Thursday, December 19, 2019 Edition

Thursday, December 19, 2019/ Rabiul Thani 22, 1441 AH Vol. 33 No. 018 N150

2075 Days after

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

P&ID scam: Court orders Briton’s extradition, arrest Ajaokuta Steel revival: JAMB: CBT centres aiding exam malpractices >>> 3

Reps probe PPPRA over non-remittance of N1. 343trn >>>4

>>>page 5

Nigeria, Russia sign MoU January >>>page 5

Comptroller Oyo/Osun State Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), Mr Abdullahi Zulkifeli (L) being brief by an officer during an inspection round the 2,540 bags of parboiled rice, seized by officer of NCS with newsmen, yesterday in Ibadan. Photo: NAN Â

Edo farmers record 100 per cent crop yield in maize production

>>>pg 9

2019: FG releases N1.2tr for capital budget- Minister pAGE 4

Senate passes bill to float university of tech in Adamawa pAGE 10

2,745 inmates awaiting execution-Correctional Centre pAGE 7

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

News CONTENTS News

2-10, 14

Editorial Op.Ed

R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, SGF Mr Boss Mustapha during the FEC Meeting held at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

12-13

Politics 15-17 Health Business

18 19-20

Feature

21

World News

22

Africa News

23

World News

24

Photo: State House

2019: FG releases N1.2tr for capital budget - Finance Minister

By Lawrence Olaoye

T Reps probe PPPRA over non-remittance of N1. 343trn Page 4

Environment 25 Feature

26

Sports 30-31 Back Page

32

We want to hear from you The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

You can send your news and pictures to: adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com

Phones for News: 08142929046 08024432099

News Editor, Ese Awhotu News JAMB: CBT centres aiding exam malpractices

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

11

he federal government has released the sum of N1.2 trillion to fund the capital budget of the 2019 budget.

The government also disclosed that the rehabilitation of the PortHarcourt Refinery will commence in January, 2020 Briefing newsmen after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said the budget performance represented about 50 percent of the total appropriation of N2 trillion in the 2019 budget.

The minister also disclosed that the government was able to achieve 81 percent of its revenue projection of N4.25 trillion of the 2019 fiscal year.

The minister said “The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning reported on its one hundred days performance to Federal Executive Council today.

The Ministry of Finance has eleven major mandate areas.

“First of all, in terms of revenue performance, the revenue performance prorated to third quarter of 2019 is N4. 25 trillion and that represents a performance of 81 percent. That is to third quarter so its nine months prorated not full year.

“The GDP growth that we planned for 2019 was 3.5 percent and the third quarter GDP performance was reported as 2.28 percent.

“On expenditure, we have been able to release all that is required for personnel so personnel expenditure is on course, debt service is also on course.

“On overhead, we have been able to eight months overhead for general MDA’s and 11 months overhead for some MDA’s we classify as critical.

This includes the security services, the Federal Government Unity Colleges as well as NYSC and Prison rations. So, a few agencies that we classify as critical have received 11 months and we are working on the

12th month overhead release for this category of MDA’s.

“So far as at last week, we have released up to N1. 2 trillion in capital expenditure and that is a 50 percent performance of the capital for the whole year 2019.

“Now that Mr. President has assented to the 2020 budget which is a major achievement for this government, it is clear that the 2019 budget is also a six-month budget. So we have achieved a fifty percent capital release or 50 percent performance of the 2019 budget.

We have also been able to pass through the National Assembly and the National Assembly has passed the Finance Bill of 2019. I believe that by today or tomorrow, the bill will be conveyed to Mr president for his assent.

We have started the process of the new long-term development plan, we prepared a road map, it is going to be subjected to various stakeholder reviews before we start the actual planning process.”

Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who also briefed told newsmen that the government will commence rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt Refinery by Januari 2020.

On achievements of his ministry in the first hundred days of his appointment, he said he had been able to get the deep offshore amendment Act by the National Assembly assuring that the Petroleum Industry Bill would be passed by June next year.

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, said his mandate was basically on railway even when there are others in maritime.

He disclosed that the President will commission eight new coaches and two new locomotives in January to carry passengers to and from Abuja to Kaduna.

The minister added that ItakpeWarri railway will be ready for commissioning between January and April next year just as he added that the Lagos-Ibadan railway will commence trial today.

Sowore: Court didn’t summon me- Malami

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A

ttorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said the Federal High Court, Abuja, didn’t summon him in respect of the detention of Omoyele Sowore.

Malami made the disclosure in a statement issued by his media aid, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, yesterday night.

The statement recalled that the issues that surrounded the subject matter borders on the application filed by Sowore’s lawyer on the 15th day of November 2019.

The matter came up before Hon. Justice I E. Ekwo on the 6th day of December, 2019 for mention.

The 1st & 2nd Respondents were

represented in the court.

The Court adjourned the matter to the 23rd day of January, 2020 for the hearing of the substantive matter.

The statement reads in part: ‘’Surprisingly, on Tuesday the 17th day of December, 2019, the Applicant’s Counsel adopted an exparte application filed on the 15th day of November, 2019 before Hon. Justice I E. Ekwo. ‘’However, the Court, being aware of the fact that parties have joined issues, ordered that the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) shall inform the 1st & 2nd Respondents of the case and the next adjourned date. ‘’The court order in question was only to bring to the notice of the Attorney-General and Minister of

Justice Abubakar Malami and the Director General of the State Security Service to take notice that upon the motion ex-parte filed on November 15th that applicants wantan expedite hearing of the matter. ‘’According to the order obtained from the court “an order is hereby made that the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of this Court shall bring this case and the next date of hearing to the notice and attention of the 1st and 2nd Defendants”. ‘’Buttressing the fact that the timing for hearing falls during the holiday season the court said “an order is hereby made remitting this file to the Hon. Chief Judge for assignment of this case to Vacation Judge for hearing as the next date of hearing falls within the vacation

period.”

The Court also ordered that the casefile be remitted to the Hon. Chief Judge for assignment to the vacation Judge for hearing as the next adjourned date of hearing falls within the vacation period. ‘’It is noteworthy that the day or date of the next adjourned date was not indicated in the order of the Court. ‘’Therefore, flowing from the above and the Order from the Court dated Tuesday, the 17th day of December 2019 there were no evidence to show that the Director DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation have been summoned by the Court as some individuals want to allude,’’ the statement concluded

Page 3

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

T

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that, some operators of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres used for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are aiding examination malpractices.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede stated this during a meeting with Computer Based Test Centres Operators, Technical Advisors, Service providers MTN, Airtel, Galaxy backbone and other stakeholders held in Zaria, yesterday.

He said such centre operators

as a way of covering up their crimes tamper with CCTV cameras mounted at their centres.

He added that JAMB is collaborating with the Computer Professional Council of Nigerian to monitor the conduct of its forthcoming UTME at various centres across the country.

Oloyede said the collaboration with the Computer Council is to get them pay particular attention to its Close Circuit Television cameras during the UTME to avoid being tampered with.

The examination board boss explained that, measure became imperative because of the way and manner operators tamper with the

Close Circuit Television cameras mounted in the various designated Computer Based Test Centres in order to cheat.

According to him, the board was aware that some centres’ CCTV were being tampered with and it was done in connivance with some of the board’s technical staff to aid and abet cheating during examination.

Though stamping out examination malpractices was a herculean task, he said, the board was poised at reducing sharp practices of any form during UTME to its barest minimum.

He said he was optimistic that with the current effort by the board,

prospective candidates who deserve to be admitted into any Nigerian tertiary institution, would not be short-changed.

Oloyede said, “The Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPRCN), should help us to pay a particular attention to CCTV. “We are aware that some CBT centres are tampering with CCTV camera in collaboration with our technical officers which they would not have been able to do if our technical officers have not collaborated with them because it is in server room.”

Meanwhile, the JAMB boss has said the national identification

number would henceforth be a precondition for registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination in Nigeria.

He said the campaign of calumny mounted against the National Identification Management Commission was a deliberate effort to smear the image of the commission.

Though Oloyede noted that was not speaking for the agency saddled with the responsibility to operates the country’s national identity management systems, he insisted that the commission was not corrupt, saying that JAMB would partner the NIMC.

Surveyor-General urges govs to upgrade status of state counterparts From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

T

he Acting Surveyor-General of the Federation. Surveyor TaiwoAdeniran has appealed to state governors in Nigeria to upgrade the status of state Surveyor- Generals.

This he said it would go a long way to give them the ample opportunities and windows to contribute their quota without interference.

Surveyor Taiwo stated this in an interview with newsmen shortly after the official opening of an event organised by the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation with the theme: “Surveying and Mapping in Sustainable Infrastructural Development and good governance” held at the Ta’al Conference Hotel Lafia yesterday.

He added that the objective of the programme harmonise and create awareness to the public on the significance of surveying and mapping.

According to him, “The purpose is to be able to monitor and follow surveying and mapping in sustainable infrastructural development and good governance in Nigeria. It is also aimed at sharing ideas and let the practitioners know really what is obtainable from one state to another and region to region. It is aimed at educating the public to seek the attention of surveyors before embarking on the development of their structures.” “ We call on the states yet to upgrade their Department of Surveyor General to key into it.

This will tremendously give the state Surveyor Generals sense of belonging. Give priority to Surveyor Generals in each state.”

He however, solicited for the government at all levels to always allocate funds to the department of surveying in order to ease mapping and surveying.

“Our environment is developing every day and there is no proper mapping. This is unacceptable in a developed nation,” he said.

R—L; The new Federal Permanent Secretaries Alhaji Musa Hassan, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, Mr. Olushola Idowu, Mr Andrew Adejoh, Alhaji Umar Tijjani, Alhaji Nasir Gwarzo , Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, Mr Fashedemi Peter and Mrs. Evelyn Ngige during the swearing-in held at the Council Chambers State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Court dismisses ex-Borno gov, Goni’s suit for pension, benefits

T

he National Industrial Court in Abuja Wednesday dismissed exBorno governor, Mohammed Goni’s suit for payment of pension and other benefits, for lacking in merit.

Mr Goni, the claimant, was the first civilian governor of the former Borno from October 1979 to October 1983.

He instituted the suit against the State Government and Attorney-General of the State, via an originating summons on May 30.

In the summons, he averred that since he left office in 1983, he had been paid his pension only four years, starting from July 2014 till date.

He, therefore, sought for a declaration of the court that by the combined reading of Sections 3 (1) and (3) of the Borno State, subsection 3 (i) – (ix) of the Borno State (Grant of pension to Governors and Deputy

Governors) Law, 2005 (as amended in 2009) and Section 312 (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as Section 6 of the Interpretation Act Cap 123, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

That he was entitled to receive monthly pension for life and the additional benefits enumerated in Sections 3 (1) and (3) of the Borno State, subsection 3 (i) – (ix) of the Borno State (Grant of pension to Governors and Deputy Governors) Law, 2005 (as amended in 2009).

The ex-governor also sought for a mandatory order of the court directing the defendants to immediately pay him the accrued pension and also provide him the additional benefits.

Justice Edith Agbakoba delivering the judgment said the Borno State (Grant of Pension to Governors and

Deputy Governors) Law, 2005 (as amended in 2009) had no retrospective provision covering governors and deputy governors who were not elected in accordance to any law in force immediately before the coming into force of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The judge in addition averred that the cited sections of law did not apply to the claimant.

She said those sections were applicable to governors that came into office after those laws were amended.

Ms Agbakoba, therefore, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit and awarded no cost.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the claimant’s counsel, Deji Morakinyo, of Falana & Falana’s Chambers in the originating summons had also submitted that that claimant was never provided the additional benefits enumerated in the said

sections of law.

According to the counsel, the claimant was to be provided with, a Principal Admin Officer, a Personal Assistant on Grade Level 10, two brand new vehicles and two drivers.

Others provisions were for free medical treatment for the claimant, his wife and biological children, 30 days annual vacation within or outside Nigeria.

Additional provisions for a furnished six-bedroom house within the state and payment for water and electricity bills in respect of the office and accommodation provided.

The defence counsel, Bulus Adamu of Borno Ministry of Justice, in the Statement of defence, however, said the claimant was not qualified as one of the former governors which the 1999 Constitution as amended deemed as duly elected governors.(NAN)

PAGE 4

News

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate an alleged nonremittance of N1.343 trillion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by the Petroleum Products Pricing if Agency (PPPRA) to the Consolidated Revenue Account Members of the House, Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) and Julius Ihonvbere (APC,Edo) made the call for the investigation through a motion under Matters of urgent public importance.

The lawmakers argued that, the non-remittance of the IGR into the Consolidated Revenue Account domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by PPPRA contravenes Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

They recalled that, the Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze disclosed at a Town Hall meeting in 2018 with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) in Abuja that, the PPPRA is the worst culprit in non-remittance as it withheld operating surplus of over N1.34 trillion.

According to them, the alleged N1.343 trillion unremitted PPPRA revenue was part of its IGR which contravenes the Public Accounting Principle and the Treasury Single Account policy of the Federal Government.

They stressed that, Section 22, Subsection 1 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 (FRA,2007) made it clear that,

Focus more on Kabba devt -Association President

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he President of Kabba Community Association Sir Johnson Jimoh has challenged the sons and daughters of Kabbaland to focus more on development of their community.

Speaking at the Christmas party organised for the members of the association recently in Abuja, Jimoh expressed the believe that through concerted efforts a lot could be achieved for a community and its people.

He said, “let me on behalf of members of Kabba Community Association in Abuja challenged all the other affiliates of KDU and other notable individual to rise up to the great task ahead in one accord and join force together to build our fatherland into a paradise for self and for our children yet unborn”. “ l have no illusions about the ability of our people to rise up to the occasion in a very big way to make Oweland great, peaceful and conducive for comfortable living.

That is what we hope for and believe will be”, he stated.

Vice President of the association, Mrs Florence Abedayo in her speech commended every member for their contributions for the development of Oweland.

She said “little efforts made towards developing our area is something of joy.”

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Reps probe PPPRA over non-remittance of N1. 343trn “Notwithstanding the provisions of any written law governing the Corporation, each Corporation shall establish a general reserve fund and shall allocate thereto at the end of each financial year, one fifth of its operating surplus for the

year” and such payments are to be made very year after preparation of Audited Accounts; They equally disclosed that, Section 22, Subsection 2 of the Act stipulates that, “The balance of the operating surplus shall be paid

into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government not later than one month following the statutory deadline for publishing each corpprations.”.

The lawmakers urged the

House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to investigate the allegation and report back in 10 weeks.

The motion was adopted and referred to the relevant committees for further investigation.

L-R: Executive Director, Al Yaro International Company, Alhaji Umar Yaro, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike DabiriErewa, Chairman, Al Yaro International Company, Muhammad Umar Yaro and others, during the Nigerian Hajj and Umrah Exhibition/ Forum on Investment Opportunity Between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

News

Ajaokuta Steel revival: Nigeria, Russia sign MoU January

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Federal Government said it would sign the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Russian Federation preparatory to the resuscitation of the multibillion naira Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill, in Kogi State in January 2020.

The Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite disclosed this while declaring open the 2nd Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Stakeholders Forum in the Northwest zone held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and other allied companies were a done deal, saying that the metal and steel sector remained the bedrock of the development of any nation.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed in the repositioning of the metal and steel sector.

The Forum had as its theme: “ Repositioning the Nigerian Metal Sector, For National Development and Economic Diversification.”

Olamilekan said the repositioning of the metal sector was for the overall economic development of the country, saying that no nation in the world survived by neglecting its metal sector.

The Minister said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the fifth phase of the second edition of the Nigeria Metallurgical Industry Stakeholders’ Forum (MISF). It is an engagement with metal operators in the South-East Geopolitical zone of the Country.

“The first, second, third and fourth phases were held at Asaba, Delta State; Oshodi, Lagos State, Jos, Plateau State and recently in Owerri, Imo State respectfully.

“The Forum is timely considering the Federal Government’s current quest to diversify our mono-product economy by de-emphasizing dependence on oil and gas while

focusing more on the non-oil sectors especially the agricultural, minerals and metals sectors.”

Olamilekan noted that the theme of this Forum ‘‘Repositioning the Nigerian Metals Sector for National Development and Economic Diversification’’ was in tandem with the agenda, vision and mission of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister added that the steel and other metals development had remained the bedrock of industrialization for sustainable growth and development of any nation, Nigeria inclusive.

“Take a look around you, you would agree with me that virtually everything we use today either has components of metals or is produced using metallic equipment and Nigeria is well endowed with various mineral raw materials that cut across the length and breadth of the nation.

“Based on this undisputable

fact, the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is poised to regulate the metals sector of the economy in order to create enabling environment for Metallurgical Operators and all other allied metal outfits in the sector with a view to diversifying our economy, creating jobs and wealth for growth, development and National Prosperity,” he said.

The Minister then called on all stakeholders present at the Forum to share their experiences in the Metals Sector towards rebuilding the ailing Metallurgical Industry to “enable us utilize locally, the various mineral raw materials that Nigeria is endowed with for National Development and Economic Diversification.”

According to him, the ministry has developed a roadmap and also articulated some sustainable programs, strategies and activities for the development of the Metallurgical Sector with a view to taking it to the next level.

“These include: Developing a

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state being decorated with the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Brigadier-General, F. I. Etim, assisted by the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Naomi Awak while the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Gombe State Chapter, Warrant Officer, Adamu Madaki during the launching of the 2019/2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem Appeal Fund, held at the Government House in Gombe.

FG, AAGTRCL sign MoU on sustainable job creation

By Ochiaka Ugwu

T

he Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Agro and Allied Green Technology Resource Centre Limited (AAGTRCL) in Abuja Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create sustainable jobs for our teaming youth population.

The MoU was also signed to encourage rural development, dampen rural-urban migration, promote self-sufficiency, raise internal economic for mutual benefit and prosperity.

Speaking during the event, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, said it was made possible through the Bioresources Department of the Ministry.

His words, “the Ministry, through the department of biotech resources entered into a discussion to engage agencies under the purview of the ministry in an initiative that will help arrest poverty, create employment and generate wealth especially for our teeming youths”.

Nabasu said the agreement is coming at the right time when Nigeria is seeking the domestication of proven technologies and support the growth of our local industry and markets.

He maintained that Nigeria is on the path to fund security and economic growth.

Continuing, Nabasu said the purpose of the MOU is to have a common interest that develops a

program that will deploy available technologies within the ministry and agencies to develop the research to create jobs and develop a green light structure through community-based agro and allied centers across Nigeria.

Responding, Managing Director of AAGTRCL, Dr. Emeka Okengwu, informed that the introduction of technology into the agro allied sector by the Ministry will create millions of job for our youth population.

Okengwu noted the technology will not only reduce the stress associated with farming but will generate millions of jobs for the country, youths and aged ones.

He said when fully in operation, CSCABRC will not only increase production and value processing

of agro and allied products but would create sustainable jobs, the much needed rural power, telecommunications, housing, roads, rural industries, contribute to the Gross National Product (GDP) of the country and boost inclusive growth, social cohesion and above all national food security.

Explaining further, Okengwu said that Climate Smart Community Agro Based Resource Centres (CSCABRC) is all about developing humanity and its environment saying that the projects will be owned and managed by the Community Development Committees in partnership with technical and technology support from FMST and AAGTRCL.

FRSC promotes 2,341 officers – Official

T

he board of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says it has elevated 2,341 personnel to various new ranks.

The Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Oyeyemi said that the promoted officers had displayed a great deal of excellence and hard work and diligence over time.

According to him, 108 Chief Route Commanders are promoted to Assistant Corps Commander,

54 Superintendent Route Commanders to Chief Route Commander while 741 Route Commanders were elevated to the rank of Superintendent Route Commander.

“Others are 963 Deputy Route Commanders elevated to the rank of Route Commander, 475 Assistant Route Commanders will now wear the rank of Deputy Route Commander,” he said.

Mr Oyeyemi commended the performance of the newly promoted Officers and charged them to put in their best in the

course of their duties as the new rank comes with greater responsibilities.

He also urged those not promoted this year to keep faith alive as opportunities still abound for promotion in the future.

He stated that the promotion was part of the drive of the FRSC geared towards rewarding excellence, diligence and hard work.

He, therefore, called on all personnel to put in great efforts towards the actualisation of the Corporate Strategic Goals of the

Corps.

He said that such goals led to trending down road crashes and creating a safer motoring environment in the country.

Mr Oyeyemi disclosed that the FRSC board Chairman, Bukhari Bello, also expressed satisfaction with the level of transparency and objectivity that surrounded the entire processes.

He said Mr Bello charged the newly-promoted staff to be more committed to the realisation of the corporate mandate of the Corps.

(NAN)

Roadmap for the development of Minerals and Metals industry; Processing the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill (NMIB) to the National Assembly; Collaboration with all relevant government agencies; “Building confidence of private metallurgical plants operators in the country especially on areas where government could be of assistance in finding solutions to their challenges, Liaising/ Partnering with Nigeria Customs Service towards curbing incessant dumping of substandard steel and other metal products in Nigeria as well as export of banned scrap metals.

“All these among others are the pragmatic steps being taken by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development towards repositioning the Metal Sector to attain its pride of place as the bedrock of industrialization and those who track the activities of the Ministry are already aware of these developments,” he said.

P&ID scam: Court orders Briton’s extradition, arrest

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

J

ustice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of the Briton, Adam Quinn, over his alleged involvement, in the failed Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between the Nigerian government and Process and Industrial Development (P&ID).

Granting the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an order for extradition of the Briton, Justice Abang said the extradition would help the government to prosecute him on the charges filed

against him by the EFCC. The second defendant, Nolan, has been detained at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, after his inability to perfect his bail conditions.

The two directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution and ICIL Limited, were arraigned on a 16-count charge of money laundering but later amended to 32 counts.

The anti-graft agency, in their argument, stated that Quinn’s name appeared in the charge sheet, 21 times, adding though Quinn was not within the court’s

jurisdiction, an order of warrant of arrest extraditing the defendant could be effected.

Counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, submitted that the court has the statutory powers under the provisions of sections 3, 35, 36 and 37 of the Administration of Justice Act, 2015, to grant the prayers being sought.

He said: “We seek an order of the Honourable Court issuing a warrant for the arrest of Adam Quinn, named in counts 1, 2, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the criminal charge brought

before this Honourable Court and face trial on the aforementioned criminal charges.

“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

Justice Abang said he had considered the application argued by the EFCC counsel.

“I think it deserves to succeed to enable the prosecution that represents the Federal Government of Nigeria commence prosecution of Adam Quinn,” he said.

He noted that Quinn’s name appeared severally in the

charges which were amended on November 20 and filed the same date.

“Therefore, it is hereby ordered as prayed in line with the motion. Order is hereby made for a warrant of arrest of Adam Quinn whose name appeared severally to enable Federal Government of Nigeria to commence his prosecution to enable him to answer questions on the charge.’’

The Irish engineering company had secured the award of $9.6billion against Nigeria following the non-execution of the agreement the company had with the federal government.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 6

News Zamfara killings: Over 500 captives freed, says PDP From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Zamfara State ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Committee on Information has said Governor Matawalle-led administration was able to rescue over 500 captives and have since reunited with their beloved families.

In a swift reaction by a member of the Committee on Information of the PDP, Honorable Nasiru Altine Yakamata, on statement made by ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari while assuring his teeming APC supporters at Talata Mafara last weekend, that, there is still hope for APC to regaining its lost power from PDP in the state.

Yakamata, who claimed that, the immediate past administration under Abdulaziz Yari did not pay needed attention on security matters said, the former Governor was only busy enjoying incessant trips within and outside the country.

“The former governor, had never within his two tenures spent a week in the state despite there were merciless killings, cattle rustlings and kidnappings across the fourteen local government areas of the state.

“Amongst other devastating issue been suffered in Zamfara during immediate past administration which strongly believed had attracted the Stoned Face of Almighty God, was the rampantly desecration of the holy Quran.

“People of Zamfara State cannot quickly forget those black days they were thrown in during the APC government when they lost thousands of their beloved ones, thousands of cows to rustlers and billions of naira paid as ransom to kidnappers”, Yakamata has recalled.

He assured that, APC will never have way into power to govern Zamfara State under whatever process provided the teeming dismissed civil servants and their defendants would live to witness political activities in the future.

It would be recalled, exGovernor Abdulaziz Yari, has dared Governor Bello Matawalle by reorganizing political gathering after been warned recently to avoid holding meetings with politicians in the stat

2, 745 inmates awaiting execution, says Correctional Service

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) yesterday revealed that about 2, 745 inmates who have been condemned to death in various formations across the country are currently awaiting execution.

Speaking yesterday during a tour of its facility in Gwagwalada, Abuja, the Comptroller General of NCS, Ja’afaru Ahmed, added that 22 former members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, who have been deradicalized by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have sat for the Senior School Certificate Examination, a development described by the service as part of its rehabilitation efforts.

He however blamed lackadaisical attitudes some state governors to sign death penalty

sentence of the condemned inmates as one of the factors contributing to congestion in Correctional facilities.

Ahmed, who was represented by his spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was in place to hasten the trial of suspects so that Correctional facilities could be decongested.

“Governors are not willing to sign death sentences of condemned inmates, neither are they ready to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment.”

The CG said not more than 24 states have domesticated the Act, adding thag the Act will help decongest facilities, “as some of its provisions empowers Correctional centres to reject inmates so that facilities are not overcrowded.”

He said the service has developed

the Correction Information Management System (CIMS) to capture inmates biometric, access the length of remand and pre-trial detention proceedings in the correction system.

He said the CIMS project has already taken off in some locations across the country for a re-assessment of utility services in NCoS facilities nationwide, currently ongoing in order to device possible ways of coping with the phenomenal overcrowding in the system and avoid recurrence.

He said that the generous attention of the present administration to the NCoS, coupled with the doggedness of his boss, provided a recipe for fundamental changes in offenders’ management.

“We have equally attempted to address the age-long

infrastructural deficit through construction and rehabilitation of inmates’ cells including the provision of beds and beddings to enhance humane custody.

“Of significant mention is the 3,000 capacity ultra-modern custodial centres approved for all the geo-political zones, with that of the North West in Kano at the verge of completion, and that of North Central in Abuja, and Bori in Rivers State just commenced.

“A total of 32 satellite custodial centres shut down by the Boko Haram insurgency have also been re-opened.

“In order to improve access to justice for pre-trial detainees, a total of 382 operational vehicles have been procured and distributed between 2016 and 2018, for inmates to be taken to court for hearing as and when due.”

Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib (right), Chief Executive Officer, Global Alliance Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) Dr. Seth Berkley (2nd right), Representative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi (left), with others, during the official presentation of cold chain equipment to the primary health centre, at Aleyita in Lugbe Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

DPR seals off 4 illegal gas plants in Lagos

T

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday sealed off four Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants, over non-compliance and illegal operations in Lagos.

Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which collaborated with the DPR in the exercise, also arrested three employees of the sealed LPG — also known as cooking gas — plants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gas stations sealed off include Geogas Gas Filling Plant, Oduduwa Road, Oworonsoki

and Classic Gas, MKO Abiola Market, Agege, Lagos.

Also shut down by the petroleum regulatory agency were Al-Morruf Gas Plant and Vertex Gas, both located in the Agege axis of the state.

Abel Igheghe, Head, Gas, DPR, Lagos Zonal Office, said over 54 gas plants had been sealed off in 2019 for not complying with international standards.

He said the LPG plants were sealed for being illegal and operating within densely populated residential areas, schools and market places.

Mr Igheghe said: “These gas plants were sealed by DPR for

not meeting international safety standard in their operations.

“Some of them, like the one inside MKO Abiola Market, pose a great threat to lives and property of people nearby.

“You cannot be refilling gas in this kind of location because fire can be ignited from any source due to its proximity to a busy road and other businesses.”

According to him, all the sealed facilities did not meet the minimum 15 meters required for such operations which is a critical safety requirement.

He said the sealed stations were also operating without approval or license from the

DPR, and the agency would continue to clamp down on such illegal plants.“We have served them notices to dismantle these structures and we will continue to carry out surveillance to ensure that they are removed,’’ he said.

Mr Igheghe said the DPR was collaborating with the NSCDC to enforce compliance with the closure order because the agency itself had no power to arrest or prosecute defaulters.He appealed to Nigerians to assist the agency in reporting such illegal facilities operating within their areas to avert tragedies caused by gas explosions. (NAN)

NLC chairman in Cross River kidnapped

T

he Cross River Police Command have confirmed the kidnap of the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ben Ukpepi, at his residence in Akpabuyo local government area of the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Calabar that the NLC chairman was kidnapped at about 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday by suspected kidnappers.

“The story of the kidnap of the NLC Chairman is true. He was kidnapped in Akpabuyo in his house,” said Ms Ugbo, a deputy superintendent of police.

“We got the report this morning. The Anti Cultism and

Kidnapping Unit are on top of the situation to rescue him,” she said.

A source who did not want to be named told NAN on the phone that Mr Ukpepi was making a phone call within his

residence when the abductors took him away.“His family have been calling his line, but it has been switched off since last night and his abductors have not called up till now,” the source said.(NAN)

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) yesterday revealed that about 2, 745 inmates who have been condemned to death in various formations across the country are currently awaiting execution.

Speaking yesterday during a tour of its facility in Gwagwalada, Abuja, the Comptroller General of NCS, Ja’afaru Ahmed, added that 22 former members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, who have been deradicalized by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have sat for the Senior School Certificate Examination, a development described by the service as part of its rehabilitation efforts.

He however blamed lackadaisical attitudes some state governors to sign death penalty sentence of the condemned inmates as one of the factors contributing to congestion in Correctional facilities.

Ahmed, who was represented by his spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was in place to hasten the trial of suspects so that Correctional facilities could be decongested.

“Governors are not willing to sign death sentences of condemned inmates, neither are they ready to commute their death sentence to life imprisonment.”

The CG said not more than 24 states have domesticated the Act, adding thag the Act will help decongest facilities, “as some of its provisions empowers Correctional centres to reject inmates so that facilities are not overcrowded.”

He said the service has developed

NLC chairman in Cross River kidnapped

T

he Cross River Police Command have confirmed the kidnap of the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ben Ukpepi, at his residence in Akpabuyo local government area of the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Calabar that the NLC chairman was kidnapped at about 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday by suspected kidnappers.

“The story of the kidnap of the NLC Chairman is true. He was kidnapped in Akpabuyo in his house,” said Ms Ugbo, a deputy superintendent of police.

“We got the report this morning. The Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Unit are on top of the situation to rescue him,” she said.

A source who did not want to be named told NAN on the phone that Mr Ukpepi was making a phone call within his residence when the abductors took him away.

“His family have been calling his line, but it has been switched off since last night and his abductors have not called up till now,” the source said.(NAN)

CRIME News 2, 745 inmates awaiting execution, says Correctional Service the Correction Information Management System (CIMS) to capture inmates biometric, access the length of remand and pretrial detention proceedings in the correction system.

He said the CIMS project has already taken off in some locations across the country for a re-assessment of utility services in NCoS facilities nationwide, currently ongoing in order to device possible

ways of coping with the phenomenal overcrowding in the system and avoid recurrence.

He said that the generous attention of the present administration to the NCoS, coupled with the doggedness of his boss, provided a recipe for fundamental changes in offenders’ management.

“We have equally attempted to address the age-long infrastructural

deficit through construction and rehabilitation of inmates’ cells including the provision of beds and beddings to enhance humane custody.

“Of significant mention is the 3,000 capacity ultra-modern custodial centres approved for all the geo-political zones, with that of the North West in Kano at the verge of completion, and that of North Central in Abuja, and Bori in Rivers

State just commenced.

“A total of 32 satellite custodial centres shut down by the Boko Haram insurgency have also been reopened.

“In order to improve access to justice for pre-trial detainees, a total of 382 operational vehicles have been procured and distributed between 2016 and 2018, for inmates to be taken to court for hearing as and when due.”

L-R: The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok -Ete Ibas; presenting a sorvenir to the Chairman Senate committee on Navy, Senator George Sekibo, during the committee’s visit to the Naval headquarters, yesterday in Abuja.

DPR seals off 4 illegal gas plants in Lagos

T

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday sealed off four Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants, over non-compliance and illegal operations in Lagos.

Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which collaborated with the DPR in the exercise, also arrested three employees of the sealed LPG — also known as cooking gas — plants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gas stations sealed off include Geogas Gas Filling Plant, Oduduwa Road, Oworonsoki and Classic

Gas, MKO Abiola Market, Agege, Lagos.

Also shut down by the petroleum regulatory agency were Al-Morruf Gas Plant and Vertex Gas, both located in the Agege axis of the state.

Abel Igheghe, Head, Gas, DPR, Lagos Zonal Office, said over 54 gas plants had been sealed off in 2019 for not complying with international standards.

He said the LPG plants were sealed for being illegal and operating within densely populated residential areas, schools and market places.

Mr Igheghe said: “These gas plants were sealed by DPR for

not meeting international safety standard in their operations.

“Some of them, like the one inside MKO Abiola Market, pose a great threat to lives and property of people nearby.

“You cannot be refilling gas in this kind of location because fire can be ignited from any source due to its proximity to a busy road and other businesses.”

According to him, all the sealed facilities did not meet the minimum 15 meters required for such operations which is a critical safety requirement.

He said the sealed stations were also operating without approval or license from the

DPR, and the agency would continue to clamp down on such illegal plants.

“We have served them notices to dismantle these structures and we will continue to carry out surveillance to ensure that they are removed,’’ he said.

Mr Igheghe said the DPR was collaborating with the NSCDC to enforce compliance with the closure order because the agency itself had no power to arrest or prosecute defaulters.

He appealed to Nigerians to assist the agency in reporting such illegal facilities operating within their areas to avert tragedies caused by gas explosions. (NAN)

Zamfara killings: Over 500 captives freed, says PDP From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Zamfara State ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Committee on Information has said Governor Matawalle-led administration was able to rescue over 500 captives and have since reunited with their beloved families.

In a swift reaction by a member of the Committee on Information of the PDP, Honorable Nasiru Altine Yakamata, on statement made by ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari while assuring his teeming

APC supporters at Talata Mafara last weekend, that, there is still hope for APC to regaining its lost power from PDP in the state.

Yakamata, who claimed that, the immediate past administration under Abdulaziz Yari did not pay needed attention on security matters said, the former Governor was only busy enjoying incessant trips within and outside the country.

“The former governor, had never within his two tenures spent a week in the state despite there were merciless killings, cattle rustlings and kidnappings across

the fourteen local government areas of the state.

“Amongst other devastating issue been suffered in Zamfara during immediate past administration which strongly believed had attracted the Stoned Face of Almighty God, was the rampantly desecration of the holy Quran.

“People of Zamfara State cannot quickly forget those black days they were thrown in during the APC government when they lost thousands of their beloved ones, thousands of cows to rustlers and billions of naira

paid as ransom to kidnappers”, Yakamata has recalled.

He assured that, APC will never have way into power to govern Zamfara State under whatever process provided the teeming dismissed civil servants and their defendants would live to witness political activities in the future.

It would be recalled, exGovernor Abdulaziz Yari, has dared Governor Bello Matawalle by reorganizing political gathering after been warned recently to avoid holding meetings with politicians in the stat

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 8

News

Gov. Badaru re-appoints Mati Ali, Ishaq as Radio Jigawa, JTV MDs From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

T

he Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has approved the re-appointment of Alhaji Mati Ali and Alhaji Ishaq Hadejia as Managing Directors of the Radio Jigawa and Jigawa State Television JTV. This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen yesterday by the Public Relations Officer, office of the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Comrade Isma’il Ibrahim.

The statement said that , the reappointments take immediate effect.

According to the statement, Governor Badaru also approved the reappointment of Alhaji Ado Hussaini, as Director General, Due Process and Project Monitoring Bureau.

The statement further disclosed that the reappointments were based on their outstanding performance and sterling qualities.

He therefore urged the people in the state to corporate with them to take Jigawa State to the next level.

Fishing festival: NCAC, Argungu Emirate partner to promote peace

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

I

n a bid to give Argungu fishing festival a new flavor, the National Council for Arts and Culture(NCAC) and the Argungu Emirate Council have partnered to promote national peace and unity in the forthcoming festival.

Argungu fishing festival is an annual festival which will be held from 4th to 7th of March 2020 in Argungu, Kebbi State in the Northern Nigeria after 10 years of abandonment.

Director General NCAC,Otunba Runsewe has promised that Argungu fishing festival would breathe new face in 2020.

Runsewe made the disclosure while receiving a powerful

delegation led by the Emir of Argungu in Kebbi State, HRH. Alhaji Samaria Mohammed Mera at NCAC Headquarters, yesterday in Abuja .

He said, “We will use Argungu to make a bold statement that indeed it is a festival that unites and we will continue to support it henceforth because it is arguably the number one in the country with UNESCO endorsement,” He also showcased the prototype of the cultural centre he plans to build in Argungu Emirate saying it is modelled after the best cultural centres in the world.

Speaking further, Runsewe admitted that he was emotionally connected to the festival which according to him, has a long

history with a rich cultural content that remains unrivalled globally.

He stated that, “The major problem we have in Nigeria is of lack respecting each other culture.

If we respect each other culture we will sale unity and appreciate each culture “ A lot of festivities in this country are a disgrace, but the Argungu fishing festival promotes peace. “.

He also pleaded with the emirate to put golf course in Argungu, saying that his organization will sponsor the quiz competition and essay writing to bring and promote culture in all secondary schools in Nigeria .

He displayed several publicity/ promotional materials specially

prepared by NCAC to prosecute the 2020 edition of the festival.

Runsewe assured that the fish house he built in 2010 will also be refurbished and remodelled.

Delivering his address during the visit, Alhaji Mera thanked Runsewe for identifying with the festival which is not only symbolic but serves as a platform for projecting Nigeria’s rich cultural endowments.

While lamenting the decade long abandonment of the festival, he was, however delighted that with the new impetus injected by the culture chief, Argungu Fishing Festival will be resuscitated and therefore assume its place of honour among other high profile festivals in Nigeria.

Road walk, Organised by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), as part of the two days of National Migration Dialogue in commemoration of the 2019 International Migration Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

N1bn suit: Pinnacle asks court to dismiss ICPC objection

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

P

innacle Communications Ltd (PCL) has asked the Federal High Court Abuja to dismiss a preliminary objection filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), challenging a suit it instituted against the anti graft agency and Zenith bank PLC. PCL had in July 2018, dragged ICPC and Zenith bank to court for unlawfully withholding its money domicile in the bank without a valid court order, and consequently, is claiming N1billion against the agency as damages.

In adopting the preliminary objection of ICPC, yesterday, the anti graft counsel, Nneka Chukwuma-okere, urged the court to dismiss the plaintif’s suit for being academical, having been resolved in a ruling delivered

by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, on December 14, 2018.

Reacting, the plaintiff rejecting the preliminary objection, through his counsel, Ama Etuwewe SAN urged the court to dismiss the objection of ICPC, because PCL claim “is declaratory in nature” and that as fact “that declaratory reliefs cannot be granted without evidence proffered by the plaintiff In the witness box”.

Etuwewe stated that the Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit as there are substantial issues to be tried.

The plaintiff stated that “there is no provision in the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 that empowers the ICPC to exercise judicial powers and also the administrative act of the 1st Defendant/Applicant in ordering the 2nd Defendant to freeze Plaintiff’s account with the 2nd

Defendant is ultra vires the 1st Defendant and is therefore illegal, unlawful and oppresive”.

He said it will be in the interest of justice to refuse the ICPC application.

Also, a motion by the 2nd defendant urging dismissal of the suit was opposes by the plaintiff.

Zenith bank through its counsel, Emeka Ojukwu had in his preliminary objection claimed that the action it took by withholding the account of PCL was a “lawful act”.

However, the plaintiff asked the court to dismiss the objection.

By the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/779/18, Pinnacle Communications is seeking “A declaration that the act of the 1st defendant in ordering the 3rd defendant to place a “postno-debit” restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 3rd defendant without any court order and or any valid court order

is ultra vires, unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

The plaintiff is also seeking, “A declaration that the act of the 2nd defendant in placing a “post-nodebit” restrictions on the plaintiffs account number 1012875804 with the 3rd defendant without any court order and or any valid order is unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

More so, PCL wants, “A declaration that the failure of the 3rd defendant to right the wrongful act of the first defendant in ordering a “post no debit” restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant without a valid court order is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

Furthermore, the plaintiff is

seeking “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from placing any restrictions on plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant without a valid and competent court order.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant from placing any form of restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant and or any other bank or financial institution in which the plaintiff maintains any account and or dealings, without a court order and or valid and competent court order.

“An order for the payment of the one billion naira as general, exemplary and punitive damages against the defendant for their unlawful and illegal act.

Following the adoption of ICPC’s preliminary objection by its counsel, the trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo fixed January 31, 2020 for ruling.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Page 9

News

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

F

armers in Edo State have recorded 100 per cent crop yield in maize harvest, the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture Lending (NIRSAL) has said.

The Managing Director of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhammed made this know during the launch of Edo/NIRSAL maize harvest on Wednesday in Sobe in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The initiative of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration, according to Abdulhammed.

He stated that, the project has recorded 100 percent increase in yield with the cultivation of 4,400 hectares of maize by 880 farmers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

“Ordinarily, we harvest 1.8 metric tons of maize per hectare but with this project we harvested four metric tons of maize per hectare “The collaboration we signed is

Edo farmers record 100 per cent crop yield in maize production to support 880 farmers to cultivate 4,400 hectares of maize. If we do that in second and third phase, “ We will harvest 17,600 metric tons of maize with a market value of N1.98 billion and the money will go into the pockets of the local farmers.

“Jobs that will be created will be more than 17,000 direct and indirect jobs,” he said.

According to him, NIRSAL is a institution created by the Central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN) and given

the mandate by the CBN to enable additional financing and investment into agriculture.

“This NIRSAL and Edo collaboration has enabled free flow of finance and linkage to market and utilisation of modern technologies to improve yield.

“NIRSAL deployed the use of advance technology for the cultivation of maize and rice. We also trained the farmers in modern agronomy practice,” he added

According to him, NIRSAL enaure 75 percent insurance cover for farmers so that if there is disaster, NIRSAL will pay.

Also speaking, Gov. Godwin Obaseki said, “today we are witnessing the harvest of 400 hectares of maize in Sobe.

“We are also going to sign an amendment to the ealier MOU we have with NIRSAL today to cover other programme like poultry, piggery as well as root and tuber

crops,” he said.

Obaseki said that farming had become profitable under the programme adding that Agriprenuer programme was addressing the challenges confronting farmers in the state such as access to land, market and inputs.

He said the assistance from NIRSAL had made the Agriprenuer programme successful via providing all the support to reduce risk in agriculture.

Stakeholders walk to mark Int’l Migrants Day in Abuja

By Ese Awhotu

N

igeria yesterday joined the rest of the world to mark the International Migrants Day. A road walk was held in Abuja by stakeholders as mark of commitment to the plight of migrants.

Speaking shortly after the road walk, Honorable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Mohammed said migration is part of humanity but must be safe, regular and dignifying.

This was disclosed in a statement, by Agidike Abdul Onu, Head: Press & PR of the Commission yesterday.

According to the statement, Senator Basheer said the celebration was also a solidarity with brothers and sisters who lost their lives in attempts to migrate in search of greener pasture or forceful migration.

The Commissioner advised the general public to seek regular migration, even as he encouraged them to explore the several opportunities being provided by government at various levels and be kind to migrants in our environment.

Chief of Mission, International Office for Migration, Frantz Celestine in the same vein stressed that regular migration is beneficial and should not be discouraged.

The Commission and IOM held the Annual Migration Dialogue at the state house, Abuja on Tuesday which was well attended by stakeholders.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau (2nd R); Deputy Governor , Prof. Sonni Tyoden (3rd L); Commander, Operation Safe Haven in Plateau, MajGen. Augustine Agundu (4th L); representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Real Adm. Obed-Habila Ngalabal (R) and other dignitaries, during the official inauguration of reconstructed community town hall by Operation Safe Haven at Mangu Halle in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau. Photo: NAN

National Ear Center Kaduna begins free screening of infants From Yusuf Idris Kaduna

N

ational Ear Center Kaduna is set to flag-off a progaramme towards screening infants born with ears ailments.

The Medical Director of the Center, Dr. Abubakar Mustapha disclosed this yesterday while speaking to newsmen in Kaduna.

Dr. Abubakar Mustapha who paid official visit to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital in preparation

for the exercise, said they are hoping that early next year the programme will commence and free for all infants.

He assured that the programme will be taken to the rural areas , “We are at Barrau Dikko

Hospital because we want to flagoff a programme that will screen infants that were born with ear ailments as well as to ensure that their organs of hearing are functional and if it is not to take the next line of action.”

Buhari applauds Reps patriotism on 2020 budget passage

By Christiana Ekpa

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has applauded members of the House of Representatives for the patriotism they showed in passing the 2020 budget on time.

Conveying the president’s appreciation to members at Wednesday’s plenary, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said Buhari

was appreciative of the lawmakers’ commitment and diligence, which has returned the country’s fiscal year to January-December.

Gbajabiamila told his colleagues that the President was proud of them for putting the country first in working on the budget, which was signed into law on Tuesday.

“I want to convey the president’s

appreciation to you all for working on the budget in record time.

“The President thanked all the members for their commitment to returning the country’s budget cycle to January to December,” the Speaker said While personally thanking his colleagues for their diligence and hard work in the last six months, the Speaker wished them

memorable festive season.

“I want to use this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. I pray God in His infinite mercy will bring us back fresh and refreshed.”

The Speaker also thanked all legislative and other support staff, pressmen, including their cameramen, among others for their commitment.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 10

News

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday swore-in the nine newly appointed Permanent Secretaries including, Dr. Evelyn Ngige,wife of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

Recall that the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Ag. HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, had recently in in a statement signed by Mrs. Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, Director, Communications, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF), announced that the President approved appointment of the Permanent Secretaries.

The new Permanent Secretaries that took the oath of office, are Engr. Musa Hassan, Borno State; Mr. Ahmed Aliyu, Niger State; and Mrs. Olushola Idowu, Ogun State.

The six appointed, according to the geo-political zones’ quota, are Andrew David Adejoh, North-Central; Umar Idris Tijjani, North-East; Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, NorthWest; Engr. Nebeolisa Victor Anako, South-East; Fashedemi Temitope Peter, South-West and Dr. (Mrs) Evelyn Ngige, South-South.

Senate passes bill to float Modibo Adama Varsity of Tech. in Adamawa

T

he Senate on Wednesday passed the bill for establishment of Modibo Adama University of Technology in Adamawa.

The passing of the bill followed presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institution and TETFUND on Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Aisha Dahiru (APC Adamawa) had gone through public hearing where inputs of major stakeholders was sought on conversion of the school

to conventions university.

The committee report was presented by Sen .Ahmad Kaita (APC Katsina) Kaita, while presenting the report, said the committee was in agreement with the proposals made in the bill.

He said the conversion of the institution to a conventional university would improve the economy of the host community and meet the educational needs of the people.

He said the enrolment of

students in the school had dropped following the ban of admission on management sciences and other courses.

He said enrolment of students dropped to 3,795 from 7,000 students in the schools as at 2016/ 2017 academic session.

He also said the reduction of students’ enrolment resulted in the drastic reduction in the internal revenue of the school and affected the running of the school.

The Senate, having considered the report of the committee at

the Committee of the Whole, approved the 29 clauses of the bill, consequently, the bill was read for the third time by the Clerk of Senate and passed.

Other bills of the committee passed by senate at plenary included: Bill on Establishment of Federal Polytechnic Orogun, Delta, Bill for Establishment of Federal College of Education Illo, Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Education Kontagora and Bill for amendment of Federal Polytechnic Daura Act .

L-R: National President, Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (AOAPN), Prof.

Victor Olowe, presenting a publication of the association to the Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Chukwudi Ekezie, during the visit of AOAPN to NAN headquarters, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Police arrest Benue APC spokesman, Ornguga Nnorom,

T

he Police in Benue State yesterday arrested the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC Mr. James Ornguga According to a party source, Ornguga was arrested at about 3pm in Makurdi while he was having lunch at a local

restaurant on Iorkyaa Street.

Spokesman for Jime/ Ode Governorship Campaign Organisation Kula Tersoo told Peoplesdaily in telephone chat disclosed that the policemen who came in two (2) trucks, invaded the restaurant and took away Ornguga even as they demanded to know what offence he had committed.

He said the party did a quick

follow up as to why he (Ornguga was apprehended), alleging that it was on the orders of Governor Samuel Ortom.

“They arrest him in a manner that depicts authoritarian government. As a party we condemn the action in its entirety. The publicity Secretary does his job as APC spokesman.

If the Governor feels defamed in any way by Ornguga’s criticisms

of his government, the right him to do is institute a suit a defamation or live case against him rather than he engages the Police to want to coerce us.

“We had it on good authority that 10 of us have been penciled down for arrest during g the Xmas period”,Kula alleged.

When contacted, Police Spokesperson DSP Catherine Anene said in a text message, ‘I

am not aware of this please.

While the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Terver Akase said his boss is not a police man and as such cannot give orders for the arrest of people.

“When police make an arrest, they always tell the suspect or accused person why he or she is apprehended”, Akase said.

By Lawrence Olaoye resident Muhammadu Buhari has commended the admirable life lived by Abdullahi Dauda, his nephew, and prayed to Allah to shower his blessings on the soul of the deceased.

According to a statement

available to newsmen by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, speaking yesterday in Kaduna through a delegation he sent to the family of the late nephew, the President said the late Abdullahi lived a life of service to fellow citizens and the nation, worthy of emulation.

The delegation, led by Jalal

Arabi, Permanent Secretary, State House, prayed that the goodness that marked the life of the deceased will follow him to the grave, reflecting at the same time, on the family that survived him.

The delegation, which was received by the older brothers of the deceased, Abdul-

Mudallab Dauda and Malam Mamman Daura, included the Senior Special Assistants to the President, Sarki Abba and Garba Shehu; the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure; Chief Personal Security Officer, (CPSO), Abdulkarim Dauda; the Special Assistant in the President’s office, Sabi’u

Buhari’s $29.9bn loan request

T

he Senate is already debating kind consideration relevant information President Muhammadu from the Honourable Minister of Buhari’s $29.96 billion request Finance, Budget and National Planning, to finance sundry projects. The the specific outstanding projects under upper legislative chamber Tuesday the 2016 – 2018 External Borrowing referred the President’s 2016 – 2018 plan for which legislative approval is External Borrowing Plan under which currently sought. I have also directed the request falls to the Committee on the Minister to make herself available to provide any additional information Local and Foreign Debts.

Buhari, in a letter dated November or clarification which you may require 26, 2019, said the Eighth National to facilitate prompt approval of the outstanding projects Assembly approved only under this plan”. a part of the foreign bank The President’s loan he had asked for in request has come September 2016. He said his at the same time as failure to get the whole loan International stalled his government’s These outstanding the Monetary Fund (IMF) projects are implementation of “critical projects” in the mining, well advanced is warning of the “rising vulnerabilities” of many power, health, agriculture, in terms of their countries, including water and education sectors.

Nigeria and China, His letter read, in part, preparation, debt overhang, “Pursuant to Section 21 and consistent with to “suggesting that many 27 of the Debt Management the 2016 Debt countries may be illOffice (Establishment) prepared for the next Act, I hereby request for Sustainability downturn.” This is a Resolutions of the Senate Analysis disturbing warning to approve the Federal Government’s 2016 – 2018 undertaken by the from the IMF. Nigeria’s total External Borrowing plan, Debt Management public debt which as well as relevant projects Office and were stood at N21.73tn as under this plan.

“Specifically, the Senate approved by the of December 31, 2017, is invited to note that: While Federal Executive rose to N24.39tn at the end of 2018, according I had transmitted the 20162018 External Borrowing Council in August to data from the Debt Plan to the Eighth National 2016 under the Management Office. It Assembly in September, increased to N25.7tn 2016 – 2018 2016, this plan was not as of June 30, 2019. It approved in its entirety External Borrowing said last week that the by the Legislature, only country’s debt service/ Plan. the Federal Government’s revenue ratios for 2017 Emergency projects for and 2018 were 57 per the North East (Four (4) cent and 51 per cent States’ projects and one (1) China Exim respectively, adding that the debt service Bank Assisted Railway Modernisation figures had grown as a result of the Projects for Lagos – Ibadan Segment) increase in the debt stock and relatively were approved, out of a total of thirty- high domestic interest rates. However, on nine (39) projects. The outstanding Nigeria’s debt sustainability, compared projects in the plan that were not to a number of countries, “Nigeria’s approved by the Legislature are, debt/GDP is relatively low but the debt nevertheless, critical to the delivery service/revenue ratio is relatively high.” of the Government’s policies and The DMO prognosis is a little more programmes relating to power, mining, assuring than the IMF’s. And given roads, agriculture, health, water and Buhari’s personal integrity which, we education sectors. hope, will rub off on all officials of his “These outstanding projects are well government, regarding management advanced in terms of their preparation, of public finances, there should be no consistent with the 2016 Debt fear that the loan, if obtained, would Sustainability Analysis undertaken by be used for the purposes outlined in the Debt Management Office and were the 2016 borrowing plan. This said, approved by the Federal Executive the government must not fail to note Council in August 2016 under the the DMO’s veiled warning in “but the 2016 – 2018 External Borrowing Plan. debt service/ revenue ratio is relatively Accordingly, I have attached for your high.”

“

OUR MISSION

Buhari mourns nephew, Dauda

P

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

Buhari inaugurates Ngige’s wife, 8 others as Permanent Secretaries

From Uche Makurdi

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Yusuf Tunde; Member, House of Representatives, Sha’aban Sharada; and the Technical Assistant to the Minister of State, Petroleum, Engr. Nuhu Sani.

The President’s larger family members thanked him for sending the delegation, and consoled him in turn for the loss of the nephew.

OUR PEOPLE

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

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

Letter to the Editor

Ajaokuta Steel Deal And Prospects Of Russia -Africa Cooperation

By Deen Adavize

T

here is no doubt that Africa is gaining more and more global attention in recent times. Unlike its previous engagements with the rest of the world, the current wave of global attention being paid to the continent suggests the increasing pivotal role of Africa in the international system.

Though while the current global reconfiguration has witnessed tremendous shift towards the East, African nations, however, seem to have stood up seeking for mutually beneficial engagement with any interested partner from any part of the world to address their key existential challenges such as infrastructure deficit, unemployment, and insecurity.

However, Russia-Africa engagement is not new. Just like other world powers’ (Europe, America, and China) encounters with Africa, Russia had been on the continent for decades. Its engagement with Africa spanned the immediate post-colonial era. Though Russia showed little interest in the continent during the colonial period, the decolonization process of Africa in the early 1950s and the cold-war era created an opportunity for Russia (then part of the Soviet Union) to make significant inroads into the continent. Though, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war later resulted in its slow penetration into African.

As a matter of fact, Russia’s renewed interest in the African continent is predicated on the increasing influence of the emerging powers, coupled with the geopolitical struggle of Africa’s traditional friends to maintain their dominance on the continent. While Russia’s current step to return to the continent has generated considerable interest among the global actors, African Nations have, however, seen Russia’s move as an opportunity for the continent to bridge its developmental challenges.

After a long period of painstaking planning, the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit was successfully held in Sochi, Russia this year. Representatives of all 54 African nations, including over 40 heads of state and government participated in the summit. And about 100 deals and agreements worth over 12.5 billion dollars were signed between Russia and African leaders, ranging from military cooperation, Biotechnologies, agricultural development to oil and gas, and steel development, according to a communique. Chief of these deals that caught the attention of millions of observers around the world and received much encomiums at home (Nigeria), is the resuscitation of one of the continent’s most ambitious projects, Ajaokuta Steel complex, domiciled in Nigeria which had sucked over 8 billion dollars since its establishment yet remained derelict.

The project which began in 1979 was regarded as the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization. It was undertaken by a Russian company, Tyazhpromexport and said to be over 90% completed when the project was halted due to the Nigerian government’s failure to fund it coupled with the impact of the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Steel complex was envisaged to have

multiplier effects on all sectors of the Nigerian economy such as construction, agriculture, transport, among others.

If completed and fully operational, experts say it can generate up to one million employment opportunities for the country. And Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy with over 200 million populations, though facing a serious problem of unemployment is indeed, in dear need of such a life-changing project to tackle it.

While it is common knowledge that a number of companies from other countries had been engaged in the past but failed to bring to life this very important steel project on Africa’s most populous nation, it is gratifying that the Nigerian government has finally resolved to go back to the country that originally started it. Nigeria’s Minister of Mine and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adebite said recently, “we’ve come to the realization that it’s best to go back to those guys who did it initially.” This, of course, presents a promising opportunity for Russia to win the hearts of African nations, and prove to the world that its return to the continent would not pose any threat to other world powers but to establish mutually beneficial relationships with African nations. For this to be realised, President Putin must ensure that Ajaokuta steel deal and other important agreements reached at Sochi summit that can significantly have multiplier values are urgently transformed from mere memorandum of understandings to practical results.

Ajaokuta steel complex is an endearing project that had defied every attempt to make it operational.

If Russia eventually injects life into the steel plant which can generate massive employment opportunities for the continent, it will demonstrate the practical impact of Russia’s intervention to one of the most surging populations on the continent. This will no doubt endear African nations to go further, close to Russia and might be on its way to becoming one of Africa’s most dependable partners in the near future.

Nevertheless, it’s obvious that Russia is yet to match U.S, Europe, China, India and even other smaller countries’ investments on the continent, but President Vladimir Putin can still build a strong relationship with the continent and even treble the current 20 billion dollars’ trade volume in the next five years. He only needs to take some cues from the current enduring cooperation between China and Africa which characterized by strong commitment, mutual respect, and practical results.

Because of the strategic role of Nigeria on the continent and the premium the country put on the Ajaokuta steel project and, being the most cheering deal that was signed at the Russia-Africa flagship summit between President Putin and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, its success will indeed, determine the prospects of Russia-Africa cooperation.

Adavize, a researcher wrote from Abuja.

Can be reached via deenadavize@ gmail.com

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 13

Comment

Opportunities in chemical business and value chain

Hospital detention for non-payment of bills and its community legal effect

T

O

By Nwosu Chidiebele

he chemical industry in any country usually has the greatest business opportunities. In Nigeria, the opportunities in the chemical production and business are immeasurable and very vast that less than 6% of it has been tapped.

This is in contrast to developed countries as United States, Uk, Canada and Asian countries whom have a more developed chemical market.

The reason is the fact that almost everything on the surface of the earth is composed of chemicals. Hence there is absolutely nothing that one can do in this life without involving chemical components at one stage or the other.

It is a necessity and no one can do without it. Now, think of it from the food we eat, the house we live, the road we use, the clothes we wear, drugs we take, water we drink, the land we farm, chemicals of various quantities and types have to make all these possible. This is the reason why there cannot be life as it is today without the chemical industry.

DEVELOPMENT The development of this industry has suffered. It has suffered neglect and setback. The major reason is that most people are ignorant of the vast opportunities the chemical industries hold in terms of business and job creation. The opportunities are vast and more than other sectors of the economy. Nigeria provides vast market opportunities for many established and would be entrepreneurs to venture in this sector of the economy. The population is growing geometrically and so are the people needs. So, industrialist, entrepreneurs and would be entrepreneurs

like you are being relied upon to bridge the gaps. I also want to let you know that the chemical Production industry is a huge market with range of chemical products such as cosmetics, adhesives, beverages, disinfectants, inks, soaps and detergents, industrial chemicals, wood finishes, lubricants to mention but a few going a long way to provide a decent business opportunity for any willing investor.

Another positive is the massive income opportunities which are inherent in this industry.

INCOME OPPORTUNITIES The income earning potential on full scale can give one a lifestyle of choice, leveraging on the increasing population of this country. Nigeria runs a consumption based economy. A cake consumption instead of cake baking economy. It is an open and begging opportunities for more investment in the chemical production and manufacturing business. And with a population of over 160 million whom have to depend on the chemical products to survive, it becomes necessary to start a chemical business of your own. Surely, anyone can start and can start in small scale and with the necessary skills, information and knowledge, success is assured.

MARKET SIZE Nigeria companies consume in excess of $3.58 billion dollars’ worth of chemicals per annum but produces just $380 million dollar in equivalent creating a short fall of $3.2 billion dollar. The shortfall is filled mainly with importation. There are opportunities for new entrants to enter the industry and take advantage of healthy margins. A small scale producer can leverage on a strategic strength of good quality at reasonable price to create

a cutting edge advantage against the big players whose products are of higher prices.

FACTORS FOR CHEMICAL BUSINESS SUCCESS In the world of chemical business, planning play a very important role in determining its success. Though it is not different in other business, certain step has to follow including the proper procedure to get the right results. To survive and succeed in making any chemical product in Nigeria, the following steps are vital: This is the first step. Make a SWOT analysis. This is necessary as it will give you an edge and a basic foundation to grow your business.

SWOT means: Strength, Weakness, opportunities and Threats.

Strength: What is your strength?

Everyone has the same. Are you a good entrepreneur? Is your qualification, knowledge, training, experience, personality trait, passion, network, and finances among others, at advantage to you?

Capitalize on your strength. Your strength lies where you have major advantage over others.

Weakness: Find where your negative points lie. When you identify them clearly then it is much easier to deal with them.

Are you poor in selling, keeping books or supervising people? Leverage on areas where you are weak. Find and use the best hands in the area where you have weakness.

Opportunity: Opportunities are untapped or not fully tapped prospects.

Finding and filling a gap in the market for any chemical product is an opportunity to make good gains. Eventually, the market might start getting saturated due to increasing competitors. If you invent a product that is needed by people, you have

an opportunity. In the Nigerian chemical industry, the opportunities for making chemical products are limitless.

Threat: What potential dangers are ahead of your business venture? These could be government policies, natural disasters like floods, cyclones, draught and conflicts like community clashes, militancy, wars among others. A ban in the use of your major raw material can be a big threat to your operations. Watch out for threat far ahead and do something to survive bad times. Unfavorable competition by imported product occasioned by government policy can affect your business.

After putting it in SWOT, you can now know where to improve upon, leverage or device strategies to survive and succeed as an entrepreneur in chemical business.

Get the necessary information, contacts and training to empower yourself. It can be motivational, managerial and technical.

The first stage is to go for entrepreneurship training if you have not done so. Do not ignore this, no matter your level of academic qualification. There are many centers in Nigeria where you can get this type of training at little or no cost e.g SMEDAN, NASSI, NDE, NASME, CBN, Association of chambers of commerce, Industries, Miners & Agriculture are some of the reliable ones.

This can be a difficult stage but you have got passion. Make a list of chemical products you will naturally want to produce if you had everything you need to do so.

Scrutinize and grade them according to market demand. This may require some market survey or consulting a market expert. Make a list of the five most popular and subject each one to:

is the focus of this piece is that the government should not be occupied by here and now measures for tackling the recession. It should get more creative and explore numerous other options to get the country out of the recession.

For instance, export promotion. At a time like this, the government should be most occupied with exploring how the country can produce more for export to earn the much-desired foreign exchange to ease the pressure on the naira. Here, I mean non-oil exports with particular emphasis on export of manufactured goods. I am not talking of export of raw materials and primary products that would return to us as much higher-priced finished products or export of mineral resources.

There is no point in lamenting, as has become the pastime activity in government quarters, the slide in price of crude oil and how it has dealt a big blow to the nation’s economic fortunes. The reality is that we must take our export agenda more seriously. Countries that have gone through recession had relied on export of manufactured goods as one of key measures to weather the storm.

That was the case in the United States of America. In his recent essay in The Economist titled. “The way forward”, President Barack Obama firmly acknowledged the role of export in pulling the US out of its recession. He stated, “Exports helped lead us out of the recession. American firms that export pay their workers up to 18 per cent more on average than companies that do not.” It will be recalled that the American economy was going through one of the country’s worst in economic recessions in history when President Obama came into office. Export of goods and services grew about 39 per cent since Obama took office. This has led to over 10 million jobs being added to the economy since Obama’s time in the Oval

Office. To consolidate the gains of export in the US, President Obama is currently pursuing the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the EU to further open up the EU to American goods and services.

Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s exports over the years are accounted for by petroleum and other mineral products.

Sometimes and especially in the recent past, overall export appeared to be growing but in real terms they are not. For instance, the Foreign Trade Report Q2, 2016 released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that value of exports grew by 63.3 per cent over Q1, 2016 figures. But the report was quick to point out that the growth was attributable to foreign exchange gains rather than to volume. Even then, export of manufactured products accounted for a paltry 0.9 per cent.

Nigeria has excess manufacturing capacity in a number of areas such as alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, tobacco, pharmaceutical products and wood furniture, etc. Many companies producing these products are currently burdened by low capacity utilisation which should not be the case if the export environment is right. Additionally, there is nothing stopping the country from being a net exporter of finished products made from such agricultural produce such as cassava, cocoa, palm kernel and palm oil instead of exporting these products in their raw or primary form.

For a robust export economy focused on manufactured products to take root in the country, the government has to deal with the impediments on the way. Key among this is development of necessary infrastructure that can help to reduce the transactional cost of manufactured goods in the country.

A former chairman of Ikeja branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria a few years ago stated that private power

generation by manufacturing companies in Nigeria accounted for 30 per cent of cost of production, for instance. There’s therefore no gainsaying that bad roads, poor rail network and unreliable electricity supply have important consequences for Nigeria’s export performance. High cost of manufactured goods in the country makes them uncompetitive outside the shores of this country and even against goods imported into the economy. The development of infrastructure must be accelerated to impact positively on the economic advancement of the country.

Government must find ways to address the issue of foreign exchange availability to manufacturers to further reduce their cost of production.

In addition, the government should either revive past export incentives or put in place new ones. Over the years, successive governments in the country had introduced and implemented a number incentives geared towards promotion of exports and diversification of the economy. For instance in 1986, the government promulgated the Export (Incentives and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, under which it introduced the Export Development Fund, the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and the Export Adjustment Scheme Fund. The period between 1987 and 2012 marked the high point of Nigeria’s export of goods and services, thus attesting to the effectiveness of the aforementioned export incentives. However, all three incentives are at the moment. It is on record that the EEG was suspended and reactivated eight times since it was introduced. The last suspension was in January 2014 and since then has not been reactivated.

Nwosu is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Nigeria can export its way out of poverty

By Michael Onuoha

I

n recent weeks, Nigeria was enmeshed in a debate as to whether or not she should sell some of her assets to earn foreign exchange that can help the country come out of its current economic recession. The assets touted for sale included the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company, some refineries as well as government’s stakes in joint venture operations and the Africa Finance Corporation, amongst others.

The debate was triggered by the recommendations of the National Economic Council to the Federal Government to carry out sales of the aforementioned assets.

Perhaps, Nigerians might have let the issue alone but when a personality like Aliko Dangote threw his weight behind the sale proposal, many people sat up straight, knowing now, as the Igbo say, that “the handshake has passed the elbow”. Dangote is the wealthiest living African and among the richest in the world. His empire was built through astute business deals. So when he spoke in favour of the “sell our assets” proposal, the campaign was no longer to be ignored because any business idea from Dangote is not to be taken lightly and so gave a significant measure of credibility to the proponents of the idea.

Nevertheless, many Nigerians including labour, activists, public policy analysts among others vociferously expressed their opposition to the sale idea. Not only did the opposition perceive the campaign as serving the interests of the sale champions, it also believed the country would, by selling the mentioned assets, be mortgaging its future for the present. They also believed the proceeds of the asset sale would end up in the coffers of the high and mighty pushing for it as allegedly had happened in the past. Yes!! This is Nigeria.

I don’t intend to continue the debate here, however. My thinking and which

Onuoha is a public affairs and reputation management specialist based in Lagos.

By Chidera Nwokeke n 5TH of December, 2019, the Legit.ng website published news about a man known as Biggy Nony, a Keke napep driver that was held up in a hospital over unpaid bills after the wife gave birth via CS which cost N170, 000.

She was detained since Wednesday, November 6, 2019 after she gave birth to their child through caesarean section.

This creepy and disconcerting but common practice in Nigeria of the detention of patients for non-payment of hospital hills is almost a norm and this has led to flagrant abuse of the fundamental rights of patients. These bestialize and debauch practice is an infraction of their fundamental rights and the actions of these hospitals amounts to false imprisonment. This article is not a campaign or in support of non-payment of hospital bills (moreover a debtor is not a criminal) because patients have corresponding responsibility to pay their bills.

However, this article will peruse on the legality of this baleful and ominous practice of hospitals for holding patients in detention for non-payment of their bills.

Sander E. Kenya stated that: Hospital detention practice is refusing release of either living patients after medical discharge is clinically indicated or refusing release of bodies of deceased patients if families are unable to pay their hospital bills. He further stated that each additional day that patients are detained in hospital adds to their bills. This increasingly hinders family’s ability to obtain patients release.

This vile practice by hospitals creates traumatic separations since families often must leave the hospital to seek funds. Some patients are even detained for months in hospitals or mortuaries.

Hospital detention for non-payment of bills is a barefaced reflection of a dysfunctional health care system structures, failed health-insurance coverage and mismanagement that exist in our Nigeria government.

Non-payment of hospital bills is not an offence in our instant Nigerian laws. It can only become an offence if a law provides or makes it an offence. It is a trite principle that offences and their punishment must be certain at all times. Hospital detention seems to be most common among the poor and vulnerable women and children who require emergency treatments notably for complications of childbirth. The negative effect of hospital detention over non-payment of hospital bill can push people deeper into poverty, aggravate hospital overcrowding, leads to school dropouts of children and deter others from seeking medical care.

In law, for a patient to be treated by a hospital, there is an agreement between the patient and the hospital. This agreement can be express or impliedly (especially in emergency situation). That means if either party breaches the agreement, the aggrieved party can seek legal redress in courts of law. So, when a patient fails to clear his medical bills, the hospital should not detain him since the hospital is not a gazette detention centre but can use legal means to recover the outstanding bill.

It is a trite principle of our law that a person cannot be a judge in his own case which is represented in the Latin maxim Nemo judex in

causa sua. To this effect, the hospital cannot be the offended party, complainant, prosecutor and judge in their own case by detaining a patient in a non gazette detention centre. The act of hospitals locking up patient from exiting their premises on the guise that they must complete payment amounts to false imprisonment and infraction of the patient’s fundamental right.

A High Court of Anambra State presided over

by Hon Justice Okuma has ruled that the act of corporate institutions especially hospitals locking up patients from exiting their premises on the guise that they must complete payment amounts to false imprisonment. This reasoning was given in the recent decided case of NGOZI OSEGBO & ANOR V THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE ON THENIGER –SUIT NO: O/255/2017 – the plaintiffs had taken their 11 months old baby to Iyi Enu Mission Hospital for treatment but died while undergoing treatment. The hospital was said to have locked up the plaintiffs and insisted that they would not be allowed to leave the hospital until all payments had been made. The hospital thus detained the plaintiff for more than 10 hours despite every plea to allow them put themselves together and sought for funds. The Court held that the acts of the defendants in detaining the plaintiff for ten hours in the circumstance of this case no doubt constitute acts of false imprisonment.

False imprisonment is denying a person freedom of movement or personal liberty without lawful justification. False imprisonment of a person is a breach of fundamental right to personal liberty. – OKEKE V IGBOERI (2010) LPELR-CA/B/304/2008, EBULUE & ORS V EZEBUO (2018) LPELR-CA/E/195/2014. Thus any unlawful bodily restraint or confinement of a person, however short the period of time is false imprisonment. – UDEAGHA V NWOGWUGWU (2013) LPELR-CA/K/44/2005. The act of false imprisonment must be direct, though it is immaterial whether it was done intentionally or negligently. False imprisonment is actionable in itself without the plaintiff having to prove harm or damage. Lord Edward Coke J said “Every restraint of the liberty of a free man is imprisonment although he be not within the walls of any common prison.”

The state of mind of the tortfeasor is irrelevant.

Once there is an act of false imprisonment, the tortfeasor is liable in the absence of lawful excuse.

The purpose of tort of false imprisonment cannot be overemphasized; it is to protect the fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement from being taken away by government, person or corporations.

For a patient to enforce an action for false imprisonment, he must prove that he was totally and completely restrained. Where there is a reasonable route, exit or means of escape, there is no false imprisonment. The means of escape must be reasonable. Where a means of escape will endanger the life of the plaintiff, he can still maintain an action for false imprisonment. In committing false imprisonment, it is not necessary that force be used on the plaintiff by way of battery.

A threat to use force on the plaintiff whereby the plaintiff is restrained by fear is sufficient.

The court in the case of AIZEBOJE V EFCC (2017) LPELR-CA/L/861/2007 held that the right to personal liberty guaranteed under section 35 of the 1999 constitution is not an absolute right.

A person can be deprived of his liberty upon reasonable suspicion of having committed a crime.

In another case of NDEM & Ors V EKPEYONG (2017) LPELR-CA/C/206/2011 held that by virtue of Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, one of the exceptions to the right of a person to the protection of his personal liberty is when the deprivation of liberty is in execution of a sentence or order of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty. It is obvious that indebtedness to hospital is not and cannot be a ground for reasonable suspicion or a crime at all and a person cannot be deprived of his right because of non-payment of hospital bills.

In the case of IGBOKWE V C.O.P. EDO STATE (2017) LPELR-CA/B/172/2011 the court held that section 35 of 1999 CFRN provides for personal liberty of the individual. By this section, the individual cannot be deprived of his personal liberty except in accordance with the law. The constitution itself set out in details the basic procedure and conditions for lawful deprivation. The personal liberty of a citizen having been so guaranteed will generally not be curtailed by another citizen or the government or corporation. The law is however equally settled beyond per adventure of doubt that, the said fundamental rights of liberty in certain special circumstances can be curtailed but only as permissible under the same constitution. Deducing from the provisions of Section 35 of 1999 CFRN, it is barefaced that indebtedness is not one of the exceptional grounds recognised by the section upon which a person may be deprived of personal liberty and detained by a hospital.

In the case of FORT ROYAL HOMES LTD & ANO V EFCC & ANOR (2017) LPELRCA/A/211/2013 the Court held that every person is protected from arbitrary arrest and no man shall be arrested except for reasonable cause allowed or permitted by law. A man should enjoy liberty and freedom without unpermitted interference or inhibition. It is illegal for hospitals to arrest, detain patients for non-payment of bills because hospitals are not detention centres recognised by law.

Detention centres are only to be kept by security agencies having powers to arrest and detain.

Hospitals, whether private or government owned cannot own, establish or run detention centres in Nigeria.

It is apropos to restate the position of our law that it is wrong for a hospital to use police or other law enforcement agency to recover hospital bills from patients. Debt collection on behalf of hospitals is not the job of the police or other law enforcement agencies and has never been their duty.

It is germane to state that detention of patients for non-payment of hospital bills goes against all that human rights standard and norms are known for because it robs off the dignity of the affected patients and such cruel act is degrading and inhumane. The court in the case of ZAMAN V STATE (2015) LPELR-CA/J/8C/2013 held that the word dignity means “The state of being noble; the state of being dignified; a right to hold a title of nobility, which may be hereditary or for life. As

deduced from this definition, can it be said that detaining a patient in hospital for non-payment of bill noble or dignifying? I answer in the negative submit that such act is not noble or dignifying and as such amounts to torture, inhumane degradation and that is cruel. In the case of BASSEY & ANOR V AKPAN & ORS (2018) LPELR-CA/C/256/2013 the court held that the right to dignity of human person under Section 34 of the 1999 CFRN is not a nebulous one. The constitution is clearly on what it entails. That section provides: Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly- a. No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.

To boot, the exceptions provided for in section 34 of the 1999 CFRN, there is no express or implied terms to show that the right of dignity of a person can restricted because of non-payment of hospital bills but hospitals have continuously engaged in this ungodly act of depriving patients their right to dignity of person. Ponder on this; what will be the impression a reasonable person will hold of a patient who is detained in the hospital for nonpayment of bills? Your answer is correct as mine.

The estimation and respect the reasonable man holds of the man will certainly reduce.

A violation or breach of any of the provisions is actionable under section 46(1) of the 1999 CFRN and it reads as follows: “46(1) Any person who alleges that any of the provision of this chapter has been, is being or likely to be contravened in any state in relation to him may apply to a high court in that state for redress. By virtue of Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rule 2009, public interest litigation can be brought on behalf of these vulnerable ones that are detained illegally in hospitals for non-payment of bills. – OKONKWO V EZEONU & ORS (2017) LPELR-CA/E/55/2012.

A patient can maintain a civil action like tort of false imprisonment and enforcement of fundamental right of liberty and dignity of persons against a hospital for detaining him for nonpayment of hospital bills without regards to the fact that there may be a patient-hospital contractual relationship. The defence of lawful justification cannot avail any hospital for detention of patient for non-payment of bill because there is no law that makes it an offence for a patient to owe a hospital and there is no justifiable reason whether morally, socially or religiously that can avail the hospital.

Conclusively, banning and criminalizing the detention of patients for non-payment of hospital bills will help preserve and advance the respect of the fundamental right of dignity of patients. Apart from a patient maintaining an action for infraction of his fundamental rights, he can maintain an action for false imprisonment. Aside the actions a patient can enforce in law through the court, it is pertinent that the government should have a mechanism to help reduce the abuse of the fundamental rights of patients through hospital detention. It is also my humble submission that the provision of free health services for citizens should be a top priority for government as this will help preserve the fundamental rights of citizens.

Chidera Nwokeke can be reached at Nwokekechidera@gmail.com

Lagos State and Sanwo-Olu’s proposed amnesty for criminals

By Tony Ademiluyi

T

he Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was in the news recently over his plan to grant amnesty to criminals operating in the state as a strategy to combat crime in the economic nerve centre of the nation.

This plan is in bad taste as it purports to pass on a surreptitious message that crime indeed pays in the state. Lagos State with its robustly funded security trust fund should be a no-go area for criminals who should be constantly watching their back when they are on the streets. This asinine move by the governor has effectively made the state surrender to these urchins.

Amnesty for bandits in Nigeria has its origin in the move by the Federal Government under the Major General Muhammadu Buhari regime to give such to the Boko Haram insurgents. The irony was that the latter declined the offer opining that it was they who should give the Federal Government amnesty. What an irony!

Sanwo-Olu should be more concerned with crime prevention through the massive building of skill acquisition centres which will see a free and compulsory enrolment of young people across the

state irrespective of tribe as the state is the country’s cultural melting pot. After their training, they should be either given take-off grants or soft loans at humane and flexible interest-repayment rates. The idea is to keep them sufficiently busy so that their minds won’t wander to partaking in acts of criminality as an idle mind, the saying goes, is the devil’s workshop.

There should also be the more effective tackling of crime as the state has the resources to tackle the scourge. It was the first state in the country to conceptualise the idea of a public-private partnership in crime control through the establishment of the security trust fund sometime in 2007. It shouldn’t have any excuse for Lagos residents not to be able to sleep like babies with their two eyes closed.

The wants of man are insatiable. Even if the amnesty is implemented, it wouldn’t stand the test of time as the beneficiaries would go back to the streets since they reckon that they will make much more money from acts of violence there.

These violent non-state actors will perpetually hold the state by the jugular to extort more money from them as they may not either hand over all their weapons or they will easily procure more to cause further damage with some of the money that will be paid to them therefrom.

Lagos cannot hope to become one of the world’s megacities if it tacitly encourages criminal actions through this ill-fated scheme. Reduction in crime is a sine qua non for the conferment of such a status on a particular state. The state should adopt a zero tolerance for crime instead.

There is also the menace of the ‘area boy’ or ‘agbero’ syndrome that is the most brazen of daylight criminality under the cloak of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state. The establishment has obviously long endorsed it as these boys are used as political thugs during elections and run errands for politicians from time to time. These idle hands have become role models for the youth since they make easy money without any form of brain work. It’s just brawn as they endlessly chase after vehicles like bees do to honey. The government should gradually take these boys off the streets through these skill acquisition centres which will give both hard and soft skills to them so that they can lead a more productive life.

Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be used to fund the whims and caprices of criminals who in most cases have a recidivist tendency. A similar scheme was experimented with in Ondo, Taraba, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Imo, Rivers and Benue states which

ended in colossal failures. Sanwo-Olu should learn from the examples of these states so as not to repeat the same error in Lagos.

Lagos should be made attractive to foreign investors and tourists and this strange form of amnesty will be a red flag as no sane mind will situate their hard earned investment in a clime that honours criminals rather than reprimands them. There is no point in building various hubs like the Eko Atlantic City and the Lekki Free Trade Zone if the security of lives and property isn’t of paramount interest to the government.

Despite the billions of naira pumped into the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, it is saddening that it cannot boast a downloadable App or even a number that can be used to call the police who will promptly respond in going to a crime scene. What a tragedy!

Sanwo-Olu should hearken to the voice of reason in not going ahead with his planned amnesty scheme as billions of naira will be wasted in the process. He should, instead, look inwards and think of sustainable ways of tackling crime in the state.

It is high time we enjoyed good governance in the most populous albeit smallest state in the country.

Tony Ademiluyi writes in from Lagos.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

2019 guber: Supreme Court affirms el-Rufai, Umahi, others

By Vivian Okejeme

T

he Supreme Court, had yesterday, affirmed the election of Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom States respectively.

Also upheld yesterday, was the elections of Bello Masari of Kastina state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment held that the various governors were lawfully elected as governors of their respective states.

The apex court, on Makinde’s election aligned with the submissions of Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, that the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the judgment of the Oyo State Election Petition Tribunal was flawed.

In a four-to-one majority judgment the court of appeal had voided the tribunal’s judgment on the grounds that the tribunal decision was perverse because the petitioner , Adebayo Adelabu, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was denied fair hearing in the matter.

Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the majority judgment was not in line with the position of the law, unlike that of the minority judgment which he said was more sober.

Therefore, she allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court and restored the decision of the tribunal as prayed by the appellant.

Makinde had appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had set aside the judgment of the tribunal which upheld his election as governor of Oyo State.

In the Katsina case, the apex court upheld the submissions of Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, that the first respondent, Bello Masari was eminently qualified for the March 9 governorship election.

The court also agreed with Fagbemi that the appellant did not challenge the basic qualification of the governor, other than mere allegations of submitting false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his clearance for the said election.

Justice Mary Peter-Odili, while delivering the lead judgment held that the appeal by Senator Yakubu Lado, was devoid of merit and substance, and accordingly upheld the concurrent judgment of the tribunal and Appeal Court which upheld the election of Masari as governor of Katsina State.

Others whose election were also upheld, are that of Governor Nasir el-Rufai and Governor Abdullahi Sule, Kaduna and Nasarawa States respectively.

The apex court in its unanimous judgment held that the appeal filed

by Isa Hashiru, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship election challenging the victory of El-Rufai of the All Progressive Congress (APC) lacked merit.

In the same vern, the court held that appeal by a PDP candidate in Nasarawa State, David Ombugadu against the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC was also lacking merit.

According to the judgment of the apex court, the appellants in the two different appeals failed to substantiate their claims of irregularities and substantial non

Senate passes bills for Fed University Gashua, Polytechnic Orogun, others

L-R: Global Ambassador, Mrs. Regina DanielNwoko; Chairman/ Initiator Eradication of Malarial Africa Project, Prince Ned Nwoko; Project Coordinator, Mr. Chukwuebuka Anyaduba; and Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Adeniyi Ifetayo during the inauguration of nwoko mosquito eradication and anti-malaria vaccine research programme, yesterday in Abuja

By Musa Adamu

T

he Senate on Wednesday passed six bills seeking to establish and give legal backing to Federal Universities and Polytechnics across several States of the Federation.

The upper chamber also passed an amendment bill on the Federal Polytechnic Daura Act. The bills passed by the Senate seek to establish the Federal University of Gashua; Federal Polytechnic, Orogun; Federal College of Education, Illo; Federal University of Education, Kontagora; Federal Polytechnic, Daura; Modibo Adama University of Technology, and Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Funtua.

The passage of the seven bills was sequel to the consideration of the reports of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND chaired by Senator Babba Kaita Ahmad (APC, Katsina North).

Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday referred President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees for the position of Chairman and Member of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service for further legislative action.

The upper chamber also referred the President’s confirmation request for two additional nominees as members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Both requests were referred to the respective Committees by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary.

compliance with the electoral laws.

It maintained that the two appellants did not show evidence to warrant the setting aside of the concurrent decisions of the tribunal and Appeal Court.

The Supreme Court accordingly upheld the election of both el-Rufai and Sule as Governors of Kaduna and Nasarawa States respectively.

The Apex court also, yesterday upheld the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

Justice Paul Galinje, who delivered the lead judgments affirmed the governor’s victory at the March 9, 2019 election after dismissing two separate appeals challenging the outcome of the poll.

The court held that the two appeals was lacking in merit.

Others whose election were also affirmed are that of Ogun, and Ebonyi.

Atiku differs with Reps on rejected 6-year single term

By Lateef Ibrahim

F

ormer Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has expressed displeasure at the speed with which the six-year single term proposal was rejected by the House of Representatives.

Atiku, while reacting to the rejection of the bill by the House in a press statement in Abuja on Monday, said he is disappointed by the fact that the lawmakers have thrown away the baby with the bath water at the expense of the larger interest of the country.

According to him, “in view of the challenges facing our current democratic order, especially the culture of rigging that subverts the will of the people, six-year single term would have ended such untoward practices in our electoral process”.

Continuing, he said, “the

desperation for second term by the incumbents is the main reason why they go for broke and set the rule book on fire, thereby making free and fair elections impossible by legitimizing rigging at the expense of their challengers that have no access to public funds.

“A situation where the incumbents deploy more public resources to their second term projects than using the funds for people’s welfare encourages massive rigging that undermines electoral integrity”, he said.

He reasoned that “six-year single term would remove such desperation and enable the incumbents concentrate on the job for which they were elected in the first place.”

The Waziri Adamawa regretted that “eight-year term of office rewards incompetence, because even incumbents that

have failed would use their access to public funds to return to power by fair or foul means.

“I don’t agree with the logic that eight years would give elected leaders better opportunity to fulfill their campaign promises.

“An inherently incompetent incumbent will perform below average even if you give him/her 20 years in office or give him or her $20 billion dollars”, Atiku stressed.

According to him, it is not how long a man spends in office, but how well he is adequately prepared for the job.

He argued that the desperation for second term is not necessarily driven by patriotism or the passion for service, but by the obsession with the greed for power for its own sake.

His words, “Second term obsession rewards incompetence

by allowing failed incumbents to be reelected regardless of their performance record.

“It also denies political parties the opportunity to replace failed incumbents with better candidates within the parties in the name of right of first refusal”, he said.

The former Vice President noted that the rejection of the six-year single term was a mistake because little attention was paid to its merits, adding that eight years tenure of four years each sacrifices merit because the incumbents are automatically entitled to reelection regardless of their performance records.

Atiku is however of the view that current holders of the offices under the proposed constitutional review should not be entitled to a six-year term at the expiration of their second term.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PAGE 16

POLITICS Bill including Senate President, Speaker in NSC scales 2nd reading in Reps

By Christiana Ekpa

A

bill seeking to confer membership of the National Security Council on the presiding officers of the National Assembly yesterday scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Presiding Officers of the National Assembly in the Membership of the National Security Council; and for Related Matters (HB.328)”, is sponsored by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun representing Surulere federal constituency of Oyo State.

The bill if assented to eventually, will enable the President of the Senate and Deputy, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy to have the constitutional right to participate in the meetings of the Council.

At the moment, the membership of the Council as contained in the Third Schedule of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) read as follows: (a) the President who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Vice-President who shall be the Deputy Chairman; (c) the Chief of Defence Staff; (d) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for internal affairs. (e) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged responsibility for defence; (f) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for foreign affairs; (g) the National Security Adviser (h) the Inspector-General of Police; and (i) such other persons as the President may in his discretion appoint.

The Council is vested with the power to advise the President on matters relating to public security including matters relating to any organisation or agency established by law for ensuring the security of the Federation.

By its passage to second reading, the bill is now at the Committee stage, awaiting public hearing.

Senate adjourns plenary today, mourns Sen. Uwajumogu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

S

enate will today adjourn plenary in honour of late senator Benjamin Uwajumogu who died yesterday in Abuja, following a brief illness.

Indication emerged that the senate would have adjourned plenary today for the observance of Christmas holiday, but the death of the senator has made it necessary for the lawmakers

to adjourn today and return on Friday to clear their schedule for 2019 before adjourning for Christmas break.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has expressed shock and sadness over the tragic news of the death of Senator Ben Uwajumogu who represented Imo North Senatorial District of Imo state until death on Wednesday.

Lawan commiserated with

the family of the deceased Senator, government and people of Imo State over the tragic loss, while also condoled with senators and friends of the departed senator.

He recalled that Senator Uwajumogu was full of life at the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, which made the news of his death even more difficult to take.

“But God gives and takes in line with his supreme sovereignty so we cannot question His will.

“Senator Uwajumogu’s sudden death is shocking and a painful loss to the ninth National Assembly where he always made robust contributions to the debates and other activities of the Upper legislative chamber.

He will be greatly missed by all of us his colleagues and staff of the Senate,” Lawan said.

The Senate President prayed that God Almighty will comfort his loved ones and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

POLITICS

Late Uwajumogu entrenched APC in S/East - Omo-Agege

By Musa Adamu

D

eputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege has expressed shock and sadness over the death of one of his close colleagues, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu.

Senator Uwajumogu who contributed to debates during the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday passed away on Wednesday morning.

In a statement issued by Senator Omo-Agege’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, he sympathized with the late Senator’s family and the people he represented.

“His death is a matter of deep personal loss for me. My dear friend representing Imo North Senatorial District in the 9th Senate, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, a co-member of the APC which he was helping to

entrench in the South East, died as an intellectual, a political giant, a successful businessman and a philanthropist par excellence.

“He was a devout Christian who passionately shared in our party’s vision for reforms and populist development that can positively impact on many lives now and in the future.

“He lived and died as a great ambassador of the Uwajumogu family of Umuihi-Ihitte/ Uboma

LGA in Okigwe zone of Imo State to the world. At the age of 25 in 1990, he was the pioneer Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in his local government area and in 2011, he became Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly.

“The practical application of his studies in the USA and France, along with his good works were part of what culminated into his being given the “Industrialist of the Year, 2000” award by the

Abia State Chapter of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Guardian Newspaper’s ‘Integrity and Credibility’ award and the ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ award by the Rotary Club International, Enugu District.

“More importantly, he was a good family man and I pray that God grants his wife, Eileen and children the strength to bear such irreparable loss ,” Senator OmoAgege stated.

Rice Development Council to boost food security -Sen Enagi

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

W

L-R: Deputy Director of Inspectorate, Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Mohammed Yahaya; Country Director of Synergos Nigeria, Adejoh Victor; Senior Agric Officer, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, Saheed Tanimu and Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, Halima Lawal, during the State Agriculture Council’s workshop, yesterday in Kaduna. Photo: NAN

ICPC, Kaduna govt partner to entrench transparency in LGs From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government has partnered the Independence Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to promote transparency and fiscal responsibility in the state’s local government administration.

The state’s Commissioner for Local Government, Malam Ja’afaru Sani, made this known during the opening of a twoday workshop on anti-corruption drive, organised by the ministry in collaboration with ICPC in kaduna yesterday.

The Commissioner explained that the workshop was organised as part of efforts to instill transparency and accountability in local government

administration and the state public service in general.

According to him, the workshop was timely in view of the emphasis placed on rural development by the federal, state and local governments.

“This is also very critical in the implementation of the Public Service Revitalisation and Renewal Programme by the state government.

“It has, therefore, become imperative for all and sundry to cooperate with relevant agencies and officials in the efforts to entrench probity and accountability in the management of public funds at the LGA level.

“This is because the menace of corruption undermines the capacity of government to deliver satisfactory services.”

Sani noted that with dwindling

revenues coming to local governments from federation account, there was the need for local government officials to be exposed to best practices.

Owasanoye, who was represented by the Director Education, ICPC Headquarters Abuja, Mohammed Baba, urged local government chairmen to embrace citizens participation in budget formulation and execution.

He also advised the local government administrators to let the people decide what project they need and where to locate such project to encourage the people to take ownership for sustainability.

According to him, the tenet of transparency and accountability in governance requires social inclusive administration and

participatory approach in service delivery.

Also speaking, ICPC Commissioner in the state, Shehu Yahaya, urged the local government officials to design and implement preventive measures against corruption and carry out public enlightenent to foster public support.

In a paper entitled, “AntiCorruption Legislation in Nigeria”, Yahaya said that ICPC would use the provisions of the ICPC Act to prosecute any government official involved in corrupt practices.

He advised the local government officials to acquaint themselves with the provisions of all anti-corruption laws, pointing out that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

ith the second reading passage of the Bill seeking to establish Rice Development Council in the Senate, the required mechanism for sustenance of local rice production and food security in Nigeria has been put in place, said Senator Bima Muhammad Enagi (APC Niger South).

Enagi who stated this Tuesday in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists on the proposed National Rice Council, said the aim is to have a productive ecosystem for the Rice Industry in Nigeria with proper operational and governance structure.

According to him, the council when established, like similar ones in the United States of America known as USA Rice Council, Rice Association of Thailand, Directorate of Rice Development in India etc, will provide necessary policy, regulatory and business environment for increased rice production (quantity and quality), value addition, trade and income.

“It will transform the activities of rice farmers, rice processors, millers, researchers, marketers and other important stakeholders across the entire rice value chain, particularly the clusters of smallholder rice farmers and small scale millers spread all over the country”.

The Council on its own merit he added, “will pull investment into rice production, provide the missing link between rice production and industrialization, provide employment, reduce migration from rural to urban cities and enhance socio-economic activities all over the country”.

The absence of a National Rice Development Council over the years, he lamented, has deprived Nigeria of a number of direct benefits derivable from having an organised Rice Industry like timely access to real time and accurate information data, knowledge and Technology.

This according to him, is clearly evident in the annual drain on the nation’s foreign exchange earnings put about $2billion annually.

The piece of legislation is currently with the Senate Committee on Agriculture for further legislative inputs.

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; wife of former Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola and, Dr Lekan Are, during the Ibadan Foundation 2019 annual awards on Sunday in Ibadan. Photo: NAN

Senate receives report on FCT 2020 budget

By Musa Adamu

T

he Senate has called on the Nigerian Police authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the killing of Professor Jerome Elusiyan of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, with a view to apprehending the assailants and bringing them to justice.

The upper chamber, which urged the Federal Government to place high priority on the safety of Nigerians during and after the festive period, observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased

who according to the Senate, “died in active service to the fatherland”.

Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, Sponsor of the motion to that effect, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, said that Prof.

Jerome Elusiyan, a professor of Pediatrics and child health; and Chairman, Medical Advisory Council of OAU Teaching Hospital, was attacked and killed on December 13, 2019, on his way to Benin at Iruekpen, Esan West local government in Edo State.

The lawmaker stated that Elusiyan left Ife on Thursday for

Ambrose Alli University on official assignment to supervise some students as an external examiner.

He added that on his way back to Benin where he intended to pass the night before moving to Ile-Ife on Saturday, he was attacked and killed by some unknown gunmen while his driver sustained gunshot injuries.

“The erudite scholar was killed by unknown gunmen while he was in active service of impacting knowledge to the incoming generation may send fears into others who are in similar activities all over the country and other nationals who

may be interested in coming to Nigeria now and in future,” Fadahunsi said.

He lamented, “Till today, the police authority is yet to arrest anyone in connection with this gruesome murder.”

Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday received the report of its Committee on FCT on the 2020 FCT Appropriation Bill, 2019, under consideration by the National Assembly.

The Committee’s report was laid at the commencement of plenary by the Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North).

Uwajumogu gave his best to Senate - Ekweremadu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

F

ormer Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed grief over the death of the Senator representing Imo North

Senatorial District, the late Senate Benjamin Uwajumogu.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Media Assistant, uche Anichukwu, described the development as “very shocking and tragic”.

He described Uwajumogu as a “vibrant and diligent lawmaker, who gave his best to his constituents, Imo State, and the nation in various capacities”.

“This is, therefore, a huge loss, not only to the good people of Imo

State and the Senate, but to the nation”, he added.

Ekweremadu prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased lawmaker and fortitude to his family and the nation the nation to bear the irreparable loss.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Stock Watch: Wednesday, December 19, 2019 Low

OPEN Volume Close High

3.80 1.11 0 1.94 1.91 0 2.27 0.21 0 2.64 0.62 0 4.60 4.62 0 57.00 38.30 0 5.79 2.21 0 9.65 40.05 0 31.50 64.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0

Top Gainers

Symbol CHANGE

Trades

3.80 4.00 ACCESS -0.35 1.94 2.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 1.27 1.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 1.64 1.64 AIICO 0.00 4.60 6.60 BERGER 0.00 37.00 37.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 6.79 1.79 BOCGAS -0.42 4.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 71.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 0.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 08.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 0.72 1.72 CHAMPION -0.12 23.25 23.25 CONOIL 0.00 0.20 0.20 CORNERST 0.00 0.20 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.00 6.10 6.10 CUSTODIAN 0.00 1.75 1.75 CUTIX 0.00 186.00 186.00 DANGCEM 0.00 6.00 6.25 DANGFLOUR -0.65 14.60 14.60 DANGSUGAR 0.05 1.80 2.00 DIAMONDBNK -0.20 3.37 3.37 EKOCORP 0.00 4.30 4.30 ETERNA -0.40 14.00 14.00 ETI 0.00 7.45 7.60 FBNH -0.35 1.62 1.67 FCMB -0.03 1.92 1.98 FIDELITYBK -0.04 4.95 4.95 FIDSON 0.00 0.33 0.33 FIRSTALUM 0.00 21.85 21.85 FLOURMILL 0.00 29.60 29.60 FO -1.10 0.20 0.20 FTNCOCOA 0.00 12.20 12.20 GLAXOSMITH -0.85 33.50 33.50 GUARANTY 0.55 72.00 72.00 GUINNESS 0.00 1.18 1.18 HONYFLOUR 0.00 1.53 1.53 IKEJAHOTEL 0.00 31.50 31.50 INTBREW 0.00 0.53 0.53 JAIZBANK -0.01 0.20 0.21 JAPAULOIL 0.00 23.25 23.25 JBERGER 0.00 0.44 0.44 JOHNHOLT 0.00 0.30 0.30 LASACO 0.00 1.36 1.36 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0.72 0.72 LINKASSURE 0.00 0.52 0.52 LIVESTOCK 0.03 1.83 1.83 MANSARD 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 3.14 0.02 LIVESTOCK 1.42 0.04 SOVRENINS 1.28 0.03 OKOMUOIL 10.00 0.60 GUARANTY 23.50 0.25

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Low

OPEN Volume Close High

Symbol CHANGE

Trades

2.45 2.45 0 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00 0 0.21 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.63 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.15 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 24.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 1.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 6.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 12.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 68.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 1.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 1.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 52.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 NESF 0.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 NESTLE 0.00 0 1.60 1.65 0 1.60 1.60 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 4.60 4.80 0 4.60 4.75 OANDO -0.20 0 80.00 76.20 0 80.00 80.00 OKOMUOIL 3.80 0 64.00 64.00 0 64.00 64.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 PRESTIGE 0.00 0 12.30 12.30 0 12.30 12.30 PZ 0.00 0 4.20 4.20 0 4.20 4.20 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.20 0.21 0 0.20 0.21 REGALINS -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RESORTSAL 0.00 0 0.21 0.23 0 0.21 0.22 ROYALEX -0.02 0 640.00 640.00 405 640.00 640.00 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.21 0.21 SOVRENINS 0.01 0 46.50 46.00 0 46.50 46.50 STANBIC 0.50 0 102.00 102.00 122 102.00 102.00 STANBICETF30 0.00 0 1.97 1.96 0 1.97 1.97 STERLNBANK 0.01 0 203.00 203.00 0 203.00 203.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 6.10 6.10 632 6.10 6.10 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.15 1.21 0 1.16 1.18 TRANSCORP -0.05 0 9.60 9.60 0 9.60 9.60 UACN 0.00 0 1.74 1.92 0 1.74 1.74 UAC-PROP -0.18 0 7.60 7.80 0 7.90 7.95 UBA 0.10 0 6.00 6.05 0 6.00 6.05 UBN -0.05 0 2.89 2.94 0 2.89 2.91 UCAP -0.05 0 36.30 37.00 0 36.30 36.30 UNILEVER -0.70 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.27 0.27 UNIONDAC 0.00 0 1.00 0.99 0 1.00 1.00 UNITYBNK 0.01 0 2.04 1.97 0 2.14 2.14 UPL 0.17 0 0.23 0.23 0 0.23 0.23 VERITASKAP 0.00 0 4.50 4.99 0 4.50 4.50 VITAFOAM -0.49 0 11.30 11.50 0 11.30 11.65 WAPCO -0.20 0 0.40 0.40 0 0.40 0.40 WAPIC 0.00 0 0.59 0.61 0 0.59 0.61 WEMABANK -0.02 0 21.20 22.70 0 21.70 22.50 ZENITHBANK -1.00 0

Top Losers Stock DIAMONDBNK BOCGAS VITAFOAM DANGFLOUR UAC-PROP

Close 0.70 0.89 1.20 2.00 0.94

Loss -0.20 -0.22 -0.39 -0.45 -0.28

Four Saudi Arabia companies to set up in Nigeria soonHon. Dabiri

By Musa Adamu

A

t least four Saudi Arabia companies are about setting up in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary, Nigerua in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri -Erewa, has disclosed.

Hon Dabiri spoke to Journalists yesterday at the opening of the first Hajj and Umrah Exhibitions organized by AlYaro International, in Abuja.

According to her the incoming companies will operate in the manufacturing, education, hospitality and agricultural sectors of the economy.

Commending the promoters of the Forum who are Saudi Arabia born Nigerians, Hon Dabiri, said by the Saudis companies would definitely give a boost to the economy of the country.

She further said it would give credence to the fact that Nigeria was an investment destination, promising that her Commission would ensure that the companies had a smooth take off.

She said: “ the smart ones have since realised that Nigeria is an investment haven and are coming in to take advantage of it particularly in the area of agriculture, health, education and even hospitality business as well. I think the wise ones are here now and by the time others come the whole place would have taken up.”

She said she was excited to see Nigerians born in Saudi Arabia coming home for the first and getting excited about promoting investment between the kingdom and Nigeria “ Subsequently, we will be working with them to exhibit Nigeria products in Saudi Arabia. What we are doing here is forsteting Nigeria-Saudi Arabia relationship. “ It is amazing what Nigerians can do and what our young people can do and it only shows that our country is just a place to be and a country to invest in. “ I want to commend the Yaro Brothers for putting this Forum together and I want to say that this is the kind of things we all should be doing. What they have done is very encouraging and they deserve every support. “ We are going to work with the Yaro Brothers because they have shown that they really understand what we are doing as Commission.

She further hinted that “The next stage would to take this exhibitions to Saudi Arabia to exhibit Nigeria products there so we would now have the avenue to promote our companies in that country.

This initiative is the begining of of many great things between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia and I must add that the exhibitions i have seen so far is simply amazing.”

She called on Nigerians in Diaspora to continue to partner with Nigeria so that “we can work together and make Nigeria great and this is why we have Nigeria in Diaspora Commission.”

The Executive Director of Al- Yaro International, Imran Umar Yaro, commend Hon Dabiri for her office support towards the organization of the Forum.

He said: “we want to thank Hon Dabiri for giving us all the support we need to host a successful exhibitions. We want to say she supported us from zero to 100 percent.”

NCDMB to meet 70% Local Content target by 2027 ...determines to create 300,000 jobs

By Etuka Sunday

N

igerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) yesterday restated commitment to meet the set target of 70% Local Content across the sectors of the nation’s economy by the year, 2027.

The Board disclosed this at a Capacity Building Workshop for Media Stakeholders in Abuja, with a Theme: Strategic Communication- A Critical Enabler to Attainment of Nigerian Content 10-Years Roadmap.

Flanked by the General Manager, Corporate Communications & Zonal Coordination Division, NCDMB, Dr. Ginah O. Ginah, General Manager, Research, Statistics & Development, NCDMB, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Manager, Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh, the board said, a lot of progress has been made to ensure that the 2027 vision of 70 percent local content is

achieved.

It said, the focus was not “Nigerianisation” of the oil and gas sector but “domiciliation” and “domestication” of value-adding activities.

It noted that prior to Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, the sector was dominated by foreign Nationals from Europe, North American and Asia with it attendant consequences of $380billion capital flight, 2million job losses and less than 5% Nigerian Content value.

This, it said, has changed with the launch of the 10-Year Roadmap, adding that so far, over 7, 000 Nigerians had been trained in that direction.

The board said, it was collaborating with relevant industry stakeholders like the Media to drive the local content implementation.

It said, it has established collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics

(NBS) on collection data and dissemination of compendum of local content statistical data.

It listed skills gap, infrastructure deficit, product standard, data availability, policy inconsistency and access to finance as some of the challenges confronting the implementation of the local content roadmap.

It however, said that funding, enabling law, measurement & monitoring, stakeholder engagement, community participation and political will was needed for achieving sustainable local content in Nigeria.

According to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria is the 10th largest oil producer in the world and the second largest in Africa with oil reserve of 37billion barrels.

OPEC also said that Nigeria is 9th largest gas producer in the world and largest in Africa with gas reserve of 180TCF.

L-R: Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, NCC; Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye,Board Chairman,NCC; Mr. Clement Bayi, Board Commissioner, NCC; and Engr. Austin Nwaulune, Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC; at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on the Regulation of Drones: The Spectrum Perspective and Presentation of the Reviewed Guidelines on 2.4 and 5.8 GHz Spectrum Bands, held in Sheraton Hotel, yesterday in Lagos.

FG, States, LGs share N635.826bn for Month of November, 2019

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), yesterday in Abuja at its meeting, shared to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils a sum total of N635.826 billion as federal allocation for the month of November 2019.

This amount, inclusive of VAT, Exchange Gain and Forex Equalization, the Federal Government received N267.883 billion, representing 52.68%, the States received N172.569 billion representing 26.72%, Local Government Councils got N129.972 billion, representing 20.60%, while the

oil producing states received N49.124 billion as 13% derivation mineral revenue. However, cost of collection/ Transfers/ FIRS refund was N16.277 billion.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, by the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for November 2019 was N90.166 billion as against the N104.910 billion distributed in the previous month of October 2019, resulting in a decrease of N14.744 billion.

The distributed Statutory Revenue of N491.875 billion according to the communiqué received for the month

of November was lower than the N596.041billion received in the previous month by N104.166 billion.

The communiqué further disclosed that, revenues from Value Added Tax (VAT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Royalties, Import duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) all decreased significantly, while Excess duty increased marginally.

However, the total revenue distributable for the current month (including VAT, Exchange Gain and Forex Equalization) according to the committee is N635.826 billion, adding that as at November 19th, 2019, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) is $324.968 million.

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Energy NLNG, JVs sign Train 7 Gas Supply Agreements

By Etuka Sunday

N

igeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has signed the first Basic 20-year term of Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) for NLNG Train 7 with Joint Ventures (JVs) for the supply of feedgas to Train 7, closing out another condition necessary for taking of the Final Investment Decision (FID).

The Company also signed the second Basic 10-year term of GSAs for its Trains1, 2 and 3.

The JVs are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Total Exploration & Production Nigeria (TEPNG) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC).

The GSAs bring NLNG closer to taking FID, which signals the commencement of the project, which is expected to increase the company production by 35% and improve competitiveness in the global market upon completion.

The milestone is coming after the issuance of a Letter of Intent for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract to SCD JV Consortium in September 2019 as well as the signing of the Nigeria Content (NC) plan with Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in March 2019.

The General Manager, External Relations, Eyono Fatayi-Williams in a statement said, SCD JV Consortium is made up of Saipem of Italy, Japan’s Chiyoda and Daewoo of South Korea.

The Train 7 Project will ramp up NLNG’s production capacity from 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to around 30 MTPA. The Project will form part of the investment of over US$10 billion including the upstream scope of the LNG value chain, thereby boosting the much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) profile of Nigeria.

The Project is anticipated to create over 10,000 new jobs during its construction phase, and on completion, help to further mop more gas that would have been flared, and diversify the revenue portfolio of the Federal Government and thus increase its tax base.

The company said the project was in line with its corporate vision of ”Helping to build a better Nigeria”. The construction period after FID will last approximately four to five years.

NLNG is owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49%), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).

The actualisation of the Train 7 Project comes as NLNG celebrates 30 years of its incorporation and 20 years since exporting its first LNG cargo in 1999.

NNPC records trading surplus of N5.20bn in August

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced an increased trading surplus of N5.20billion for August, 2019, reflecting an increase of 22 per cent when compared with the N4.26billion-surplus posted in July 2019, a release by NNPC Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Samson Makoji, has said.

The new figures are contained in the recently released August 2019 edition of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) of the National Oil Company.

The report attributed the appreciable increase of 22 per cent within the period under review to, largely, the improved surplus posted by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

It explained that the percentage increase in performance of the company evened out with the decline in the performance of Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) vis-à-vis July, 2019 figures, even as it added that the increased surplus posted by Duke Oil and the reduced deficit by the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC)

equally bolstered the figures for the month, according to the report.

Stating a summary of NNPC’s Group Operating Revenue and Expenditure for August 2019, the August report indicated that it increased by 7.58 per cent at N540.60billion, reflecting an increase of N38.10billion compared with the previous month’s performance.

It further stated that the expenditure for the month followed a similar trend with increase of 7.46 per cent or N37.16billion, to reach N535.40billion during the year under review, declaring that the proportion of expenditure to revenue is almost at par for the current month as well as in July 2019.

In the Downstream Sector of the corporation’s operations, the 49th edition of the NNPC MFOR stated that N233.42billion was made on the sale of white products by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the Downstream subsidiary of the National Oil Company, in August 2019, compared to N214.70billion sales in July, 2019.

Total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period August 2018 to August 2019 stood at N2,687.29billion,

T

he Federal Government has disconnected the Republics of Benin and Togo over $7million electricity debts.

Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Usman Gur Mohammed who disclosed this said, with the efforts of TCN under his leadership, the debt for the Republics of Benin and Togo have been reduced from $100 million to $7m, adding that Niger Republic owe below $2m.

“Electricity is not charity. We cannot allow people to consume electricity and leave us like that; they pay. We are also determined that they complete the payment. In fact, as at now, we have restricted their supply to only their

Page 21

with PMS contributing about 95.19 per cent of the total sales valued at N2,558.13billion.

Volume wise, 1.917billion litres of white products were sold and distributed

by PPMC in the month under review, compared with 1.744billion litres in July 2019.

This comprised 1.92billion litres of PMS and 0.00030billion litres of Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise called diesel. Total sale of white products for the period: August 2018 to August 2019 stood at 21.49billion litres, with PMS accounting for 20.82billion litres or 96.9 per cent.

In the Gas Sector, out of the 1,174.97Million Standard Cubic Feet of (mmscfd) of gas supplied to the domestic market in August 2019, about 666.15mmscfd of gas representing 56.69 per cent was supplied to Gas-Fired power plants while the balance of 508.82mmscfd or 43.31 per cent was supplied to other industries.

Similarly, for the period: August 2018 to August 2019, an average of 1,211.08mmscfd of gas was supplied to the domestic market, comprising an average of 723.77mmscfd or 59.76 per cent as gas supply to power and 482.32mmscfd or 40.24 per cent as gas supply to industries.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch C Stream II members on parade during the closing ceremony of their orientation course at Kubwa permanent orientation camp, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN GMD, Mele Kyari (middle), along with Executive Director, (NETCO), Engr.

Emmanuel Akinsanya (left) and Mr. Ben Sawford of KBR, displaying the agreement in Abuja Friday.A

Power: FG disconnects Benin, Togo over $7m electricity debts

By Etuka Sunday

METRO

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

contractual debts and we are insisting that they pay all their outstanding before we reconnect them,” he noted.

The TCN boss disclosed this recently at a quarterly briefing in Abuja.

He said, the company has completed the installation of 68 transformers nationwide and will take its transmission capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW) from 8,100MW by 2020.

He said, the transformers were installed between February 2017 and October 2019 through the implementation of the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP).

He said, the TREP targets raising the bulk power transmission wheeling capacity from 6,500MW to 10,000MW in 2020 and reaching

20,000MW by 2021.

He disclosed that the conductors to be used for the line reconductoring have arrived Nigeria for upgrading major lines in Lagos, Onitsha, Kaduna and many other areas which will raise the grid capacity to evacuate the 10,000MW power.

“We believe that by June, July we should be able to complete those reconductoring and come up with that capacity.”

The TCN boss said the capacity could be more than the projection due to other transmission lines project being delivered, including the Jos to Kaduna line which about 98 percent completed.

He gave updates of the various power transmission projects being executed by TCN under TREP. Among these projects are the 486

million dollar World Bank financed projects and the Abuja Transmission Ring project.

He however reiterated calls for the strengthening of the operations of the 11 power Distribution Companies (DisCos) to enable them evacuate more power from the upgraded and enhanced facilities of TCN. Mohammed who is also the Chairman, Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) said Nigeria’s power generation is the cheapest in West Africa.

“It means that we can generate electricity, create employment for our people and earn foreign exchange. We create an electricity market that is sustainable and that would actually help the growth of our GDP and the economy,” he said.

AMAC: Minister assures speedy completion Of N19Bn Karshi water project

By Stanley Onyekwere

R

esidents in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been reassured of the speedy completion of the N19 billion Karshi water project on record time to address the challenges of water supply in Karshi satellite town and environs.

Giving this assurance, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, also revealed that the project has advanced to 45 percent completion.

She expressed satisfaction with the level of work done, while assuring the contractor that the administration will pay the certificate generated.

The Minister, spoke when she was accompanied by the Director of Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) Engr. Felix Nwankwo, and other directors

of various agencies and departments including AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, to tour of facilities in AMAC, on Monday in continuation of her tour of Area Councils.

Stressing that the construction of Coffer dam in Karshi will ease the supply of water to other satellite towns when completed, she noted there will be enough water for the satellite towns and will also generate employment and increase economic activities and other socioeconomic activities.

According to her, the FCT Administration was determined to ensure that both the satellite towns and most of the new districts will have water.

“I am happy with the level of work done and I can assure you that the administration will ensure the speedy completion of the water project aim at addressing water challenges faced by

residents of satellite towns.

“It is an ongoing project and based on presidential directive, we have a duty to make sure that we continue with projects already started.

“That is why we are trying our best to develop all the necessary budgetary provision National Assembly has already signed. We are trying to complete the project as soon as possible,” Aliyu stated.

Similarly, the Director of Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Engr. Felix Nwankwo, explained that water will be generated from the nearby stream in addition to rain water, adding that the move will curtain the flooding in some parts of Karshi.

According to him, “We have a very small stream, but because we are going to have rainfall, once we block it, we are going to retain water. “ Last year we have so much flooding

in Karshi, those water will no longer be seen when the dam is completed because all of them will be retained within the dam structure.”

On his, Candido, the AMAC Chairman, who received and hosted the Minister and her entourage, described the visit as the coming of a Messiah to the people of the council.

He therefore reiterated the commitment of his administration towards working harmoniously with the FCTA to ensure rapid and sustainable development of the council and Territory at large.

Our correspondent reports that the Minister and her entourage during the tour paid homage to all the graded chiefs in the council, also inspected Oronzo mini stadium, Karu abattoir, and some AMAC projects in Jiwa, Karu and Karshi respectively.

FCT teachers, parents tasked on eradicating children’s misdemeanours

By Stanley Onyekwere

P

arents, guardians, and custodians of children to intensify efforts in helping to completely eliminate excesses or misdemeanours of young people, so as to ensure a brighter future and better society.

In particular, they are enjoined as critical stakeholders in the education system to always put in more efforts and be vigilant and know what is happening with their wards in their academics and social life.

This advice was given by the Director, Administration and Finance (DAF) and

acting Secretary for Education, Mallam Umar Marafa, during the 2019 FCT Education Secretariat’s Media luncheon held yesterday in Wuse, Abuja.

Marafa, who is overseeing the affairs of Education Secretariat, opined that resolving issues bedeviling the education system is a joint venture by all stakeholders, either in the private, public, formal or informal sector.

He said that the government hope to surmount some of the the challenges currently confronting education when the issues becomes everyone’s concern, thereby making education for all the responsibility of all.

According to him, some of the challenges holding the speedy development of education in FCT include: continuous influx of people into the Territory; paucity and delay of funds; and inadequate teaching and technical staff amongst others.

“We are determined as management in the education sector to continue to pursue assiduously the mandates of Boards and Departments through various strategies to reduce and find lasting solutions to these challenges, so that we can together lay a solid educational foundation and leave a legacy for FCT residents.

“From our little efforts in meeting up with the set goals and objectives, we believed that, we have tried to live above board.

“For instance, in spite of our obvious challenges, many physical infrastructure were constructed, renovated and other school facilities were provided for smooth academic and administrative work,” he added.

He further revealed that in 2019, the various Boards and Departments of the Education Secretariat has continued to live above board and intensify efforts to ensure that their mandates are fulfilled with the level of achievements recorded.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Page 22

world news

N international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

A grave day in history: Trump faces impeachment

T

he House of Representatives is set to impeach an elected President accused of violating the nation’s trust and his oath to preserve, protect and defend bedrock constitutional values.

Donald Trump will be only the third president in 240 years to be impeached -- the ultimate trauma for the system of checks and balances, which will unleash fury that will boil for years.

The 45th President will be charged by the House Democratic majority with two articles of impeachment, namely abusing his power and obstructing Congress in a scheme to lure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election.

In Trump’s tumultuous presidency, the extreme has become routine, and hyper-partisanship has blurred the senses. But when the House votes to impeach Trump, a fateful step expected at some point Wednesday, it may become clear that this is also a somber moment of national political tragedy. After all, the House Democrats, who won a majority in the midterm elections on a mandate of curtailing Trump, will be making a rare statement that a President elected just three years ago should be forced from office.

Trump raged into his day of historic shame unrepentant -- after saying he takes “zero” responsibility for impeachment -and feeling persecuted.

“Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG! A terrible Thing.

Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER!” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.

He also unleashed a fearsome attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the other Democrats in an extraordinary letter that expressed something like despair about the fate of his legacy.

“You are the ones obstructing justice.

You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our Republic for your own selfish personal, political and partisan gain,” Trump wrote, accusing Democrats of the very offenses of which he is accused.

Pelosi described Trump’s tirade as “really sick.”

Trump’s impeachment has become about more than the misbehavior of a President and the Democratic claim that his actions reach the constitutional bar of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

In retrospect, it might have been an inevitable constitutional collision given his belief in his own ultimate power and his disrespect for any conventional notions of presidential discretion -factors in evidence right from the start of the property-branding titan’s 2016 campaign, which turned US politics on its head.

A nation divided The impeachment crisis is also a symptom of a country caught in a massive political estrangement that is tearing apart any sense of common patriotic purpose. It has exposed a political culture in which the facts -- in this case, of the President’s actions -- are no longer sacrosanct and that has been laced with a fog of misinformation by his allies. The ill feelings and controversy stirred in recent weeks, ultimately by the actions of the most divisive President in modern history, will reverberate long after he’s

Trump faces impeachment

left office.

America is as split on impeachment as it is on everything else. A CNN poll of polls shows that 46% believe Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 49% do not. Wednesday’s vote, for which Democrats are confident they have a strong majority, has prompted heart searching among vulnerable representatives seeking reelection in districts where Trump won big in 2016.

“This is not something you can do based on polls,” said moderate Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. “The voters will have a chance to decide next year.”

“I’m not compromising my integrity,” said Slotkin, who intends to vote for impeachment.

An already bitter feud is stirring in the Republican-led Senate ahead of a trial early next year expected to fall well short of the two-thirds majority needed for Congress to oust a president for the first time.

But there may be moments of hope on Wednesday too, as the ancient mechanism of America’s democratic experiment swings into action to prove that no man is a king dwelling above the law.

Trump’s defiance is a sign that once acquitted by the Senate, he is likely to become even more unchained and to treat his escape as vindication. One sign of that is the way in which his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has just returned from Ukraine after carrying on the very activity -- digging for dirt on former vice president and potential 2020 rival Joe Biden -- that led his client to the brink of impeachment.

Pelosi forced to act Pelosi, who once warned that the President was self-impeaching, long resisted using her most consequential power to call Trump to account, arguing that he was “not worth it.”’

But pressure from political allies and an imperative to defend the Constitution became unassailable after news emerged in September of Trump’s back-door diplomacy in Ukraine.

Democrats amassed a detailed record built upon testimony from career foreign policy officials in the administration of a prolonged effort by Trump to use the power of his office not for America’s interests but for personal political gain.

Specifically, Trump is accused of withholding $400 million in military aid and the prospect of an Oval Office visit from new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to coerce him into announcing an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter’s business dealings in the country.

While the decision by the former vice president’s son to accept a paid role on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy giant, while his father was in office is ethically questionable, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden.

Witnesses called by Democrats testified that Trump did demand a quid pro quo from Ukraine and that he was orchestrating the scheme. A rough transcript of his call with Zelensky in July, which the President insists was “perfect,” shows Trump asking for a favor -- including an investigation into Biden and a conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney appeared to confirm the quid pro quo, telling reporters to “get over it.”

And Trump called on Ukraine publicly to investigate the Bidens.

For Democrats, such behavior validated impeachment because it confirmed the fears of the country’s founders that a rogue, demagogic president could incite foreign interference in US democracy.

“His scheme to corrupt an American presidential election subordinated the democratic sovereignty of the people to the private political ambitions of one man, the President himself,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland at a House Rules Committee hearing Tuesday.

“Second, after this corrupt scheme came to light, and numerous public servants with knowledge of key events surfaced to testify in our committee

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

investigations about the President’s actions, President Trump directed the wholesale, categorical and indiscriminate obstruction of this congressional impeachment investigation.”

For Democrats the question was: If this is not impeachable, what is?

A struggle for Republicans From the start, Republicans struggled to counter the facts of the impeachment case, not least because Trump appeared several times to confirm the Democratic accusations against him.

Instead, the GOP in the House set out to attack the process, accusing Democrats of abusing their power themselves and inventing Trump’s abuses of authority to fulfill their dreams of destroying a President they had never forgiven for beating Hillary Clinton.

“We’re in a kangaroo court, it feels like in this place, because all of this is backwards,” Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday.

“We’re more ‘Alice in Wonderland’ than we are House of Representatives.

Because whether you agree that he needs to be impeached or not, do you not think there needs to be a modicum of process and rights?” Collins said.

Despite the pleadings of one key witness for them not to recycle Russian propaganda -- former National Security Council Russia policy chief Fiona Hill -- several prominent Republicans highlighted claims that Ukraine had meddled in the 2016 election to hurt Trump.

While several officials from Kiev criticized Trump, there is no evidence that Ukraine participated in anything like the massive Russian intelligence and misinformation operation that US spy agencies say was designed to help Trump win the presidency.

Republicans also accused Democrats of failing to glean testimony from key witnesses, even though officials like former national security adviser John Bolton and Mulvaney were barred from showing up by Trump in a sweeping immunity claim.

Democrats declined to litigate to compel testimony, arguing that court action could take many months and Trump posed a “clear and present” danger to US security and the 2020 election.

Republicans -- supported by the rightwing media propaganda machine -- have also claimed that abuse of power is not a specific crime and is not therefore an impeachable offense. They argue that Trump asked Zelensky in the call to do “us” a favor, as in the United States, rather than seeking personal gain. But they have not explained how investigating a 2016 conspiracy theory or one of his political opponents represents a compelling US national interest.

Trump’s refusal to admit any transgression has deprived Republicans of the political cover of the defense that saved President Bill Clinton 20 years ago: that his actions were lamentable but did not rise to the level of impeachment.

That may be problematic for vulnerable Senate Republicans in swing state races in 2020. But the lockstep GOP support for Trump also demonstrates the President’s remarkable control over a party he transformed in his own nationalist image.

Source: cnn.com

e w s

F

Nigerian church set ablaze over missing child

P

rotesters have set ablaze a church in Akure city, south-west Nigeria, following unconfirmed rumours that the body of a missing one-year-old child had been found buried by the altar.

Witnesses said two of the protesters were shot and wounded by police officers who tried to disperse the angry crowd.

Police said one of their officers was killed.

The child went missing last month while attending the church, known as the Sotitobire Miracle Church, with his mother.

The exact circumstances of the child’s disappearance are unclear, but his mother, Modupe Kolawole, told the BBC she suspected foul play.

Alfa Babatunde, who is the founder of the church, was arrested last week by Nigeria’s secret police in connection with the boy’s disappearance.

He has not yet commented publicly.

BBC Yoruba’s Temitope Adedeji reports from the scene that it has not yet been confirmed that the boy’s body has been found.

Page 23

A f r i c a South African court grants damages over boy’s latrine death r o m

S

outh Africa’s appeals court has granted damages to the family of a five-year-old boy who fell into a pit latrine at school and drowned in 2014.

Judges ordered the Department of Basic Education to pay Michael Komape’s family just over 1m rand ($70,000; £53,000) for emotional shock.

The department had denied responsibility for Michael’s death.

The tragedy caused outrage in South Africa, and drew attention to the lack of proper toilets in many schools.

Wednesday’s ruling overturned the decision of a lower court, which dismissed the family’s case last year.

The appeals’ court however rejected the family’s demand for 3m rand ($208m), ruling instead that Michael’s parents should receive 350,000 rand ($24,000) each and his three siblings 100,000 rand ($7,000) each.

Michael was a pupil at the Mahlodumela Primary School in the northern Limpopo province. He drowned after going to the toilet on 20 January 2014.

Hi parents, James and Rosina, sued the minister of basic education after their son died.

Human rights group Section27, which fought the campaign to achieve justice for Michael’s family, said in a statement that it welcomed the ruling.

An estimated 4,500 schools out of a total of 25,000 in South Africa have pit latrine toilets.

After another incident last year where a five-year-old boy drowned after falling into a latrine, President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed that South Africa would eradicate pit latrines in state schools within two years.

“This is an initiative that will save lives and restore the dignity of tens of thousands of our nation’s children,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

South Africans were angered by Michael Komape’s death

Many pit toilets are made from cheap metal, shoddily built and left uncovered

Letter from Africa: How talk of witches stirs emotions in Nigeria

I

n our series of letters from African writers, Nigerian journalist and novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani reports on the emotions that the topic of witchcraft stirs.

All hell broke loose when the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced last month that it would hold a conference on “witchcraft’’ at its campus in the south-east.

Some staff and students staged protests calling for the two-day event to be cancelled.

Posters appeared around the university campus and online, with angry messages such as: “Witches and Wizards, No Vacancy” and “Don’t Pollute Our Environment”.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), an influential group which represents clergymen, called on Christians to pray against the event.

“We have had enough of ungodly activities in this country,” said Godwin Madu, a PFN official.

“We will not hand [the state] over to witches.”

Every ethnic group in Nigeria has a name for females and males who are believed to openly or secretly collaborate with dark forces to invoke harm upon others.

The English words “witch” and “wizard” are insufficient to convey the depths of evil culturally associated with such people - their “manipulations” are often blamed for a variety of afflictions, from disease to infertility, poverty and failure.

So entrenched is the belief in, and abhorrence of, witchcraft that a section of the Nigerian criminal code, originally introduced under British colonial rule, still forbids its practice, and it is punishable by a jail term.

While reports of convictions are not common, the media regularly features stories of people being branded witches and being brutalised or lynched.

Rights groups condemn the killings, saying

People in many African countries use “magic charms” made from human or animal body parts, such as this superstitious beliefs result in the loss of innocent lives, often those of women and children.

This was not the first time an event associated with witchcraft had led to a furore in Nigeria.

Beliefs about witches in Nigeria: Magical powers to fly at night and travel far and wide Transform from human beings into animals, birds, reptiles, and insects Cause sudden death, disease and impotence Cause strong winds, drought and other disasters In the Yoruba ethnic group seen as a feminine art; power comes from Esu, the trickery god In the Hausa ethnic group, known as Maya, the soul-eater man who can possess people’s souls Source: Journal of International Women’s Studies In the early 1990s, Benin City in Edo State in the south was billed as the venue for a global conference of witches.

Nearly 10,000 witches were expected from

around the world. Many Nigerians were disturbed by the news.

The drama that ensued is still narrated from pulpits across the country. I have heard it over and over again, from Christians and even from people who do not attend church.

‘God need not waste His time’ The late Benson Idahosa, a popular preacher who is regarded as the father of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria, called on national TV for the witches’ conference to be called off.

“Not even God can stop it,” responded one of the organisers.

“He’s correct,” Idahosa replied, “Because God need not waste His time when I’m here. I can handle this.”

The conference was eventually cancelled.

Idahosa gloated publicly that the international witches were unable to convene in Benin City because they were unable to get Nigerian visas.

Apparently, the flamboyant preacher had influenced Nigeria’s then-military ruler, Ibrahim

Babangida, who issued the relevant instruction to Nigerian embassies around the world.

The Nsukka conference must have evoked memories of Idahosa’s famous confrontation with witches almost 30 years ago. The protesters and PFN were probably hoping for a similar victory.

But it turned out there were no identifiable witches to forestall. The event was a gathering of intellectuals “to evaluate the belief in witchcraft and its impact on Nigerian society”.

“Apart from rumours about witchcraft, can we intelligently discuss the phenomenon of witchcraft?” commented Egodi Uchendu, a professor of history and international studies and one of the conference organisers.

“Can we delineate its evolving dynamics, especially in regard to human and societal development? What does belief in witchcraft symbolise for civilians, the military, scholars, and others?”

‘Nothing evil’ However, in deference to the public outcry and at the vice-chancellor’s request, the organisers did away with the word “witchcraft” on all publicity material.

They also changed the theme to “Dimensions of Human Behaviour”.

The two-day event then went ahead. The keynote speaker had backed out because of the protests but the venue was moved to a larger hall to accommodate the crowd - many were drawn in by the accompanying hullaballoo.

“We didn’t change anything in the conference.

We merely modified the title,” said Benedict Ijomah, a professor of political sociology who participated in the conference. “All the papers were the same... You could just modify a sentence and there would be peace.”

Source: bbc.com

PAGE 24

N

e w s

F

Shiori Ito: Japanese journalist awarded $30,000 in damages in rape case

S

hiori Ito alleged that Noriyuki Yamaguchi raped her in 2015 while she was unconscious.

Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence for a criminal case, so Ms Ito brought a civil case.

Ms Ito has become a symbol of the #MeToo movement in a country where people rarely report sexual assault.

“I’m so happy,” said 30-year-old Ms Ito, who held up a sign which read “victory” after the verdict was announced.

But in a news conference hours later, Mr Yamaguchi said he planned to appeal - and he again denied the rape allegations.

According to Ms Ito, 53-year-old Mr Yamaguchi - who is said to have close ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - invited her to dinner to discuss a possible job opportunity in 2015.

She suspects she may have been drugged, saying that when she regained consciousness, she was “in a hotel room and he was on top of me”.

Ms Ito was an intern at news agency Reuters when the alleged rape occurred.

Mr Yamaguchi was then Washington bureau chief for the Tokyo Broadcasting System, a major media firm in Japan.

Investigations were opened but then dropped by police, citing insufficient evidence.

Ms Ito said police forced her to re-enact the alleged rape with a life-sized doll while male officers looked on.

A 2017 government survey found that only 4% of rape victims reported the crime to the police.

Shiori Ito: In her own words As part of the investigation into my allegations, I was asked to come to the police station adjacent to the hotel I was taken to that night.

When I arrived, accompanied by my best friend, for moral support, I was taken to a gymnasium on an upper floor of the station. I had heard about what was about to happen, and asked for my friend to be able to come with me.

The police refused. I was taken into the gym and told to lie on a mattress, and life-size mannequin was then produced and three male officers moved the doll on top of me, asking me intimate questions about exactly what happened and taking photographs.

I was told this was essential to the investigation.

It was at this time, that I had to make the shift in my head from complainant to journalist.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

A SI A Giulio Regeni: Egypt tried to cover up student murder, Italy says r o m

I

talian prosecutors have accused Egyptian officials of deliberately trying to mislead the investigation into student Giulio Regeni’s death.

Regeni, a postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge, was doing research for his doctorate in Cairo when he went missing in January 2016.

His body was found nine days later.

Prosecutors said Egypt’s claims about Regeni’s death had either been contradicted by a post-mortem examination in Italy, or debunked.

Prosecutor Sergio Colaiocco was addressing the first session of a parliamentary commission set up to look into whether Regeni was the focus of scrutiny by security forces in Egypt before his death.

The topic the 28-year-old Italian student was looking into - independent trade unions is politically controversial within Egypt.

What happened to Regeni?

The Italian PhD student disappeared on a research trip on 25 January 2016 - the fifth anniversary of the start of the uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak, when there was a heavy police presence in Cairo.

Regeni’s body was eventually discovered in a ditch by the side of a road on 3 February.

His mother told the Italian parliament last year that her son’s body was so disfigured, she was only able to identify him using the tip of his nose.

Addressing the commission in Rome on Tuesday, Mr Colaiocco said: “A web was spun

by Egypt’s national security service from the October preceding his death, a web in which the apparatus used the people closest to Giulio in Cairo.”

People who knew Regeni passed information about him to the secret services, he alleged.

He added that the Italian post-mortem examination found Regeni had been tortured “in stages” between 25 January and the day of his death.

His body sustained injuries that showed he was beaten with “kicks, fists, sticks and

clubs”, and that he died from a broken neck, Mr Colaiocco added.

Egypt has denied accusations that Regeni died in custody. However, officials have admitted that the security services were monitoring him.

What were Egypt’s ‘misleading’ claims?

“Fake stories were fabricated to throw off the investigation” almost as soon as Regeni’s body was found, Mr Colaiocco told the hearing.

The first was that a postmortem examination - carried out in Egypt - showed that the student had been killed in a car accident. This has been contradicted by the postmortem carried out in Italy.

Another was that, because Regeni was naked when his body was found, there was a sexual motive behind his death.

Then in March that year, Mr Colaiocco said, a “witness” claimed on television that he saw Regeni arguing with a foreigner near the Italian consulate the evening before his death.

This claim was later debunked by telephone records showing the supposed

T

Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F).

Australia.

But Australia has been enduring a drought for a long time - several years in some places.

Bom says the dry soil has meant less evaporation - which would normally exert a cooling influence on the landscape.

What is climate change doing to Australia?

According to Bom, Australia has warmed overall by just over 1C since 1910, with most of the heating occurring since 1950.

Nine of Australia’s top 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2005.

Officials predict that 2019, on the temperatures recorded so far, will be among the four warmest years on record. Bom says it’s expecting national mean temperatures to be at least 1.3C above the long-term average of 27.5C.

Climate Change: Nigeria to support global efforts

P Regeni was murdered and his body found dumped on the outskirts of Cairo in February 2016 witness was nowhere near the consulate at the time, and that Regeni was at home watching a film online when the fight was supposed to have taken place.

Finally, officials said Regeni was killed by a five-strong criminal gang - and that all of them were then killed in a shootout. This claim was later branded “implausible”.

Mr Colaiocco and fellow-prosecutor Michele Prestipino have been investigating Regeni’s death in coordination with Egyptian officials - but almost four years later, no-one has been charged.

Last year, Italy placed five members of the Egyptian security forces under official investigation for their alleged involvement.

Mr Prestipino said coordinating with Egypt was tricky, because the two nations don’t have bilateral judicial pacts.

“The public prosecutor’s office will continue with determination to do all it can to find evidence and work out what happened,” he said.

Source: bbc

That heat has helped create the conditions for natural disasters like bushfires, droughts and floods - which have always happened in Australia to be more frequent and more severe.

“Australia’s climate is increasingly influenced by global warning and natural variability takes place on top of this background trend,” says Bom. Vast areas of the nation are struggling through a second and third year of drought. According to the measurements for 2019 so far, the year has been Australia’s driest in over a century.

Australia’s conservative government has been criticised both at home and internationally for what’s seen as an inadequate climate record.

The country is one of the highest emitters of carbon pollution per capita, largely because it is still heavily reliant on coal-fired power. The UN

has also said it is among the minority of G20 nations falling short on its emissions promises.

The government has been reluctant to talk about the role of climate change in exacerbating bushfires, a stance which has sparked protests.

Critics have accused Mr Morrison of being “missing in action” on the issue. That pressure escalated this week after it emerged he was overseas on holiday.

After local media reported he was in Hawaii, phrases such as #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYou, #WhereisScoMo and #FireMorrison trended on Twitter.

How damaging can heatwaves be in Australia?

Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural disaster and have killed thousands more people than bushfires or floods.

Last summer (2018-2019) was recorded as the nation’s hottest on record, as average temperatures soared past 30C (86F) for the first time.

At least five of the days were recorded among the nation’s top 10 hottest on record.

The heat, which was concentrated over one fortnight in January, caused mass wildlife deaths, sparked bushfires and led to a rise in hospital admissions.

It also sparked furious political discussion about the nation’s energy grid, after densely populated city areas were forced to endure blackouts amid the heat.

What does this mean for the fires?

More than 100 blazes are still burning across Australia’s east coast - with the high temperatures escalating dangerous conditions.

Bom and fire authorities have warned that the record temperatures have made the fires more volatile and harder to fight.

25

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Australia heatwave: Nation endures hottest day on record

he Bureau of Meteorology (Bom) said “extensive” heat on Tuesday exceeded the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.

Taking the average of maximum temperatures across the country is the most accurate measure of a heatwave.

The record comes as the nation battles a severe drought and bushfire crisis.

Forecasters had predicted the most intense heat would come later in the week, meaning the record could be broken again.

As hundreds of fires rage, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his response to the natural disasters and his government’s climate policies.

Why has this happened now?

Australia heated up this week as a mass of hot air swept east across the continent, with meteorologists forecasting “severe to extreme heatwave conditions”.

Several individual heat records for towns and cities have already been shattered. On Tuesday, places across the nation’s centre recorded temperatures above 45C. At the start of the week, Perth, the capital of Western Australia, recorded three days in a row above 40C - a record for December.

The dominant climate driver behind the heat has been a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) - an event where sea surface temperatures are warmer in the western half of the ocean, cooler in the east.

The difference between the two temperatures is currently the strongest in 60 years. The warmer waters cause higher-than-average rains in the western Indian Ocean region, leading to flooding, and drier conditions across South East Asia and

Environment PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

resident Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed Nigeria’s resolve to continue to play significant role in supporting global efforts at addressing climate change.

The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar stated this while addressing the Ministerial High-Level Segment of the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; and Related Meetings on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Delegation in Madrid, Spain In his words “It is obvious that the challenges of climate change are enormous, Nigeria calls for sustainable joint and collaborative efforts to tackle the problem. Nigeria is willing to continue to be part of the solution.”

Speaking further, the Minister emphasised that Nigeria faces grave social, economic and environmental threats consequent to climate change due to its dependence on climatesensitive resources.

“Climate change impacts are already threatening the survival and livelihoods of our people. The devastating loss of range and crop lands to desertification each year in the northern part of the country, resource use conflicts, loss of forest cover and threatening sea-level rise on the significant coastline in the southern part of the country are a stark reminder of our vulnerability to Climate Change.” Dr. Mahmood emphasised A statement signed by Saghir el Mohammed ,Director Press said enumerating some of the steps taking by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to mitigate the effect of Climate Change, the Minister revealed that: It is hoped that the issuance of the third Sovereign Green Bond would triple Nigeria’s GHG emission reductions, stimulate more economic growth and catalyse investment in social programmes.”

Speaking further, he reiterated the unwavering commitment of Nigeria towards the fulfilment of its country’s obligation under the Paris Agreement and actualization of goals of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Expressing the expectations of Nigeria from

the Climate Change Conference, Dr. Mahmood said that Nigeria fully aligns itself with the call by the AGN that COP-25 expeditiously, as a matter of priority, conclude negotiation on the special needs and circumstances of Africa; and the call for the simplification of the guidelines for accessing funds under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as well as the need for the GCF to remain accountable under the COP. He added that Nigeria expects to see the conclusion of the review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage; agreement on Article 6 on market mechanism; continued support and enhanced financial provision by developed parties towards NDC enhancement processes and full implementation of the activities thereof to raise ambition and pursue a long-term climate agenda; goal of mobilizing $100 billion by 2020; refining the technical aspects of the transparency framework; capacity building; adaptation; and decision on Gender Action Plans amongst others.

L-R: Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar; Environment Minister of State, Sharon Ikeazor; and Dr Anthonia Okpara, Director, Road Transport & Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation at the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Madrid, Spain

Group urges govt to declare state of emergency on erosion in S/East

T

he Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on erosion menace in the South East geopolitical zone.

President General of COSEYL, Chief Goodluck Ibem, who made the call on Monday, December 16, 2019 in Aba, Abia State, said that the natural scourge was wasting farmlands and destroying homesteads in the South East, hence the need to act urgently.

He lamented the situation in Ohafia, Bende and Isiukwuato Local Government Areas, which he described as “worrisome”, a situation similar to what is obtainable in Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

“We are unequivocally calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on erosion menace in the entire Abia North Senatorial Zone.

“We must not fail to let everyone know that a combination of the farm produce from Abia

North with the neighbouring Ebonyi State can feed the entire South Eastern Nigeria.

“The rice revolution that everyone is talking about now is the main reason why these affected communities should not be abandoned because Abia North and Ebonyi is unarguably the rice producing hub of the South East.

“Our people have been displaced and ran away from their homes; they need to return home and continue doing what they do best.

“We don’t know what is happening to the Ecological Fund in Abia; we call on the Federal Government to ensure the funds are used effectively,’’ he said.

Ibem said apart from the Abia North erosion menace, the entire South East is being deprived of its agricultural lands by erosion which tendency is very dangerous to existence in the zone.

He said that towns like Oko, Ekwuluobia, Nanka and Oba in Anambra State and Njaba, Ideato, Mbano and some parts of Okigwe in Imo

State are also facing threats of erosion.

“Ebonyi is not also left out because places like Nguzu-Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area are in trouble.

“Enugu is suffering from the same natural disaster in places such as Ngwo and Abor in Udi Local Government.

“Also, in the same Enugu State, we’ve received reports that Onuiyi-Nsukka, a community just at the back of UNN, Orba, Imilike and Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government are being threatened by erosion too,’’ he explained Ibem said that there was need to act on the evolving crisis now that some erosion sites are in their infant stages adding that it would be more disastrous and costly to manage when well developed.

He urged the Federal Government in collaboration with South East governments to take action to save lives and property of the citizens before it became late.

COP25: African delegates criticized for being passive as negotiations end

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

A

frican delegates said they have been criticized for being passive as negotiations ended the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25).

The delegates said the refusal of the United States and rich countries of the global north to advance negotiations on loss and damage and their insistence on pushing ahead with carbon markets are clear indications that they are not set to address the climate crisis, civil society from Africa have alleged.

In a statement today, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the Environmental Rights Action said COP25 has been no different from previous COPs and went further to add that the promoters of fossil fuels ensured that voices of the oppressed people represented by civil society were thrown out of the venue on Wednesday December 11.

Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey said: “ It is very disheartening that all through the negotiations climate politicians from the global North were churning out new seductive words to obscure intentions and focused their energies on avoiding actions and responsibility while the Africa delegates were acting confused” “With the acceptance of carbon offsetting

and similar notions promoted by the US and the rich nations, the burden of climate action is being forced on the victims without any regard for historical responsibilities, without regard for justice. This posture rides on the same track as slavery, colonialism, neocolonialism and their cousin, neo-liberalism”

for Southern countries already suffering loss and damage from climate breakdown - due to floods, forest fires, droughts, rising seas.

Instead, the response of Northern countries and elites everywhere is to sacrifice the global majority: the lives and livelihoods of the many to pay for the lifestyles of the few.

Head, Media & Campaigns of ERA, Philip said: “All through the negotiations we saw the footprints of Big Polluters. From their sponsorships, to their back to back meetings to promote markets. Unfortunately, delegates from Africa who constituted the largest delegations were busy in their confusion and doing nothing to advance real solutions demanded by their people.”

“As gloomy as the situation is, we will continue raising our voices until they wake up from their slumber, hear us and take action” Both organisations say the real solution to the climate crisis are in the non-market mechanisms embedded in Article 6. 8 of the Paris Agreement which includes adaptation, mitigation, finance and technology transfer.

FoEI Chair, Karin Nansen from Uruguay, commented: “The ‘ambition’ claimed by developed country governments is a false ambition. They are serving the interests of the corporations aiming to make profits out of the crisis and secure capital accumulation. But peoples from Madrid to Santiago and around the world - are rising up and will continue to fight for environmental, social, gender and economic justice and system change. We will continue to demand that governments be accountable to their people and not to corporate polluters.”

Global North Countries Unyielding In similar vein, Friends of the Earth International said that COP25 should also have delivered urgent support, including finance,

Sara Shaw, FOEI Climate Justice and Energy Programme Coordinator said: “Just as we thought the slow pace and weak ambition shown at the climate talks couldn’t get worse, along comes COP25. Here, we have witnessed the gutting of the already weak Paris Agreement, with the advance of dodgy carbon trading that will only exacerbate the climate crisis and harm Southern communities. We

have seen a refusal by developed countries to pay up for loss and damage finance, while they try to block any language that would make them liable for the impacts their emissions have caused. We are furious that while so many are already suffering the impacts of climate change, corporations and rich country governments are working to destroy any hope of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees. And when we stood up in peaceful protest at COP25, we were aggressively suppressed.”

Sriram Madhusoodanan, climate campaign director of Corporate Accountability said: “The US is lighting the house on fire on its way out of the door and global North countries in the EU, Canada and Australia are backing it every step of the way. It is not too late for these countries to countries to stop backing the US. Developing nations must unite as a bloc to reject a bad deal on Article 6 and pave the way for real solutions” The groups insists that big polluters who are really set to gain from market mechanisms, like Shell, Chevron and BP, have been out in force at COP25. Carbon markets will allow big polluters to wash themselves green while continuing business as usual for decades to come, sacrificing vulnerable communities on the way.

PAGE 26

26

Feature

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

PEOPLES DAILY, Thursday, December 19, 2019

How much should bosses be paid?

T he boss of privately-owned online gambling firm Bet365 Denise Coates has received a £320m payday, confirming her position as the UK’s best paid executive. She was paid a £277m salary plus dividends, reigniting the debate about how much bosses should earn.

“The average chief executive of a major American corporation - according to a recent Senate hearing - is paid about 100 times as much as the average worker. And our government today rewards that excess with a tax break for executive pay, no matter how high it is. That’s wrong.”

That was Bill Clinton, during the 1991 US Presidential campaign. He won. And he promptly made good on his promise to tackle excessive pay.

Usually, salaries are treated as costs, reducing the profit on which a company pays tax. President Clinton changed the law. Companies could still pay as much as they wanted to - but salaries over $1m (£770,000) would no longer be taxdeductible.

It had a big impact. By the time Clinton left office, in 2000, the ratio of chief executive pay to worker pay was no longer 100-to-one. It was well over 300-to-one.

What had gone wrong? We can approach that question from the olive groves of ancient Greece.

50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations that helped create the economic world.

It is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme’s sources and listen to all the episodes online or subscribe to the programme podcast.

The philosopher Thales of Miletus, so the story goes, was being challenged to prove the value of philosophy. If it was so useful, why was Thales so poor?

Aristotle, who tells this tale, makes clear that the question is gauche.

Of course philosophers are smart enough to get rich, but they’re also wise enough not to bother. We can imagine Thales heaving a sigh: “Okay, I’ll make a fortune - if I must.”

Back then, philosophy included reading the future in the stars.

Thales foresaw a bumper harvest of olives, which would mean high demand to rent time on the town’s olive presses.

Thales visited each press owner with a proposition. Aristotle is hazy on the details, but mentions the word “deposit”.

Perhaps Thales negotiated the right to use the press at harvest time, but if he decided against using it, the owner would simply keep his deposit.

If so, it’s the first recorded example of what we now call the option. A poor olive harvest, and Thales’ option would be worthless.

But, whether by luck or astronomical judgement, he was right. Aristotle tells us that Thales hired out the presses “on what terms he pleased, and collected a good deal of money”.

Nowadays, many options are bought and sold on the financial markets.

If I believe that Apple’s share price will

Campaigners dressed as eagles protest against Barclays’ pay arrangements at the company’s 2012 AGM

Bill Clinton’s attempt to curtail executive pay made stock options a more attractive option rise, I could simply buy Apple shares - or I could buy an option to buy Apple shares at a specified price on a future date.

The option is higher-risk and higherreward. If the share price is lower than my option to buy, I’ve lost everything. If it’s higher, I can exercise the option, resell the shares, and make a bigger profit.

But there’s another use for stock options - an attempt to solve what economists call the principal-agent problem. A “principal” owns something; they employ an “agent” to manage it for them.

Imagine that I’m made boss of Apple, and you own Apple shares. That makes you the principal, or one of them. I’m the agent, managing the company for you and the other shareholders.

You’d like to trust me to work hard in your interests, but you can’t see what I’m doing all day. Maybe I make every decision by consulting an astrologer - not a smart one like Thales, either - but I always spin some plausible excuse for why profits are stagnating.

But what if I’m given options to buy new Apple stock in a few years? Now I stand to gain from making the share price rise. Sure, if I exercise my option, that slightly dilutes the worth of your shares - but if their price has been rising, you shouldn’t mind.

It all sounds perfectly sensible, and in 1990 the economists Kevin J. Murphy and Michael Jensen published an influential

paper on the topic.

“In most publicly held companies,” they wrote, “the compensation of top executives is virtually independent of performance.”

So when President Clinton cut tax breaks for executive pay, he exempted performance-related rewards. Clinton adviser Robert Reich, who opposed the exemption, explains what happened: “It just shifted executive pay from salaries to stock options”.

A rising stock market meant even a horoscope-consulting chief executive would have been quids in. The gap between bosses’ and workers’ pay ballooned. A Clinton-era congressman says the law “deserves pride of place in the Museum of Unintended Consequences”.

But hold on - if options incentivise executives to do a better job, surely that’s no bad thing? Unfortunately, that turned out to be a big “if”.

What options really incentivise, is maximising a company’s share price on a given date. If you think that’s exactly the same thing as running a company well, I have some shares in Enron to sell you.

If stock options aren’t the best way to reward performance, shouldn’t company boards of directors be keen to find alternatives?

In theory, yes - it’s the board’s job to negotiate with corporate bosses on behalf of shareholders. In practice, this is another

principal-agent problem, as bosses can often influence who directors are and how much they’re paid. There’s obvious potential for mutual back-scratching.

In their book Pay Without Performance, Lucian Bebchuk and Jesse Fried argue that directors don’t actually care about linking pay to performance, but must “camouflage” this indifference from shareholders. The best form of compensation for fat cats is “stealth compensation”, and stock options seem to be a way to achieve that.

Perhaps shareholders need yet another agent to supervise how directors reward bosses.

There is one candidate: many people hold shares not directly, but through pension funds, and there’s some evidence that these so-called “institutional” investors can persuade boards to be tougher negotiators.

When a large shareholder can assert some control, there’s a more genuine link between executive pay and executive performance. However, this link seems all too rare.

Executive pay is often in the headlines, even in countries where the gap to worker pay is less than in America. Given this, there’s surprisingly little evidence on what makes sense.

How well can you evaluate the job a boss is doing? Opinions differ.

Were bosses in the 1960s really less motivated because they earned a mere 20 times workers’ pay? It seems most unlikely.

On the other hand, good decisions at the helm of a large company are worth a lot more than bad ones. So, maybe those executives really are worth eight-figure compensation packages. Maybe.

But if so, that isn’t clear to voters or workers, many of whom still feel the anger that President Clinton once voiced.

Perhaps chief executives should learn from Thales, who was clever enough to make more money, but wise enough to wonder if he should.

Source: BBC Quote Bill Clinton’s attempt to curtail executive pay made stock options a more attractive option So when President Clinton cut tax breaks for executive pay, he exempted performance-related rewards. Clinton adviser Robert Reich, who opposed the exemption, explains what happened: “It just shifted executive pay from salaries to stock options”.

A rising stock market meant even a horoscope-consulting chief executive would have been quids in. The gap between bosses’ and workers’ pay ballooned. A Clinton-era congressman says the law “deserves pride of place in the Museum of Unintended Consequences”.

But hold on - if options incentivise executives to do a better job, surely that’s no bad thing? Unfortunately, that turned out to be a big “if”.

What options really incentivise, is maximising a company’s share price on a given date. If you think that’s exactly the same thing as running a company well, I have some shares in Enron to sell you.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE Youths in justice health and sustainable social inclusion THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Dr Mrs Aule Sarah Kwaghdoo - Chairman 2. Miss Anibe Idajili - Secretary 3. Shedrack Akrom Muazu 4. Barr Eunice Enoch Musa 5. Evelyn Fatima Kolo THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To provide health and sustainable development for youths in the society .

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

AFRICAN COTERIE FOR ENVIRONMENT

OGO-OLUWA COMMUNITY FATE ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Eke Sunny Ikechukwu Benjy 2. Olowu Reuben Ekeh 3. Adetona philip Abayomi THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To foster capacity building in our society for the improvement of the environment to work towards Greene and cleaner environment.

2. To seek for the advancement of environmental rights as to guarantee environmental justice.

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.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Chief Samuel A. Ogunsanmi 2. Elder George Olaode 3. Pastor Joseph A Oniyide 4. Engr. Bayo Falekulo 5. Mr Richard Lanre Adeboye THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. For Community Development.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

TYG ABDUL-SALAMI HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS FOUNDATION

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL MIGRATION INITIATIVE

Anglican Communion Diocese of Zaki-Biam

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1)Abdul-salami yakubu- Gowon Thomas, (2)Agent- itopa idowu Elizabeth ( 3)Arowoshegbe Amos Ojo (4)Anselm Jimoh Bankole (5) Eguakhide Prince Biodun (6)Usen Effi Ita , (7)sule kassim Afegbua .

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.providing hope for the hopeless in the society.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Nwodoh Oliver - Chairman.

2.Caleb Zagni - Secretary.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To create awareness for the stop of human trafficking and illegal migration.

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.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

loss of document

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION PAPER IN RESPECT OF SHOP NO: LS62 KADO FISH MARKET ABUJA ISSUED BY FCDA. BELONGING TO ABDUL BADAMOSI OF DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE STATE HOUSE, ASOKORO ABUJA. THE SAID DOCUMENTS GOT MISSING WHILE ON TRANSIT FROM LIFE CAMP TO WUSE MARKET. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE, IF FOUND, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Ayanlola I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Bamidele Rhoda Olayemi.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Ayanlola Rhoda Olayemi. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. Passport Office, ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION

BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE

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.

SCHEDULE Name and Address of Deceased Applicant Name and Address HARUNA GARBA

SHARIFA HARUNA N. S. C. D. C. OPP. PRESIDENTIAL LODGE BIRNIN KEBBI DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI KEBBI STATE KEBBI STATE Who died on the 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 18TH DECEMBER, 2019 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI Probate Registrar

BABATUNDE ABAYOMI ADEJOBI FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE 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 NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1 Rt Rev. Jezreel Vandeh Bishop/ chairman 2 Barr Peter Senen Chaha 3 Barr Sullah Kpoo Usange 4 Rev Canon Timothy Anjande 5 Mr Tarkumbur Terlumun John.

6 Mr Jato Ugoh 7 Mr Ojukwu Vincent Uzochukwu Aims and Objectives 1. To propagate the word of God 2 To spread the good news of human salvation 3. To preach the gospel of ChristAims ANY OBJECTION TO THE ABOVE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTER GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI STREET, MAITAMA P.M.B 198, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE IS PUBLICATION Signed: Mr Barrister Uwar Felix Zahemen ( Legal Adviser )

ROSELINE I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS ROSE CHINENYENWA OSUJI. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ROSELINE CHINENYE NJOKU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

loss of document

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Babatunde Abayomi Adejobi.

2. Omolara Adejobi.

Aims: 1. To help the less privilege in the society. (a) To unite in fellowship, promote, foster and develop programs that improves the welfare of Old students of Denton Grammar School (b) To sustain a committed relationship between Denton Grammar School, the Old Students’ associationand the public in general. (c) To assist the School in whatever way possible and desirable to aid its development while striving to build a reputable tradition for same..

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_ GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed.

Secretary.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE 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.

SCHEDULE Name and Address of Deceased Applicant Name and Address NDACE SALLAH IBRAHIM MUHAMMAD NIGERIA POLICE FORCE OPP. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAIYAMA DIVISION MAIYAMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT KEBBI STATE. KEBBI STATE. Who died on the 01ST OCTOBER, 2019 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 18TH DECEMBER, 2019 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI Probate Registrar

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Right of Occupancy (R of O) in respect of plot No.725 with file No. BA 10148, located at cadastral zone B02 measuring about 3059,77sqm at DURUMI FCT, ABUJA. Bearing AMINU SALEH. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive, if found, kindly return to the nearest police station or AGIS. General public should please take note.

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE 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.

SCHEDULE Name and Address of Deceased Applicant Name and Address F\NO.255662 SGT. KABIRU HABIBU HUMAIRA KABIRU NIGERIA POLICE FORCE KANIKAWA AREA 36 PMF, KEBBI STATE COMMAND GUMMI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ZAMFARA STATE.

Who died on the 26TH NOVEMVER, 2019 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 17TH DECEMBER, 2019 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI Probate Registrar

The global vitamin K2 market is expected to gain growth with the increasing need for crucial vitamins such as K2 to avoid chronic health problems.

C

A, LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES, December 18, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The global vitamin K2 market is expected to gain growth with the increasing need for crucial vitamins such as K2 to avoid chronic health problems. Vitamin deficiencies are becoming common these days due to the adoption of sedentary lifestyles, improper intake of vitamin-rich food, and increasing consumption of junk food. Vitamin K plays a highly important part in calcium metabolism and blood clotting and offers several other health benefits.

Researches on Heart and Bone Health Benefits of Vitamin K2 Anticipated to Benefit Market The demand for vitamin K2 is predicted to increase significantly in the near future mainly due to the rising need to prevent diseases associated with vitamin K2 deficiency. High demand for nutritional supplements could be another factor supporting the growth of the global vitamin K2 market. Some studies show that vitamin K2 could reduce the risk of heart disease and artery calcification and play an important role in improving dental health, working alongside vitamins A and D. Thus, increasing awareness about various health benefits of vitamin K2 is expected to create opportunities for players globally.

Get PDF report template @ https://www.qyresearch.com/sampleform/form/1086233/global-vitamin-k2-marke Advantages over Powder Form Expected to Strengthen Demand for Vitamin K2 Oil Based on product type, the global vitamin K2 market is segmented into MK-4, MK-7, and others including MK-9. The authors of the report have also segmented the global vitamin K2 market into oil and powder on the basis of form. Liquid vitamins are a good choice for people with swallowing difficulties, especially when it comes to capsules and tablets.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Vitamin K2 Market by Application, Type, Region -2019

They also make a better choice for those with digestive problems, particularly after a gastric surgery. Moreover, the risk of damage due to moisture in case of pills or powder vitamins could increase the preference for liquid vitamins. In addition, it is easier to modify the dose when using liquid vitamins. All of these factors may support the growth of the oil segment in the global vitamin K2 market.

Need for Vitamin K2 Likely to Increase in Developing Regions with Vitamin K2 Deficiency Problems North America is predicted to create demand for vitamin K2 because of the high prevalence of osteoporosis in the region. According to few research studies, poor intake of vitamin K could be linked to osteoporosis and low bone density and high risk of hip fractures. Asia Pacific with its high birth rate could also contribute to the growth of the global vitamin K2 market due to the need to avoid vitamin K deficiency bleeding in newborns. Prophylactic administration of vitamin K is crucial to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infants. In Africa, early infant male circumcision and vitamin K deficiency in newborns and their mothers are expected to increase the requirement for vitamin K2.

Key Players Some of the key players operating in the global vitamin K2 market are Kappa Bioscience, Kyowa Hakko, NattoPharma, Gnosis, Seebio Biotech, DSM, Guangdong Goodscend, Shanghai Reson Biotech, Viridis BioPharma, GeneFerm Biotechnology, Frutarom, and DuPont Nutrition and Health. Obtaining regulatory approval for new vitamin K2 supplements and other products could be one of the main focuses of leading companies. Players could also invest in research and development activities to launch better quality products and explore new uses of vitamin K2.

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

HEALTH PAGE 28

thursday December 19, 2019

Page

29

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Our football is in coma, domestic league on crutches -Sports Minister

By Amaechi Agbo

T

he minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare has stated that Nigeria football is ‘coma’ and directed the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to do everything possible to resuscitate football in the country.

The minister made the statement while delivering a speech at the 75th NFF Annual General Meeting, AGM held in Benin, Edo state capital Tuesday.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Adesola Olusola charged the NFF to purge itself of bad image and sanitise the federation so as to attract sponsors in order to improve the round leather game in the country.

The minister who bemoaned the negative impact corruption perception in the NFF has on the nation’s football, said that in the eyes of the Nigerian public, the perception that NFF and Nigerian football is corrupt is rife. ‘I have had cause in the past to speak on how perception is everything and the perception around the NFF is not one that will court new partners and sponsors for the federation.’

“Dear stakeholders, I welcome you to this all-important meeting, which I do with subdued excitement. My excitement is subdued today not because we have not had a few successes in our football development, but because these successes have been diminished by recent losses and happenings in the world of football. We have gone from a football loving nation to a nation that needlessly squabbles over football.

We now showcase more of our disagreements and discordant tunes in football than the talents and skills that should be displayed in this game.

Nigerians and the world have taken note and tough questions that require urgent answers are being asked. There is no better place to provider these answers than here in this assembly, this morning.

“My dear stakeholders of the once beautiful game in Nigeria, I will be shying away from the truth if I say everything is right with our football.

Previous Annual General Meetings (AGM) have been too ordinary by simply accepting what the federation thinks it has achieved. But like a cancerous wound, the problems that the Board should have solved keep festering so much so

Minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare, left with NFF president Amaju Pinnick during a visit by Mr Pinnick to the minister recently. that our football is in a coma. Some have even taken the less optimistic stance of declaring that Nigeria’s football is dead. So, let us forget some of the pyrrhic feats we have achieved especially when they have not translated into growth.

“We lack the football pitches and other football related facilities across the country.

That should worry you. There is no wellarticulated plan for grassroots football growth and development. This assembly should come up with such. The technical depth of our football is suspect. Our refereeing or officiating of matches is depressing and has gradually killed the competitive spirit of the game. Our domestic league is on crutches. We lack football content.

This assembly must rise above the mundane and design a proactive action plan. The Ministry will work with you.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports development has spent the last four months working with experts and the organized private

sector to turn sports into a business. To develop a business model that will metamorphosed sports into viable business creating jobs and generating revenue. We have bench marked and some of the things and practices I have mentioned above must be in the DNA of our football before we can have a successful league and football development.

“No country’s football can grow without a predictable and credible football calendar that is binding on everyone. The essence of having a football calendar is to ensure that the corporate world can plan with it. No blue-chip firm operates based on hunches. Everything is planned with dates and milestones. No company will wait for NFF to wake up from its sleep to include them in their plans. Do not forget that firms have to account for investors’ money they use for business. Such firms will only do business with organizations that are accountable not the ones that are bogged down in controversies. If

we must tell ourselves the truth, accountability is the soul of any business concern.

“The bad image at all levels of our football, including the organizers of the domestic league cannot attract sponsorship, which is the biggest hub of business. In the eyes of the Nigerian public, the perception that NFF and Nigerian football is CORRUPT is rife. I have had cause in the past to speak on how perception is everything and the perception around the NFF is not one that will court new partners and sponsors for the federation.

“Even though many of the allegations have not been proven, the atmosphere around football is polluted on account of the negative perception of corruption and we must move quickly to sanitize this. Agreed, the stigma of corruption in NFF predates this Board, hence the need for proper accountability and transparency going forward because we must move quickly to change this toxic perception,” he said.

No, toxic environment, negative reports Damaged Our Football -NFF

B

ut arising from the AGM, the NFF have distanced itself from the woes bedevilling Nigeria football and blamed it on what it called ‘toxic environment and the reputational damage that the spate of negative reports, halftruths, falsehood and insidious rumours are causing for the Nigerian Football ecosystem.’

In a 10 paragraph communique it issued at the end of the AGM, NFF called on aggrieved football stakeholders to explore peaceful means of conflict resolution and thanked the minister for his interest and support.

“In view of the toxic environment and the reputational damage that the spate of negative reports, half-truths, falsehood

and insidious rumours are causing for the Nigerian Football ecosystem, Congress charged aggrieved stakeholders and other Members of the Football family to adopt more meaningful, fruitful and useful dispute resolution methods in the interest of the Nigerian game, by escalating their grievances to the Congress for amicable settlement.

“The Congress also commended the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, in supporting the work of the Nigeria Football Federation in the preparation and participation of Nigeria’s National Teams in international matches and championships.”

Next Generation Scouts pick 13 talented players in Anambra, set for Enugu >>>PG30

PAGE 30

S

p

Next Generation Scouts pick 13 talented players in Anambra, set for Enugu

By Amaechi Agbo

A

new vision, hope and future shines for gifted players in Nigeria as the Next Generation Scouting agency has picked 13 talented young players in Anambra state.

The scouting programme which was conducted at Nero’s stadium, Nanka, Anambra state last week saw 13 emerging football stars selected for the next generation.

The players are Eze chukwuma precious, Chinonso Romanus, Odoh Emmanuel, Ezeama Chinemerem and Ogbu Nonso, Dike Arinze, Oputa Chibueze, Chinweokwu Nweke and Onyeka Kanu The players were selected during

the 2019 Next Generation International Tournament meant for U-15 and U-16 players.

Next Generation Mission Determined to eradicate age cheat in Nigeria in age grade football, Next Generation International Tournament is a grassroots championship aimed at bridging the gap in age cheat and gaining international trust in football business in Nigeria.

With its mission to totally eradicate distrust in Nigeria football system via the application of modern technology and in collaboration with foreign partners, Next Generation is also aimed at helping young talents get easy deals and contract abroad where they nurture and groom their talents.

Edo State Govt. assures of digital, successful 20th National Sports Festival

E

do State government has assured Nigerians of a digital and successful 20th edition of National Sports Festival next year.

The Deputy Governor of the state and Chairman Local Organising Committee, Hon. Philip Shuiabu made the assurance on Tuesday stating that for the first time in the history of the NSF, all activities shall be digitalised.

The number two citizen of the state also stated this at the 2nd and final joint technical meeting between the Main Organising Committee and the LOC in Benin-City on Tuesday. He also said that the games will be organised to ensure national unity, trust, peace and friendliness which is the universal aim of all sporting activities.

Mr Shuiabu, who represented the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Gaius Obaseki in his statement said that Edo 2020 is very special to the state. He explained that this is not the first time the state is hosting such event but noted that “Edo 2020 is unique in the sense that everything about the event is going to be digitalised.”

Mr Shuiabu further disclosed that the state in it bid to develop sports in the state has decided to build a standard stadium each in all the geopolitical zones of the State and 20 mini stadiums across the state. He said their goal is aimed at making Nigeria the biggest black nation through sports. There was also an agreed decision to include three extra sports of

golf, canoeing and rowing and traditional sports.

In the same vain, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Adesola Olusade who doubles also as the Chairman Main Organising Committee, MOC reiterated that the Ministry is well on course in doing its part towards the actualization of “Edo 2020”.

In his speech , Mr Olusade stated that having undertaken another round of inspection of the venues and facilities earmarked for the games, the extent of work that has gone into the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, the LOC must be commended. He stressed on the need for robust interface between the MOC and the LOC as well as their relevant SubCommittees as this would lead to timely attainment of mandate of the Games.

On her part, the Secretary, MOC, Mrs Hauwa -Kulu Aķinyemi, disclosed that since the last Joint Technical Meeting, the Committee has undertaken some activities towards the actualization of the Games of the 20th National Sports Festival.

The activities includes; confirmation of events in each sports, online accreditation training for states’ desk officers, online registration of participants, flag off of movement of touch of unity amongst others.

She also declared that the MOC on its part is steadfast in the implementation of the remaining activities on the timeline for the festival as scheduled.

Osimhen Stable, Maybe Out for weeks

S

uper Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen is in good condition following Tuesday’s health scare during a match, manager Christophe Galtier said.

Osimhen had put Lille ahead in the 19th minute after he was set up by Jonathan Ikone but moments later, was rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pain.

His replacement, Loic Remy scored two more goals to hand Les Dogues a 3-0 win against AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II and a place in the quarter-final of the Coupe de la Ligue.

After the game, Lille manager

Christophe Galtier allayed fears that Osimhen may face a lengthy spell on the sidelines following the incident.

“Victor Osimhen experienced dizziness and then pain. He was quickly rushed to the hospital. We just got news, everything is back to normal. We just talked to him, he’s fine,” Galtier told reporters after the game.

Osimhen has scored 12 goals across all competitions since his arrival from Belgian club Sporting Charleroi this summer.

He is expected to be fit for Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash against Monaco.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

r

t

CLASSIFIED loss of document This is to inform the general public of the loss of original certificate of occupancy (C of O) in respect of plot No. 3323 with file No. Misc 50430 and misc 50443 located at cadastral zone A00 central business district and plot no. 958 located at cadastral zone A05 respectively belonging to EMBASSY OF LEBANON. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive, if found, kindly return to the nearest police station or AGIS. General public should please take note.

The scouting agency conducts football tournaments for Under-15 and Under-19 players and for the 2019 edition, they kicked off from Anambra with 13 players selected already.

The Next Generation International Tournament train will this week move to Enugu State for another two-day tournament from 20 to 21st, December 2019.

At the U-15 is where the group identifies, nurtures and monitors the young stars by giving reports to their foreign partners on their growth until they are ready to travel for academies abroad where they continue their career development.

The U-19, also called ‘quick market’ enables the team of experts to maintain relevance by constantly presenting talents

selected across their programmes to teams and club sides in Europe, America, Asia and some parts of Africa .We cover the 6 geopolitical zones of our nation to give everyone an opportunity.

The major benefits for teams participating in Next Generation programmes is the assurance of following the entire process.

The great goodness is that the team bear the costs of travels expenses for each player selected in any of the programmes.

Next Generation is in partnership with established European clubs such as FC Zurich, FC Borec, FC Barcelona, Escola, Elrelsico Ltd., Kaydash production, Zatara consulting, FC Bologna, Dynamo Kiev, .Premier Skills, Yagazie foundation and a host of NPFL sides and Asian clubs.

Dalung Lied on crisis, Rio Olympic U-23 payment – NFF

By Amaechi Agbo

T

he Nigeria Football Federation has described as lies and ‘half-truths’ former minister of sports, Solomon Dalungs statement that the crisis that erupted between him (Dalung) and the NFF was over payment of monies to Nigeria’s U-23 team during their Rio 2016 Olympics qualifying tournament in Senegal in 2015.

In a release Tuesday, the Chairman NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande has described as a concoction of half truths and outright falsehood a statement credited to a former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung that crisis erupted between him (Dalung) and the NFF over payment of monies to Nigeria’s U23 team during their Rio 2016 Olympics qualifying tournament in Senegal in 2015.

“There would have been no need to respond to Mr. Dalung other than to put the record straight as we still respect his status as a former Minister of Sports. His statement was full of half truths and blatant falsehood and we wonder what the objective is at this juncture if not to create more distractions and toxic issues around Nigerian Football.

Mr. Dalung’s problem was that he came into office with a pre-conceived objective of effecting regime-change in the NFF for political benefits. His failure continues to bite him hard even after he has left office.

“The NFF never said it wanted to disburse the money to the players. When he said the Ministry would do so, we gladly obliged the Ministry the account details of the players. His so-called revelation that the NFF President personally came to him asking for the money is a blatant lie.

“Till today, Mr. Dalung and the Sports Ministry refused to pay for the camping of the same team in the United States for the Olympics. Our FIFA Match Agent who arranged the camp is still being owed, and a Nigerian businessman who paid for the charter of an aircraft for the purpose of

Former sports minister, Solomon Dalung conveying the team to Brazil has not been refunded his money. Anyone can call Mr. Idowu and ask him.”

Yahaya-Kwande recalled that despite stating that he was unaware of the team camping in the USA and that the team officials might have been engaging in human trafficking, the football team won Nigeria’s ONLY medal at the Olympics in Brazil.

“That we did not respond to most of Mr. Dalung’s denigrating statements while he was in office was not for lack of what to say; we held back because of the high respect we have for our father, President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed him. Mr. Dalung should henceforth respect himself by telling only the truth. It is not the place of a former Minister, having completed his duty tour, to be going about spreading non-factual and denigrating statements against his former subordinates simply to sustain the toxic environment he left behind or to distract the new managers of sports in Nigeria.

“For as long as we can remember, the Ministry of Sports has been disbursing money directly to players and officials of teams involved in competitions superintended by the Ministry, such as the All-Africa Games, the U23 AFCON and the Olympic Games. NFF never contemplated changing that process while Mr. Dalung was in office.”

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday December 19, 2019

Kolapo I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Olowe Abimbola Olunfunsho Ajike NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Kolapo Abimbola Ajike. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Kolapo I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS maiaji rakiya ntoku NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ma’aji rakiya ntoku.. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

. . . putting the people first

thursday December 19, 2019

SPORTS latest

NPFL 2019/20 Final Transfer Window Opens Friday

T

he final transfer window for the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League season will open on Friday, December 20, 2019.

The 2nd and final transfer window for the season which will last for one month will commence from December 20, 2019 to January 19, 2020.

The League Management Company confirmed the transfer window on Wednesday via its official website.

“The 2nd and final transfer window for NPFL20 will open on Friday, December 20, 2019 and close on January 19, 2020,” it said.

Flamengo beats Al Hilal to reach first Club World Cup Final

B

razil’s Flamengo came from behind to beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-1 and reach the Club World Cup final.

Salem Al Dawsari gave underdogs Al Hilal the lead in the 18th minute before Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta equalised just after the break.

Bruno Henrique headed the Copa Libertadores winners ahead and then turned provider as Ali Albulayhi inadvertently turned into his own net.

They will face Liverpool or Monterrey in the final on Saturday

Advert: business: news: lagos:

SPACE FOR SALE

Someone should tell Buhari

T

o let the due process be. The wheel of ‘democracy’ –like the wheel of justice- grinds slowly, yes. But it is too early for Mr. President to get into fatigue mode. Democracy is a meal cooked on the frustrating boulders of ‘due processes’. And here, unlike in the kitchen, ‘too many cooks’ do not necessarily ‘spoil the broth’; or at least not as quickly as impatience with the cooking processes does.

And especially impatience by the Chief Cook himself. MR. President cannot afford to be more enthusiastic than the system itself permits. It is not just about the tedium of the processes; it is about the diligence and the faith of its practitioners –to be ‘slowand-steady’. Maybe we should tell Buhari to let the due democratic process be. That he was not doing badly, after all, when he was ‘Baba Go Slow’. That we would rather have him in that mode than have him overshoot the runway!

It is the reason I am revisiting a previous piece this week, titled: ‘LET THE DUE PROCESS BE’ The ‘court of public opinion’ is not listed in the hierarchy of our courts; but most Nigerians, whenever they have issues, appear to have a penchant more for approaching that idle Babel of a thousand tongues than they do the regular courts of the land -which are there to restore rights and to impose obligations. Most times it appears our goal is to heat up the polity rather than to resolve differences. We get so unnecessarily schismatic, we cavil at every trivia including as flimsy as ‘whether the President has a right to take ill’, or whether he has an ‘obligation to stay healthy. It appears often we prefer that timewasting ‘court of public opinion’ because often it is the only arena where our grievances can have legs. And so when we have an issue that can’t stand in a regular court of law, we resort to the court of public opinion where there’s always a willing lay jury to help it stand, even if it is on crutches.

The Media too, especially the Online, has learnt to constitute itself into another species of public court, of incompetent jurisdiction; so that it has both its ‘touch-not-my-anointed’ mood and then its ‘crucify-them’ temperament. Media trial is becoming the ultimate default mode of the ‘due legal’ or ‘judicial process’. Everyone preaches the ‘due process’ but then prefers to use the default mode. We are political without being democratic; we ‘love’ party politics

0806 564 8620 0704 385 9705 0814 292 9046 08074420617

THURSDAY Column WITH Mohammed Adamu (08035892325 sms only)

dankande2@gmail.com but we hate the level playing field; we advocate good governance but we anoint mediocrity into political office; we promote ‘one man, one vote’, but we pay to violate the sanctity of the ballot box; we preach magnanimity in victory and gallantry in defeat, but we are malevolent in victory and petulant in defeat; we rise in defense of the ‘due process’ only when we have been outwitted in the attempt to circumvent it.

Democracy is a ‘system’ of government run or regulated by several ‘processes’ -and none of which is less or any more important than the other. To be legitimate, every democratic action must not only result from an established process, but the process itself must be observed to the extent of its ‘due measure’.

Meaning that it is not sufficient that a particular ‘process’ is followed, but that it must also be seen to have been followed -to the letter. It is just like when lawyers say that ‘it is not sufficient that justice is done, but that justice must be seen (even by the ordinary man in the street) to have been done. And so it is the reason that whenever any ‘process’ is referred to, it is qualified by the adjective ‘due’ -suggesting something that meets all the requirements and is thus ‘proper’ and ‘appropriate’ to the situation). Not just following the ‘process’, but complying with its ‘due measure’. When she introduced the principles of ‘due process’ to our procurement and contractual ways of doing things –as is the global practice now in capitalist democracies- Dr. Obi Ezekwesili earned herself a sobriquet, ‘Madam Due Process’, a subtle snide at a deeply intolerable novelty that we all love to hate.

The ‘due democratic process’ is the touchstone of the ‘democratic system’ itself. There is no ‘democracy’ unless it is regulated by the ‘due democratic process’.

And it does not matter whether these processes are contained in a nation’s fons juris or that they merely exist in conventions. Just as the touchstone of the ‘democratic process’ itself is the conduct of regular elections. Without the conduct of regular elections by

which the people determine who governs their affairs, there is no democracy, let alone a ‘process’ by which to legitimate it. But it is not sufficient also that ‘elections’ are regularly conducted by which the people elect, re-elect or remove their governments. Elections too must be conducted according to certain established ‘rules’referred to as the ‘due electoral process’. Unless that ‘due process’ is followed, the credibility of any election is impeachable. Thus the ‘due electoral process’ itself, is the touchstone of ‘democratic elections’. Any breach of the ‘due electoral process’ de-legitimizes the outcome of any election.

Yet there is a limit by which the electoral umpire is to determine whether or not the ‘due electoral process’ has been breached, or complied with.

Beyond the electoral umpire’s duty of declaring a winner in a contest, it requires an entirely different ‘process’, and no longer the ‘electoral’ one, to legitimate, or to de-legitimate an election victory. Herein comes another ‘process’, the ‘due process of law’, itself also the touchstone of the ‘rule of law’, -or a principle ware-housing the ‘due legal process’ and the ‘due judicial process’ (the former at the behest of lawyers, and the latter, the prerogative of judges). Ab initio, the ‘legislative process’ is the Babel from whence all legislation are made –following a complex labyrinth of due legislative processes the breach of any of which delegitimizes the entire process. Thus the ‘due legislative process’ is the touchstone of the lawmaking process. No legislation is valid except it is a product of the ‘due legislative process’. A breach of that ‘process’ renders any legislation liable either to rebuff by the ‘executive process’ which may deny it assent, or to nullification by the ‘judicial process’.

POSTSCRIPT The concept of ‘due process’ means that certain issues at certain points are ultra vires certain actors –individuals or institutions- to reverse or to

legitimize. An end achieved by one set of constitutional ‘due process’ may require an entirely different ‘process’ to reverse or to justify. No matter where or how far we choose to go to debate the ‘injustice’ we suffer, in the end we must return to the ‘due judicial process’ to argue for the ‘justice’ that we believe we are entitled to. The same way that those who war-war may win the battles mid-air, but must come down to win the war on solid ground. The ‘due process’ may not conduce with our diverse moral or philosophical considerations, nonetheless it is the best game in time. And it should be respected by all who desire to have a just society. Those who have opted for democracy as a system of government must be consoled by the fact that due processes are in place which regulate all spheres of human endeavor and by which all who stake claims to any rights or to whom any duty beholds, are justly treated.

“Ubi jus”, as the maxim of law says, “ibi remedium”: ‘where there is a right, there is a remedy’.

But the converse of that is equally true: “Ubi jus in certum, ibi jus nullum”: “Where the right is uncertain, there is no right”. It is only via ‘due process’ that all rights are made ‘certain’ -and thus their violation remediable. If the Kano State Governor, Ganduje and the State’s Assembly have no right in law to do what they did, namely split the Kano Emirate in five, and if the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has a right in law to the administration of a kingdom made up of 44 local governments instead of 10, it is for the due ‘legal’ and ‘judicial’ processes to determine -and not for the ‘court of public opinion’ to resolve.

DAN Dan GAYE gaye

Edo Assembly sacks 12 proOshiomhole lawmakers - News

Tomorrow dey oh?

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141