria, tracing the history of unionism in Nigeria to the time when the University of Ibadan was established in 1948.

He noted with regret that “over the years, tertiary institutions in Nigeria have witnessed students’ demonstrations and unrest, often leading to destruction of lives and properties with attendant consequences of shut-down of the institutions, disruption of academic calendar, and elongation of duration of courses, little time for teaching and learning and examination without adequate preparation.

The plight of students at the Federal University of Technology, Minna readily came to mind in the circumstance. For instance, the 300 level students in the institution who have been at home will return to school on April 18, 2017, after over two months forced vacation and are expected to commence semester examination two days after resumption.

Dr. Louis Ogbeifun in his presentation “Creating a Peaceful and Harmonious Environment for Students in various

Federal Tertiary Institutions” said that union and management are but two sides of the same coin, required for the purchase of industrial peace and engendering optimum productivity in an organization.

Dr. Ogbeifun blamed lack of effective communication and confidence building between management and the student union as responsible for most conflict situations in the campuses.

Deputy Director, Institutional support at the Federal Ministry of Education Mrs. Ann Haruna assured that such workshop would be organized regularly, to allow for interaction with leaders at various levels in tertiary institutions which in turn can guarantee sustainable harmonious relationship on the campuses.

The students’ union presidents and secretaries on their part commended Federal Ministry of Education for organizing the workshop and urged school managements to carry them along when taking decisions that affect the students.

The students also called on the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to revisit its decision on payment of N10, 000 as regularization fee as against N5, 500 as well as the introduction of N2, 500 screening fee by some institutions.

Agidike Abdul Onu is of the Press Unit of Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

N ews Group hails Gbajabiamila over support to Katsina sick baby From Lawal Funtua, Katsina

A

Sa’idu

Katsina based NonGovernmental Organization, Queen Dijah Women and Children Initiative have hailed intervention by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to settle medical bills of a baby born with congenital disorder in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camp in Batsari local government area of Katsina State.

Halima Abdullahi, three months old was born with congenital disorder (cleft lip and cleft palate) and unfortunately her parents could not afford the medical bills to operate her.

Little Halima’s predicament was brought to limelight with a visit of the NGO to the camp who later sought for the attention of the Speaker when he also led other members of the house on a sympathy visit to the IDPs in the camp and where he instantly agreed to foot the medical bills to carry out operation on the baby.

Speaking at the event, Gbajabiamila said the treatment for the baby will be speedily carried out to correct the disorder.

The speaker directed his medical aide to link up with the NGO for details of the victim to ensure proper planning to conduct the operation for little Halima.

The group coordinator Hajiya Khadija Suleiman Saulawa “We in Queen Dijah Foundation are impressed with the spontaneous response of the Speaker.

It shows he is a man of the people who cares about the welfare of Nigerians like that of little Halimah” .

She added, “ a good leader can be identified through his ability to listen, show concern and care for the citizens (masses) he or she represents as a government”.

She said for the Speaker agreeing to shoulder the responsibility to carry out the operation to correct the disorder is life changing for little Halima.

“We are proud to associate ourselves with the style of leadership displayed by the Speaker. We pray that may Almighty Allah reward him abundantly for the kind gesture, Amin.To all members , we are indeed grateful to them for finding time out of their busy schedules to visit and sympathize with the IDPs,” she stressed.

Kebbi: Rice farmer seeks N12m assistance to undergo kidney transplant From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

A

s a matter of urgency, an appeal has gone to kebbi State Government and individuals to assist a 40 years old rice farmer, Mukhtar Abdulkadir who has to undergo kidney transplanting with a surgery estimated to gulp N12 million.

A medical report signed by Consultant Nephrologists ,Dr Tuko Tari of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kebbi, said Abdulkadir is being managed for

end stage kidney disease and has been unable to sustain adequate maintenance hemodialysis which for now he requires to have twice weekly.

Tari explained further that the patient also requires to be on antihypertensive medications, enythropoestin therapy as well as other supportive medication.

This treatment is estimated to cost him about N65,000 weekly.

He further added that, “I hereby solicit on his behalf to the wealthy individuals to assist him, the patient would definitively benefit from willing to refer him

to a kidney transplant centre in the country, this however is estimated at N12,000,000 only” Narrating his ordeal to newsmen, the patient Mukhtar Abdulkadir said “am suffering from end stage kidney disease whereby both of my kidney have failed, I really need help, I used to work but for the last six months I have been unable to go to my rice farm because of my deteriorating health condition”.

Abdulkadir explained that he can’t bear the dialysis expense of N65,000 weekly, ‘’my relatives ,friends and siblings have been

supporting my dialysis cost”, while the doctor said transplant is the best recommended treatment for him. ‘’I am hopeful for a transplant as my physicians and transplant team feel that I am still medically strong enough to undergo the transplant, I am calling on government, religious organizations, NonGovernmental Organization (NGO) philanthropist’s and others to come to my aid.

“This is my FCMB account number for anybody wishing to help me 2906986027.”

L-R: Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, her Osun and Akwa Ibom state counterparts Justice Oyebola Ojo and Justice Godwin Abraham, at National Workshop for Judges on Arbitration, Conciliation, Negotiation and Mediation, at the National Judicial Institute, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Insecurity: Niger community seeks govt. intervention From Minna

Yakubu

Mustapha

T

he people of Ja’agi in Mokwa local government of Niger State have appealed to the state government and security agencies to ensure peace returned to the community that is witnessing persistence crisis that has recorded destruction of

properties and several injuries.

The community spokesman and Madamin Ja’agi, Alhaji Idris Ahmed disclosed in an interview yesterday while speaking to journalists in Minna, saying that the people have caused mayhem on their lives about three times without security action.

He lamented that the troubled started when the village head

pronounced deposition of the chief Imam without concrete reasons and named another person to take over as Imam.

Alhaji Ahmed raised alarm that the community has experienced three (3) different attacks and urged Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to quickly intervene to ensure peace and to curb reoccurrence.

It could be recalled that the

people of the community could not hold their Idil Kabir prayer because of the crisis that erupted at the prayer ground by the two factions in the community.

It was gathered that 10 cars, 17 motorcycles and houses were destroyed in addition to 14 people injured and hospitalized then due to the injuries they inflicted on each other.

Woman leader quits Nigerian traders association as crisis triggers

By Abba Onyeka

T

hough loyalists to the Chairman, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), Dr Edozie Ugwu had never recognised her as the association’s national woman leader, while those with the association’s National President, Barr Ken Ukaoha recognised her as the holder of the position, but Mrs Ruth Agbo herself has recently withdrawn her membership from the association.

Agbo when contacted, said her withdrawal was due to her inability to understand what has been going on in the association.

She added that since January, 2019, she has been out of the system.

“For some time now, crisis has been going on in the association, caused by leadership tussles and disagreements between members loyal to the national president and those loyal to the Abuja chapter of the association,” She said.

Among those loyal to Ugwu who spoke to journalists were the Chairman, Kaura Model market, Abuja, Mr Pacal Arawusi who doubles as the Director, Sensitisation and Mobilisation, FCT NANTs, Spokesman of the Association in FCT, Austine Njeako, Godswill Ojukwu. Among Ukaoha’s loyalists who spoke to

this medium were the Secretary, Kuje model market, Mr Aniekwe Francis, his Woman leader, Odoh Vivian and Mrs Agbo before her membership withdrawal.

The causes of the crisis, according to Ugwu’s loyalists were, among others, Ukaoha’s unwillingness to organise a national convention for the organisation to have elected executives. They said the reason why he was made the Acting National President was for him to organise a national convention for the association, but unfortunately, they went on, he didn’t want to do that so as to continue to be there.

Others, according to them were appointing national and FCT

women leaders of the Association devoid of election without the consent of the Association, in the names of Mrs Ruth Agbo and Mrs Zainab Omaike respectively; attitude of not carrying members along; non recognising of Dr (Mrs) Rachael Adewumi as the FCT woman leader, a member they said was duly elected to the position before the appropriate authorities.

All these Ugwu confirmed and attributed to Agbo’s withdrawal to quarrel between her and Ukaoha.

However, Ukaoha’s loyalists maintained that: Ukaoha is still the association’s president; Agbo and Omaike, national and FCT women leaders respectively, elected before appropriate authorities.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

Outcry over N5.5b jeep baseless – Senate leader

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

T

he Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, yesterday said the criticism against the 9th National Assembly over its plan to purchase Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) for each of the 469 federal lawmakers at a total cost of N5.5billion is nonsensical and baseless.

Justifying the move in an interview with journalists in his office, the Senate Leader said it is demeaning for public commentators to criticise and kick against the proposal.

According to him, there is nothing for anybody to cry over as far as the plan is concerned, arguing that a serving Senator and their counterparts in the House of Representatives deserve to have an official vehicles, be it jeep or not.

He said “To say that a senator of the Federal Republic cannot ride a jeep in Nigeria is an insult. The N5.5 billion is from the National Assembly fund and not money being sought from any other source. Besides, the scheme as it has always been with previous assemblies is a monetised one, requiring each of the lawmakers to pay back the cost of whatever vehicle given to them.

“The outcry over it is very unnecessary and insulting to the Institution of the National Assembly and status of the federal lawmakers.

When I was a Permanent Secretary, I know what ministers get; we cannot even compare ourselves with ministers because we are higher than the ministers.

“Go and tell the people that the work that we do is more than the work of ministers and as representatives of the people, money we spend on daily basis to all forms of indigent people far outweighs whatever the Ministers or executive officers spend.

He added that both Chambers of the National Assembly are ready at anytime to engage any group of people in the polity on its operations and spending, in line with the principles of accountability and transparency for which he said the 9th National Assembly stands.

“Each of the Ministers move in convoy of three to four Utility Vehicles without anybody raising any eyebrow, while some people who either as a result of ignorance or mischief, always cry to high heavens anytime management of the National Assembly wants to buy just one Utility vehicle for lawmakers on the template of monetisation”, he lamented.

He however commended the executive for rolling out the 20202022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), the basis upon which the 2020 budget proposals will be presented next month by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This, he said will be a prelude to moving the budgetary cycle from May/June as it is presently to January/December every year.

You can’t claim broke with 15 Govs, 44 senators -Staff tells PDP

By Lateef Ibrahim

T

he Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) staff and Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) Staff Welfare Committee, Innocent Nwankwo, has questioned the reasons given for the planned reduction of the staff strength of the PDP over paucity of fund.

Nwankwo went on to state that a political party with 16 state governors and forty four senators, as well as 131 and 390 members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly members respectively would not be hard placed to maintain its workforce.

He declared that the “the fortunes of the party has not nosedived as reported because as at today the party can of boast of 15 governors, 44 senators, 131 House of Representatives and 390 State Assembly members”.

He also stated that the total staff

strength of both PDP and PDI is 96 in number, contrary to the earlier reported figure of 120 in number, adding “The monthly wage bill of Establishment Staff (PDP/PDI) put together is about N15 million, contrary to the earlier reported N65 million Naira.”

He clarified that the PDI, which is the research arm of the PDP, has always been in the payroll of the party since its inception till date, contrary to reports that it was merged thereby over blotting the staff strength of the party since 2016.

Nwankwo maintained that “At the point of implementation of report when submitted, the affected staff will be paid their severance allowances as contained in the party’s Establishment Manual duly signed by the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.”

He also pointed out that the

report of the committee set up to rationalize the workforce of the PDP has not been received and discussed

by National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The PDP leadership has been planning to reduce the staff strength of the since 2015. A circular issued by a former National Secretary of PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, in 2015 stated that apart from the reduction in the number of the staff on the payroll at the party’s headquarters, the salaries and allowances of those to be left behind would be cut by as much as 50 per cent.

He listed the decisions to include the “reduction of the allowance of all NWC members by 50 per cent and reduction in the number of security personnel attached to the national officers by 50 per cent.”

Other measures included the “reduction of the salaries and

allowances of all staff (Establishment and Staff of NWC members) by 50 per cent, effective August, 2015.”

Oladipo added that “Establishment staff that would remain is required to obtain individual letter of re-validation from their state chapters within one month of this circular as to their suitability for service at the national secretariat.”

This position was revalidated by the present NWC when it met with workers of the party. At the meeting, the leadership of PDP told the workers of the planned reduction in staff strength.

To add to this, it also told the workers that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not more than 45 staff.

The PDP leadership told the staff that more people could be engaged as ad-hoc staff during electioneering era.

L-R: Leader of the House of Representative Hon, Alhassan Ado-Dogwa, Managing Director Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Mr. Usman Muhammed, Spear House of Representative Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Chief Whip Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha, exchanging pleasantries, during the Courtesy visit on Speakers Office, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Cancer prevention centre Bill scales second reading in Reps

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives has passed through second reading a bill for an act to establish cancer registry, to make provision for the compilation of a statistical record of the incidence of cancer; to provide a basis for direction of programmes for research and for cancer prevention and related matters.

The bill, sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai was unanimously passed at Wednesday plenary presided over

by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

The bill when will “provide a platform for information gathering on the mortality rate of cancer disease and a basis for

compilation of statistical record of incidence of cancer in the country”.

The further check to “provide a direction of cancer survival studies and research programme and information on the personal, clinical and pathological characteristic of cancer in Nigeria”.

Similarly, “the centre will provide vital statistics on the type of cancer seen in that environment including the topography, age and sex distribution, and possibly typical outcomes for affected individuals” Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Ossai disclosed that Nigeria presently records an estimated number of

102,000 of new cases of cancer annually, out of which about 80,000 die.

He observed that breast and cervical cancer are the two most common types of cancer responsible for approximately 50.3 percent of all cancer cases in Nigeria.

The lawmaker noted that as a result of the recent negative consequences of cancer disease in Nigeria, the federal ministry of health in 2009 collaborated with Society of Oncology and Cancer Research of Nigeria and the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria, which led to the formation of Nigeria National System of Cancer Registration.

He said since inception, the

Nigeria National System of Cancer Registration has been able to revive national consciousness in cancer registration and presently over 30 cancer registries have been established in the country without the federal government having a national office to collate and record information on the incidences and mortality rate of cancer in Nigeria.

Ossai further lamented that “as at today in Nigeria, there is no legislation that gives full effect to any issue relating to registration of cancer patients in Nigeria”.

When the speaker put to question, the bill was unanimously adopted and referred to the House committee on health care services for further legislative action.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

PAGE 16

POLITICS

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to confer National Honour on Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, for conveying Nigerians free of charge from South Africa in the wake of Xenophobic attacks.

The House equally resolved to make Air Peace the official Airline of the National Assembly in appreciation of the selfless and patriotic service of Chairman of the Group, Onyema.

These resolutions were reached during Wednesday plenary following a motion moved by Adulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) on the Need for the Federal Government to give National Honour to Onyema who appeared before the House for appreciation on the invitation of

Xenophobia: Air Peace MD deserves National Honour -Reps tells Buhari the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Moving the motion, Namdas noted that Onyema released his Aircrafts to convey Nigerians during Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the House is aware that he did not collect any money and non of his family members was affected.

The motion was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun), who acknowledged that indigenes of his state benefited immensely from the gesture as Ogun was reported to have the highest number of returnees and commended Onyema for been a

symbol of hope for Nigerians in need.

The motion was unanimously adopted when put to voice vote while several members who in their various contributions pour encomiums and eulogies on the Chairman of Air Peace, pointing out his previous contributions to national development such as in the Amnesty programme and Almajiri Schools.

In his ruling, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said his office will immediately write a letter of commendation to

Air Peace Airline and transit the resolutions of the House to President for further action.

Speaking on his motivation for the gesture, Onyema said his decision was not spontaneous and geared towards mitigating the hardship been faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

“The decision to evacuate Nigerians was taking spontaneously, neither did I do it for publicity; I had to mortgage my landing right in South Africa, because I just got the landing right before the crisis.

“I did not give a damn; I never

did, because I know that I will not go to heaven with any dime.

“I have never been so honoured in my life. You have brought tears to my eyes. I would not have been able to do this if the federal government did not allow me or assemble those people for me to evacuate.”

He further called on government to look into the plight of those who lost lives and properties in South Africa, adding that Nigeria should harness her strength of diversity as a nation.

Kogi PDP primaries: Ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris’ son heads to court

By Lateef Ibrahim

O

ne of the aspirants who contested for governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Abubakar Ibrahim, has gone to court, seeking to be declared the candidate of the party for the November 16 election.

The spokesman of the Abubakar Ibrahim campaign organisation, Shaba Ibrahim, who was flanked by Ibrahim and the Director General of the Campaign and former acting governor of the State, Hon Clarence Olafemi, disclosed this at a press conference addressed in Abuja.

The campaign spokesman, who faulted the process that produced Musa Wada as candidate of the party ahead of the election, equally faulted the authenticity of 600 votes recorded for the candidate.

Noting that the process and conclusion of the PDP committee on the primaries fell short of the expectation of rational minds, the spokesman questioned why 247 votes which the committee initially ignored were later announced as belonging to Senator Dino Melaye.

According to him, “We as democratic and law abiding people have taken steps to seek redress within the confines of the law. We have approached the court to seek redress.

We will not go into many details.

“But suffice to state that we have won and pray to the court that Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim be and ought to be declared as the candidate of the PDP based on the valid votes recorded at the primaries.

“We are not unaware of insinuations going round that we seek to void the entire process that is far from the truth. Our prayer is sole and that is we won the election and ought to be so declared. We seek no more and we ask for no less,” he said.

He added, “I want us to recall that it was upon the assurances of the chairman of the committee no less a person than his excellency, Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri that all the materials and the ballot used in the election, that was disrupted by gunmen on the September 3 have been fully recovered, did we consent to the counting and sorting of the ballot and process on September 4, 2019.

“We want to state that it was not until the process of counting had been concluded that the chairman made a u-turn by announcing to the people present, including yours sincerely and the aspirant, that some 247 ballot papers were missing.

“It is instructive to note that the margin of lead between the two lead-

ing aspirants was and remains 38 votes. In our mind that is substantial.

“Next is the fact that the committee quite strangely accepted from Engr Musa Wada 600 ballot papers brought from the comfort of his home. They didn’t just accept but they also collated and added it to the already sorted 148 votes which now threw Engr Musa votes to 748.

“That before the conclusion of the exercise, we had laid claims to the missing 247 votes which the committee conveniently ignored, and quite interestingly, some days after the committee announced that those votes purportedly belong to Senator Dino Melaye.

“How they came about that finding beats our imagination and that is an

issue.

“By simple arithmetic, you will agree with me that if you deduct 600 votes that were brought in from the confines and comfort of the candidate’s home from the 748 votes that are ascribed to him our candidate will be leading comfortably,” the campaign spokesman said.

Speaking on the moves by PDP and

Wada on reconciliation, Abubakar Ibrahim said “sadly, not only has the candidate not approached me, but even the appeal committee has not even replied my petition.

“This is 14 days after, certificate of return has been given to the candidate and for what reason, I still want to know. But none of them, the party or Engr Musa, has addressed it.”

L-R: Wife of Governor of Rivers State, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-wike; Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, during the inauguration of Rumuwoji Market , yesterday in Port Harcourt . Photo; NAN

Tribunal validates Gov Bello’s victory From Yakubu Minna

T

Mustapha,

he Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Niger State has upheld the victory of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 9th March governorship election.

Consequent to a petition against his victory, the tribunal which upheld the election, however dismissed the petitions of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Umar Mohammed Nasko for lacking in merit.

On the allegations by the petitioners that the Governorship election in 2019 was marred with intimidation, violence, vote buying among other act of irregularities,

the tribunal explained that the petitions were bereft of evidences and was bound to fail at arrival.

In a statement issued by Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, he said that the judiciary has again proved itself strong in the protection of democracy and the rule of law in the country.

Ahmed Matane further stressed that the resounding victory of the Governor at the tribunal is an indication of the trust, confidence and integrity reposed in him by Nigerlites to take the State to the next level, adding that the people of the State are proud of the magnificent achievements recorded by his administration despite the

enormous challenges.

The SSG, while congratulating Nigerlites on the victory stated that “I had no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the Governor would come out victorious, considering the massive support the people of the State gave him before and during the March 9 governorship election”.

He congratulated the Nigerian judiciary for living up to expectations by doing the right thing, stressing that with the judgment, a precedent has been set on electoral matters in the country.

“Your successes in Security, Agriculture, Health, Education, Economic revitalization, Infrastructural Development, Youth and Women

Empowerment, as well as zero tolerance for corruption are testimony that indeed Niger State is on the real path to sustainable growth and development”, the statement added.

The SSG reiterated that the present administration led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello would not relent in its quest to give the people of the State true, qualitative, purposeful and transformational leadership that will bring about increased dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

He called on the people of the State to continue to support the programmes and policies of the present administration for the growth and development of the State and the country at large.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

Appeal Court clears former Jigawa officials of fraud

By Vivian Okejeme with agency

T

he Court of Appeal in Dutse has acquitted former officials of the Jigawa State Government who served under the Sule Lamido administration.

The court discharged the officials because they were tried under an inappropriate law. It said the state government can resume their trial under the relevant law.

The discharged officials are Salisu Mahmuda, who is now the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Salisu Indirawa who was the commissioner for local government affairs; Nasiru Roni who was the commissioner for finance, and Abba Dagoro, the former state secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Others are Shehu Chamo and Muktar Gwanga, who were also officials of ALGON during the administration of Mr Lamido.

The state government had charged the accused persons on three counts bordering on criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by public servant and public servant disobeying the direction of law with intent to cause public injury.

The alleged offences are punishable under sections 96, 123 and 315 of the Criminal Procedure Laws of Jigawa State.

But the counsel to the appellants, AG Wakil, argued that the sections of the penal code under which they were arraigned are only applicable to public servants under the federal, state and local governments. He said the accused persons are not public servants.

While delivering the judgement, the lead judge, Umar Maigari, struck out the first information report used for the trial of the appellants.

He, therefore, discharged the first, second and third appellants.

However, the judge said the respondent is at liberty to continue with the prosecution in the relevant court and under relevant laws of the land.

“The decision of the trial court dated 20th, December 2018 in suit No CR/91/2017 is hereby set aside,” the judge ruled.

After the session, one of the respondent’s lawyers, Aliyu Hassan, said the respondent’s team would analyse the judgement and decide on the next step.

Politics

kwa Ibom assembly reinstates suspended LGA chairman

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has re-instated the chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Imoh Williams, who had been on suspension following an assault on an artisan.

Godwin Abraham, who makes a living decorating event venue, was flogged in April at the secretariat of the Abak local government area by two men who accused him of insulting the local government chairman, Mr Williams, on Facebook, over some unresolved indebtedness.

The assault was captured on camera which went viral on the internet, prompting the House of Assembly to suspend the council chairman.

One of the assailants, Uduak Aniekan, otherwise known as Uduak Alele, was identified as an aide to Mr Williams.

The other was Nyakno Ukpanah, an official of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The suspended chairman, Mr Williams, alongside the victim, Mr Abraham, and his assailant, Mr Alele, appeared last month before the committee on local

government and chieftaincy affairs in the state assembly.

The committee chairman, Mark Esset (PDP/Nsit Atai), presented their report during plenary on Tuesday, absolving Mr Williams of complicity in the assault case.

The speaker of the assembly, Aniekan Bassey, presided over the plenary.

“Hon. Imoh Williams did not authorize Mr Uduakobong Samekpo to beat up Mr. Godwin Abraham, but rather showed disapproval by sacking Mr Samekpo as his Aide,” a statement from the media unit of the assembly

quoted the report as saying.

“The suspended Abak Local Government Council Chairman had since tendered an apology to the victim and the entire state on the unfortunate incident.”

The assembly adopted the report and recommendations of the committee and accordingly resolved that Mr Williams be reinstated.

The assembly, however, advised him to ensure he screens and trains his aides against overzealousness and impunity.

The committee did not recommend any sanction against the man who assaulted the artisan.

L-R; Alh. Mustapha Kajuru Publisher of Taskira Newspaper presenting award of excellence to Provost of Muslim Community College of Health Sciences and Technology Funtua, Alh. Umar Aminu Imam in Funtua during the award presentation, recently.

Photo; BASHIR BELLO

Dickson warns PDP leaders over unauthorised statements

T

he Bayelsa State Governor and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Chairman, Seriake Dickson, has warned party leaders not to issue statements not authorised by him.

According to a statement attributed to Dickson, had declared that the tribunal judgement on the 2019 presidential poll, which upheld President Muhammadu Buhari victory, would not stand.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secre-

tary, Fidelis Soriwei, in what can be termed as a tacit denial of the tribunal ruling statement, condemned the unacceptable conduct by some persons who used his name without seeking his clarification and consent to make comments on national issues.

Dickson, who said while he is reputed to make comments on sensitive national issues, it is odd and criminal for any person or group of persons to make attributions to him in statements he did not authorise.

He warned those behind the act to desist forthwith, stressing it was the conventional standard for him to be consulted on all statements to avoid being misrepresented.

“It has come to my attention that some PDP members are using my name to issue statements without seeking my consent and approval, especially on issues involving the PDP Governors’ Forum. Everyone knows I am capable of taking positions on national issues. Cowards should not hide

under my name and that of the forum to make statements. I have always made statements on issues that I am passionate about without any fear.

“I condemn in very strong terms any tendency to wilfully use my name to issue statement without my consent. It is reprehensible, condemnable and must stop forthwith. Henceforth, all statements emanating from the PDP Governors’ Forum must be authorised personally by me,” he said.

President Buhari re-appoints Adeyemi, Adeleye as special assistants

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Segun Adeyemi and Williams Adeleye as his Special Assistants (Media) attached to the Office

of the Minister of Information and Culture.

The Chief Press Secretary to information, Joe Mutah, and culture minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed

this in a statement issued in Abuja.

He said the re-appointment letters of the two SSAs, which were signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stat-

ed that their appointment took effect from September 6 2019.

Adeyemi and Adeleye served in the same capacity between November 2015 and May 2019.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

H ealth

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

FG interrupts River blindness transmission in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, others

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Federal Ministry of Health has announced that Onchocerciasis (River Blindness disease) has been interrupted in Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States; while transmission of the disease is suspected to have been interrupted in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Bauchi States.

The ministry in a statement issued yesterday

by Enefaa Bob-Manuel, its Head, Public Relations, said the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi, said that “the implication of this achievement is that, a total of about 4.2 million persons are no longer in need of Mass Administration of Medicines for Onchocerciasis in the endemic Local Government Areas of Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States.

“With these achievements, Plateau,

Nasarawa and Kaduna States in Nigeria has joined other countries like Columbia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico in the Americas and Awi Zone in Ethiopia in the interruption of transmission of River blindness. Uganda also interrupted River blindness in 15 out of 17 foci.”

The Permanent Secretary explained that the impact assessment exercise carried out in several States using epidemiological and entomological parameters, following the recommendations of the National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee (NOEC) indicated the interruption of the disease in Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States, while entomological studies is ongoing to confirm the interruption in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Bauchi States.

He informed that nearly all States have maintained a minimum of 65% therapeutic coverage for the last 7 years, while overall treatment have risen from about 200,000

persons in 1991 to over 70 million by 2018, including people living in conflicts areas.

The results have also shown a reduction of transmission of the disease in other States. The Local Governments where transmission of the disease is on-going are conducting a twice - a year treatment to fast track the elimination of the disease, he added.

The Permanent Secretary noted that sustaining the momentum of the elimination may become more challenging as the clinical manifestation of the disease become increasingly rare.

In his optimism however, he assured that as the visual impairment, blindness and severe itching become less and the fatigue of the treatment sets in, innovative communication strategy is being employed to ensure that high coverage is maintained until the disease is eliminated in the Country.

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by small worms living in the body. It is transmitted by the bite of a black fly which is the vector for River blindness.

Manifestations of the disease include severe and troublesome itching, hanging groin, thick and rough skin and blindness.

The milestones achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, The Carter Center, Sightsavers, the respective States Governments, the Local Governments and the affected Communities.

“The government of Nigeria appreciates the long existing and strong collaboration with the pharmaceutical industries especially the Mectizan Donation Programme who has been and still donating Mectizan tablets free of charge for the elimination of Onchocerciasis in Nigeria.”

Health Ministry, Stakeholders advocate tax earmarking for tobacco control in Nigeria

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

P

articipants recently at a highlevel session on tobacco tax earmarking convened by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and the Federal Ministry of Health have highlighted the importance of the establishment of Tobacco Control Fund for successful implementation of tobacco control policies in the country.

The meeting held in Abuja was attended by senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance,

Nigeria Customs Service, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trades and Investment, Budget Office of the federation, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as well as Centre for the study of economics of Africa and the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), among others.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the event, participants noted that tobacco is a leading cause of death globally and that the tobacco issue in Nigeria requires a urgent attention

especially with the various novels products and advertising methods that the tobacco industry are contriving.

They averred that the burden of tobacco induced diseases on public health of the country is high and a concerted effort is needed to address the spate of tobacco induced diseases (non-communicable diseases) in the country.

They stressed that according to global best practices and recommendations of various experts high tobacco taxes remains the single most effective and cost effective way to

reduce tobacco use.

It was observed that healthcare and health coverage in Nigeria is underfunded and that tobacco control need more funding which can be achieved through earmarking of tobacco taxes because of its success rate in other countries.

They therefore recommended that: · Every Ministries, Department and Agencies represented in the meeting should make strong recommendations to their offices for tobacco tax

earmarking for public health and tobacco control. · The Federal Ministry of Health should as a matter of urgency set up the National Tobacco control fund for financing tobacco control in the country. · The Federal Ministry of Health should coordinated a synergized effort for the campaign for tobacco tax earmarking to happen · Civil Society organizations should continue to put the conversations on tobacco tax earmarking in the public space.

CLASSIFIED EDEH

IBRAHIM

PUBLIC NOTICE

That in my bank account details my name was wrongly captured as EDHE GLORIA, NOW I WISH TO BE KNOWN AS EDEH GLORIA CHIJIOKE.

I, formerly known as IBRAHIM HARUNA. now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM DANLAMI HARUNA. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAME HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

MARIAM

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, formerly known as MARIAM GARBA. now wish to be known and addressed as MARIAM IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

MASYDONIA GINGER FARMERS ASSOCIATION OF NIG

ononyem I, formerly known as ezeah nwanneka julient and ezeugwu nwanneka juliet. now wish to be known and addressed as ononyem nwanneka juliet . All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration Under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) UMARU MOHAMMED NDATSU AVM (RTD) 2) DAUDU NUHU BAGANI 3) OKONKWO CHIKAODI JACINTA 4) DAUDU ABEL FUNOM 5) NET DANJUMA 6) ABICHELE EDOH BABA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1) To harmonise ginger farmers.

2) To help in quality production of ginger.

3) To add in production and processing of ginger products.

4) Protect the common interest of ginger farmers.

5) To do all things related to ginger production 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 28 days from the date of this publication.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER OF GRANT OF RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY AND CONVEYANCE OF PROVISIONAL APPROVAL IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 9, 27 AND 28 ALL LOCATED AT BAUPMA VILLAGE EXTENTION LAYOUT, BWARI AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA. ALL DATED 1st June, 2000. Belonging to Mrs. Ivuoma Ndukwe.

All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive, if found, kindly return to the nearest police station. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known as ENNA AKYEN SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as ENNA AKYENYI EKUKPA. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

ADAMU

Aliyu

I formerly known as ADAMU HASSAN now wish to be known and addressed as ADAMU HASSAN SAIDU. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith bank and the general public should take note .

Signed : SECRETARY

ENNA

I, formerly known as Aliyu Salisu Ali Now wish to be known and addressed as Aliyu Salisu. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

MY ABILITY IN DISABILITY FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. ABENABE ONOME EMONENA - CHAIRMAN 2. TOJE OGHENERUKEVWE JULIET 3. AZAINO ELO OTHUKE - SECRETARY 4. OLUNLADE AYODEJI AKINTUNJI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To cater for the welfare of the disabled 2. To assist the disabled less privileged members of the society by providing financial aid, medical treatment and provision of shelter ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHRIST OUR HOPE CHURCH THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Stephen Orimadegun Oke. 2. Deborah Dunsin Oke. 3. Esther Dunni Olayoriju.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach and propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Chinedum I. Amanamba, Esq. 08038752686, 08098919318

Angolan Bank, BFA signs on to Afreximbank’s $50m Trade Facility

L-R: Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Omar Shekarau; Managing Director, North East Development Commission, Mr Mohammed Goni Alkali; Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan and Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs, North East Development Commission, Musa Umar Yashe, during a courtesy call to BOI by the MD of NEDC, yesterday in Abuja.

By Etuka Sunday

B

anco de Fomento Angola (BFA) has signed on to the Afreximbank Trade Facilitation programme (AFTRAF) for an initial $50-million line of credit, becoming the first Angolan bank to sign on to the programme offered by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) with the aim of supporting African banks to bridge the gap created by the withdrawal of international correspondent banks from the continent.

Afreximbank in a statement said, BFA will use the AFTRAF line of credit to confirm letters of credit and to issue guarantees, avalisation and other trade enabling products, said Afreximbank in an announcement in Cairo today. The line could also be increased based on demand from the Angola market.

According to the announcement, the AFTRAF programme provides access to a global network of confirming banks and complements the capacity of African banks to provide trade financing solutions by providing risk mitigation in new or challenging markets where trade lines may be constrained.

The AFTRAF programme is expected to help African importers and exporters to increase their trade volumes with African counterparties and internationally and to enhance confidence in the settlement of international trade transactions for critical imports into Africa while ensuring access to trade finance at reasonable cost.

So far, 100 Banks from 26 Afreximbank member countries have signed on to the AFTRAF The signing of the AFRAF facility by BFA is part of ongoing cooperation between Afreximbank and BFA as both are actively engaged in other areas in support of the Angolan economy.

CBN Okays AIP to 3 Payment Service Banks

By Etuka Sunday

I

n line with its objective of enhancing financial inclusion and the development of the payment system by increasing access to deposit products and payments services through a secured technology-driven environment, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued

Approvals-in-Principle (AIP) to three Payment Service Banks (PSBs).

The three institutions issued approvals in principle to operate as Payment Service Banks are Hope PSB, Money Master PSB and 9PSB. This was disclosed in Abuja by the Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Isaac Okorafor, who

explained that the approval in principle was part of the processes the institutions had to fulfil in order to be granted license to operate as fully-fledged Payment Service banks.

According to Okorafor, the decision of the CBN to issue the AIP to the applicants followed the institutions’ satisfaction of documentation and other laid

down conditions.

Sequel to the issuance of the AIP to the three banks, he said they are expected to submit their respective applications for the grant of a final licence, not later than six months after the AIP. Speaking further, he disclosed that the CBN code of corporate governance for banks would also be applicable to the PSBs.

Peace deal: NNPC anticipates Crude oil production to hit 35, 000bpd

By Etuka Sunday

N

igeria’s crude oil production is poised for an increased output of 35,000 barrels per day as a protracted dispute that soiled relations amongst Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Belema Oil and host communities within the precinct of OML 25 in Kula Kingdom of Aku-ku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has come to an amicable end.

A release by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that the crisis was laid to rest following a rapprochement brokered by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, offering the promise to open the way for resumption of production activities on the field soon.

Speaking at the end of the peace parley, symbolized with the signing of a dispute resolution agreement among the erstwhile feuding parties, the NNPC GMD described the event as vital in ensuring restoration of normalcy, especially in the communities whose normal ways of life have been disrupted by the dispute in the last two years.

Kyari said the economic implication of the peace agreement was that production within the OML 25 and adjoining assets which have daily production output of over 35,000 barrels would resume and add value for the community, the investors and the country at large.

The GMD acknowledged the effort of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in ensuring the lasting settlement of the dispute, noting that the position of the HMSPR

was in tandem with the aspiration of President Mohammadu Buhari in ensuring harmonious relations between host communities and oil industry operators.

Kyari also took time out to recognize the collaborative efforts of the President of Belema Oil Producing Limited, Mr. Jack Rich Tein and the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, in bringing to a closure the two year-old dispute.

Responding, Okunbor thanked the Chief Sylva and Mallam Kyari for their exemplary efforts and demonstration of deep commitment in resolving the disputes with Belema Oil and the communities.

He said Shell was looking forward to a quick return to the oil platform ahead of planned resumption of production activities in OML 25.

On his part, Mr. Jack Rich Tein,

said the resolution would ensure restoration of production which would ultimately benefit the communities and all stakeholders in this regard.

He pledged to abide by the terms of dispute resolution agreement, saying the Belema Oil would always support any initiative designed to bring peace and development for the communities and the country.

Commending the stakeholders for successful settlement of the issues, Chief Sylva noted that his mandate as HMSPR was to ensure a zero disruption in crude oil and gas production across all assets.

He said the Petroleum Ministry under his watch had resolved to settle all pending legacy issues capable of igniting loss or disruption in production, adding that every drop of oil produced in Nigeria must get to the desired destination to create the much needed value for all stakeholders.

Energy Nigeria records steady growth in Domestic LPG Utilisation -PPPRA OPEC lauds

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has said that the efforts of government, industry Operators and Regulators in deepening LPG Penetration is paying off as the nation continues to record rapid growth in the Utilisation of LPG in the country.

The Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Abdulkadir Saidu made this disclosure in Abuja during an interactive session with the press.

The Executive Secretary added that while domestic utilization ranged between Forty thousand (40,000) MT and Fifty-four thousand (54, 000) MT from January to April 2018, July 2019 monthly utilization hit Seventy-eight (78,000) MT. This figure is expected to increase in the months ahead as some of government and industry initiatives take root.

Correspondingly, there has been a steady decrease in Kerosene utilization within the same period indicating that Nigerians are increasingly finding value in the switch to LPG

from House Hold kerosene for cooking and other domestic purposes.

The rapid growth in LPG utilization is in fulfillment of the vision of the Government on deepening LPG utilization in the country as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy 2017.

The Executive Secretary assures Nigerians that government, regulators, operators and other stakeholders will remain focused on the formulation and implementation of a stream of policies that will see to the actualisation of the 5 Million Metric Tons cumulative target by the year 2022.

$17bn NLNG Train 7 Project ‘ll create 40,000 jobs -Engr. Wabote

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has said that the execution of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 project will at its peak create over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.

He stated this in Abuja during the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) for the Train-7 Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract between NLNG and the preferred consortium- SCD, which is constituted by three entities - Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo.

The Managing Director of NLNG, Engr. Tony Attah said at the event ”that Train-7 will move from Front End Engineering Design (FEED) to detailed design, construction, commission and delivery and this phase will attract almost $7bn with an addition of the upstream scope of $10bn which will boost the foreign direct investment profile of Nigeria.”

He pledged the company’s commitment to achieve the project within four to five-year period and hoped that it would sign the Final Investment Decision (FID) by the end of October 2019.

Dwelling further on the opportunities, Wabote said “the NLNG Train-7 will deliver 100 percent engineering of all noncryogenic areas in-country. The total in-country engineering man-hours is set at 55 percent which exceeds the minimum level stipulated in the NOGICD Act, in line with our resolve to push beyond the boundary of limitations.”

The schedule of the NOGICD Act set the minimum engineering man-hours for FEED and Detailed

Engineering on LNG Facility at 50 percent.

He stated further that the benefits of the Train 7 project will extend to site civil works on roads, piling, and jetties, 100 percent local procurement of all LV and HV cables, noncryogenic valves, protective paints and coatings, sacrificial anodes and many other direct procurements from our local manufacturing plants.

The target, according to the Executive Secretary, is to assemble over 70 percent of all non-cryogenic pumps and control valves in-country, while other spin-off opportunities include logistics, equipment leasing, insurance, hotels, office supplies, aviation, haulage and many more.

He confirmed that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has charged stakeholders connected with the NLNG Train-7 project to fast track actions related to it.

According to him, “the Minister has this project as one of his focus areas to put an end to the drought of FID’s in the oil and gas industry in the last few years”.

Apart from the job opportunities

and the accruable revenues from this multi-billion dollars Train-7 project, the Minister also sees the additional tonnage of LPG to be produced from Train-7 as a key benefit to reduce importation of LPG into the country, he added. ”He is also excited that Train-7 project attracts other upstream gas supply projects required to keep the LNG train busy. The project opens up other development opportunities for some gas fields in the shallow and deep offshore acreages such as HI, HA, HK, and Opoukunou-Tuomo fields” the local content boss stated.

Wabote charged the SCD consortium to fully implement the agreed Nigerian Content levels as contained in the approved Nigerian Content Plan for Train-7 project, covering engineering, fabrication, civil works, local procurement, project services, logistics, equipment leasing, insurance, hotels, office supplies, aviation, haulage, human capacity development and jobs.

As part his remarks, MD of NLNG, Engr. Tony Attah commended NCDMB for completing its review of the commercial evaluation report of

Train 7 in 48 hours, noting that it took the natural gas company about three months to produce the commercial evaluation summary.

While confirming that NCDMB had kept to its commitment of reducing its approval cycle on projects, the NLNG boss also thanked the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva for the support they provide for the project.

He lauded the three entities that constituted the SCD consortium Saipem of Italy, Japan’s Chiyoda and Daewoo of South Korea for delivering the FEED and participating in the EPC tendering.

He confirmed that the issuance of the LoI moved the NLNG even closer to the Final Investment Decision (FID) as the ceremony is the declaration of intent and commitment to the contractors who will go forward with the project. Train 7 will move the company from 22-million-tons capacity from its six trains currently to 30 million tons, essentially about 35 percent increase in capacity.

Standard gauge rail, Nigeria

KEDCO set to inaugurate Task Force Tribunal

T

he task force tribunal which is to investigate and prosecute cases of energy theft, meter by-pass and associated offences for the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) will soon be inaugurated to prosecute errant customers with regard to cases of energy theft, meter by-pass and other offences.

A statement by KEDCO said, the team has already arrived Kano and are making assessment exercises which after, the task force tribunal will be inaugurated and the tribunal is to be set up by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.

The statement said, the main activities will be to strictly prosecute after investigation, all cases of energy theft and related offences that are

METRO

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

perpetuated to cause any economic loss to KEDCO. “Similar tribunal has been operating in other discos franchise and it’s now time for Kano and Kaduna DisCos. The team which has arrived Kano has already been interacting with staff and officers of KEDCO in preparatory for the commencement of activities in that regard.

“We are herewith calling on all customers that have formed the habits of not paying their bills to desist from such to avoid the tribunal hammer. It is our wish that customers regularly pay their bills and not pile up debts that may become difficult to pay which the tribunal frowns at.

“It is better to pay and avoid having issues to be treated by the tribunal

task force as this will compel the concerned customer(s) to run around to pay all the debts at once which may be too burdening financially. So, it is advised that customers should desist from piling up debts by refusing to pay their monthly bills.

“As for those sabotaging KEDCO with regard to energy theft, meter bypass and other activities that result to economic losses for KEDCO, should know that the days or eras of unholy businesses have ended as anybody found wanting in that regard will have himself or herself to blame before the tribunal as the law is not a respecter of human.

“Those who do these sabotaging businesses and think they have been living in a lawless world should know

that with the coming of the tribunal it is either they turn a new leaf or leave the tribunal with no option than to send them to wherever they belong in line with the penalties of their offences.

“This move is a genuine attempt to protect both KEDCO and the customers. Some of the meter by-pass and cases of energy theft are done without the consent of some genuine customers which means they will be paying for the energy that others who tap from them illegally are using which is an extra burden on them and KEDCO frowns at this. So, the tribunal will protect the customers as well as KEDCO in order for KEDCO to serve their customers better,” the statement said.

Nigeria’s Commitment to Oil Market Stability

T

he Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has commended Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the stability of the global oil market which spanned many years of its membership of the organization.

This commendation came from the Chairman of OPEC’s 16th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday.

Bin Salman, who doubles as the Saudi Arabian Energy Minister noted that since the 1980s when Nigeria’s late Oil Minister Dr. Rilwanu Lukman reigned at the helm of the Organisation, the West African nation’s role has been very pivotal in helping OPEC achieve stability in the oil market.

“Nigeria has always brought commitment and obligation towards the OPEC cause. I always thought of how we would have crossed the uncertainties of the global oil market of the 1980s without Nigeria,” Bin Salman added.

According to him, Nigeria’s role cuts across compliance with OPEC charters as well as mediation and reconciliation among member countries over the years.

During Thursday’s JMMC, OPEC reiterated its determination to accelerate concerted action towards addressing market challenges and adapting to future developments.

While enjoining non-compliant members to fully observe their production commitments, the JMMC also underscored the need for continued commitment for the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) in support of oil market stability on a sustainable basis.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Sylva said OPEC’s endorsement was a testimony to Mr. President’s efforts at ensuring that Nigeria remains a stabilizing force within the organization.

“The rest of OPEC have always looked up to us whenever there are problems. Recall that as OPEC Secretary General, our late Oil Minister Dr. Rilwanu Lukman was highly influential and since then we have played a central role and have been taken very seriously by member countries,” he stated.

Sylva, who was in his maiden outing at the OPEC described the endorsement as “heartwarming”, adding that it would go a long way to spurring and encouraging the country to do better.

The Minister further assured Nigeria’s commitment to meet its agreed quotas by October this year.

“We have agreed to comply with production cuts of 50% this month (September 2019) and 100% from October this year,” Sylva stated.

The next meeting of the JMMC comes up on the 4th December 2019 at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

Page 21

Insecurity: Be vigilant -Bello charges Abuja residents

By Stanley Onyekwere

R

esidents of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been admonished to always be very vigilant and conscious of their personal security as law enforcement agencies alone cannot effectively handle security challenges.

This charge was handed down by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, in the wake of seemingly increasing rate of crime in the Territory.

The Minister spoke after the meeting of the FCT Security Committee which comprises of the heads of the police, military and para military formations in the FCT as well as Area Council Chairmen and religious leaders.

In his words: “it is almost impossible for security agencies to be everywhere one hundred percent, so every resident in a way is also a security officer. So, it is very important for residents to be vigilant. “if for instance, you see a vehicle without number plates, it means that vehicle is not registered and can be used for criminal activities, please report to the relevant authorities.”

According to him, in comparison to several cities around the world, FCT remains quite safe while acknowledging that there were indeed two incidences of kidnappings over the past few weeks, the Minister said both victims have been rescued.

He therefore called on residents to not be swayed by rumours or unverified news online but to confirm their veracity before circulating; adding that fake news or false security information has the capacity to lead to breach of peace.

Similarly, on the issue of communal clashes, he commended the efforts of the Area Council Chairmen and traditional

rulers in curbing the herders/farmers clashes and urged them to continue on the path of ensuring peace.

Bello also assured residents that the FCTA will continue to partner and render support to the Nigerian police, the military and para -military commands in the FCT that are charged with the task of keeping the city secure.

Also speaking, the FCT Minister of State Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu called for synergy between all security agencies in the task of combating crime and enforcing security measures in the FCT. On his part, FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma on his part said that

there will be more deployment of officers and men across the city to combat crime.

Ciroma disclosed that the Police were also intensifying both vehicular and foot patrol to ensure more visibility of officers and men of the Force in the city. The raid of black spots he said, will be stepped up.

He echoed the opinion of the FCT Minister when he said that community policing, which involved a robust collaboration between the police and the citizenry will be intensified.

He opined that this method has succeeded in curbing criminality in the Area Councils, especially Abaji where information provided by the citizens

stopped a kidnapping ring which operated between Kogi State and the FCT. Meanwhile, on the menace of “one Chance” the police commissioner said that the criminals perpetrated their acts by using unregistered and unpainted taxis.

He added the police was collaborating with the FCT Directorate of Road Transport Services to apprehend the criminals.

The FCT Police boss also revealed that a unit within the CID was created specifically to combat one chance and so far, over one hundred of suspected one chance perpetrators have been arrested and their vehicles confiscated.

Dignity of Labour as the wheelbarrow pushes his to earn a living, recently in Mararaba.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCTA seeks partnership with UN-HABITAT on mass housing, transportation

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n order to accelerate development especially in the critical areas of transportation waste management as well as mass housing, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has sought for robust partnership with United Nations Human Settlement Programme.

Bello made the call when he received a delegation of officials of UN-HABITAT led by its Director, Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Naison Mutizwa Mangiza, on a courtesy visit to the FCTA. The FCT Minister noted that with the increasing population of the FCT, some of the major challenges confronting the Territory included provision of affordable mass

housing, mass transportation and waste management.

On the provision of a functional and affordable mass transportation system which will not impact negatively on the environment, the Minister called for technical assistance for the use of electric or hybrid mass transportation buses that will release less or none of harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere that is currently occurring with the use of diesel powered mass transportation buses.

According to him, the use of electric/hybrid buses to create a reliable mass transportation system will reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and ultimately lead to a cleaner and safer environment.

The Minister also suggested

possible sources of renewable energy such as solar for charging purposes.

On waste management, Malam Bello also said that the technical support of the UN organization will help the FCT better manage waste collection and disposal which includes recycling, which has the potential of providing jobs for many unemployed youths in the society.

While commending the UNHABITAT’s plans to upgrade the Nigeria country office to a Multicountry office, the Minister stressed the need for FCT to avoid mistakes of many urban cities that tend to grow, develop and eventually decay.

He also emphasized on the greening policy of the

Administration in confronting the challenges that tend to bedevil many urban cities.

Bello also accepted the invitation of the UN HABITAT to attend the World Urban Forum (WUF 10) scheduled to hold in Abu Dhabi next year Earlier, the UN-HABITAT Regional Director had commended Nigeria’s leadership role in the funding of UN-HABITAT programmes and activities, not only in Nigeria, but other African countries.

Mangiza said they were in the FCTA to see how UN HABITAT can provide support for the Administration especially in the areas of proposal conceptualization to access funds and capacity development.

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Saudi Arabia oil attacks: Weapons debris ‘shows Iran behind them’

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audi Arabia’s defence ministry has shown off what it says is wreckage of drones and cruise missiles that proves Iranian involvement in weekend attacks on two oil facilities.

It said 18 drones and seven cruise missiles were fired from a direction that ruled out Yemen as a source.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels had said they were behind the attacks.

Iran has denied any involvement and warned it would retaliate against any attack that targeted it.

The US has stood by its accusation that Iran was behind the attacks. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after arriving in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that it was an “act of war”.

What’s in the Saudi findings?

The evidence was presented at a defence ministry press briefing, where debris from the drone (UAV) and missile attacks was laid out.

Defence ministry spokesman Col Turki al-Malki said the evidence showed the attacks were launched from the north and were “unquestionably sponsored by Iran”.

However, Col Malki said the Saudis were still “working to know

exactly the launch point”.

Col Malki presented maps, photographs and video from Saturday’s attacks Among the debris was what was said to be a delta wing of an Iranian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).

Col Malki said: “Data recovered from the computers [on the UAV] shows it’s Iranian.”

He said that 18 UAVs had been fired at the Abqaiq oil facility and seven cruise missiles had been launched at both targets. Four cruise missiles struck the Khurais oilfield and the other three fell short of Abqaiq.

Col Malki said the missiles that struck had all come from a northerly direction. He showed video of one UAV hitting Abqaiq, along with maps and photographs of the damage.

He said of the Khurais attack that the “precision impact of the cruise missiles indicate advanced capability beyond the Iran proxy’s [Houthi rebel force’s] capacity”.

Col Malki said details of the launch points could not yet be given, but once they had been determined they would be announced.

He said: “Despite Iran’s best efforts to make it appear so, their collaboration with their proxy

Trump strips California of power to set auto emission standards

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he White House has stripped California of its right to set its own auto emissions standards and banned other states from setting similar rules.

The waiver allowed the state America’s most populous - to set stricter standards than the federal government.

President Trump says the move will cut car prices and the impact on emissions will be minimal.

But it is likely to spark a legal battle over states’ rights.

“The Trump administration is revoking California’s Federal Waiver on emissions in order to produce far less expensive cars for the consumer,” Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

“Automakers should seize this opportunity because without this alternative to California, you will be out of business.”

California has already taken steps to block the administration’s efforts.

“We will fight this latest attempt and defend our clean car standards,” said Governor Gavin Newsom in a statement on Tuesday.

This is the latest in a series of standoffs between Mr Trump and California.

What do the rules mean?

California’s ability to set its own rules dates back to the 1970s when Los Angeles was blanketed in choking smog.

The state was allowed to set tougher emission standards than the federal government as long as it could provide a compelling reason for why the waiver was needed. In 1977, other states were allowed to adopt

California’s stricter standards.

California’s standards have largely become the de-facto standard nationwide because car manufacturers do not design different sets of vehicles to meet different standards in different states. The state lays claim to about 12% of all vehicle sales.

Emissions control methods first used in California, such as catalytic converters and regulations on oxides of nitrogen, have become commonplace throughout the US. In July, under the waiver system, California conducted secret negotiations with Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW of North America pledged to produce fleets that meet a standard of 50 miles per US gallon (4.7 litres per 100km), against the current 37 mpg level, by 2026.

Increased fuel efficiency means vehicles burn less petrol and emit fewer polluting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

in the region to create this false narrative is clear.”

He called the attacks “an assault on the international community… Those responsible should be held accountable for their actions”.

An essential question unanswered Analysis by BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent, Jonathan Marcus.

The Saudi military briefing, for all its charts and assembled wreckage, had little to say about the essential question. Were the weapons used in the attacks against the Saudi oil installations actually fired from Iranian soil?

All we got was a cryptic statement that they came from the north. There were more details of the weapons themselves: some 25 in all, a mix of UAVs and cruise missiles - the latter identified as the Iranian-built YaAli. Iran was implicated as being deeply involved in the whole affair but that was it. The Saudi investigations are continuing.

Off the record, US officials seem already convinced of Iran’s direct involvement. So what is going on here? It is the Saudis who seem to be setting the pace.

Is this an attempt to give sufficient time to assemble a watertight case against Tehran? Or is this more crisis management - stringing things out in the hope that escalation can be avoided?

How has Iran responded?

There has been no official response to the briefing so far.

The Irna news agency earlier reported that Iran had sent a diplomatic note saying; “If any action takes place against Iran, the action will be faced by Iran’s answer immediately.”

The Saudis say the direction of the strikes showed the missiles could not have come from Yemen Reuters news agency quoted an adviser to Iran’s president as saying the briefing showed Saudi Arabia “knows nothing” about the attacks.

A spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi rebels said the satellite imagery had been fabricated and that the damage to the Saudi facilities had been played down.

Military spokesman Brig-Gen Yahya Sarea stressed again that the Houthis were behind the attacks, and detailed the type and ranges of the missiles and drones they could deploy.

What are the next moves?

The US has already made clear it believes Iran was behind the attacks, but President Donald Trump has shown himself generally reluctant to become involved in military responses.

Before the Saudi briefing took place, Mr Trump announced he had instructed the Treasury to “substantially increase US sanctions” against Iran following the attacks.

The scope of any new sanctions was not immediately made clear.

The current sanctions are already wide-ranging, aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports and crippling its economy.

Mr Pompeo will discuss strategy on the issue when he meets King Salman’s son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

UN diplomats told Reuters that UN experts were expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to carry out an international inquiry into the attacks.

What’s the background to all this?

Abqaiq - run by the Saudi state oil company, Aramco - and the Khurais oilfield were hit in the early hours of Saturday.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched rockets, missiles and drones at populated areas in Saudi Arabia. They are in conflict with a Saudi-led coalition which backs a president who the rebels had forced to flee when the Yemeni conflict escalated in March 2015.

Wife cleared of husband’s ‘mercy killing’ murder

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n 80-year-old woman has been found not guilty of murdering her terminally ill husband in a “mercy killing”.

Mavis Eccleston was accused of giving her husband Dennis, 81, a potentially lethal dose of prescription medicine without his knowledge.

She told Stafford Crown Court they both intended to take their own lives. Jurors heard she also took an overdose but survived.

Mrs Eccleston was also cleared of manslaughter after a two-week trial.

Speaking outside court, one of the couple’s three children Joy Munns called for a change in the law on assisted dying “so that dying people aren’t forced to suffer, make plans in secret or ask loved ones to risk prosecution by helping them”.

The court heard Mr and Mrs Eccleston had written a note saying they had decided to take their own lives, to explain their actions to their children.

But they were found by family members at their bungalow in Huntington, near Cannock in Staffordshire, on 19 February last year.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

They were rushed to hospital where Mrs Eccleston was given an antidote for the drugs she had taken.

The court heard that after his bowel cancer was diagnosed as terminal, Mr Eccleston had made a decision to receive no further treatment except for medication for pain management and did not wish to be resuscitated by medical staff.

Mrs Eccleston told jurors her husband had kissed her hand after she agreed to “go with his wishes” to die.

She said he “knew full well” what medication they were taking and administered his overdose himself after she had fetched it from a cupboard at his request.

“It was an understanding between us. He had to tell me what I had got to do,” she said.

The court heard after they had both taken medication, Mrs Eccleston kissed her husband on the head, pulled a cover over him and he said “good night darling” as she went to lie down on a sofa.

“The next thing I knew I was in hospital,” she told the court.

Mrs Eccleston told jurors her husband had previously talked

about travelling to Switzerland to end his life on his own terms.

Speaking outside court stood next to her mother, Ms Munns, 54, said the family were “grateful and relieved” that the jury recognised “our mum’s love for our dad”.

“But since dad’s death our family has been through a terrible ordeal, waiting over 18 months for this court case, worrying that having already lost our dad to cancer, we might now see our mum imprisoned.

“If there had been an assisted dying law here in the UK our dad would have been able to have the choice to end his suffering, with medical support, and with his loved ones around him.”

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “Because of the UK’s outdated laws on assisted dying, Dennis felt his only option was to end his own life behind closed doors.

“Dennis should not have been forced to take such drastic actions and Mavis should never have been put in this agonising position.”

Source: BBC

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SA’s top court rules against smacking children S outh Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the use of corporal punishment at home violates children’s rights.

It ruled that the “reasonable and moderate chastisement” of children as a form of physical discipline is unconstitutional.

The court said there were effective ways to discipline a child without the use of corporal punishment.

It upheld an earlier High Court ruling from a trial that involved a father who was found guilty of assaulting his 13-year-old son after he discovered he had been watching pornography.

In that case, the father argued that he was entitled

to chastise his son because he was doing so in accordance with his religious beliefs. But the court found the defence of reasonable chastisement to be unconstitutional.

A pressure group, Freedom of Religion South Africa, has criticised Wednesday’s ruling.

It argued that the judgement made criminals of people of faith who believe that the Bible permits or even commands them to physically correct their children.

But Tshebo Mokoena, from the children’s rights NGO ChildLine, welcomed the ruling.

“We must agree that you cannot correct a child’s behaviour with violence,” he told the BBC.

Journalists attacked in Malawi protests

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here were chaotic scenes in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Wednesday as civil society groups and opposition supporters protested against the results of May’s election.

The demonstrations descended into chaos with shops and property destroyed and at least two local journalists assaulted.

This was the latest round of protests organised by civil society organisations. They have been supported by the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the fairly recently formed UTM party headed by the previous Vice-President, Saulos Chilima.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of the chair of

the election management body, Jane Ansah, who they accuse of mismanaging the election.

Ms Ansah insists she will only resign if proven guilty in an ongoing case in which the opposition have petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the presidential election results.

Protests have been routinely held across Malawi since the vote and have often ended in violence and looting. But Wednesday marked the first time journalists had been targeted.

The two journalists who were attacked sustained minor injuries.

President Peter Mutharika was narrowly elected to a second term in office with 38.5% of the vote in May.

Ivory Coast’s Aurier wants Spurs to repeat CL glory Tottenham Hotspur’s Ivorian defender Serge Aurier is looking to re-launch his career at the north London club after spending much of last season on the sidelines.

Aurier played his first game of the season at the weekend, his first start since February.

He was ready to leave the club at the end of last season but now says he has had a change of heart. Aurier says he is looking forward to helping his side repeat last season’s successful run in the Champions League, when they reached the the final of the tournament before losing to Liverpool.

Tonight his side kick-off their European football campaign against Olympiacos in Greece, but Aurier won’t be involved because he has been left in London alongside other players as part of the club’s squad

rotation system.

“Champions League is another competition, it is not the same intensity or same game, it is completely different,” he told the BBC. “It is the best tournament in the world, after the World Cup. We need to stay calm. We need to take it game by game and after we will see.”

He continued: “The new season has started for me. Now I am calm and happy to stay.

I speak with everyone, I don’t want to leave.

“I didn’t want to leave [because of] the gaffer or the chairman. It was my personal situation and now it is OK, everyone wants to give me another chance and now I am happy to stay and happy to play.

“We need to give the best for this season and for the trophies,” he added.

Source: BBC

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South Africa: Violence against women like a war –Ramaphosa

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outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa says urgent action is needed to tackle gender-based violence in the country.

At an emergency sitting of parliament, Mr Ramaphosa said the figures for violence against women and children were similar to those of a country at war.

Some 2,700 women and 1,000 children were murdered by men last year, and at least 100 rapes were reported daily.

The spike in violence against women has ignited protests in many areas.

“There is a dark and heavy shadow across our land. Women and children are under siege,” Mr Ramaphosa said, describing South Africa as one of “the most unsafe places in world to be a woman”.

Mr Ramaphosa pledged $75m (£60m) for measures including public education, strengthening the criminal justice system, increasing sentences for perpetrators of sexual offences, and providing better care for victims.

The plan also includes

measures to improve women’s economic power.

Murders recorded by the police have been rising every year for the last decade, and sexual offences including rape have risen 4.6% this year.

Mr Ramaphosa also addressed the recent xenophobic attacks which gripped parts of Johannesburg a few days ago, and acknowledged that South Africa was facing a serious crisis of violence and intolerance.

He said a fact-finding mission led by two former African heads of state would investigate the causes of recent violent attacks in the country.

Earlier this week, South Africa apologised to Nigeria after Nigerian-owned shops and businesses were targeted by mobs. Twelve people died in the violence - 10 South Africans and two Zimbabweans.

Mr Ramaphosa’s message to lawmakers comes a day after a dialogue on femicide and the killing of people with albinism in the country’s Eastern Cape province.

Recent cases that have caused

outrage in South Africa: • School pupil Janika Mallo, 14, is raped and dies after her head is apparently hit with a concrete block; no arrests have been made • Student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, is allegedly lured into a post office’s mail room and raped and bludgeoned to death; a post office employee has been charged with murder • Student Jesse Hess, 19, and her grandfather Chris Lategan, 85, are found dead in their home; no arrests have been made • Boxer Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jengels, 25, is shot dead in a car by her ex-boyfriend, a police officer; he later dies of wounds sustained in a car crash as he tries to flee • Showjumper Meghan Cremer, 30, is found dead in a shallow grave, reportedly with a rope around her neck; three people have been charged with murder • Body parts of sales coach Lynette Volschenk, 32, are found in refuse bags in an apartment block; a suspect has been arrested

Liberia school fire leaves many children dead near Monrovia

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n investigation is continuing into what caused the deadly fire At least 27 people, many of them children, have been killed in a fire at a boarding school in a suburb of the Liberian capital Monrovia.

The fire is believed to have broken out in the early hours of the morning, when Koranic school students were sleeping in a building near their mosque.

Police have told the BBC they are still looking for bodies in the building, in the Paynesville area.

President George Weah has visited the scene and expressed his condolences.

Police spokesman Moses Carter told Reuters news agency that the fire was caused

by an electrical problem, but investigations are continuing.

Eyewitness Pastor Emmanuel Herbert told the BBC that he woke up to sounds of the fire and raised the alarm.

“When I looked through the window, I saw the whole place blazing with fire,” he told the BBC. But he said he could not get into the building because there was only one entrance, which was blocked.

Officials told AFP news agency that the victims were 10 years old and above.

Crowds of people gathered near the school on Wednesday Hundreds of people stood in shock as Red Cross ambulances evacuated the bodies of the children from their boarding

house in Paynesville, seven miles (11.3km) east of Monrovia.

People wailed and wept.

So many curious onlookers had made their way to the scene that the police had to grapple with the crowd to make way for ambulances to pass through.

One of the visitors in the morning was President Weah.

He was due to attend the funeral at mosque in Monrovia in the afternoon.

The plan was for the burial to follow shortly after, in keeping with Islamic law which says a person must be buried as soon as possible after death, usually within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, more people were still heading to the school half way through the day.

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Medical waste ready soon -NESERA DG

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T There is no clear route to government for either Benjamin Netanyahu or Benny Gantz

he The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),said the regulations in the area of medical waste will soon be ready.

The Director General/chief executive of NESREA, Prof Aliyu Jauro made the

Avigdor Lieberman says he wants a “broad, liberal, national government”

disclosure recently in Abuja, saying that “the agency has different types of waste such as e-waste, medical waste, solid and liquid waste but our regulations in the area of medical waste will soon be available.

He said “NESREA being an agency of the federal ministry of environment has 33 environmental regulations that deals

with waste management, reiterating that the agency would fully implement the regulations in a bid to resolve problems associated with poor waste management”.

Prof.Jauro assured to address rampant desertification caused by incessant felling of trees, he vowed to sanction developers in the housing and construction sector building houses on waterways.

He lamented that building on waterways and dumping of refuse on the drainages were part of the major problems that contributed to flooding in the country.

“If you go to most of our cities, you will discover that resident’s dump refuse on water channels and during heavy rains, the refuse will block the water channels and lead to flooding”.

Israel election: Netanyahu and rival Gantz headed for deadlock

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o clear winner has emerged from Israel’s election, leaving a question mark over who will be prime minister, partial official results confirm.

With just over 60% of votes counted, the party of incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu is neck and neck with that of his centre-left main challenger.

The results indicate that each will struggle to form a majority coalition with smaller parties.

Mr Netanyahu is vying to stay in power for a record fifth term.

The latest results from Tuesday’s vote suggest his Likud party won 31 seats, while his opponent Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party garnered 32 seats, the Kan public broadcaster says.

A prime minister needs to command a 61seat majority in the Knesset (parliament).

Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has been in office for 10 years.

The 69 year old has pledged to annex Jewish settlements and a swathe of other territory in the occupied West Bank if he is returned to power.

Palestinians, who seek a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital in occupied East Jerusalem, have warned such a move will kill any

hopes for peace.

Mr Gantz has not advocated any form of annexation, though his position on the creation of a Palestinian state is unclear. Like Mr Netanyahu, he has ruled out ever dividing Jerusalem.

What are the latest results?

Official results have been slow to be released, with only 60% of votes counted by 12:53 (09:53 GMT).

They put Blue and White slightly ahead of Likud, with an alliance of Arab parties third, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party fourth and Yisrael Beiteinu, a nationalist party, in fifth place. The tally does not say how this translates into seats in the Knesset.

Based on these reported results, neither leader can form a majority coalition without support from Yisrael Beiteinu.

That party’s leader, Avigdor Lieberman, reiterated that he would only support a government comprising both Likud and Blue and White. However, Blue and White has ruled out sitting with Mr Netanyahu in a coalition.

Exit polls earlier presented a similar picture.

Iran banned after ordering Saeid Mollaei to withdraw from World Judo Championships

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aeid Mollaei (right) lost in the semi-finals of the World Judo Championships Iran has been banned by the International Judo Federation after it ordered Saeid Mollaei to pull out of the World Championships in Japan.

Defending champion Mollaei ignored calls to withdraw from his match against Russia’s Khasan Khalmurzaev to avoid the prospect of facing Israel’s Sagi Muki later in the tournament.

Iranian athletes are prohibited from competing in any sport against Israel.

Mollaei lost in the semifinals and has since been living in Germany.

Earlier in 2019, the National Olympic Committee of Iran had said it would comply with the Olympic charter and the International Judo Federation (IJF), paving the way for Iranian athletes to compete against Israelis.

But the IJF said Iran’s

actions at the World Championships in Japan were a “gross contradiction” to these assurances.

The case was referred to the IJF Disciplinary Commission, who said there was a “strong reason to believe that the Iran Judo Federation will continue or repeatedly engage in misconduct or commit any other offence against the legitimate interests, principles or objectives of the IJF”.

Iran can appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

After the tournament Mollaei said he feared for his family’s safety.

Speaking to the BBC Persian Service earlier this week, he said: “In Tokyo I left the arena with tears in my eyes.

“I will never forget what happened there. I could have achieved my third world championship medal and my second gold medal.

I was so ready and prepared for this.”

Netanyahu weakened Analysis by Tom Bateman, BBC Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem The prime minister is well short of being able to form a governing bloc of right-wing and religious parties that are prepared to sit with him. In fact the result leaves him in an even weaker position than he was after April’s vote.

It’s almost impossible to predict the outcome, with frenetic horse trading on the way and even the chance of parties fragmenting or politicians shifting allegiances. But as it stands, three broad themes seem among the possibilities: • A dominant new governing bloc of the two big rival parties: Likud with Blue and White.

This only seems possible without Mr Netanyahu as Likud leader. Needless to say that’s a deal breaker for him and, so far at least, for his party • Mr Netanyahu’s political rival Avigdor Lieberman miraculously changes his mind and agrees to join a right-wing and religious Netanyahu government - something his voters understood would never happen • A third election - which nobody here

has an appetite for.

In the meantime, Mr Netanyahu stays on, but watch this space. For a few weeks.

There was a muted response at Likud’s election night headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of chairs for party supporters remained empty as activists were kept outside the hall and leaders digested the numbers.

“There is no point starting to work out a coalition based on these numbers as they will change,” Likud foreign affairs director Eli Hazan said.

But Blue and White was “cautiously optimistic” that Israel would get new leadership, spokeswoman Melody Sucharewicz told the Times of Israel.

Mr Lieberman prevented Mr Netanyahu from forming a coalition after the previous vote because he refused to back down over a longstanding dispute with religious parties over exempting ultra-Orthodox young men from military service.

However Mr Gantz could have an even more complex job to form a government, because of differences between left-wing parties.

Protests in Pakistan’s Kasur after boys’ bodies found

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ngry crowds have protested in the Pakistani district of Kasur after the bodies of three boys were found.

Police have confirmed one was raped before he died. Post-mortem reports on the other two boys are awaited.

Kasur in Punjab province has seen a string of child abductions, rapes and murders in recent years.

In 2018 the killing of a six-year-old girl prompted widespread outrage, and protests complaining of police incompetence in which two people died.

The man executed for raping and murdering the girl, whose name was Zainab, was convicted of similar crimes against six more girls.

On Wednesday crowds in the Chunnian area blocked roads and burned tyres after the boys’ deaths were confirmed. The local police station was surrounded and pelted with stones.

The bodies of the three boys, all reported to have been under the age of 10, were recovered a day earlier.

Police said a post-mortem report confirmed one boy, Faizan, eight - who went missing on Monday - had been sexually assaulted. Senior police officer Inam Ghani told BBC Urdu he had a broken neck.

The remains of two other boys - thought to have disappeared in August - have not been identified. The cause of their deaths has yet to be announced.

“Police have obtained samples for their DNA tests,” Mr Ghani said. A search is still going on for a fourth boy who has been missing since June.

Police have detained a number of suspects

in connection with the discovery of the bodies, which were buried in sand in an industrial area.

Locals say scraps of fabric found with the three bodies matched clothing worn by two of the boys.

Mohammad Afzal, a labourer whose son Ali Husnain disappeared in August, told the BBC he had searched for his son ever since. “It’s been a month since our house couldn’t cook.”

Suleman Akram has also been missing since August.

“He left home in the evening to play as usual but he did not return at night,” his uncle Muhammad Ashraf said. “Sadly, the police did not co-operate with us in the search for the children.”

The area has been gripped by fear for weeks, BBC Urdu reports, with parents stopping their children from going out and playing.

Muhammad Imran went missing during the school holiday in June.

“When it was time for lunch, he did not

come and I sent the children to bring him but they could not find him,” his mother said. #JusticeforZainab The conviction of Zainab’s killer was notable in a country where child abuse often attracts little attention.

It brought promises of tough action in terms of police training and legislation.

But her killer was brought to justice only after her family, not the police, obtained CCTV footage of her last movements.

The footage, which showed a girl being led away by a man, was circulated widely on social media. The hashtag #JusticeForZainab later went viral, with many Pakistanis calling for action.

After a DNA match, 24-year-old Imran Ali was arrested, tried and convicted. He was executed last October.

Source: BBC

Residents of Kasur are demanding the police take action

Barcode System For Bio-medical Waste collection

FG commits to tackling climate change, seeks states’ collaboration

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he Federal Government regards the challenge of climate change as inimical to its national sustainable development that must be squarely addressed, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odutose said, recently,She reiterated the government’s its commitment to address climate change as part of the various sectoral policies and management instruments.

The government also pledged to provide leadership in promoting the culture necessary to establish the right conditions for the people to adapt, supporting quality research, education and awareness efforts as well as enforcing industry regulations that will guide businesses and communities.

Odutose made the promise at the SouthWest Regional Knowledge Deepening Workshop on Climate Change organised by the ministry with the assistance of United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) in Lagos. She noted that climate change would be taken as a strategic development issue in all areas of public policy.

“There is no gainsaying, there will be some changes in climate that cannot be avoided due to past and inevitable future

global emissions, but the detrimental effects can be avoided if we can reduce greenhouse gases emission to an acceptable level. Therefore, we must move beyond thinking about climate change and global warming, to take action as a nation.

“Since taking actions that will alleviate the effects of climate change and a warmer world is everyone’s responsibility, we will be interacting and working with the general public, individuals, communities, businesses and industries, international partners as well as the global community to create the necessary awareness in this direction,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC), Dr. Peter Tarfa, said the government regards the challenge of climate change as inimical to its national sustainable development that must be squarely addressed. “Thus, various national efforts have been put in place at all levels of governance to promote climate resilient environmental sustainability in the context of national development.

“These efforts range from putting policies and legislation in place to building institutional capacity, effective

participation in global climate change negotiations and signing international agreements, building partnerships, sourcing funding and embarking on some initiatives for climate change response,” Odusote said.

Dr. Tarfa, who spoke on Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of States Collaboration on Climate Change Education and Awareness in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies, urged states to collaborate with the department and mainstream climate change activities into development plan as well as team up with Local governments shore up activities in afforestation and reforestation activities with the potential of earning carbon credits under the clean development mechanism (CDM).

He also charged them to establish a desk, department or agency mandated to implement climate change activities; facilitate the implementation of the adaptation strategy through all the sectors, coordinating with the Federal and Local Governments and to provide a platform for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the organized private sector and government to share information and harmonize

activities.

Tarfa wants them to ensure that climate change adaptation is taken into account when drawing up the state’s annual budget; consistently strengthen inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination and cooperation in climate change adaptation in the State as well as create an enabling environment for the organized private sector to invest in climate change adaptation, including business opportunities presented by climate change adaptation options.

An environmental specialist, Prof.

Emmanuel Oladipo noted that climate change governance in Nigeria needs to be further strengthened to ensure an effective mainstreaming of the climate change challenge into the national and state level development process and action.

“It is critical for each state to be able to respond effectively to the challenge of climate change,” he said.Oladipo called for the passage of a bill to create a national Climate Change Commission, which, once established, will likely facilitate coordination and support for the multilevel and cross-sectoral climate change responses response.

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Why Africa should ‘stop eating one of its favourite foods’

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ambia’s vice-president has called for a radical change in the eating habits of the nation, saying people should ditch the staple, maize meal, for more nutritious foods - a proposal akin to telling Italians to stop eating pasta.

Maize meal is hugely popular across much of southern and East Africa - research shows that sub-Saharan Africa consumes 21% of the maize produced in the world.

Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina’s appeal for a change in diet comes at a time when parts of her country and some neighbouring states have been hit by poor rainfall and food shortages - a recurring problem caused, in part, by climate change.

The crisis has led to 1.7 million Zambians or 18% of the population - experiencing severe food insecurity, with about 40% of children under five years stunted, according to the UNlinked ReliefWeb information portal.

To tackle the problem, Ms Wina said people needed to vary their diet by eating more millet, sorghum, cassava, and sweet potatoes.

Sorghum is regarded as a high-energy grain “The gradual shift from predominantly maize-based meals is good for the nation as more nutritious foods will have space at our tables,” she was quoted by the state-owned Daily Mail news site as saying.

“The switch to more nutritious foods is one of the low-cost and effective ways of addressing stunting and malnutrition in the

country,” Ms Wina said.

But she faces a formidable challenge to change eating habits.

Many people eat maize meal twice or three times a day. Some say they have not eaten unless they have had maize meal, which is known as nshima in Zambia, nsima in Malawi, sadza in Zimbabwe, papa or pap in South Africa and Lesotho, and ugali in Kenya.

Resistance to new dishes The maize meal is boiled with water, and a bit of salt is added. It is then folded into the desired texture, making it a quick, cheap and easy dish.

It can also be fermented and served at breakfast as porridge, or cooked in a more dense form for lunch and dinner, when is it often served with meat, vegetable stews and sour milk.

Maize meal is popular because it is cheap Clifford Chirwa, a fourth-year student at the University of Zambia, said he doubted the government would succeed in getting people to eat less of it.

“It’s not possible because every culture has a specific food which is considered to be a staple. Just like you have jollof rice in Nigeria, nshima is typically Zambian,” he told the BBC. Agreeing with him, Olipa Lungu, who runs a restaurant at a busy market in the capital Lusaka, said her efforts to change the menu had failed.

“Nshima stands out. The only other food that people like are chips but even those I make only when there’s a special order,” she said.

Government subsidies But Ms Wina’s proposal has won the support of the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU).

“With the advent of climate change, we have to start looking at various options of food. We have been too dependent on maize yet we grow crops such as sorghum, rice and millet,” ZNFU spokesman Kakoma Kaleyi told the BBC. “We rarely eat other foods. I think that our culinary tastes should change. This is the right call by the vice-president,” he added.

Some nutritionists say the maize meal sold in supermarkets is highly processed and therefore lacks nutrients, vital for the health of our skin, hair and brain.

When eaten in its original form, maize contains nutrients such vitamin A, vitamin C,

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This is to inform the general public that I ABDULAZEEZ AUWAL MUSA of no. 166, Bakori road,FHA, kubwa Abuja lost my original offer letter with file No: MFCT/LA/MISC. 21740 of about 2,500sqm within Karo District, Abuja with purpose of housing estate on the paper date 20-052003. The said loss occurred while on transit from Imani estate, Maitama, Abuja to AZMAN oil & Gas, area 11, Abuja. All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive. Please the Abuja geographic information system (AGIS) and the general public should take note.

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iron and fibre, but all the goodness is lost if it is over-processed, they say.

Maize meal is popular, especially in poor families, because it is often subsidised by governments, South African dietician Thandolwakhe Msomi told the BBC. “So if you’re looking at introducing other grains and have them become a staple in homes, we would need similar interventions by those in power,” she added.

An nshima recipe for a family of five Courtesy of the BBC’s Kennedy Gondwe in Zambia • Pour about two litres of water in a pot • Let it almost boil • Throw in five handfuls of maize meal • Stir with a wooden spoon until the

“

“The gradual shift from predominantly maize-based meals is good for the nation as more nutritious foods will have space at our tables,” she was quoted by the state-owned Daily Mail news site as saying.

“The switch to more nutritious foods is one of the low-cost and effective ways of addressing stunting and malnutrition in the country,” Ms Wina said.

But she faces a formidable challenge to change eating habits.

Many people eat maize meal twice or three times a day. Some say they have not eaten unless they have had maize meal, which is known as nshima in Zambia, nsima in Malawi, sadza in Zimbabwe, papa or pap in South Africa and Lesotho, and ugali in Kenya.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

maize meal thoroughly mixes with the water • Let it thicken; wait for the mixture to start bubbling • Cook for close to 10 minutes on medium heat • Then add another five handfuls of maize meal while continuously stirring • At this stage, I prefer to sprinkle a bit of cassava meal to add a bit more nutrition and aroma • When the mixture reaches its desired thickness, cover the pot and switch off the stove • After about two minutes, scoop it out and enjoy To go with: T-bone steak, beans and boiled okra Unlike in many other countries, processed maize meal in South Africa is fortified with vitamins and minerals - all producers are legally required to add nutrients such as vitamin A and B to boost its health benefits.

“The more modern grain is steel-ground.

It doesn’t contain the germ of the kernel and that is where the nutrients are,” Ms Msomi said.

“If we were to stone-mill the whole kernel we would get more energy-producing carbohydrates, protein and fibre, which isn’t found even in fortified variants of the maizemeal,” she said.

Maize meal sold in supermarkets often lack nutrients Yellow maize is also packed with more nutrients than white maize but “sadly we’ve been conditioned to believe that the yellow coarse kind is for the less affluent”, the nutritionist added.

As for sorghum and pearl millet, Ms Msomi said they are “high-energy” grains which contain carbohydrates, protein, and are low in fat.

Furthermore, they are rich in vitamins A and B, high in calcium, iron and zinc, and also contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Sorghum is also gluten-free.

What do vitamins and minerals do?

Vitamin A is vital for good eyesight Vitamin B1 helps to release energy from carbohydrates Vitamin C helps to prevent illness and make bones Iron is needed to transport oxygen in the blood Calcium strengthens bones and teeth Zinc helps heal wounds “At a time when we are focused on climate change and its effects on food security, these grains have been known to be hardy. They are able to withstand tougher climates,” Ms Msomi said.

“People were educated about how to grow maize even in their homes. They can be educated about how to grow other grains too,” she added.

Sorghum porridge anyone?

Source: BBC

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SIGNed: SECRETARY

Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column. Whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

thursday September 19, 2019

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SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column. Whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

PAGE 28

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Wilson SadiqUmoruAtumeyi 2. Chase Prosper UmoruAtumeyi 3. ArowoloAyoolaAbimbola (PhD) 4. Janet PunyitPlang (PhD) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To improve access to clean water, decent toilet and hygiene in rural communities.

2. Increase people’s access to information using modern and local technology to reach a wider society.

3. Develop a robust information sharing mechanism through experimentation, research and technology.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within Twenty Eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: Wilson Sadiq Umoru Atumeyi

Odunayo Adekuoroye against her opponent yesterday

By Amaechi Agbo

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wo-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, says her next target is to become a world champion by winning gold at the ongoing 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships in NurSultan, Kazakhstan.

The Nigerian wrestler picked the ticket for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after she defeated her opponent Sung Jon of North Korea 12-2 via technical superiority Nigeria wrestlers have continued to

show that they are strong force when it comes to wrestling across the continent and around the World. The Team Nigeria in Wrestling dominated the wrestling event at the just concluded 12th African Games in Rabat Morocco as they carted away virtually all the gold medal in the event The world number three, who won bronze at the 2015 edition held in Las Vegas, United States and silver at the 2017 edition in Paris, France and began her campaign yesterday.

“By the special grace of God, I am going for gold at the World Championship this

time around. I have won other medals at the event and this time, I will go for the main medal. I want to be called a world champion,” the 25-year-old said.

Adekuoroye, a four-time African champion, who won her second consecutive African Games gold medal in Morocco, said she used the continent’s showpiece to prepare herself for the world championship.

“I feel so great and I am proud of myself. The African Games was a great preparation for World Championship. I don’t think there is a small tournament.

You are selected in your country based on

your performance.”

Should Adekuoroye defeat Nguyen, she will then face the winner of the match between Mimi Hristova of Bulgaria and Mathilde Riviere of France in the prequarterfinals.

Also African champion Blessing Onyebuchi will be up against Hiroe Suzuki of Japan in the 76kg.

Meanwhile, Mercy Genesis lost 10-0 to Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan in a qualification match of the 50kg women’s wrestling. She will battle Seema Bisla of India today for a chance to progress to the bronze medal rounds.

African Games: Buhari to host Team Nigeria, D’Tigress - Sports minister

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

p

Dare seeks partnership with education ministry for youth development

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By Lawrence Olaoye

P Sunday Dare

T

he Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Tuesday paid a visit to the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu to discuss partnership in youth development in sports and education.

Mr. Dare, who was received by both the Minister and Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, immediately went into a private session where he spoke about the national youth policy and the focus on youth and education.

He sought the collaboration of the Ministry of Education in aligning its youth development programmes with the thrust of the national youth policy.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development said the Ministry of Education was central to its grassroots sports development and the inculcation of digital literacy at an early age.

The Ministers agreed to hold a strategic meeting in the next two weeks to review and expand the collaboration.

By Amaechi Agbo

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PUBLIC NOTICE

WINDING UP

REDEEMERS INTERCESSORY MISSION

SAINTS OF GOD CHRISTIAN CENTRE

HRH CHIEF FRANCIS OBANDE OBEYA FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 2004.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Amaechi Peter Chiedozie - Chairman.

2. Peter Chidinma Victoria - Secretary.

3. Onuoha Iheanyi.

4. Kenneth Nnamdi.

5. Okere Chibueze. 6. Amaechi Onyekachi.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within Twenty Eight (28) days of this publication.

President Buhari hosted D’Tigress in 2017 total of 87 medals.

Noting that Team Nigeria only had seven weeks to prepare for the African Games in Morocco, Dare said that Nigeria would have done better if it had a longer period to prepare.

“So there is a lesson learnt from there,” he said Dare said the athletes will leave for the Doha Meet on Saturday, adding that the outcome will determine Nigeria’s

I

n reaction to barrage of attacks and criticisms that followed on its earlier decision to retain the banned coach of the U-23 coach, Salisu Yusuf last week, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has backtracked on the decision and now allowed senses of reasoning to prevail by letting Imama

the move by the honourable minister who had promised, after speaking with both NFF and he crisis rocking Nigeria Football Mr Dennerby parties, to broker peace between Federation, NFF and Coach Thomas them.

Dennerby took a worse dimension Tuesday The announcement could also be a ploy evening when the federation and the acting to ensure that whatever plans the honourable coach of the Super Falcons, in total disrespect minister has towards making peace did not to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports come to limelight since it was made same day Development, Sunday Dare who had waded into the minister visited the team earlier in the the matter with a view to resolving them. morning.

But in what could be regarded as a ‘coup’ “This morning (Tuesday, September 17) I ostensibly to discredit Mr Dennerby, the acting visited the super falcons during their training coach of the team, Christopher Danguma, barely at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja. I gave 48 hours after he assumed position, on Tuesday inspiring words and assured them that the evening, hurriedly named former assistant government will ensure their welfare. I told captain, Asisat Oshoala as the substantive them Nigerians will expect only victories in captain of the side. their remaining qualifiers,” the minister posted Mr Danjuma in a video posted by the his twitter handle.

Super Falcons handlers on their twitter handle On Monday, determined to broker peace, announced the change in leadership of the team the minister had telephone conversation with to a shell shocked players after their training Thomas Dennerby and also summoned the NFF Tuesday evening. for a meeting with a view to letting sleeping dog The development could be a setback to lie.

“An hour ago I had a constructive conversation on the telephone with Super Falcons Coach Dennerby in Sweden. I have also spoken with the NFF leadership. We are working to resolve the issues in the interest of football development,” he said on Monday.

If truly the handlers of the Super Falcons are genuine in pursuing national interest, why the hurried announcement of Asisat Oshoala as the new captain? Why take such a far reaching decision when the minister had intervened in the matter? Whose interest and agenda are the Super Falcons handlers, particularly the NFF Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Women Football Department championing?

Only time and tide will provide answers to Dare (left) addressing the coaches and these queries. players of on Tuesday in Abuja

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

performance in the 2020 June Olympics in Tokyo Speaking on the dilapidated nature of stadia across the country, the minister said that N1.2 billion is needed annually for stadia maintenance.

While stating that such fund is not available, Dare said that the ministry was exploiting partnership with the private sector.

NFF Makes U-turn, Retains Amapakabo For U-23 Eagles

Super Falcons captaincy: NFF, Danjuma have no respect for sports minister

CLASSIFIED

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African Games: Buhari to host Team Nigeria, D’Tigress -Sports minister

resident Muhammadu Buhari will soon host Team Nigeria which finished second at the just concluded African Games in Rabat, Morocco.

The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, who briefed State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammad Buhari made the disclosure yesterday.

According to him, the letter requesting the President to receive the medallists at the Presidential Villa had been written waiting for Buhari to give a date convenient for him to do so.

The victorious D’Tiger and D’Tigress will also be received by the President.

Dare said that Morocco outing will serve as a benchmark for the 2020 Olympics preparation.

Team Nigeria finished second at Rabat, Morocco behind Egypt at the just concluded African Games and Nigeria won a total of 127 medals: 46 gold, 33 silver and 48 bronze.

The North African country, Egypt emerged top on the medal table with 99 gold medals, 96 silver and 69 bronze to bring their total medals to 264. South Africa came third with a

Imama Amakpakabo Amakpakabo to oversee the affairs of the team, at least in the meantime.

Salisu Yusuf was banned for one year from football-related activities by the NFF after the former home-based Eagles coach was caught on camera by an investigative journalist collecting $1000 bribe to feature two players in the CHAN final last year against Morocco with a view to receiving 15% share of their sign on fees.

In a desperate move to still retain Yusuf in his position one year after serving his ban for receiving bribe, the NFF had directed the Coach of the U-23 team, Imama Amapakabo to handover to Mr Yusuf with immediate effect.

In a release on September 12, 2019, the NFF through the Secretary-General, Sanusi Mohammed had thanked Imama Amapakabo and his wards for doing the nation proud by beaten Sudan 5-0 in the return leg to qualify for the U-23 AFCON championship holding in Egyptyin November.

But the last two paragraphs was what sent the football wave in the country on high voltage when it said “Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has noted that the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf has now fully served the one-year suspension clamped on him last year.

The Federation thanked Coach Imama Amapakabo for his sterling efforts while in charge of the U-23 National Team in the absence of the suspended Yusuf, and for eventually seeing to the team’s qualification for the U-23 AFCON.” Expectedly, the decision did not go down well with Nigeria football followers who saw it as glorification of crime and a dent on the already battered image of the federation and called for a reversal.

In a last minute retreat to save its face, the federation in a release on Tuesday, 17 September, 2019 directed that Imama Amapakabo, “will lead the Home-based Super Eagles, known as Eagles B, to Lome on Friday for the first leg of a 2020 African Nations Championship qualifying fixture against the Sparrow Hawks coming up on Sunday.

“As a way of preparing the U-23 boys for the 3rd U-23 AFCON finals holding in Egypt from 8th-22nd November (for which the team qualified after defeating Libya and Sudan in qualifiers), the Nigeria Football Federation has decided that the U-23 squad, without the overseas-based players but with a number of home –based Trojans added, prosecute the CHAN qualifying fixture.”

I am Chelsea’s Penalty taker – Barkley

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oss Barkley says he is Chelsea’s designated penalty taker and insists he will take the next one the club are awarded despite his 87th-minute miss against Valencia on Tuesday Champions League clash at the Stamford Bridge.

Willian, Jorginho and Tammy Abraham were all in discussion with Barkley after the referee checked with VAR to give a penalty for a handball by Daniel Wass late on in the defeat to the Spanish side.

Rodrigo’s 74th-minute goal proved the difference at Stamford Bridge and England midfielder Barkley has insisted he will take another one despite blazing his spot-kick over Barkley the bar.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday September 19, 2019

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IKE SOROKE MUNACHISO 2. EME OKEY DENNIS 3. IKECHI AMADI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To raise kingdom brands that will stand out to show forth the glory of God 2. To maintain the doctrine and uphold the principle of supreme and exclusive sufficiency and authority of Holy Scripture as containing all things necessary for salvation.

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The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) ATTAH HENRY OKWUDILI 2) ENIBE KINGSLEY UCHENNA 3) NWANEBI HERBERT MADUABUCHI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the interest and welfare of all members.

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Any objection to the publication should be forwarded to Registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

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Aims and objectives: 1. To encourage and empower children and youths through sports and education 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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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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) IBITOYE JACOB KOLADE -CHAIRMAN (2) OBAFEMI SAMUEL OLUWADIASI -SECRETARY (3) BARNABAS BANJI BABAFEMI (4) BARNABAS FUNSHO (5) AKOLADE LUCY OLUWAKEMI (6) OMOLOYE GRACE TEMITOPE (7) MAXI JOSIAH AUDU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:(1) To preach the gospel of Christ

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) RAMESH NAMDEV GHADGE -PRESIDENT (2) SHISHIR KUMAR VERMA -VICE PRESIDENT (3) BHOLA KUMAR SAHU -SECRETARY (4) ROMI BHAT (5) NAVBIR SINGH WADHWA (6) MAYANK SAWARN.

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Aims To preach the gospel of jesus christ

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Abdullahi Aliyu Usman ---chairman 2. Alhaji Umar Abubakar 3. Ahmed Idris ....Secretary 4. Maimunat Abdullahi 5. Haruna Mohammed Gulma 6. Garba usman wasagu The aims and objectives 1. To Ensure the full integration of person with disabilities into the society through. Eliminating structural and other artificial Barrie’s that stand-in the way of progress for person with disabilities.

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. . . putting the people first

thursday September 19, 2019

SPORTS latest

Super Eagles’ Samuel Chukwueze buys N98 million Ferrari

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ed-hot Super Eagles’ striker, Samuel Chukwueze, has purchased a brand-new Ferrari car worth N98, 000, 000, Bestchoicesports.com. ng understands.

The Villarreal CF of Spain wonder kid flaunted the car on his Instagram page during the week, few days after his team defeated host, Leganes, 0-3 in the La Liga Match day 4 encounter.

According to various online car dealing website, the latest Ferrari model purchased by the 2019 AFCON bronze medallist is worth a whopping N98, 000,000.

Twenty-year-old Chukwueze, a native of Abia State was on July 30, 2019, revealed as one of the 50 youngsters to watch in world football by UEFA’s official website, with a worth of about $33 million.

Meanwhile, top Nigeria celebrities and Super Eagles teammates have congratulated the Spain-base forward in an Instagram post which drew the attention of over 20,000 soccer enthusiast across the globe.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s young player of the year for 2017/2018 season has netted five goals in 26 appearances after joining the Yellow Submarine in 2018.

Chukwueze started playing football at the age of eight and he admired legendary Jay-Jay Okocha as his football idol growing up.

Advert: business: news: lagos:

SPACE FOR SALE

‘East or West, home is best’ A

s staff of the late MKO Abiola’s defunct ‘Concord Press of Nigeria, CPN, I was one of 13 State House Correspondents on the advance team of General Ibrahim Babangida’s State Visit to Germany in 1992. And that was barely two years after the historic fall of the ‘Berlin Wall’ and the reunification of the two Germanys: ‘West’, with its glowing capitalist, freemarket trappings and ‘East’, just smarting from the languor and hangover of communist Russia’s lifelessness. These two mutually repulsive ideological pages in the history of a post-World War Two Germany would conspire under a re-united bundesrepublik to birth a new phase of xenophobia after the Holocaust, manifesting first in occasional ‘black muggings’ and much later what the world would come to know as the phenomenon of the ‘German Skin heads’, involving young, cleanshaven xenophobes who spared neither black nor white foreigners.

But just before Babangida’s visit, back home in Nigeria, some quiet debate had just recently raged over some unsubstantiated ‘debt claims’ running into a couple of billions that Germany said –in a redemption-demand noticethat Nigeria owed her. And so on the face of it, Babangida’s visit was communicated to Nigerians as the usual diplomatic call of one bilateral friend to another in a bid to consolidate friendship and maybe even open new frontiers.

But I was one of few journalists who were privileged to unearth and to break the news that there was more to that visit than met the eye. It was to resolve the said ‘debt claim’ away from the prying eyes of a nosey Nigerian press, and especially at a time that a German construction giant, Julius Berger was putting finishing touches on a brand new Federal Capital, Abuja, it had almost singlehandedly built for us.

And so rather than initiating ‘shuttle diplomacy’ to resolve, General Babangida had opted for a direct troubleshooting with the Germans, taking with him the princely Finance Minister, famed for the alliteration of his name, Tripple ‘A’: Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, and his Foreign Affairs Minister General Ike Nwachukwu, to resolve the debt issue -as the Germans would say- ‘one bundesrat to another’. And so, for four grueling days in Germany Babangida would shuttle between the ornate Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn, (seat of the Head of State and ceremonial President of the German Republic), then occupied

by Richard von Weizsacker;

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THURSDAY Column WITH Mohammed Adamu (08035892325 sms only)

dankande2@gmail.com and the palatial Chancellery in Berlin, (housing the offices of the Chancellor and Head of Government), then Helmut kohl, to bring closure to the debt issue.

But as the then sitting Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, OAU (now African Union, AU), General Babangida, in addition to the usual duty of having to meet with the Nigerian community in Germany, had also the extra duty to meet with the African community. And so owing to obvious constraint of schedule in just the space of a four-day visit, the Berlin State Library event where he was to address the German Society for Foreign Policy, doubled as venue also to meet, hear and answer questions from Africans. And it was here during the question and answer session that Babangida and a certain bitter Gambian immigrant had a hot exchange which would inform the writing of an interesting piece in one of my earliest columns ‘On The Beat’, which I had titled ‘Men, Go Home!’ (Concord, March 17, 1992).

The Gambian had started in the most solemn of tones, informing the OAU Chair about a recent xenophobic phenomenon in Germany, directed solely at black Africans and the fact that as at then not less than twentytwo, all black Africans, had been killed by xenophobes suspected mostly to be communist-oriented East Germans, many of whom –since after the re-unificationhad been unable to keep pace with capitalism’s competitive free market system whereby every dog was left to its own devices. Most of these newly integrated East Germans into the cruel world of capitalism, saw African blacks maintaining menial jobs as the reason for their own joblessness.

And so whenever they cornered them especially in dark alleys, backstreets and other secluded areas, they mugged them.

And this probably explained to me why just the previous day, at the Grand Esplanade Hotel, while I struggled to fax my stories to Lagos, a pretty half Nigerian, half German lady, Onome Osamo Giesse had approached me hoping I could help her meet “any

of the President’s men” as she was resolved, she said, to return home to Nigeria even though she was neither born there nor had she ever visited. For such a one, working at one of the most prestigious financial services companies, Merrill Lynch, to want to call it quits and return home to her maternal country, I thought there was more to it than had struck my senses. And it was the reason I was cautious not to introduce her to anybody –even though, naively, I had taken the greatest risk that night, of going with her in a taxi to the heart of Berlin some two kilometers away from our Hotel, so I could use, she said, her office’s more efficient fax machine to send my stories.

None of my colleagues knew I had strayed so deep in the woods playing Adam with a German Eve. And by a cross of fate, I would sight Onome again the next day at the Berlin State Library event where Babangida was, about now, still waiting for the Gambian to land his question. And as we exchanged visual courtesies across two rows, the Gambian was just switching to accentuated American tone monotonously interspersed with ‘men!’, ‘men!’, as he reproached African leaders for abandoning their citizens in Germany to be mugged: “Men! None of you have sent your foreign ministers to come talk to these guys, men! I have written a letter to you men! And I copied your foreign minister here” (pointing quizzically at Ike Nwachukwu), “but he had done nothing men!” And each time Babangida interjected to calm this speaker down, the Gambian only got all the more exasperated: “you are the OAU Chairman men! If you can dialogue for the Arabs and the PLO why can’t you dialogue for us men!? Democracy means standing for the interest of your people men! But you guys aren’t doing nothing men! I wrote to my President Dauda Jawara and he didn’t reply me men…!”

By now some German officials had risen to stop the irate Gambian, but a calmly smiling Babangida signaled them to allow him continue: “carry on” he said.

And the Gambian went on and on until at a very long last, he

had to give Babangida a chance to respond: “You believe in the rule of law right?” IBB asked him; and he replied “yes men!”; “And you believe everyone is innocent until proven guilty?”; again he answered “yes men!” And just as Babangida was saying “And you know that crimes of this nature must be thoroughly investigated before……” the Gambian could no longer hold it: “But men! How long? How long men!...?” And Babangida cut in: “Depending on the complications”. And the Gambian pitched even higher “What do you mean, men!” And IBB scaled to match his pitch; “If these cases are complicated they can take a long time….”. And the Gambian went “yes, but how long men! They are killing the blacks everyday men!, and you people are sitting down, you can’t do nothing about it men!” And it was here that Babangida’s restraining voice was finally drowned in the Gambian’s litany of “Men! How long!?’ and ‘How long, men!”; “Men! How long!?...How long, men!”

Then all of a sudden a visibly angry Babangida cut in at the top of his voice: “M-e-n, G-o H-om-e!!!” And he added almost immediately: “Gooo Hooome, Meeen!!!” And just then there was a moment’s silence; followed by a long-drawn thunderous applause.

And the Gambian, like a raindrenched canine, quietly returned to his seat, as the hall continued to murmur over Babangida’s endgame upper cut. And at this point I looked across the hall again to catch a glimpse of my homehungry Nigerian-German mulatto friend, Onome Osamo Giesse. She looked to me even more pitifully determined –to return home.

But don’t ask me if she ever did –‘cause I dunno!

M-E-N!!!

DAN Dan GAYE gaye

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He should pay the price!

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