Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Edition

Wednesday, February 21, 2018/ Jimadal Thani 5, 1439AH

Senate probes N3.4bn NNPC, Agip security account

Vol. 28 No. 032 N150

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IPOB: Court orders separate trial of Kanu, co-defendants

pAGE 3

pAGE 6

. . . putting the people first

Reps query NEMA over N1.6bn Libya returnees fund pAGE 2

El-Rufai demolishes APC factional secretariat page 5

Be ready for consequences -Hunkuyi

Mammoth crowd during President Muhammadu Buhari’s one day official working visit to Adamawa State to Commission Projects and attend Adamawa State Anti Corruption Summit, yesterday in Yola Adamawa State.

Photo: State House

37 percent of privatized coys not performing -BPE >>>page 19

1406 Days after

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Join in fixing Nigeria’s >>>page 5 problems, Buhari urges govs

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial

11

Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stockwatch Business

18 19-20

Metro

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World Analysis 22 Africa News

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World News

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Reps query NEMA over N1.6bn Libya returnees fund

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management has frowned at the inability of the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja to account for the N1.6 billion released by the federal government for Libya returnees.

Maihaja had yesterday appeared before the committee to defend the budget with the management of NEMA, explained that though N1.6 billion was released for the purpose, only N1.8 million was utilized with the balance of over N1.42billion

largely unaccounted for.

The money was meant to resettle Nigerian illegal immigrants who were recently repatriated to the country.

Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe), who chaired the budget session expressed dismay that “documents submitted by the agency contradicted his (DG’s) explanations and he could not account for how about the money was expended” According to the committee, the director general could not convince lawmakers on how about N8 billion from the service wide votes was utilized by the agency, adding that ecological

funds were also not accounted for.

Members of the committee claimed that while there were documents showing that NEMA had received funds from the service wide votes, whereas the director general was denying that he has not received anything from the government.

Consequently, the committee directed the director general to reappear before it on Thursday (tomorrow) with all documents to back up his claims.

“You are expected to come along with the 2018 budget proposal for the agency and details of how the 2017 appropriation was utilized. We will not condone

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state, Speaker of the Katsina state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Yahaya Kusada and the Secretary to the Katsina state Government, Alhaji Mustafa Muhammed Inuwa at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, as the President prepares to depart for Abuja after his fiveday break, yesterday in Daura, Katsina State. Photo: Katsina Govt House

Reps probe killings nationwide Page 4

Property

misappropriation or misuse of government funds especially at this time when many Nigerians are suffering”, Hon. Isah had ruled.

In his response, the director general told the committee that no money was misappropriated at the agency under his leadership insisting that they have documents covering all expenses undertaken by it.

On the 2018 budget proposal, Maihaja explained that the letter inviting him to the interaction did not indicate whether he was to defend the budget and that informed why he could not furnish the committee with the proposal.

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Feature 26 Sports 29-31 Back Page

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Osinbajo assures private sector of continuous FG collaboration

By Lawrence Olaoye

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has assured the private sector operators of continuous Federal Government collaboration in formulation and execution of economic policies in the country.

He gave the assurance yesterday while receiving a delegation from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by Mr. Babatunde Ruwase at the Presidential Villa.

Osinbajo, in a statement made available to newsmen by his Spokesman, Laolu Akande, stressed that the Buhari administration, in line with its

Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), would continue to ensure the implementation of policies to drive socio-economic growth and prosperity.

He said “I think that no one is in doubt that we have very great policies and we will ensure that these things are implemented and are done as faithfully as possible.”

The Vice President noted the significance of private sector investment in the economy, adding that collaboration between the Federal Government and the private sector will further boost the country’s economic progress.

“If you look at our economic programmes and several other

initiatives, the private sector plays a prominent role in them, and that is how it should be.

So there is no question that the roles the LCCI and private sector play are critical to the kind of development policies and plan that we have in this government,” he stressed.

The Vice President commended the LCCI for its Presidential Policy Dialogues on the economy, which he noted has helped in shaping some initiatives and policies of government.

Osinbajo further said that the Buhari administration will continue to have robust engagements and work with the private sector and

stakeholders in developing plans for implementation of several economic projects.

He also pointed out that, in conjunction with the private sector, the Federal Government is resolving the Apapa, Lagos traffic gridlock.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and LCCI President commended the Buhari administration for its laudable economic initiatives which he said has made Nigeria a more investment friendly destination.

He said, “We appreciate the series of Executive Orders focused on promoting the ease of doing business in the country.

These orders are impacting

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

News Editor, Ese Awhotu News Court Senate probes N3.4b NNPC, seals Agip security account …Blasts fuel marketers over subsidy payment Michael Okpara T varsity over tax fraud

By Christiana Ekpa Ikechukwu Okaforadi

M

ichael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, was on Tuesday sealed, following an order of an Umuahia High Court for failure to remit tax deductions from members of staff of the university.

The order, which was signed

by Justice Kelvin Wosu, was obtained by the state Board of Internal Revenue over the nonremittance of N120,751,998 tax by the management of the institution.

News Agency of Nigeria learnt that a court bailiff, accompanied

by BIR officials and security operatives, sealed up the university gate in the early hours of the day.

The development disrupted academic activities in the institution as both students and workers could not gain access to the campus from the main gate.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mrs. Adanma Odefa, confirmed the incident to NAN in a telephone interview.

Odefa, however, said that the university management met with the BIR officials and “they have sorted out the issue and the place has been unsealed.”

The court order read in part “that the university has been owing the BIR the sum of N120,751,998 which became due to the board and the institution has refused to remit within the time limited by the demand notice.”

In a related development, the court also sealed a popular event centre, called Wonder Land, located on the outskirts of Umuahia metropolis.

The facility, which is owned

by Sen. Chris Adighije, was also sealed for alleged tax default to the tune of more than N7 million.

(NAN)

and

he Senate has mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the rationale behind a security account allegedly operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Sent. Dino Melaye (Kogi-APC).

Moving the motion, Melaye said there was need for the Senate to unravel the objective of the account and source of its funding.

According to him, the account opened with the name NNPC/AGIP Oil Company IPP Security Account with address NNPC Garki, Harbert Macauley way is domiciled in First Bank Nigeria Plc with account number 2006367288.

Melaye said that the account had an opening balance of N31.7 billion and a closing balance of N34.

5 billion as at April 25, 2017, adding that there were lodgments and withdrawals since January 2017.

“Aware that there has been lodgment and withdrawals since January, 2017; “ Observes that a lot of questions are begging for answers as regards this account, the objectives of the account? , the signatories to the account?, Is the account known to

the Federal Government?

What are the sources of the account’s fund?

“Convinced that there is an urgent need to investigate the rationale behind the operation of this account, “While we need to know the objectives of this account, we also need to know the signatories to the account ; is the account known to the Federal Government and what are the sources of the account’s funding.

“About N2 trillion is kept in various accounts of government, we are operating a Treasury Single Account yet money is kept in various personal accounts.

‘If these monies are properly remitted to government purse, we will have no business borrowing.

“This Senate will continue to expose any corrupt practice in the country because it is time to protect the future of Nigerians unborn,” Melaye said.

Contributing, Senator Sam Anyanwu (PDP Imo East) Who seconded the motion, said it has become imperative for the senate to carry out thorough investigation on the operation of an account by the NNPC/Agip Oil Company In his remark the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu

who presided over the plenary, directed the committee on public Account to investigate the matter and report back to the senate within four weeks of the assignment.

Also yesterday, the Senate Committee on Public Account investigating fuel crisis, led by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, (PDP Edo South) rday blasted Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria for asking Federal Government to pay more subsidy to interest banks for the purpose of subsiding importation of petrol into the country.

This was even as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said that oil marketers abandoned the importation of petrol in the country because of the losses they incurred.

However, the lawmakers were peeved as the Executive Secretary, of MOMAN, Mr Obafemi Olawoke asked the Federal Government to pay the areas of subsidy claims owed its members between 2013 and 2015 and even more to interest banks to enable them resume importation fuel into the country Though he did not mention the figure, he told the lawmakers that members of MOMAN were still owed subsidy claims which accrued from 2013 to 2015.

According to him, due to this, our members are incapacitated and cannot import fuel.

“The banks are always adding their interest at the end of every month.

We had a promise from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that the aspect of interest will be stopped at a certain period of 2017 but that did not come to pass, so the banks at the end of every month are charging us interest,’’ Olawoke said.

But his presentation did not go down well with members of the committee as Senator Dino Melaye, a member of the committee angrily accused the marketers of conniving with NNPC to defraud Federal Government and Nigerians.

Also Senator Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East) blasted the MOMAN boss trying to misleading the committee into asking Federal Government to pay more subsidy to banks.

In his presentation, the Chief Financial Officer, NNPC, Mr Isiaka Razak who disclosed before the committee that the oil marketers abandoned the importation of petrol due to lack of losses, expressed worry that the task of importing fuel into the country was left in the hands of the NNPC alone.

L-R: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Muazu Abdulkadir, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Christopher Thorney and Deputy High Commissioner, James Christoff ; during the High Commissioner’s visit to the Minister›s office , yesterday in Abuja.

Koreans, Nigerians celebrate Seollal New Year in Abuja

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he citizens of Korea and Nigeria in Abuja at the weekend held cultural and sports events to mark this year’s Seollal Lunar New Year, which also featured Korean delicacies and outfits to mark the Korean New Year at the Korean Cultural Center in Abuja.

Many Nigerians who attended the event vigorously participated in the

cultural traditional activities to mark the new year of the Koreans, including the sebae traditional bow to one’s elders, and tried their hands at traditional games like yutnori, jegichagi and tuho.

Yut-nori is a traditional Korean game which is a popular game that involves the use of four wooden sticks, and a simple game board.

It was a fun-filled day for everyone, and those who participated the various

Korean games left with smiles.

However, some of the Nigerians who participated in the New Year celebration said they were excited to participate in the celebration.

Miss. Faith Dada , said ,”It is a great experience full of activities especially the games. They try to carry everyone along . Every is involve in one game or the other . The officials are very friendly and they did not discriminate. I really feel

that in Nigeria they should try to carry everybody along . I will say a very big thank you because this is a very big lovely experience.”

Also, another participant, Seyi Adekoya said,” I have been involved in Korean programmes and you get to learn a lot of things about their culture and it is really interesting coming here to learn about their culture which will cannot get from anywhere else.

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News

Delta communities decry plot to alter agelong tradition

From Osakhare Erese Asaba

F

ive Amai communities in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State are currently boiling over alleged plots by unscrupulous elements to utter its aged long tradition at an emergency meeting held at the palace of late Igwete on Monday.

Elders of the five Amai communities in a statement they signed, a copy made available to our reporter, flayed the abandoned DESOPADEC projects in the areas, threatening that the contractors concerned be invited to give reasons for the delay and total abandoned of the projects.

Mr. Fredrick Obi, spokesman for Ishikaguma-Amai community, told journalists in Asaba that the five Amai community, otherwise known as Amai kingdom, had at the meeting resolved that until a substantive king is installed, any meeting held outside its meetings at the palace will have no effect on the good people of Amai kingdom.

It also resolved that concerning land issues between Amai and other neighbouring communities must have the Onotu-Ukus of the affected Quarters present at such meetings.

On electricity, it was resolved that sons and daughters of Amai kingdom should contribute towards the restoration of light that was disconnected in 2014 by BEDC noting that Amai unity cannot be compromised, the elders’ council meeting resolved that the question to ensure that equity and fairness would be dispensed to all concerned, there was need to avert any form of crises, and acrimony in Amai communities, adding that the nomination and presentation of High Chief Andrew Ikogwe was disapproved by a majority in the five ruling Houses of the kingdom. Consequently, it resolved that Umuekum ruling House had been called upon to nominate and represent an acceptable candidate for the Igwete stool in line with the provisions of the law.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

Reps probe killings nationwide

By Musa Adamu and Umar Mohammad Puma

W

orried by the incessant killings around the country, the House of Representives yesterday set up an Adhoc Committee to investigate their root causes.

The committee, headed by Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Pally Iriase, has six others as members.

Briefing the press on its

assignment, the committee said the House was aware of the efforts already being made by various organs of the government.

It however, said these efforts, it would appear, were being impacted by “ strait-laced narratives, political innuendos and ethno-religious distrust.”

It said “some of these straitlaced narratives have tended to ascribe all killings to a single cause” thereby overlooking the

need to find out the happenings with open, unbiased and nonpartisan mind.

He described the committee as bipartisan, multi ethnic and multi religious in composition, adding that the House expected them to approach the assignment with utmost sense of responsibility.

He said in carrying out the assignment, the committee would visit a number of “carefully selected areas that have been

attacked severally, interact with the victims, survivors and other critical stakeholders.”

He further disclosed that the committee would interact with security chiefs, foreign partners and conduct a public hearing.

“We will round up with a public hearing to afford all interested Nigerians the opportunity to proffer solutions.”

The committee has six weeks within which to report its findings back to the House.

L-R: Chairman Presidential Committee on Health to the North East, Alhaji Gambo Umar; wife of the Governor of Bauchi State, Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed and the Team Medical Leader, Dr Iko Ibanga, during the Committee Chairman’s visit to Bayara General Hospital on a free medical outreach, yesterday in Bauchi .

Photo: NAN

Kaduna: FRSC rewards officers for outstanding performance From Femi Oyelola Kaduna The Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday rewarded six outstanding officers of the Command for their diligence and dedication to duty towards reducing road crashes in the

state.

The Sector Commander, Umar Ibrahim, said during the Command’s “Anniversary Durbar”, organised to windup the weeklong activities organised to mark the Corp’s 30th anniversary, that the gesture was to promote hard work and

professionalism.

The awardees are Deputy Road Commander Waheed Salihu, who emerged best patrol man; followed

by Road Commander Aliyu Audu and Road Commander SainGwom Ambisa, who emerged second and third best respectively.

Others are Route Marshal Assistant Isah Kabir, Assistant Chief Inspector Halilu Abubakar and Assistant Chief Inspector Lawal Ahmed.

The awardees were given letters of commendation and gifts as part of the corp’s recognition and motivation for hard work.

Alleged false assets declaration: Justice Ngwuta knows fate March 21

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

T

he embattled Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, will on March 21, know fate over his alleged false assets declaration charge against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Umar Danladi, after taking the submissions of both parties, fixed the date to rule on the competence of the charge.

The federal government had last year slammed a 10-count charge against the Supreme Court justice on false assets declaration.

In a motion on notice filed on January 9, Justice Ngwuta, through

his counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi SAN, asked the tribunal, to dismiss the 10-count criminal charge against him, citing section 158(1) of the 1999 constitution.

The counsel premised his prayer on the fact that as at the time the alleged offence was committed, he was a serving justice of the Supreme Court, hence a serving judicial officer according to section 318 of the constitution.

The defendant also submitted that according to section 158 of the constitution and paragraph 21 of the third schedule to the constitution, any complaint or allegation of misconduct against him must first be referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC) empowered by law

to exercise disciplinary control over him.

He maintained that the allegations which brought about the criminal charges against him were never referred to the NJC as required by the constitution, hence, the charges are not competent in law.

Ngwuta cited the decision of the Court of Appeal in the Hon. Justice Nganjiwa versus Federal Republic of Nigeria where the appellate court held that no criminal investigation or prosecution can be initiated or instituted in any court of law or tribunal against a serving judicial officer for judicial misconduct without first presenting the allegation to the NJC and a

determination made.

He, therefore, insisted that the charge was incompetent and that the tribunal lack jurisdiction to entertain it.

Opposing the motion, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Abeni Mohammed, urged the tribunal to dismiss it in its entirety.

He argued that the claim of the judicial officer was misconceived by the defendant.

In addition, he maintained that Ngwuta was put on trial at the CCT as a public office holder and not as a judicial officer.

Further in his argument, Mohammed said that the finality of the Appeal Court decision relied upon by the defendant has not been

tested at the Supreme Court.

“The Defendant is here as a public officer to face charges against him and not as a judicial officer. He is here as Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta and not as Hon. Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta. It is not derogatory, that is what the law says” the counsel argued. He, therefore, insisted that the decision of the appeal court on the judicial officers in relation to section 158 of the 1999 constitution was not application to the trial of the defendant because of peculiar circumstances and asked the tribunal to assume jurisdiction.

After taking the counsel’s submissions, Chairman of the tribunal fixed March 21, for ruling in the motion.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

El-Rufai demolishes APC factional secretariat From Mohammad Ibrahim, Femi Oyelola Kaduna, Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Christiana Ekpa Abuja

K

aduna State Government yesterday demolished Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi’s residence along Sambo Road Kaduna.

The building owned by the serving senator representing zone one of the state was recently commissioned as the state secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC faction led by the senator.

Security agents led by officials of the state Urban Planning Development Agency KASUPDA carried out the operation in the wee hours of Tuesday morning around 1:30 am to be precise.

It was gathered that the operation lasted till 4:30 am after the building was completely brought down as angry looking security agents among them solders blocked the road to the residence as the operation was being carried out.

The rivalry between Senator Hunkuyi led APC faction and Governor Nasir El’rufai has recently become tensed following the commissioning of the new party secretariat and the claim by the faction to have suspended the governor for failure to reply a query given to him.

Sympathisers trooped to the venue of the demolished house to see for themselves how the one storey building was completely brought down.

A youth, Yusuf Aboki told newsmen at the venue that the governor’s decision to demolish the house was wrong. ” This is purely politics and as a leader, the governor or whoever is behind the demolition shouldn’t have taken that decision,” he said.

Responding, Senator Hunkuyi, has threatened the Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el Rufai to prepare for the concomitant consequence

•Be ready for consequences- Hunkuyi that will follow the demolition of his property in Kaduna yesterday.

Briefing journalists yesterday after the demolition of his house in Kaduna, senator Hunkuyi said such action always attract consequences, even though he said he has forgiven the governor.

He however said if the demolition was meant to shut him up, it will rather strengthen him and make him to stay with the electorates whom he said are being oppressed by the government in Kaduna state.

According to him, the demolition is not too much a price to pay for democracy to thrive the state and for the voice of his people to be expressed, adding that he had donated the facility to the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) for political activities.

To this end, he wondered why the governor, whom he said has benefitted from the building, will

wake up as early as 4:00am and go to the cite to personally supervise the demolition exercise.

While claiming that majority of the people of the state are against the decisions being taken by the governor, Hunkuyi accused the Governor of haven jailed those who oppose his wishes, recalling that he had demolished the house of the Kaduna APC Vice Chairman.

He therefore said people like the governor do not have no position in executive positions in the country, since he does not have the capacity to tolerate conflicting voices around him. He said despite different views, they must cohabit and coexist together in the state.

He lamented that it was the demolished house that they started the grassroots campaign for the elections of El Rufai, adding that the governor had been in and out of the building on many occasion.

He therefore vowed that he will continue to express and defend the interest of his people irrespective of whose ox of gored, just as he accused the governor of not accepting advice.

He also released a short message in his twitter handle where he described the governor as being reckless, petty and can’t stand political pressure.

“In the early hours of today, Governor Nasir El’rufai personally drove a bulldozer accompanied by armoured tanks to destroy my house at 11B Sambo road.

“This is a new low and fighting dirty with such low level of pettiness is indeed unprecedented in Kaduna state. “ It’s on record that few months back, the governor marked another property of mine in Hunkuyi town for demolition but residents of the area prevented the officials from demolishing it.

News

“ Today, he came well prepared with military men to destroy my house at Sambo road. This is same way, Malam El’rufai destroyed the house of APC Deputy National Chairman Northwest, Inuwa Abdulkadir months back, which tells you that, the governor is reckless, petty and can’t stand political pressure, without resorting to being a ruthless dictator,” he said.

There was no official statement from the Government House but in a quick reaction to justify the demolition Kaduna Geographi4c Information Service (KADGIS), Director General Ibrahim Hussaini issued a statement saying the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA) is currently undertaking operations across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate.

According to him, in partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across the state.

L-R: Special Adviser on security matters to Nasarawa State Governor, Brigadier General, Muhammed Adeka ( rtd), IGP, Ibrahim Idris and Deputy Governor Benue State, Benson Abounu during briefing on the state of security between Nasarawa and Benue State at the Force Headquarters, yesterday in Abuja . Photo: Mamud Isa

Join in fixing Nigeria’s problems, Buhari urges govs From Umar Dankano Yola and Lawrence Olaoye Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has charged state governors to join hands in fixing the problems militating against the country.

Buhari gave the charge Tuesday in a speech delivered at the maiden Adamawa state Anti-corruption summit in Yola while on a one- day state visit to state.

He said his administration has been on track in addressing the multiple challenges facing the country noting that the fight against corruption was yielding positive results.

President Buhari pledged that he would not relent until the country achieves responsible and accountable governance at all levels.

He stated that, the effect of the fight against corruption and insurgency to a significant landmark was achieved through collective contributions from all stakeholders.

“We as government are happy that what we envisaged about two and a half years ago on the teething problems facing the country has recorded enough progress, “ he said.

He reminded the executive and legislative tiers of government that team work, cordial relationship between them are the bedrock of the development, the country is yearning for.

Earlier in his address, Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla said the summit themed: Performance Based Governance was a response to the clarion call by the president to tackle corruption in all sectors.

Governor Jibrilla expressed confidence in the crusade, maintaining that it was meant for economic revival.

He told the gathering that, the exercise was timely, purely to ensure transparency and accountability in governance adding that his administration has constructed 315 roads under two and half years of existence in the state.

Jibrilla also thanked the president for assenting to the North East Development Commission Bill and giving the slot of chairmanship of the commission to Adamawa state.

Delivering his welcome address, chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ahmed Joda said the rationale behind the summit was for unity and progress of the state.

Joda stated that corruption fight must be accomplished for the economic

development of the state and country at large, urging participants to be attentive and contribute positively.

He commended the Buhari administration for its uprightness in the fight against insurgency and corruption and for putting the economy back on stream.

One of the participants interviewed, Alhaji Bello Zubairu commended the organisers of the summit, describing it as timely and educative.

Our correspondent reports that among the participants were; Governors of Kaduna and Bauchi States ,Mr. Nasiru El-Rufa’i and Barristar Muhammad Abubakar, ministers for state of Foreign Affairs, FCT, Works and Power.

Others include members of the Senate and House of Representatives, chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, among others.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 6

News

Drug abuse: Senate wants rehabilitation centers in 36 states

By Christiana Ekpa

A

gainst the backdrop of escalating drug abuse in the country, the Senate has urged the Federal Government to establish rehabilitation centers in each of the 36 states of the federation.

It equally mandated its committee on health to ensure that the Federal Government gives the centres the needed attention when established.

This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Jeremiah Useni and nine other senators The Upper Chamber noted that with more rehabilitation centers in the country, addicts would be able to receive professional treatment in the short and long term, thereby, bringing down the rate of addiction and crime in the country.

“Drug addicts are seen everywhere on the streets,” said Senator Philip Gyunka, “I have the strong belief that if the rehabilitation centers are

established there will be less crime in the society.”

“Notes with serious concern that drugs and substance abuse have become the order of the day in parts of the country with the attendant negative consequences which include criminal activities such as armed robbery, rape etc “Worried that at least 50% of all addicts are likely to bear children with thrsame addiction traits in their offspring unless and until

they undergo professional drugs cessation rehabilitation “Further convinced that increase in the number of these centers will go a long way to reduce drugs related issues such as, impairment of memory, judgment, irritability, paranoid, suicidal ideation (suggestion to commit suicide), agitation or aggressiveness among youths” Contributing Senator Joshua Lidani, stated that the Motion

stemmed from the Senate Roundtable organized in Kano last year, which shed light on how big of an issue drug use is in the country.

The Senate further resolved to urge relevant stakeholders like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to key into the proposed rehabilitation centers.

Speaking on the Motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, emphasized that

drug abuse negatively affects the productivity of our youth, stating that there was a need to stop the distribution of drugs at both the wholesale and retail levels.

“This issue of drug abuse is a threat to youths’ productivity.

There’s need to break the chain between the dealers and users as it is fostering crimes in the country. Security agencies should curb the distribution of drugs,” Ekweremadu said.

Yobe B/Haram attack: No deaths recorded, 3 kidnapped -Police

S

uspected Boko Haram militants have attacked a girls secondary school in Yobs state, police say.

Abdulmaliki Sumonu, the Yobe Commissioner of Police, said on Tuesday that there was no loss of live in the attack on Government Girls College in Dapchi town.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that terrorists attacked the town on Monday and carted away foodstuffs at the Government Girls College, while firing sporadically forcing staff and students to flee for safety.

Mr. Sumonu told journalists in Yobe that three males were later abducted by the insurgents in a remote community in Geidam Local Government Area after the attack on Dapchi.

He said so far, there was no report of abduction of any of the girls in the school.

“We are still collecting the details on the attack, census of the girls and the general public,” he said.

Dapchi residents said there was no casualty recorded and no injury sustained as the terrorists sporadically shot in the air to scare people away when they arrived in the town.

According to the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the terrorists carted away food items from the stores of the Government Girls College, Dapchi, and petrol from hawkers, who abandoned their products to run for safety.

There were fears on Monday over the safety of students of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS Dapchi, in Bursari Local Government area of Yobe State, over the reported presence of insurgents in the area.(NAN)

Vehicles wading flooded through Apongbon, yesterday in Lagos Island after the downpour .

Photo: NAN

IPOB: Court orders separate trial of Kanu, co-defendants

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

J

ustice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday granted the prosecution leave to separate the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from that of his three other co-accused.

The trial judge gave the separation order sequel to an oral application brought by Prosecution Counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, at the resumption of the matter yesterday.

Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are currently facing an amended 6 count charge bordering on treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, preferred against them by the Federal government.

When the matter was called up, the first defendant(Kanu) who is still at large was absent in court for his trial.

Consequently, Labaran, sought the guidance of the court as regards further proceedings of the trial taken into consideration

the presence of only three of the defendants in court.

Arguing his oral application, Labaran said that as far as Kanu’s whereabouts is still unknown, it was imperative that his trial be separated from the others to enable the matter proceed, adding that his absence since April, 2017, he was granted bail has frustrated progress of the case.

“We shall be asking for the indulgence of the court to separate the charges so that progress can be made in the matter.

“The absence of first defendant since he was granted bail since April 2017, and presently we don’t know where he is because he has jumped bail thereby stalling the case.

“The prosecution shall therefore be requesting to separate the charge of Kanu from the others so that progress can be made in the matter, “ Labaran submitted.

Reacting to the oral application, counsel to the 1st to 3rd defendants did not object to the separation of the trial.

Delivery his ruling, the judge

agreed with the prosecution, that Kanu’s absence since when he was granted bail last year had actually stalled trial of the case and consequently ordered that the trial of kanu be separated from the rest.

Justice Nyako asked Kanu’s Counsel when he is presenting his client in court, Ifeanyi Ejiofor replied that the defence is hopeful that the prosecution will produce Kanu on the 28 March.

The judge, however, reminded Ejiofor that the onus to produce Kanu lies in the defence and the sureties hands because Kanu was granted bail and handed over to them.

“In view of this fact, I subsequently separate the the trial of the other defendants,” the Judge ruled. ‘’The court, is adjourned till, March 28, for the 1st defendant to be produced in court or his sureties appear in court to explain the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu.

“Also March 20, 21, and 22 for the three other defendants to take their plea to the amended charge and commencement of trial.

Earlier, prosecution counsel reminded the court that the matter was adjourned to yesterday for Abaribe and two other sureties to show cause why they would not forfeit the bond for Kanu’s bail or for the court to take necessary action provided by the law.

He however informed the court of a letter from Abaribe’s counsel seeking adjournment of the matter on grounds of a matter at the Supreme court.

It would be recalled that the court had on April 25, 2017, granted Kanu bail in the sum of N100m.

The bail was to enable him attend to his ailing health condition.

The judge in addition ordered that the defendant produces three sureties with N100m each.

Kanu has been declared missing since September 22, 2017, by his lawyers and family after soldiers allegedly invaded his home in Abia State during a military operation known as Phyton dance, staged by the Nigerian Army in the South-East zone of the country.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

CRIME News

Family protests alleged rustication, arrest of son at Delta varsity

From Osakhare Erese Asaba

F

amily members of one Osula Enahoro, a 500 level student of the Department of Civil Engineering, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, have described his rustication, arrest and detention allegedly by the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Okpanam, as a case of oppression.

Speaking to our reporter, a family member, Joy Osula, wondered why Daniel’s outspokenness got him into the mess, saying that he is innocent of any crime leveled against him.

She said, inter-alia: “Our leaders must learn to do things right. My brother likes things to be done rightly. He cried out in his own way and now he has been unjustly punished”.

On his part, Daniel’s elder

brother, Kress, disclosed that attempts were being made to secure his release, adding that they were told that he would be released when they (family members) provide a surety, even though they had yet to be briefed on his offence.

It was learnt that, Daniels ordeal began in his final year when the Head of Department, names withheld, allegedly extorted money from students for the purpose of facilitating the execution of their project work.

Daniel is said to have reluctantly paid the money.

Daniel was said to have reported the issue to the university authorities but nothing was done.

According to him, the

university management set up a panel that met with him severally to address the issue, but nothing positive came out of the panel’s submission.

The management, however, directed Daniel to spend an extra year in school, even though he (Daniel) argued that he did not fail the course.

It was gathered that the HOD alleged that Daniel threatened him several times, which led to several invitations to him from the DSS for questioning. Daniel, it was also learnt, was rusticated in his 500 level for allegedly breaching the matriculation oath.

His offence, our reporter gathered, was sharing his ordeal on his Facebook timeline. His

rustication occurred after he paid his fees for the extension to re-seat for the said course. A chat with an official of the Student Union Government, SUG, of the institution who did not want his name mentioned, claimed that Daniel was misled.

According to him, he was supposed to write to the university management rather than going public with the issue.

“The HOD and Daniel were invited to a panel and both questioned”. Asked whether Daniel deserved the punishment meted on him, the SUG official said: “the school has regulations.

Ignorance is not an excuse. He should not have defamed the university”.

He, however, said that the

present SUG leaders would not sit down and allow any student of the university have his or her rights trampled on under any guise, while denying a total grasp of the issues playing out regarding the arrest and subsequently detention.

The Dean of Student Affairs, of the University, Professor Augustus Atubi, confirmed the incident, adding that Daniel’s action by going on Facebook to narrate his ordeal was a breach of the students Matriculation Oath.

He blamed him for going on Facebook to narrate his ordeal, adding that Daniel could have reported the issue to the university’s Students’ Affairs Division rather than go on social media to defame the university.

4 suspected kidnappers arrested in Zamfara

T

he Police Command in Zamfara has arrested four suspected kidnappers in Dankadon-Daji Village in TalataMafara Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Kenneth Embrimson, disclosed this at a news conference in Gusau.

Mr. Embrinson said the suspects were arrested on February 18 after intelligence report disclosed that the kidnappers had sent letters to individuals threatening to kidnap the villagers if they failed to make money available for them.

“The police arrested the suspects while trying to collect a sum of N39,500 provided by the villagers.

“The suspects are undergoing interrogation at the police command in the state after which they would be prosecuted,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the InspectorGeneral’s Joint Investigation Committee is in the state to investigate the recent killings in Birane Village in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

He said the committee was mandated to investigate, arrest and bring the perpetrators of the recent attack in Birane village to the justice.

The commissioner appealed to members of the public to utilise police information network kit and provide police with information on security to assist security agencies in tackling insecurity in the state.

He said the command had arrested three principal suspects in connection with last Thursday’s gunmen attack in Birane village which resulted in the death of 30 people, while many were injured.(NAN)

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (middle), receive on a courtesy visit delegates from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by the President of the Association, Mr Babatunde P. Ruwase, yesterday at the State House Abuja

How herders, farmers clashes can be resolved -Dons

S

ome lecturers of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, and Bayero University Kano, BUK, have proposed the establishment of integrated crops-livestock settlements to address the protracted farmers-herdsmen clashes.

The dons made the proposal at a validation workshop on controlled grazing, which was organised by Synergos Nigeria in Abuja.

Olufemi Onifade of the Department of Pasture and Range Management, FUNAAB, said that apart from reviving abandoned grazing reserves and establishment of ranches, the proposed integrated settlements could be the most sustainable solution to the farmers-herdsmen crisis.

Mr. Onifade said that based on a study on “Support and Inform Development: Review and Implementation of Controlled Grazing Policy”, which was conducted in Benue,

Kaduna and Kogi states, farmers and pastoralists had agreed to embrace the proposed scheme.

He said that the initiative would increase the income of farmers and herders, while reducing conflict and strengthening mutual interaction among them.

He identified poor governance and community participation, weak policies and legislations as well as ineffective intercommunity relations and dispute resolutions as the major causes of violent conflicts between the two groups.

Mr. Onifade said that the conflicts had necessitated stable engagements with political, traditional and religious leaders in the affected states.

As part of recommendations of the study, the professor advised the federal government to initiate a National Development Plan and Strategy which would enable farmers and pastoralists to easily have access to land in peaceful and acceptable manner.

“The recommendations include the provision of a framework to ensure quality education for rural populations of pastoralists and farmers as a strategy to build human resources for sustainable development.

“Others are the management of extreme environmental changes such as drought, land degradation, overgrazing and climate change and its associated effects “Then, there is the need to take cognizance of regional policies and framework for cooperation such as African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Charter and conventions,’’ he said.

Mr. Onifade, who also spoke on the proposed cattle colonies, advised the federal government to allow individual states to determine the best approach to addressing the issue.

Abba Aminu of the Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension, BUK,

said that the recommendations, when adopted, would be beneficial to both herdsmen and farmers.

According to him, cattle of livestock farmers can graze on uncultivated marginal fields during wet season, while the cattle can graze freely on harvested fields.

He noted that communities in Kogi and Kaduna states, where the study was conducted, largely accepted the initiative except for Benue.

Mr. Ajadi, who said that the livestock sub-sector had a vast economic potential, called for collective efforts to step up the campaign against farmersherdsmen clashes.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Synergos — a nonprofit international organisation which aims at facilitating systemic changes in the society — is currently executing some development programmes in Kogi, Benue and Kaduna states.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 8

News

Edo inland dry ports: FG begins consultation with communities

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro Benin

T

he federal government has held consultation meeting with elders of host communities at the proposed inland dry ports/ vehicle transit parks in Edo state.

The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello who led the federal government delegation to the state, also inspected the 50 hectares of land donated by the Oba of Aviele Clan on Tuesday afternoon.

According to him, “the issue is about employment for our people.

And we are working with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the National Union of Road Transport workers (NUTRW) and other relevant bodies”.

Members of Edo state Implementation Committee on Inland Dry Ports/Vehicles Transit Parks, led by the Chairman, Engr.

Charles Akhigbe had earlier paid a working visit to the palace of Oba Aviele where he spoke on mutual benefits of the project.

The Committee was set up by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki last year.

Akhigbe said the proposed inland dry Ports/vehicle transit Parks in Edo state could generate between 3000 to 5000 direct jobs and bring about organised Commerce upon completion.

He explained that the Federal government has agreed to provide investors who will build, operate and transfer after necessary studies including an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have been carried out on the land.

He assured that leaders of the host Communities would be carried along in all its undertaken, adding that the project will not be abandoned.

Prince Lateef Momoh who spoke on behalf of the Oba of Aviele, Alhaji San Momodu, said elders of Aviele has reserved an additional 50 hectares of land for possible expansion.

Momoh pledged the Communities support for the initiative, but advised the Federal and Edo state governments not to allow the project go the same way of Agbede mini stadium which had become a shadow of itself.

Addressing elders of Utekon Community in Ovia North East Local Government, the state Chairman implementation Committee on Inland dry Ports/vehicles transit Parks, Engr. Charles Akhigbe, said the state was yet to derive its benefits from over 6 trillion tonnes of export goods pass through the various highways daily.

“Apart from the economic benefits, the Parks would rid the various highway routes of menace of haulage which has impacted on our roads negatively”, he vowed.

Responding on behalf of the host Communities, Pa Iserienrien Ogiemwonyi, the village head of Utekon, said the Community would carry out necessary consultations with other elders in the Community regarding the 25 hectares of land allocated for the project and pledged his support.

FG urges media to contextualize reports

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has challenged the media to contextualize their reporting so that those who destroyed Nigeria will not be made to look like the country’s new saviours.

The Minister said this when the Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications, Mr. Andrew Hanlon, led a team of top officials of the company on a courtesy visit to the Minister in his office in Abuja on Tuesday. ‘’We are on a rescue mission.

However, the way a section of the media is reporting the challenges facing the country today does

not reflect that understanding.

They are making a corrective administration to look like the culprit, to give the impression that the rain started beating us in Nigeria only from 29 May 2015, to play down the challenges that this Administration has faced and which it is successfully tackling. ‘’For example, we did not get to where we are today in just three years. It has taken successive decades of bad governance, unbridled corruption, lack of probity, a culture of impunity and a near state of anarchy. These are the ills this Administration inherited and which it has set out to tackle.

And this is what the media must reflect in their reporting,’’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said but

for the prudence, probity and the anti-corruption stance of this administration, the situation could have been worse, adding: ‘’Instead of recession, we could have had a total collapse of the economy. The power grid could have collapsed altogether. Corruption could have overwhelmed the society. Boko Haram could have turned Abuja to Bama or Konduga. Food imports could have tripled what it was preMay 29th 2015 and the Naira might have been worse hit.’’

He, therefore, challenged the media to do more to educate Nigerians ‘’that it is hard to build but easy to destroy, that the same people who presided over yesterday’s looting of our treasury are today posing as would-be

saviours of Nigerians, that this administration is rebuilding almost from the scratch with 60% less revenue, that the corrupt ones are spending millions of Naira to paint the government of the bad, and that Nigeria is not returning to Egypt’’.

He said a free press is indispensable to democracy, and assured that this administration will not do anything to stifle the press.

Earlier, Mr. Hanlon had assured the Minister of TVC Communication’s commitment to the country’s audio-visual landscape, while announcing that a new radio station will open in Abuja in April as part of the company’s aggressive investment programme.

L-R: Director, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Robert Owaiye, Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion SMEDAN, Mr. Wale Fasanya, the facilitator “Made in Aba Trade Fair”, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Director, Policy Advocacy and Coordination SMEDAN, Mr. Monday Ewans, during the media briefing on the upcoming 5th made in Aba Trade Fair and Exhibition, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Liaise with states on creation of ranches, Reps urge FG

By Musa Adamu

T

he House of Representatives yesterday urged the federal government to liaise with willing states in the country on the modality for the establishment of ranches.

The resolution of the House also urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to liaise with state ministries of agriculture to educate and encourage the herdsmen on the benefits of ranching.

The House further mandated it’s Committee on Agriculture, Production and Services to ensure implementation of its resolution and report back within eight weeks for further legislative action.

Moving the motion on the need to educate and encourage herdsmen on the benefits of ranching instead of the proposed cattle colonies in every state of the federation, Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, called on the House to note the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers which had presented security challenges.

He said most of the clashes stemmed from the practice of herdsmen roaming in the wild across the length and breadth of the country in search of grazing pastures and as a result, trespassed and damaged crops.

He further said the grazing practice of the herdsmen was not only exposing them to danger as

they fell prey to cattle rustling and kidnappings, but that it also results in conflicts with farmers.

He said: “Also notes the federal government’s proposal to establish cattle colonies in every state in Nigeria to cater for the herdsmen and their cattle as a lasting solution to the continuous clashes which, in most cases, result in senseless and avoidable loss of lives and properties.

“Concerned that the decision to establish cattle colonies in each State could be in violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Land Use Act as those colonies will remain the exclusive reserve of the individual State governments and

as such, would not guarantee total freedom to the herdsmen.

“Observes that cattle rearing is not an exclusive reserve of the Fulanis as other tribes also engage in the business.

Determined to provide a lasting solution to the incessant conflicts between herdsmen and farm owners, he advised that modern breeding practices should be encouraged.

He said this was because ranching would offer longer lasting solution to the recurring conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, if the herdsmen would be fully sensitized and educated about the benefits of the programme, as it would enable them assume full ownership of those ranches.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

G

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday said the Ford Foundation had provided $600,000 for the architectural design of the proposed Lagos Museum to be sited at the old Presidential Lodge, Marina, Lagos.

Mr. Ambode made this known when he received the Executive Vice-President of Ford Foundation, Hillary Peninington, and other top executives of the foundation in Alausa, Ikeja.

He said that the foundation had also indicated interest to embark on a global road show to generate additional funding for the museum.

According to him, the museum will be completed within the next three years.

The governor said that plan was also underway by his administration to construct a contemporary arts and sciences in Alausa area of the state.

Mr. Ambode said this was in line with the vision to promote the economy of the state through tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment and culture.

Earlier, Ms. Pennington said it was an honour for the Foundation to partner the state government on the construction of such an iconic building.

She said it was in fulfillment of the pledge made by the foundation’s president when he visited the governor a year ago.

“We are honoured to partner

Libya coastguard rescues 441 Nigerians, Chadians, other migrants from drifting boats

L

ibya’s coastguard rescued 441 migrants in two separate operations as their boats drifted off the western coast, the navy and a doctor said on Tuesday.

Thirty-five women and 16 children were among 324 illegal migrants rescued in one of the operations on Monday with help from a fishing boat, a navy statement said.

The migrants, from countries including Chad, Nigeria, Mali and Libya, were drifting in two inflatable boats about seven nautical miles from Zuwara near the Tunisian border after the engines failed, it said.

The coastguard also rescued 117 migrants, including five women and two babies, off the coast of Zawiya, west of the capital Tripoli, on Monday, doctor Abdel Aziz al-Misrati of the charity International Medical Corps told AFP. Rocked by lawlessness since the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become a key transit country for illegal migration across the Mediterranean Sea. The migrants often try to make the treacherous crossing on unseaworthy boats, hoping to reach Italy and make their way further inland in Europe and start a new life.AFP

Page 9

N EWS Ford Foundation donates $600,000 to Lagos govt for Museum project with you and to support your vision for the state to build an iconic cultural space to make available to all diverse cultures and protect the heritage of this great city, and to create space that will be opened to people from all over the world to see and learn about the heritage of

this city.

“This is a great city; it is one of the world’s great cities and it deserves the kind of iconic space that you are creating, and we are very honoured to be part of this,” Pennington said.

The governor had earlier

received members of the Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, on a courtesy visit.

Mr. Ambode said that Majidun and houses around Ibese in the Ikorodu axis of the state would be developed into world class tourism outlets.

He promised that more projects

would be awarded in the axis.

The President of the club, Kayode Anibaba, lauded the governor for his various development projects across the state He pledged the club’s support for Mr. Ambode to have a second term in office.(NAN)

FRSC reduces accident rate across Nigeria by 62% –Official

T

he Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has reduced the rate of road accidents in Nigeria by 62 per cent since its establishment on February 18, 1988, according to its Kaduna sector commander, Umar Ibrahim.

“The corps has recorded a milestone; it has reduced road accidents from 25,792 in 1988 to barely 9,694 in 2016, representing 62 per cent decrease in road accidents,” he said on Monday in Kaduna.

He said that before the

establishment of the FRSC, Nigeria had one of the most accident-prone roads in the world and was second only to Ethiopia.

Mr. Ibrahim attributed the success to intensive public enlightenment and highway operations designed to curb road accidents.

Mr. Umar, who spoke at a dinner to wind up week-long activities to mark FRSC’s 30 years, urged the personnel to work hard toward further reducing accidents on the

Insecurity: NAF assures of prompt deployment of personnel to Nasarawa, Benue From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

T

he Nigeria Air Force has assured the prompt deployment of its officers to combat criminality in Nasarawa and Benue border towns.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Baba Sadiq Abubakar who gave the assurance when he paid a visit to Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura at the Government Houses Lafia yesterday, called for synergy with the state government in order to enable NAF actualize its dream towards riding out criminal elements in the state.

Accounting to Sadiq, “ The Air Force Authority closely follows the activities of the Nasarawa state government towards improving the living standard of the people. We are here to partner with the state government in the area of security. Last year we embarked on security surveillance and discovered that it is indeed pertinent to establish a unit in the state” The Chief of Air Staff said that with the establishment of NAF unit in the state and the immediate deployment of officers would add value to the security operation in the state; added that it would also create and enabling environment for people to carry out their legitimate Businesses without fear.

He further opined that apart from the NAF operational unit, the NAF Authority will also embark on humanitarian services especially on establishment of medical outreach to rural communities in the state. “ I call on the state government to give us the necessary support for the NAF to achieve all the designed plan for the state which it has been one of the cardinal responsibilities of us to render good services to communities across the country,” Sadiq maintained.

Resounding Governor Umaru Tanko applanded the Air force Authority for initiating move to deploy its officers to the state; added that the step taken is at the right direction and timely viewed from the recent Nasarawa/Benue attacks.

nation’s roads, and advised Nigerians to obey traffic regulations.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that six officers of the sector, who had distinguished themselves in the performance of their duties, were given special rewards during the dinner.

Those honoured included Deputy Road Commander Waheed Salihu, who emerged the best patrol man of the sector.

Also honoured were Road Commander Aliyu Audu and Road Commander Sain Gwom

Ambisa, who emerged second and third best respectively.

Others included Route Marshal Assistant Isah Kabir, Assistant Chief Inspector Halilu Abubakar and Assistant Chief Inspector Lawal Ahmed.

The Kaduna Zonal Commander of the corps, Assistant Corps Marshal Bulus Darwang, who also spoke at the dinner, commended the officers and marshals for a job welldone, and urged them to sustain the tempo.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA www.cbn.gov.ng

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO OFFERS NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS TENDER NOTICE Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N7,891,564,000 N30,000,000,000 and N222,083,583,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, March 01, 2018.

All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N50, 001, 000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non – Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid.

Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, March 01, 2018, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, March 01, 2018.

The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 10

News

Masari reads riot act to violent protesters From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua Katsina

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overnor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has warned people of the state to desist from exhibiting violent conduct while expressing their grievances.

Masari gave the warning

yesterday in Katsina during the endorsement of President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Aminu Masari for second term in 2019 organized

by Gwagware Foundation.

He said, ‘’we are human beings who can be right and can make mistakes; I wants to advise people to desist from violent

protest. If we do something, people have the right to react but that should be done in accordance with the provisions of the law. ‘’Never allow security agents to arrest you for burning tyres on the road or in possession of weapons in the name of protest against our decisions,’’ he added.

The governor said that people should come and demand for explanations on whatever the government did, adding that whatever they do they may have reasons for doing such things.

Masari further said that the government would construct a Public Square to allow people

to come and express their views.

Our correspondent observed that the governor gave the warning in response to a demonstration on Monday by a group of persons in Batsari local government protesting the perceived imposition of a local government caretaker chairman on them.

Marine accidents panel summits findings to minister

By Albert Akota

T

he board of inquiry saddled with the responsibility of marine accident involving Greek flagged bulk carrier ‘MV Niki C’ and a motor tanker ‘MT Charon on 21st December 2013 in Lagos and accident involving ‘MT Elixir and MT Tank on October 2015 along the terminal (FPSO) Warri, Delta state summited it reports yesterday to the Minister of Transportation , Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Presenting the reports to the minister, the Secretary of the Committee Emmanuel Ibrahim Swanta said that the committee was asked to investigate and establish the circumstances that led to the accidents and investigate the owner and chatterers of the vessels as well as those who may have connection with the vessels.

Swanta who represented the committee president, Adebisi Femi Segun at the event, said that the committee was also asked to identify and cross examine the crew members on board at the time of the incidents and investigate the actual crew members on board the days the incidents occurred with a view to determining the veracity of the report on the dead persons.

While receiving the reports, the minister who was represented by the Director of Maritime Safety and Security thanked the committee for its commitment and thorough job in spite of the challenges therein He appreciated them for their efforts put together with sincerity and promised that the ministry will go through the reports for necessary action.

L-R: Representative of Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Woman Ministry (TPWM), Mrs Glory Ayanam; Representative, of inspector General of Police, Mr Funsho Ogundeyi; Senior Lecturer, University Benin, Prof. Kukun Agbontaen and former Zonal Commander Lagos National Agency for the Prohibition of Traficking in Person, Mr Joseph Famakin, during the Anti-Human Trafficking National Conference , yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Expert urges FG on flexible business environment to attract investors

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A

national policy analyst and economic management specialist, Dr. Chris Osi Itsede, has said that the federal government must develop the country’s business to attract investors.

Dr. Itsede stated this yesterday while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He cautioned that Nigeria’s rigid business environment has continued to discourage foreign and local investors from bringing money into the country and requires to be properly restructured to attract sufficient development that would move the country forward.

Dr. Itsede, who was a former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN], said by comparison,

Egypt, South Africa and many smaller developing countries have better ease of doing business quotient and enhanced regulatory environment than the country with the result that serious foreign investors divert investment capital to such places instead of coming to Nigeria.

“I think the business climate in Nigeria has been nose-diving for a very long time as a result of inability of the leadership, past and present, to squarely face the realities of the nation. Although, the present administration tried to solve the problems in some areas but we still have enormous imbalances and impediments in conducting business activities in the country and nothing has happened yet to give us hope of a healthier business environment because the main

impediments are still there.

“We still have a long way to go. For example, we have serious issues at our arrival points such as the immigration, the customs and the airports which are the first line of contact for the international community. We must improve the areas of international tourism if we want to be taken serious as a nation. Any serious administration should make it a major programme that it would embark upon in its drive for foreign investment because these are some of the key elements involved in the ease of doing business that members of the international community would look at before deciding whether or not to invest in any country.

I am not only talking about key infrastructure but also the other elements of development that drive business.”

While accessing the performance of the regulatory bodies set up by government for the various sectors of the economy, the analyst said “Nigeria has the most confusing crude regulatory environment in the region. The people who are at the helm of affairs in many of these agencies need complete mental and behavioural re-orientation to enable them perform their assigned functions better. Many of our regulatory agencies are controlled by the same operators who would not want the economy to improve or grow so that they can continue importing finished goods from abroad. It is even sad that chief executives of regulatory agencies are seen consorting or hobnobbing in private jets with directors of the agencies they are supposed to regulate or supervise”.

Kebbi, Niger govts move to end boat mishap From Ahmed Idris Kebbi

K

Birnin

ebbi and Niger State Governments have agreed to purchase modern boats to be used on their water ways and finance the sanitisation of riverine areas of debris to stop incessant boats mishap.

This was disclosed by the Kebbi State Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu yesterday during his condolence visit to Emir Yauri,Dr. Zayyanu Muhammad Abdullahi over the boat mishap that claimed

the father of House of Assembly member, Ahmad Aliyu Yauri.

Bagudu who lamented over frequent boats mishap in the two states,Niger and Kebbi, disclosed that he and Governor of Niger state,Alhaji Sanni Bello have visited water ways authority on how government would provide financial support to clear obstacles causing mishaps.

According to him, “myself and Governor of Niger State have visited officials of Inland water ways to seek approval to embark on the project, which was still being

awaited “.

While consoling Emir Yauri and his Emirate, Bagudu said “ a committee would be set -up comprising officials of State Government, Local Governments, and Yauri Emirate to purchase the Boats and Canoes to conform with the global best practice in water transportation to avoid further calamities”.

Governor Bagudu informed the Emir that security agencies have been directed to avert any violator who embarks on night travel through the water ways, stressed

that all stakeholders must sensitise their people on the dangers of night journey.

He added that, his administration would make more than N150 million available to the contractor handling the Yauri Power Sub-Station and collaborate with Nigeria Army Corps of Engineers to hasten the rehabilitation of the bad portion of Koko-Yauri roads which had been abandoned by the Federal Government contractors.

While responding, Emir of Yauri,Dr. Zayyanu Muhammadu Abdullahi expressed displeasure

at frustration over the manner at which federal government officials were handling roads and other projects in in Yauri Emirate despite its huge contribution to the economic development of the country.

The royal father who mentioned Koko-Yauri road to Kotagora road,in Niger state including abandoned Yauri electricity substation,appealed to the Federal Government to direct officials of Inland water ways to clear water hyacinth on the water ways and enforce ban on night journey.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

Unnecessary fiddling with order of elections

T

he announcement of a timetable the conduct of the presidential and elections etc should not be ignored in for political activities last year national assembly polls first before our technological age given our recent by the Independent National the governorship and state assembly experiences.

Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of elections but the two chambers of the However, in passing a Bill as important the 2019 General Elections has, without federal House amended the Act to to the polls and indeed other Bills into doubt, provoked strategies by politicians allow the national assembly election law, due process must be followed as either separately or in groups to fight for first before the governorship and state enshrined in the rules governing NASS survival. legislative polls, the presidential election proceedings. Usually, every item in This is coming on the heels of political coming last. a Bill before passage goes through challenges experienced by the ruling Given the fact that exigencies of time can rigorous scrutiny by committees before All Progressives Congress(APC) and prod election managers into seeking presentation to the general assembly the opposition Peoples Democratic amendments in order to enhance the for passage.

Party(PDP) among others. While the We therefore marvel at the speed with APC suffered from internal disunity which the new Electoral Act 2017 anchored on perceived alienation was adopted and passed into law few of some of its members from the days after receiving the House of Reps corridors of power, the PDP for months version straight from its committee struggled for its soul as leaders battled on INEC. Evidence of the speed came for control of the party. Besides these, to light when 10 senators initially the political atmosphere is replete with walked out of the chambers in protest accusations ranging from inability to particularly against the shuffling of curb economic hardship to herdsmen the sequence when Senate President attack and the like as well as counter Abubakar Bukola Saraki over-ruled jabs about past misgovernance and Senator Abdullahi Adamu on debates corruption. over Section 25(1) which deals with it.

With former President Olusegun Usually, popular laws with national Obasanjo adding to the fray with appeal often get bi-partisan support the unveiling of a third force ala the wherein lawmakers happily vote with Coalition for Nigeria Movement air of satisfaction for a job well done.

(CNM), the urgency for realigments But in this case, the political suspicion and strategies has doubled. And so, associated with the swap of poll order the new phase of the contest of wits makes it necessary to retain the status which assumably popped up at the quo. In the first place, INEC worked federal legislature where both parties with NASS to entrench Section 25 speed, transparency and integrity of and their allies hold substantial which prescribes presidential poll polls ,NASS members often add what membership, did not come as a first before the 2011 general elections they deem wise. For example, salient surprise to many Nigerians. for administrative convenience and issues like biometric accreditation of This was manifest on Tuesday with has not complained since then. The voters with Smart Card Readers, instant the passage of a new law by the change only vindicates the assumption transmission of accreditation data and National Assembly rearranging the that the opposition is afraid of the results from Polling Units to various order of elections come 2019 citing landslide victory that is suggestive with collation centers, conduct of elections constitutional powers. The Electoral the commencement of the presidential by electronic voting, electronic registers, Act 2010 chronologically stipulates election. death of candidates before or during

“

We therefore marvel at the speed with which the new Electoral Act 2017 was adopted and passed into law few days after receiving the House of Reps version straight from its committee on INEC

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

OUR PEOPLE Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Chief Operating Officer (Ag) Editor, Daily

Hameed M. Bello Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

OUR VISION

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

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

Digital divide: How far have Nigerians gone?

By Ismail Abdulaziz

T

he term media is a plural of a Latin word medium that stand for “an intervening agency, means or instrument”.

Media is defined as a communication channel through which news, entertainment, education, data or promotional messages are disseminated.

The means of communications include the newspapers, magazines, television, radio, billboard, direct mail, telephone, facsimile (fax) and internet.

Wikipedia describes new media as forms of media that are native to computers, computations and relying on computers for distribution.

It also gives examples to include websites, mobile apps, virtual world, interactive computer installations and multimedia.

The UN estimates put Nigeria’s population at 193, 450,020 as at January 7, 2018. In Africa, Nigeria is hugely populated country; the most populous black Nation in the World.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world.

However, the global trend of internet use makes this population a veritable tool to explore and exploit for the overall economic health of any nation.

In Nigeria, with the coming of satellite and terrestrial communication systems, a new horizon opened for specific application of new media as it relates to the deployment of public and private operators.

As at November 2017, Nigeria has a total of 390,794 subscribers connected to the internet services through the mobile GSM, mobile CDMA, fixed wire/wireless and VoIP. Clearly, the government had make efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country by giving licences to mobile technology service providers.

Nigeria reached an agreement with the Chinese Great Wall Industry Corp for the launch a satellite to boost the peaceful use of the outer space.

It was launched on 13 May 2007, aboard a Chinese Long March 3Bcarrier rocket, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China.

The spacecraft was operated by NigComSat and the Nigerian Space Agency, NASRDA. It provides optimal and cost effective voice, data, video, Internet and application services solutions.

The launch was seen as a symbol of China’s broad network of economic relations with Africa.

As its economy forges ahead, with growth of nearly 10 per cent a year, China has been particularly eager to establish commercial relations with oil-

producing nations such as Nigeria.

“The satellite represents China’s wish to cooperate with developing countries in the peaceful use of outer space and to promote a closer relationship between China and African countries,” Wang Haibo, president of the Great Wall Industry Corp, said during the launch.

The NigComSat hosted a number of customers from the broadcasting industry, internet service providers, telecommunication operators and tele-presence solutions and provided customer support to its end users.

The satellite would meet the needs of telecommunications, broadcasting, and broadband, security and other communications solutions within the African market, Europe and Asia markets.

In 2017, Nigeria entered another agreement for two more satellite launch to the tune of $550 million by China.

The Nigerian Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu said that the Chinese had appreciated the potential market that existed in the satellite business in Nigeria and the African continent.

“This is a very big business opportunity and I am sure that the Chinese appreciate the potential market which is so vast. ``The president was excited and was not surprised because the Chinese are not just going to market our satellite to the entire African continent but also perhaps by legislation insists that all Nigerian entities must patronise the Nigerian satellite company rather than going to Israel, UK, US for satellite services. ``Currently most Nigerian companies and even Nigerian government establishments patronise foreign satellite companies. ``So, the first thing is that we want to make profit, we want to capture the local market and we also want to capture the African market”，he said.

Africa plays an important role in the global political landscape. Its population, size and market prospect are also impressive.

All of these factors have attracted media companies in Europe, the United States and other countries.

Since entering the African market in 2007, the Star Times of China has enjoyed great influence in the field of pay-TV operation in Africa.

China Central Television opened its Africa sub-platform in Africa in 2012, and its programme production and broadcasting capabilities in Africa have greatly improved.

In recent times, the Chinese government is becoming very visible in the training of Nigeria

journalists in new media applications.

It has been in Nigeria for quite a while with the in house trainings given to some staff of the News Agency of Nigeria as well as the media partnership between the agency and Xinhua dating back to the 1990’s.

In 2017, training was organised for Omni media reporters from developing countries; the event brought 65 participants from 23 countries to share ideas and see the relevant technology China uses in reaching out to its audience across the world.

In the field of digital terrestrial television, the major operators in the Nigerian market are China’s Star Times Group and the South African Multi-choice group.

In July 2010, China’s Star Times started its digital terrestrial television business in Nigeria and has three million subscribers by April 2016, making it a strong rival to the Multi-choice.

The Star Times’ collaborates with Nigeria national television station as NTA-STAR TV Network Ltd to broadcast to the people.

The South African multi-choice group launched the digital terrestrial television service in 2011 and it offered the GOtv package through the terrestrial digital television platform in June 2012.

As of April 2016, the company has 2.5 million total digital terrestrial TV subscribers.

With the priority placed on education by Nigeria, the satellite by China would achieve the universal goal of giving digital access to a large section of the population in both Nigeria and the sub-Saharan Africa.

The added advantage is that with the use of digital communications by more educated people, most of the challenges in it use can be reduced.

According to China’s Internet Development’s statistics released by CNNIC (China’s Internet Information Centre), as of December 2016, the number of Internet users in China reaches 731 million, and the Internet penetration rate is 53.2 per cent The number of mobile Internet users reached 695 million, and the market penetration rate had increased to 95.1 per cent.

In addition, China’s Internet advertising market reached 2,7694 billion RMB in 2016, with an increase of nearly 70 billion RMB from 2015 and a year-on-year growth rate of 32.1 per cent according to China iResearch Consulting.

It is particularly important to point out that, under the circumstance that traditional media advertising revenue continues to decline, internet advertising revenue exceeds the combined

revenue of TV, radio, newspapers and magazines media advertising.

A new transmission technology such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) transform the form of traditional news products, and improve the user experience, promote the arrival of the era of “immersion media”.

The new media industry in China presents the following features: Firstly, the User Demand based on Mobile Internet and Big Data will bring greater commercial value; secondly, the intelligent Internet is rapidly iterating through the portal.

Thirdly, user time has become the focus of competition among Internet giants and finally, the commercial value of audio and video on the Internet far exceeds that of graphic.

The youth population in Nigeria constitute a large chunk and uses internet in their daily lives; most use it for social media like Facebook, twitter, WeChat, WhatsApp and host of others, it is actually giving them a voice.

Efficiency, transparency, employment are major catch phrases across the world and Nigerians have latched on to that to demand them in all service sector including the government.

The private and public institutions can collaborate to exploit the huge potential inherent in the use of the internet technology to make the youths more productive to themselves and the society.

The Chinese example is a worthy one to emulate because of our peculiar nature of population and size.

The role of the media cannot be over emphasized in achieving this benefit for the Nations and the Chinese government has been putting efforts to offer viable trainings towards this end.

By the end of October 2017, a total of 3,462 radio and television officials at ministerial level, executives and managers, producers, journalists, editors and technical personnel from 146 countries and regions of five continents had taken part in various international research and training projects organised by the Chinese Research and Training Institute.

More trainings, seminars and exchange programmes can be done to explore the huge market of media application in improving the economic fortunes of Nigeria by working with China.

Ismail Abdulaziz is of the News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja and Shang Qiufen, Research and Training Institute, Beijing.

Gender equality: Is the giant of Africa on the global stage?

By Abang Dove

I

n the past few weeks, a lot of things trended in Nigeria including the unsuccessful passage of The Bill For An Act To Incorporate and Enforce Certain Provisions of The United Nations Convention On The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women – the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and Other Matters Connected Therewith for second reading.

This gender equality bill was sponsored

by Distinguished Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti-South Senatorial District with the aim of achieving equal treatment legislation, gender mainstreaming (integration of the gender perspective into all other policies), specific measures for the advancement of women, equal access to education, the strengthening of laws on violence against women, ending abduction of girls, sustenance and promotion of entrepreneurship opportunities among others.

Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic

participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored.

When this bill was turned down as a result of disparities exhibited with the votes, only a few legislatures stood their ground to make sure it was stated clearly to their colleagues and the general public that their position was not totally in line with the decision made by the Nigerian Senate.

The Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Princess Stella Oduah who happens to be the Vice-Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs also made her points clear on the gender equality bill. The Senator released a statement analysing the importance and value of women in the society, listing out points in support of the bill and also insisted that the bill had to be represented in the Senate.

As an observant Nigerian lady, I was really impressed by this profound support given to Senator Olujimi by her colleague and friend Senator Oduah. This togetherness and spirit of cooperation should be imbibed and encouraged by women from other factions of the society. And I believe Nigerian women will see the realisation

of this gender equality bill if they work together, support each other and chant ‘Equal Rights’ with the same voice for the future of Nigerian girls depend on it.

Meanwhile, the number three (3) citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senate President Bukola Saraki also went ahead to call a private meeting with the sponsor of the bill Senator Olujimi and the number one critic of the same bill Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South). The aim of the meeting was to come to a reasonable conclusion and find a mutual ground for both parties.

The Senate President came to the aide of women by making sure the decision was made and agreed upon by both parties for the gender equality bill to be represented in the floor of the Upper Chamber.

Equality between women and men is one of the European Union’s founding values. It goes back to 1957 when the principle of equal pay for equal work became part of the Treaty of Rome.

The European Union’s achievements in fostering equality between women and men have helped to change the lives of many European citizens for the better.

Nigeria, which is the giant of Africa, just

like most countries of the world needs to make gender equality a priority. Women need to be adequately represented in the Upper and Lower Chambers, and in every other arm of government and government institutions. Womens voices need to be heard.

Although inequality cannot be totally abolished, Nigeria can still make significant progress in bettering the lives of women in years to come if we can start now.

This progress will be seen in the increased number of women that will then be in the labor market and also increased chances in securing better education and training.

Gender equality can be measured by looking at the representation of men and of women in a range of roles. This will help the nation understand the number of women represented at only low income jobs, number of women that are illiterates and so much more.

A country where women and girls are discriminated against in health, education and the labor market with negative repercussions for their freedom is no giant to me.

Abang Dove writes from Abuja, she tweets @abangdove

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

Comment

Strong institutions: A panacea to sustained development

By Buwa Meldrick Memeh

P

recisely October 1st2015, at the annual event tagged “Platform” organised by Pastor Poju Oyemade’s Covenant Christian Centre, Bishop Kukah stated that if the worst President that ever ruled Nigeria had the opportunity to be the President of the United States of America, it would be difficult to steal from their treasury and in all sincerity, this is one assertion I completely agree with.

In the same vein, you will agree with me when I say that if President Barak Obama became the President of Nigeria or the President of his ancestral home, Kenya, there is every possibility that he would have ended up like the average corrupt and selfish African leader whose only focus was to amass wealth at the expense of the masses.The statement made by Bishop Kukah further stresses the argument put forward by President Barak Obama that Africans should concentrate on building stronger institutions rather than strong men. Even though I might slightly differ with President Obama, it is important to stress that the existence of strong institutions can only be made possible by the availability of strong men.

The reality of present day happenings indicate that those morals and values that clearly distinguished us from peoples of other countries have been exchanged for the ills that come along with globalization.

While growing up, I remember my mother constantly reminded me that in her days, people display their goods outside the compound and the buyer didn’t have to see the trader to purchase these items and it was certain that the trader will meet her money in tact whenever she came back. Nowadays this will practically be impossible astraders are at the mercy of hoodlums and armed

robbers.

The display of the latest cars and flamboyant lifestyle of Hollywood stars as seen on television sets have completely altered our values and orientation which has consequently led to the desperation and craving of a new lease of life from both the old and young. Africans have successfully adapted to the lifestyle of their Hollywood idols but unlike developed countries, African nations have weak institutions and structures to tackle the ills and fallout of such contagious lifestyle. Societal standards have been set so high and it no longer takes a religious person but one with high moral standards to avoid the influence of society. Today even the clergy men have been caught in the web of affluence as they have successfully reduced the worth of private jets to that of mere taxis.

Institutions set up by the government to fight against financial crimes have severally been caught in a mess of their own financial crimes and institutions set up to deliver judgements can no longer be relied upon since corruption has built a safe haven in the hearts of some judges. Today, everyone is out to make money at the expense of someone else and while some blame the situation on the untold hardship faced in the country, we must not fail to identify greed which has eaten the heart of the average Nigerian.

If we must fix the issues at hand, we must see Nigeria as an electronic DVD player programmed to play CD plates. This electronic gadget plays any CD plates but there is a loud scratch when it identifies a faulty or scratched CD plate and it refuses to recognize it or play it any further.

Unfortunately, Nigeria as an electronic DVD player has not been programmed to select its CD plates and this explains why every junk that passes through the device

is successfully played and consequently inflicts its own damage on the device and regrettably like a virus crashes a computer, every sector of the Nigerian economy is heading for a crash except for the intervention of a quick fix.

President Muhammadu Buhari must understand that the only remedy to this impending disaster is to ensure the institution of harsh laws and capital punishments to deter public officials and other Nigerians from engaging in practices that are capable of crashing Nigeria.

Countries like China and Indonesia have been successful in the implementation of these punishments. In 2014, the former deputy chief engineer of China’s disbanded railways, Zhang Shuguang was found guilty of taking bribes of more than 47m yuan over 11 years. The courts sentenced him to death. In Indonesia, the drug laws are so strict that parents who fail to notify the authorities of their children’s narcotics use could face criminal charges. Recently several Nigerians have been executed in Indonesia due to drug related offences and these countries understand the fact that if these laws are not instituted, the country would pay the ugly price.

President Muhammadu Buhari has the opportunity to put his name in gold by being the strong man to create an environment that abhors corrupt practises such that when he leaves office, we have a system that is incompatible with corruption. Today it is difficult for any corrupt man to survive as United States President because he would be impeached and thrown in jail but in Nigeria we are not sure of the National Assembly members who will impeach any corrupt President. The onus lies on President Buhari to make the business of governance less lucrative. Those who occupy public office must be those willing

to serve and not those interested in jumbo allowances. If the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members are reduced to the present wages received by school teachers, a lot of our legislators would tender their resignation and Nigerians willing to serve would be happy to replace them. Unfortunately the cost of governance has become a burden on Nigerians and a few are carting away with the wealth of the country.

While Nigerians embrace the present administration’s anti-corruption stance, President Buhari must understand that it will be regarded as no different from what we have seen under previous administrations if stolen funds are not recovered and no one is made to account for years of misrule. It will also be a waste of time if corrupt persons are not tried and sent to jail. Nigerians are used to hearing huge figures stolen but unfortunately our judiciary are yet to convict corrupt leaders.

The same judiciary cleared James Ibori an innocent man but it took the UK courts only a short while before Ibori pleaded guilty to corrupt charges and today we have an ex-governor serving 13 year jail sentence for financial fraud. Unfortunately the Nigerian prisons are built for thieves who steal Maggie cubes while the treasury looters enjoy ex-parte injunctions.

We must admit we have work on our hands which include ridding the judiciary, the police and other public institutions of corrupt elements. If we must get it right we must strengthen our institutions but until then Nigeria remains at the mercy of corrupt leaders.

Buwa Meldrick Memeh is Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator on national issues.

e-Dividend and the capital market

By Abimbola Johnson

N

igeria’s Capital Market operations are changing, and nothing symbolises this better than the electronic dividend payment (e-dividend) initiated since last year. By end of June this year, the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, has said that issuing of dividend warrants would stop.

Before registration for e-dividend started, over N90 billion was said to be unclaimed dividends. This fund was either just lying there idle, or some smart people were taking advantage of it and using it for personal or corporate gains. But since the commencement, over N30 billion unclaimed dividend has been credited to investors’ bank accounts.

An elated Munir Gwarzo, Director General of SEC, told a press conference recently: “In this country, we have never had this kind of initiative that has reduced unclaimed dividends like we have today.

Apart from the investor getting his dividends where ever he is, that investor will be able to get dividends that in the last five years he has not been able to get.”

E-dividend is an electronic means of posting shareholders dividend directly into his or her bank account. So it doesn’t matter where an investor is located, his dividend goes straight into his bank account. At this year’s first post Capital Market Committee (CMC) news conference in Lagos, Gwarzo disclosed that a total of 2.2 million investors have registered for the e-dividend payment platform as at the end of April. That represents about 48 per cent of investors in the market.

The electronic registration is expected

to help investors receive from the banks unclaimed dividends from their investments in stock and equities in the capital market valued at over N90 billion.

Companies listed on the stock exchange have been encouraged to help in sensitizing their shareholders on the need to embrace the new dividend platform within the deadline.

The introduction of the e-dividend is designed, according to SEC, to curb the growth of unclaimed dividend in the capital market and allow investors collect dividends electronically. It also allows all accrued dividends to be credited to investors’ Bank Accounts.

The e-dividend has the potential to further deepen the capital market and ensure security of returns on investments.

It has the added benefits of ensuring that you never lose your dividends and that they get paid to you on time. The e-dividend form could be obtained and properly filled at bank branches or in the office of a registrar and stock broking firms, or could be downloaded and filled by individuals But as desirable as it is, beneficiaries of the old order are determined to frustrate it, or at worst delay the stoppage of dividend warrants to investors. While there has been a rush by investors to migrate to the new dividend platform, some banks are working against it success. These are banks, according to some officials of SEC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, bent of frustrating the capital market regulator’s effort to ensure that the issue of unclaimed dividends was finally resolved and the monies paid to their rightful owners.

The unscrupulous activities of some

of these banks are the reason why SEC announced the extension of the free registration period to June. Registration was initially expected to close by end of March. Registration is free but some of the banks are said to be charging money for the registration so as to discourage customers seeking to migrate to the platform. But it is gratifying to learn that the CBN had intervened in the matter, and had promised to sanction any erring bank.

One other development that is set to change the capital market is the proposed launch of a N5 billion Nigerian Capital Market Development Fund (NCDMF) in the next few weeks. The fund is meant to promote infrastructural development of the capital market and help to curb some of the sharp practices perpetrated by market operators.

SEC has said it would provide the N5 billion seed fund to demonstrate its commitment to the special fund. The NCMDF was conceived as a trust fund to enhance the development of the market and support efforts to achieve market stability.

The NCMDF will also take custody of statute-barred and unclaimed dividends of 12 years and above so that the “free funds” could be put to the collective use of the market to enhance future returns to investors. The fund is expected to be by a board and an independent fund manager without interference from SEC. A proposal to this effect has been sent to all capital market stakeholders for consideration before a final decision is made.

Under the laws, unclaimed dividends will remain available for collection by beneficiaries up till 12 years when they

become statute-barred and are returned to the companies that paid them. But the new rule seeks to change the return of the unclaimed dividends to companies that issued the dividends.

SEC is now proposing a change to the rule. Companies and registrars in custody of dividends which remain unclaimed by shareholders 12 years after the date of declaration or subsequently attain the 12 years threshold shall upon the coming into effect of this rule transfer such monies into the Nigerian Capital Market Development Fund (NCMDF).

“All companies and registrars shall not later than 30 days after the end of every calendar year forward to the Commission a report of unclaimed dividends in their custody, which shall specify compliance with Sub Rule (1) of this Rule. Companies shall disclose details of compliance with this Rule in their annual reports,” SEC stated.

Expectedly major retail shareholders’ groups have risen against the plan and described it as a ploy to divert private funds into the control of the regulator. Some of them want the 12-year limit removed to enable shareholders and their beneficiaries collect their dividends at any time.

But it is obvious that those against the proposed rule are among beneficiaries of the old order who engage in sharp practices with unclaimed dividends. For this category of stakeholders, the proposed fund is bad business. Patriotic stakeholders see the proposed rule as healthy and necessary to protect and deepen the Nigerian Capital Market.

Johnson wrote from Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 14

News

Gov. Ortom, Suswam near truce, as Tor Tiv intervenes

From David Hassan Gombe

B

D

From Uche Nnorom Makurdi

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and his predecessor Gabriel Suswam may soon come to truce, following intervention of the paramount ruler of Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv V Professor James Ayatse.

It was gathered that the Tor Tiv who has been worried by the lingering conflict between the duo, decided to step in to resolve the impasse.

Hence, a meeting was convened at the Tor Tiv palace in

Gboko which was attended by both parties.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday at Government House, Makurdi on the development, Governor Ortom said, “the meeting was convened at the instance of the Tor Tiv and I was there, former Governor Gabriel Suswam was also there and principally, it was a peace meeting”.

Governor Ortom stated that the Tor Tiv urged both of them to sheath their swords and work together for the common good of the Benue People.

He added that the Tor Tiv

blamed some of the current challenges in the state to the inability of himself and his predecessor to synergize and work as a team.

Asked if the meeting had any political connotation and whether he was leaving the All Progressives Congress, APC for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor Ortom stated that the meeting had nothing to do with politics and that he had no plans to leave the APC. “It is not connected with the issue of political platform, we did not discuss any platform matter as there was no need for that”.

“I am the Governor in the rul-

ing party, why should I go and beg for a platform, why am I looking for a platform? I have told you that for now I have suspended all political activities pending when the crisis in Benue will be resolved and when my people go back to their ancestral homes and they are no longer in the IDP camps and when security for lives and property is restored, he said.

The Governor also, raised alarm on threats to his life, intimating that he has already reported this to the security agencies that are doing their best to apprehend those involved.

Secretary, Marine Board of Inquiry, Mr Emmanuel Swanta (R), Submitting Reports of the Marine Board of Inquiry on the Accidents Involving Mv Niki C and MT El Charon and MT Elixir and MT Tank to Representative of Minister of Transportation, Mr Danjuma Dauda , yesterday in Abuja , Photo: NAN

DPR threatens to sanction LPG operators without license epartment of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Gombe field office said arrangements have been concluded to sanction illegal operators of Liquor Petroleum Gas, LPG, without licenses.

The Operation Controller, Alhaji Abdullahi Abawa made this known to journalists yesterday in Gombe while conducting an inspection of some sheds of LPG to see things for himself.

He called on the general public operating illegal LPG businesses without licenses to avail themselves at the DPR office for proper documentation.

According to him, operators of LPG in the state are advised to acquire licenses to enable them have free access to pumps while filling Gas cylinders to the public.

He warned them not to fill gas cylinders without following proper channel saying it may cause harm than good to the people.

“DPR will not tolerate this illegal act allowing such things to happen because illegal LPG’s that sell to the people may Bomb and destroy the lives of Nigerians,” the controller said.

He urged LPG operators operating within Bauchi Park in Gombe to relocate their businesses in order to protect the lives and properties of the people.

BBC launches Igbo, Yoruba services

T

he British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, has launched Igbo and Yoruba services, Tuesday, two of the three new languages to be launched by the Corporation for Nigeria and the West and Central Africa region.

A statement issued by the BBC and signed by Marina Forsythe said the new services are part of the largest investment in the BBC World Service since the 1940s and are funded by the UK government.

“The Igbo service is mainly for audiences in eastern and Southeastern Nigeria as well as the large Igbo speaking diaspora.

“The Yoruba service targets South-west Nigeria, Benin and Togo as well as other parts of the diaspora,” the statement said.

It also said the services are fully digital and will include “exciting short format audio, video, graphics and illustrations”.

It also said twice daily, the

teams will produce an episode of BBC Minute – keeping people in touch with the world in 60 seconds.

“The editorial agenda will reflect not only balanced impartial news, but also a rich mix of trending topics, sports, entertainment, business, health, education and women.

“There will be original content through our network of reporters on variety of stories and issues that matter to local people and resonate

across the region,” it said.

This, the statement said, is in keeping with the BBC News editorial strategy of not only being news providers but also providing enriching analysis, explainers and features.

As Editorial Lead on the project, Peter Okwoche says “Both services will concentrate on original journalism from their target regions but will also feature stories from Africa and the main global

stories. BBC Igbo & Yoruba will provide a platform for debate on the main issues of interest to audiences and give voices to a wide spectrum of people.

There will also be a strong focus on women.”

Head of West Africa, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye says, “Delivering content and engaging with the Igbo and Yoruba audiences in their mother tongues is authentic, exciting and refreshing.

All unclaimed looted assets will be sold – Buhari

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said all unclaimed looted assets including landed properties recovered by the federal government would be sold and the proceeds deposited into government treasury.

The president made this known when he addressed members of Daura Emirate coalition who paid him a condolence visit at his country home, Daura, Katsina State.

President Buhari noted that many suspected looters of government resources had been denying

ownership of their ill-gotten properties and assets across the country.

He stated that he was not surprised by the increasing number of those denying ownership or disclaiming the properties traced to them by the various anti-corruption agencies.

“Some years back, one of my schoolmates in the primary school who worked at a cottage company before his demise predicted that we will come to a situation when looters will deny their loots in Nigeria.

“So as a civil servant, you have 10 houses in Abuja and even in Kaduna and abroad, the more you show them the properties the more they will swear that it does not belong to them.

“And we are still following the process, you know democracy you have to follow due process and respect the rule of law.

“If you are following you will hear that some of these looters were arrested, and for those who deny their loots, then instead of what happened before, this time

around we will sell those stolen properties and the proceeds will be deposited in government treasury,’’ “If the money is in the government treasury I will see who will come back after we left and reclaim them,’’ he said.

The president pledged that government would ensure availability of fertilizer and other farm inputs to farmers to sustain the successes recorded by the farmers in the previous farming seasons.

He said: “Please tell Nigerians

that we are trying our best, and I thank God, the rainy season is blossom, we will try to add more money to farmers, and ensure the availability of fertilizer and other farm inputs.

“We will also continue to reconstruct roads and railways and provide electricity and we promise we will continue to do so.’’

The leader of the coalition, Muhammed Sale, told the President that they were in his resident to condole with him over the death of his two relatives.(NAN)

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

By Musa Adamu and Umar Mohammad Puma

T

he Senior Special Assistant to the President on House of the Reprehensive matter, Suleiman Kawu-Sumaila, who is also a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged members of the party across the country to desist from utterances and behaviors that would compound and undermine the job of Ahmed Tinubu led reconciliation committee.

Briefing journalists yesterday at the National Assembly complex, Kawu-

2019: Presidency warns against undermining Tinubu peace C’ttee Sumaila said it was important for the members of the party to close ranks and support the reconciliation committee.

He said this was necessary as the party repositions ahead of 2019 general elections.

Kawu Sumaila also urged members of the party to stop compounding issues

and creating unnecessary atmosphere that may undermine the reconciliation process.

He advised members of the party to embrace the opportunity presented by the committee and join hands for proper reconciliation to take place.

Kawu Sumaila however, cautioned

the leadership of the party against imposition of candidates both in the delegates selection and the party primaries.

To avoid further rancour in the party, Kawu sumaila advised that the APC should ensure that the party’s congresses, national convention and

party primaries were transparent and participatory.

He stressed the need to eschew impunity and sycophancy, adding that the success of the party and the government depends on how the stakeholders work together for the common interest of Nigerians.

Election sequence: Senate moves to suspend Omo-Agege By Christiana Ekpa Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

and

enate yesterday directed its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central,) over a statement to the press indicating that the decision taken by the National Assembly to alter the order of election was targeted at President Mohammadu Buhari.

This was sequel to a Point of Order by Senator Dino Melaye who cited order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule, informing the Senate that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege made a statement to the press amongst other things, saying the decision taken by the Senate was targeted at President Buhari and that he would not be a part of it.

He however asked the Senate to investigate the matter, saying “I cannot be part of any group of persons. I swore on oath on the 9th of June 2015. If decisions in this Senate is now being teleguided and targeted at any particular person, then that is no longer democracy. That statement to me is weighty.

“I personally campaigned and followed the President to 35 states of the Federation. The only place I did not follow him to was Yobe where we did not even go throughout the campaign. When I was following Buhari to campaign to become the President of this country, Ovie OmoAgege was labouring in the Labour Party.

“Today, to take the decision of the Senate, the integrity of the Senate put together, that it was tailored towards targeting a particular person, it isunheard of, it is in bad taste. And I do not want to be part of that.

“I want to add that this statement was made by Omo-Agege among other statements, that the Committee on Ethics and Privileges need to investigate this matter and find out if truly our decision was made and targeted at Mr President among other issues raised by him.

“And that was not enough, another interview was granted and I will want to state categorically that I will not be part of any group or decisions that will be targeted at a particular character, talk less of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that the Senate suspended Ali Ndume, its former leader, who had asked for investigation of allegations of importing a bullet proof range rover with fake documents involving Senate President Bukola Saraki and that of perjury involving Dino Melaye after the resolution to uphold the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges chaired by

Samuel Anyanwu, that Ndume action was aimed at rubbishing the image of the senate.

In his ruling Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu referred the order cited by Senators Melaye to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back within two weeks.

Senator Omo-Agege, is to face a

probe from the Senate for allegedly criticizing the sequence of election passed by National Assembly and claiming they are to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that some of the lawmakers had protested against the adoption of the report by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Amendment to the

Electoral Act. The lawmakers against believe that the amendment of section 25 subsection one which has changed the sequence of the election for the conduct of the National Assembly to come first, then the governorship and state houses of assembly, before that of the President is targeted at President Buhari.

L-R: Chairman House of Representation Ad-Hoc Committee on Incessant Killing and other Security Challenges, Hon. Pally Iriase, Members of the Committee, Hon. Abdullahi Dutse and Hon. Gaza Jonathan, during the press briefing on the commencement of their activities at the National Assembly , yesterday in Abuja

Why we endorsed Buhari, Bello for second term - Niger APC From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna The Niger state Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Mohammed Liman, has said that the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abubakar Sani Bello were endorsed for second term by the state chapter of the party was due to their credible performances, especially in the areas of security.

The APC Secretary made the disclosure yesterday at a press briefing in Minna to throw more

light and give reasons on the endorsement of the President and the Governor at a rally last weekend.

He said that there was no other candidate capable of beating the records of President Buhari and Governor Bello, appealing to members to give support to their candidature in 2019.

Consequently, he added that President Buhari and Governor Sani Bello have no rivals when it comes to issues of delivery of dividends of democracy.

Liman further said that the

endorsement of the Governor to run for second term in 2019 can only be waved aside if there is another candidate that has performed more in terms of execution of people oriented projects.

He said that the people of Niger state, especially the members of APC, have called on Buhari and Governor Bello to run in 2019 in recognition of their immense contributions to the upliftment of citizens lives during their first tenure in office.

The APC chieftain assured the new members of the party of

equal opportunity with the old members to aspire to any position of their choices, adding “we will accommodate every member without discrimination”.

Barrister Liman said that the PDP was trying to save its face after suffering from humiliating defection of members to APC by branding the defectors as moles.

He said that APC has only shown high profile defectors adding that not all of them were on parade for the reception organized for them on Saturday.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

POLITICS

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

B

arely a year to the conduct of the 2019 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has lost confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a call on the commission’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to vacate his seat if he can no longer carry out the responsibilities of that office.

The PDP equally demanded for the immediate review of voters register, particularly in Kano and Katsina; as well as revalidating the voters register to eliminate all the minors from the register.

Illicit drug use: Senate moves to establish rehab centers across the country

Kano underage voting:

Resign now, PDP tells INEC chairman The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, who said this while addressing journalists in Abuja, insisted that no election must hold in these states until the register is sanitized.

The opposition party further alerted Nigerians to what it called “the intolerance trend adopted by APC (All Progressives Congress) and its government in some states that are now demolishing property belonging to opposition members and perceived opponents of their 2019 re-election bid”.

The PDP kicked at the plan

by INEC to ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to help it monitor campaign funds, describing it as clearly an illegal and Machiavellian way of suppressing

opposition’s financial contribution and spending.

“It is a plot to detain, defame, intimidate and illegally block bank accounts of opposition members under the pretext that they have been mandated by INEC to monitor campaign funds”, the leading opposition party said.

Ologbondiyan, in his address, said, “As you are aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been indicted for registering and issuing permanent voters card (PVCs) to millions of underage persons, particularly in Kano and Katsina states respectively.

“You are also aware that it took a press statement from the PDP and concerted outcry by Nigerians

before the Prof. Mahmood Yakubuled commission reluctantly accepted responsibility for this illegality.

“However, INEC has refused to take decisive steps to restore the sanctity of its register, particularly in Kano and Katsina states, but has rather made a puerile explanation of plans to investigate the allegation.

“As we speak, the credibility of our electoral process under the current INEC is hugely in doubt.

The nation was last Wednesday terrified by the commission’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole OsazeUzzi, who announced that INEC registered minors because its agents were threatened by members of the communities in those states.

“By this alarming and unpatriotic

statement, INEC under Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu has completely discredited and disqualified itself and cannot be trusted to conduct a credible, free and fair general elections in 2019.

“The import of this statement is that INEC under Prof. Yakubu is not firm in its acts and will consequently cave in and accept any form of irregularities once it is put under pressure by members of a voting community. It goes to say that this INEC can readily announce false results, cancel elections, alter polling procedures and allow any irregularities during the 2019 general elections once it is threatened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other group for that matter.

By Christiana Ekpa

F

ollowing its December roundtable, which was aimed at addressing the Drug Use Epidemic across the nation, the Senate, today, passed a Motion calling on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health to establish rehabilitation centers in each of the 36 States of the Nation.

In a Motion sponsored by Senator Jeremiah Useni and nine other Senators, the Senate noted that with more rehabilitation centers in the country, addicts would be able to receive professional treatment in the short and long term, thereby, bringing down the rate of addiction and crime in the country.

“Drug addicts are seen everywhere on the streets,” said Senator Philip Gyunka, “I have the strong belief that if the rehabilitation centers are established there will be less crime in the society.”

Speaking on the Motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, emphasized that drug abuse negatively affects the productivity of our youth, stating that there was a need to stop the distribution of drugs at both the wholesale and retail levels.

“This issue of drug abuse is a threat to youths’ productivity. There’s need to break the chain between the dealers and users as it is fostering crimes in the country. Security agencies should curb the distribution of drugs,” Ekweremadu said.

Commending the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senator Joshua Lidani, stated that the Motion stemmed from the Senate Roundtable organized in Kano last year, which shed light on how big of an issue drug use is in the country.

The Senate further resolved to urge relevant stakeholders like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to key into the proposed rehabilitation centers, while, mandating its committee on Secondary and Tertiary Health to ensure that the Federal Government gives the centers the needed attention when established.

Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Mr Suleiman Kawu (L), addressing a news conference seeking support of APC members on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s appointment to reconcile aggrieved party members, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja

Demolishing APC secretariat is madness - APC Chieftain From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, Honorable Tom Maiyashi, has described the demolition of the State Secretariat of the party at No.11B Sambo Road, as madness, embarrassing, saying that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has totally failed the people of Kaduna state.

He stated this while speaking to journalists at the site of the demolition yesterday, where he stressed that despite this, the Governor stands suspended from the party, adding that he can as well go ahead and demolished the property of other people he

perceived as political opponents.

Maiyashi who was one of the first APC leaders in the state to arrive the scene, said what he saw was unbelievable and the saddest moment in his life as a politician because as a civil servant and later politician, he has never witnessed that kind of political witch-hunting.

He further added that the action of the Governor El-Rufai amounts to political immaturity, an indicator that he cannot withstand the political pressure within his party.

Similarly, Mallam Murtala Mohammed told Peoples Daily that the action of Kaduna State Government in demolishing the party’s secretariat is like a dream to

him, because the official statement from government shows that the letter for payment of rent arrears was only said to have been issued yesterday and demolition followed 24hours later.

Murtala said the latest moves by the State Government is to frustrate key stakeholders of the party out of the APC; but quickly added that they are not going anywhere, rather El-Rufai should go back to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), because when they were busy working as opposition, he was there as a minister.

He however called on the people of Kaduna state to remain focused and trust in the party and its leadership under Alhaji Danladi

Wada, adding that the demolished party secretariat has become a mecca of sort as people were seen trouping in their thousands to see for themselves what happened.

An eyewitness, while explaining what happened during the demolition, said troops in 70 Hilux vehicles and three amoured personnel carriers, were allegedly used as back up for Govenor ElRufai to demolish the structure.

The witness, who identified himself as Suleiman Umar Ibrahim, (Salafin Baba), said he personally saw the Governor lead the team that demolished the structure. He added that he was on the sideline doing a live streaming of the demolition as it took place.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

POLITICS

Senate urges FG to use air surveillance on armed bandits

By Christiana Ekpa Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Members of Rivers East Senatorial district on a solidarity rally in support of Gov, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, yesterday in Port Harcourt .

Photo: NAN

and

S

enate yesterday called for the use air surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to identify the location of the armed bandits in Zamfara State which are within the sparse forest and flush them out.

The upper legislative chamber also urged the federal government to mount diplomatic pressure on Niger Republic and Chad to forestall criminals from using their territories to launch attack on Nigeria.

It equally urged the Zamfara State Government to upgrade, recruit and generously fund state and local vigilance teams with the aim of improving security in the affected areas.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion titled: “Urgent Need to look into the Killings that took place in Zurmi L.G.A of Zamfara State” sponsored by Senator Tijjani Kaura (APC Zamfara North) during plenary.

Senator Kaura, while presenting the motion, noted that “cross border banditry had brought Nigeria’s frail security system to the lime light having triggered an orgy of violence in Zamfara State which left 39 people dead in Zurmi local governmrnt area on Wednesday, February 14, 2018”.

The lawmaker said in spite of the notice and warnings to the law enforcement agencies on the impending attack by the Zamfara State Government 24 hours before the attack, no precaution was taken to avert the unfortunate event.

He raised concerns that the latest attacks had caused fears across the state, especially around rural communities who had similar experiences in the past and were helpless.

“These security breaches are on the increase in spite of the huge resources being expended by the Federal and Zamfara State Governments”, he lamented.

Contributing, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan said there must be executive-legislative collaboration to ensure that the outcome of the recently held national security summit was realised.

Senator Lawan said: “We need to be optimistic that this time around the implementation will be better”.

Also Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara Central) described the incident as very sad, adding that politicians must differentiate politics from friendship.

Senator Marafa, who said he has been vindicated by the recent killing in the state having been crying out for long, however, called for state of emergency which was rejected by the lawmakers.

Similarly, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North) labelled the matter was a “national calamity”, stressing: “It is a big challenge to this country. We should forget our differences and political persuasions and come together as leaders so that we find solutions to this menace”.

On his part, Senator Isa Misau (APC Bauchi Central) said it was unfortunate that security is being mixed with politics in the country.

According to him, “By the time we mix security with politics, we cannot achieve what we want to achieve”.

Constitution review: Saraki lauds state Assemblies

By Christiana Ekpa

P

resident of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, took to his social media accounts to express his excitement that 25 out of 36 states had voted on the Constitution Review amendments that were passed by the National Assembly in July 2017.

Saraki stated that the passage of the amendments by the 25 States was a testament to the fact that “with the right vision and follow-through, we can achieve ANYTHING as a nation” — also saying that the process was a pointer that “politicians from various walks of life and various parties can

still come together to get things done.”

Read the full statement here: “I am excited about the news that 25 out of 36 States have voted on the #ConstitutionReview amendments that the 8th National Assembly passed in 2017.

“In 2015, when we first started the ambitious process to review the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we never could have imagined the level of support and participation that we would get from all of you — everyday Nigerians, members of the civil society, and political actors across the country.

“This is why the passage of the

#ConstitutionReview amendments in 25 States across the country, is a pat on the back of legislators at both the Federal and State levels — because it shows that with the right vision and follow-through, we can achieve ANYTHING as a nation.

“Make no mistake, this is another #PromiseKept by the 8th National Assembly, and it further demonstrates that despite our differences, politicians from various walks of life and various parties can still come together to get things done.

“Moving forward, I cannot wait to receive the #ConstitutionReview documents at the National Assembly, so that we can move forward with the

process of getting them assented and cemented in the laws of our great Federal Republic.

“Now that both the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives have set up a Joint Committee to review the #ConstitutionReview amendments that did not scale through initially, we are encouraged with the level of collaboration that we have already seen from the State Assemblies throughout this process.

“I am very encouraged for the next phase of this process.

“Well done to the Members of our State Houses of Assembly!” the Senate President said.

Kaduna develops local governments plan to bridge urban, rural gap

T

o promote development at the grassroots, the Kaduna State Government is equipping its local government directors of planning with the required planning skills to bridge the development gap between urban and rural areas.

Zachariah Marcus, the Director Planning in the state’s Planning and Budge Commission (PBC), said that 69 local government officials are being trained at a three-day technical workshop which began on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Marcus told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the training was designed to equip local government directors of planning and their officers with the needed planning skills.

“The step was taken to promote development at the grassroots by creating an autonomous, adequately funded, transparent and responsible local government system capable of delivering service to the people,’’ he said.

The director said the training was organised by PBC in collaboration with the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

According to him, the goal is to enable them to effectively draw up development plans for their respective local government areas that will drive development in rural areas.

“At the end of the training, the participants are expected to team up with their respective local government’s Planning and Budget Committees and come up with implementable development plans for the LGAs”, he said.

He said that the state had already developed Local Government Planning and Budgeting Manual to guide the local government officials in planning and budgeting process.

Also, Malam Adamu Bello, the Director Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that the efforts was

part of the ongoing reform to strengthen service delivery at local levels.

According to him, the reform is aim at putting fundamental structures in place for local government to thrive.

“The goal is to make local government areas vibrant to meet the yearnings of the people.

“The local government development plan will, therefore, prepare LGAs to effectively and efficiently render development to people at the grassroots.’’

Bello said the Kaduna State Local Government Reform Law 2017 has mandated the LGAs to develop a culture of participatory governance by encouraging community members to participate in the preparation, implementation and review of development plans.

“These structural reforms are intended to give local governments a greater capacity for service delivery, promote development at grassroots and

ensure policy alignment with the state and Federal Government policies.’’

NAN reports that Gov Nasir El-Rufa’i had in November 2017 inaugurated the state’s Economic Planning Board (EPB) to ensure effective coordination and preparation of local government development plans and budget to improve the people’s livelihood.

The Commissioner, PBC, Muhammad Abdullahi, had explained that the EPB would provide the needed platform for collaboration between the state and the local governments to use resources efficiently.

“It will allow the state and LGAs to plan and strategise to move the state forward and improve the lot of the people.

“It will also ensure that local government plans and development issues are fully integrated at the state level to harness the resources of the LGAs for the maximum benefit of the people,’’ Abdullahi said.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

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Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) yesterday disclosed that 37% of enterprises privatised since the inception of the Bureau are not performing.

Director General, BPE, Mr Alex A. Okoh who gave the hint said, the Bureau has far privatised 142 enterprises from inception to date.

Okoh said, out of the privatised enterprises, 63 percent of them are doing well while the remaining 37 percent are not performing.

Dangote sponsors 2018 Kaduna International Trade Fair

By Etuka Sunday

37% of privatised enterprises not performing -BPE Receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Yerima who were on an oversight visit to the Bureau in Abuja, Okoh said, out of the number, 94 enterprises have been monitored while the rest have been not because “some were either assets sale or in the first phase of privatization and as such did not fall within the BPE’s monitoring purview”.

The Director General attributed the poor performances of the non-performing enterprises to the operating business environment in the country in which many private or privatised public enterprises have either closed down or relocated to neighbouring countries.

Out of the 142 privatised enterprises, the Director General said, 63 were through core investor sale, nine through guided liquidation, one through sale to existing shareholders, five through public offer and two, through liquidation.

He added that eight were privatised through private placement, 41 through

concession, two through debt/equity swap and 11 through sale of assets.

Breaking down the enterprises by sectors, the Director General said, five were in the agric machanisation,eight in automobiles, seven in banking and insurance, six in brick making and six in the cement sector.

The others, he listed are 10 in energy construction & services,12 in hotels &tourism, eight in oil & gas, four in paper & packaging, 19 in solid minerals & mining, 7 in steel & aluminum, four in the sugar sector, 26 in marine transport sector, 19 in power and one in telecoms.

The Head, Public Communications, BPE, Amina Tukur Othman in a statement said, the BPE helmsman informed the lawmakers that the Bureau has commenced a thorough review of the non-performing enterprises to ascertain the issues affecting their nonperformance.

He listed the new initiatives embarked upon by the Bureau to include; the Afam Power & Yola Distribution Company privatisation, concessioning of the Terminal

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he Dangote Group is sponsoring this year’s Kaduna International Trade Fair billed to open between Friday February 23rd and Sunday March 4, 2018.

The organizer, the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) described the partnership with the Dangote Group as very central to the success of all its activities, both local and international.

Speaking to newsmen, the Director General of the KADCCIMA, Mr. Usman Saulawa, said: “The Dangote Group has remained our major sponsor for many years. The Group deserves commendation as it has been helping businesses to grow, not only in Kaduna State or Nigeria but in Africa as a whole.”

This year’s Trade Fair is expected to be officially opened by President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday February 24th, 2018, Mr. Saulawa said.

According to him, the 39thInternational Trade Fair has as its theme: Promoting Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for International Competitiveness.

He said investors from many countries are expected in this year’s annual event.

The countries, according to him, include: “Egypt, Iran, India, China, Mali, Tunisia, Indonesia, Senegal, Niger and Pakistan among others.

A statement from the Dangote Group and signed by the Chief Corporate Communication Officer(CCCO) Mr. Anthony Chiejina said the Trade Fair will offer the Group opportunity to display its numerous innovative products which include the Dan-Q Seasoning, sachet sugar, salt, Cement and pasta, among others.

The statement urged participants to patronize the Dangote Pavilion.

Speaking also, President of KADCCIMA Mrs. Muheeba Fareeda Dankaka commended the Dangote Group for its yearly sponsorship of the event, adding that in Dangote the chamber has found a worthy partner in the development of the Nigerian economy.

She said this year’s Fair will also address the issue of diversification of the Nigerian economy which has been on the front burner over the years.

She said next Tuesday; the Chamber will host a Business Round Table with the theme: Promoting Made in Nigeria Products for International Competitiveness.

Mr. Femi Bayode, an expert on Export is expected to deliver the lead paper.

Other stakeholders that are expected to participate in the Business RoundTable include private companies, Customs, Shippers Council and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), among others.

B of the Warri old Port, restructuring and commercialization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), partial commercialisation of NIPOST, restructuring and commercilaisation of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), reform and commercialisation of three of the nation’s national parks and other initiatives in the power sector.

Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, Alhaji Ahmed Yerima had said that the Committee was at the Bureau to have first hand information on its activities; and to ascertain its compliance with the provisions of the 2017 Appropriation Act in line with the resolution of the House that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) complied with the Act. The Chairman assured that the Committee would use it legislative powers to ensure that BPE’s mandate is not usurped

by MDAs; and noted that any attempt in that direction was an infraction on the constitution of the country.

Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jackson Gaius-Obaseki (L) and Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Augustine Avuru, at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja

Micro-Insurance: investors troop NAICOM for licenses From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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ollowing micro insurance revived guidelines recently released by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), investors from all works of lives have been trooping into the commission applying for operational license.

Confirming this, the Head Corporate Affairs, NAICOM, Rasaaq Salami, stated that the commission had received applications from investors seeking state and unit micro insurance licenses.

According to Salami, the commission prior to the release of the guideline have been receiving some applications but insisted that the guideline should be released before considering any application.

NAICOM assured it was committed to properly examining the applications to ensure that fit and proper investors are granted approval to operate the business which is aimed at taking insurance to the grassroots.

Recall that NAICOM released a revised micro insurance guideline which provides that a National Insurer, who seek composite micro

insurance licence, is expected to be capitalised to the tune of N600 million, while N400 million minimum capital base is needed from a General micro insurance and N200 million for a Life operations.

Such national operators is expected to have presence in at least six states within the three geopolitical zones of the federation.

For a State Microinsurer, the minimum capital base is NI00 million, broken into N60 million for general and N40 million for life operators. The regulator also expects such underwriter to operate only in one State of federation with at least three branches or office locations, each in a different Local Government Area.

A Unit Microinsurer investor, the commission provided must be capitalised to the tune of N40 million, N25 for general business and N15 million for life, with operation in one location within a local community.

The rationale behind the revived microinsurance guidelines, the commission said, was to ensure that all Nigerians are fully covered and understand the importance of insurance in economic development.

The regulator, has therefore made it mandatory for these micro insurance outfits to make themselves visible especially at the grassroots.

According to the Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, while commenting on the revived guideline said, NAICOM has the needed capacity to supervise these firms coming up, as there are plans by the commission to float more branches and recruit new staff across the country to have a closer monitoring of not only these microinsurance outfits, but also the conventional insurance companies.

Microinsurance products are designed for the low income market, low valued policies, micro and small scale enterprises in relation to cost, terms, coverage, and delivery mechanism.

He pointed out that the regulatory body is already receiving application from investors The new move, is focused at increasing insurance penetration from 0.6 per cent it is presently to over two per cent in the near future, as well as increase the annual premium income of insurance industry to N1 trillion by year 2020.

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Business Analysis

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday,february 21, 2018

Engaging stakeholders, others for a holistic security of the Nigeria airports The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is currently leaving no stone un-turn in its determinations to engage stakeholders in the industry on how to effectively secure the country’s airports and keep all aspects of the airport business in balance and meet the expectations and needs of all.

Suleiman Idris takes a look at the trend and the benefits to be derive from the exercise.

Murtala-Muhammed-International-Airport-Lagos1

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new revolution is currently percolating through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in the form of a new paradigm shift in collaborative and cooperative model the agency is piloting for stakeholders engagement. It is also championing the aviation industry coordination on the need to strengthen security and deploy resources, human and materials effectively to achieve the cause.

The effectiveness of the new innovative model on the one hand was summed up by stakeholders at a summit in Lagos last week, where FAAN director of Aviation security, Retired Group Captain Usman Abubakar Sadiq reiterated the need for continuously synergy among security agencies, and others across airports in Nigeria in order to stop the incidences of security breach at the airports.

While noting that information sharing is imperative to collectively tackle security issues that might arise, Sadiq affirmed that no security agency can work in isolation or handle security matters alone and achieve success, hence the need to bring in others.

The annual lecture/seminar put together by the Aviation Security Department and held at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, had the Theme: “Aviation Security: An integral part of National Security”.

Aviation Security responsibility is spelt out in ICAO Security Manual DOC-8973” Safeguarding Civil Aviation Against Unlawful interference” which includes the safety of passengers, airlines, ground personnel, crew members, the public and facilities.

On the other hand, FAAN also pulled together stakeholders as it embarked on

the evacuation of disused and abandoned airplane scatter across airports in Nigeria as part of measures to prevent hideouts to criminal elements that could pose security risk to facilities and aircraft either while stationary or on the move. Security experts lauded the efforts and describe them as a round peck in a round hole.

These two prompt strategies aim at creating a comfortable atmosphere for airlines, the travelling public, tenants and the surrounding communities of the airports in Nigeria is proving to be aleaning forward approach to create a collaborative atmosphere, partnerships, and leadership

by FAAN to pull information and responses together with the hope to prevent any untoward incident around the airports and creates stronger response mechanism when the need arises.

The current security architecture at the Lagos airport according to stakeholders at the above mentioned summit appears watertight with no room for perpetuation of criminal activities as evident in the drastic reduction of ban substance and drug peddling acts, a menace that had given security agencies in the past nightmare, virtually brought to it kneel.

For the spokesperson for the airport management agency, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the strategic objectives of the current administration of the Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma includes facilitating stakeholders engagement in strategic planning and operational response, and implementing a communications strategy derived from thefair exchange of opinion, based on mutual trust with airlines and partner businesses, as well as passengers and employees.

According to her, the need to afford

everyone associated with the safety of the airports becomes imperative in view of the importance of the industry to the economic progress of the nation, “Airlines, Government, Suppliers, Shareholders, Tenants, Unions, Airport community, Local communities, Passengers, General Public, the media among others” must be engage to secure the facilities and everything around the airport.

She said take for instance, on the

“

While noting that information sharing is imperative to collectively tackle security issues that might arise, Sadiq affirmed that no security agency can work in isolation or handle security matters alone and achieve success, hence the need to bring in others.

recent evacuation of the disused planes, “Theairports belong to FAAN, which means that it is the property of the Federal Government and there is no airline that is bigger than Nigeria. But we engaged the owners for a long time to be able to move their aircraft and they have refused to do this. FAAN is not taking possession of their aircraft, but we are moving them away from where they are to another place within the airport where they will not serve as eyesore and where they will not constitute nuisance to activities on our airside.

“What we are doing is part of the services FAAN is providing; comfort and security. So, for security, these aircraft have been abandoned at the airport for long and miscreants can just go in there and do whatever they want. We want our airports to look beautiful and fine, the aircraft that are littered around, it defaces the beauty of our airside.”

Those who spoke to Peoples Daily believe that strong relationships with stakeholders are a fundamental piece of the success and security of the airports as a public entity. These relationships help FAAN to listen, adapt, and innovate to respond to needs, trends, and regulations, and to evolve it businesses.

According to majority of them, the airport management frequent engagement is a step in the right direction and should be encourage as a cycle of learning by engaging stakeholders regularly and through a variety of forums to gather feedback, share information, and solicit ideas for how it can improve. These engagements will directly impact into FAAN decision-making process, long-term planning, and evaluation.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

FCDA/FCTA Staff urged to monitor Cooperatives’ investment Stories by Onyekwere

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Stanley

embers of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Multipurpose Cooperatives Society, have been urged to be vigilant and monitor their investment to know how their resources are being utilized.

This call was coming on the heels of the wake of controversy trailing the management of the cooperatives over the years.

Making the call, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Survey and Mapping Department under the FCT Administration, Sir Hippolytus Onah, said though establishment of the cooperatives was good, but has not been lucky of having the right leadership.

He disclosed that the current leadership of the cooperatives has started a poultry farm business, a block industry, including a filling station business.

Onah, who is aspiring to be president of the cooperatives, called for the repositioning of the cooperative to improve workers welfare.

“I have observed that things have not been working very well in the cooperatives for sometimes.

“It is no longer news that members who apply for withdrawals from their savings, don’t get it as at when due.

“Sometimes it lasts as much as long as three months to four

months, which is frustrating,” Onah said in an interview at the weekend.

Furthermore, he stressed that there is need to inject new ideas into the Cooperatives leadership,

not only to improve the welfare of members, but to place it at par with other cooperatives in the country.

According to him, he would review the idea of seasonal

consumer shopping, where members wait until Christmas or Sallah periods, before buying rice or vegetable oil.

“We are going to change the mindset of seasonal consumer

shopping. We are going to have FCTA/FCDA Cooperative shops, whereby members would access not only rice and vegetable oil, but all manners of essential commodities,” he stated.

L-R: Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Victor Nwokolo; Chairman of the Committee on Gas Resources,Frederick Agbedi; and Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Akinlaja Joseph, at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Education: Govt tasks teachers on facility maintenance

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he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with the Korea Government has conducted the last in the series of trainings scheduled for 150 selected teachers and administrators who would man a multi-billion naira educational facility.

The facility known as KOICA Model School, which comprises of a junior secondary and primary school was built by the Republic of Korea and donated to the FCTA. Delivering a lecture on the theme: “development and operations of the KOICA model school”, at the school premises in Abuja last week, Education Secretary, Sen. Isah Maina tasked the ‘elite teachers’ and administrators to justify the confidence reposed in them, by choosing them out of the many for this project.

The Secretary who was represented by the FCTA Director, Policy, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Theresa Mbonu stated that the objective of the school was to provide a symbol of national unity, increase accessibility of good student and also provide a leading model for public schools in the country.

On who qualifies to be admitted into the school, Maina said it was an opportunity for the poor who are naturally endowed to have access to education, adding that the training was meant to bring about interaction with administrators and teachers on good practices.

The training provided the opportunity to intimate the administrators and teachers of the FCTA’s plan for the management and operators, as well as get suggestions on issues of concern, among others.

Also, it provided focus points for the operation of the school, including staying within the confirms of national policy on education, Universal Basic Education Act, FCT strategic operational education sector plan and design of school operations manual.

Other areas the school was asked to focus on include use of effective school bus system, teacher professional development and motivation as well as a good community relations.

On her part, Director, Administration and Finance, Education Secretariat, Mrs. Eunice Nneka Ugochukwu assured the teachers that the FCTA was behind them.

He adds: “We will not let you down.

You too must not let us down. We will maintain the school, in line with the global standard.”

Furthermore, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) Director, Dr.

Adamu Noma reminded the teachers and administrators of daunting challenges they would face, which was why special training was given them.

Noma, however warned: “whatever that will be done in the school must be within the ambiance of UBEB, which is free and excellent.”

On the quality of the institution, Director of Quality Assurance, Mr. Ayuba Dedan noted that the quality selected for the school was high.

Dedan, adds that “we will use the standard of education in our schools here.

“We hope not to find any teacher wanting. We will ensure the purpose of this school is achieved.

“We want you to maintain this standard, no defacing of structure, because it is a place for change; we will do everything within our purview to the goal of this school.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

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world news

WHO warns of soaring rates of measles in Europe

Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of contracting measles

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urope has seen a massive surge in measles cases in 2017, which the World Health Organization says is a tragedy after a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016.

Cases increased by 400%, with more than 20,000 people affected and 35 deaths.

Fifteen European region countries, including the UK, had large outbreaks.

Measles cases were highest in Romania, Italy and Ukraine.

People shunning vaccination is part of the problem, say experts.

Although research published in 2004 about a possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been discredited, the scare it cre-

ated damaged some people’s trust of the vaccine.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be deadly.

The MMR vaccine can prevent it.

The WHO says there have been declines in overall routine immunisation coverage, as well as consistently low coverage among some marginalised groups and interruptions in vaccine supply or underperforming disease surveillance systems.

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, from the WHO, said: “Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the dis-

ease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated.

“This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.”

The UK saw 282 cases in 2017, linked to the continuing outbreak in Europe.

The UK recently achieved WHO measles elimination status, meaning that for the past few years the number of cases has been low enough to stop the disease circulating around the country.

The overall risk of measles to the UK population is low, but due to ongoing measles outbreaks in Europe, cases in unimmunised

individuals and limited onward spread can occur.

A few weeks ago, Public Health England warned about measles cases in several regions of England.

At the end of January 2018, there were 51 confirmed cases in the West Midlands.

The vaccine is given as two doses to very young children as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

Adults and older children can be vaccinated at any age if they haven’t been fully immunised before.

Measles symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing and cough, sore, red eyes, a high temperature and, after a few days, a redbrown blotchy rash.

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Mother pleads guilty to murder of seven-week-old son

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woman has admitted murdering her baby son after changing her plea halfway through her trial.

Hannah Turtle, 22, from Shotton in Flintshire, suffocated James Hughes in July 2016.

She stopped his breathing on two other occasions before killing him - both times he was revived in hospital.

At Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, Turtle also admitted five other child cruelty charges and administering James with an adult antidepressant.

The jury was discharged by Mr Justice Lewis as Turtle - who claimed she heard voices telling her she was a bad mother - sat in the dock crying.

Prior to her guilty plea, prosecutor David Elias QC said Turtle accepted she stopped James breathing on three

occasions within a 10day period.

“We may never know why exactly she did this,” Mr Elias had said.

James was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital and kept in for observations, but the prosecution said he stopped breathing while Turtle was alone with him.

He was admitted to hospital on two other occasions in the days prior to his death after Turtle pinched his nose to restrict his breathing.

On 9 June 2016, she suffocated her son again but this time he did not recover and died in hospital on 13 June from brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

Turtle, who also admitted putting her own anti-depressant drug in his milk bottle, will be sentenced on Thursday.

Source: BBC

Hannah Turtle initially denied murdering her son and administering a poison to him

KFC shuts more stores in chicken crisis

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FC has closed more of its outlets in the UK after delivery problems meant it ran out of chicken.

Its website shows that 646 of the fastfood chain’s 900 outlets in the UK and the Republic of Ireland were shut as of 11:25 on Tuesday morning.

That compares with 575 that were closed at 21:00 on Monday.

Last week, the fried chicken chain switched its delivery contract to DHL, which has blamed “operational issues” for the supply disruption.

It is not yet clear how many outlets will open for business later on Tuesday.

How many KFCs are open?

By totting up the latest figures on the firm’s website, it seems 254 of the outlets were open as of 11:25 on Tuesday morning, compared with 325 at 21:00 on Monday.

However, even some of these are only offering a limited menu or have shorter

opening hours.

KFC has set up a web page where “fans” can find their nearest outlet that is still open.

What caused the problems?

Until 13 February, KFC’s chicken was delivered by specialist food distribution group Bidvest.

But after the contract switched to DHL, many of the food giant’s outlets began running out of chicken products.

Image copyright Getty Images The GMB union said it had tried to warn KFC that switching from Bidvest to DHL was a mistake. The change led to 255 job losses and the closure of a Bidvest depot, said Mick Rix, GMB national officer.

He said: “Bidvest are specialists - a food distribution firm with years of experience.

DHL are scratching around for any work they can get, and undercut them.

“KFC are left with hundreds of restaurants closed while DHL try and run

the whole operation out of one distribution centre. Three weeks ago, KFC knew they had made a terrible mistake, but by then it was too late.”

The distribution network uses software developed by the firm Quick Service Logistics (QSL).

DHL said: “Due to operational issues, a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed. We are working with our partners, KFC and QSL, to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience.”

How long are the problems likely to persist?

A spokesman for the firm said as of Monday, it was “too early to tell” how long the problems would go on for.

How much is it likely to cost KFC? KFC’s spokesman said he did not have a figure, but any calculation is likely to be complicated by the fact that 95% of KFC’s

outlets in the UK are run by franchisees.

Some media reports say the crisis could be costing the chain £1m a day, but any such figure at this stage is likely to involve a large amount of guesswork.

What’s happening to KFC staff?

Workers are being encouraged to take holiday, but would not be forced to do so, the company has said.

“Our teams are working flat out all hours to get the rest back up and running as soon as possible - but it’s too early to say how long it will take to clear the backlog.”

It said that in the restaurants owned by the chain, staff on short-term contracts would be paid the average hours worked per day over the past 12 weeks, while those on salaries would be paid as normal.

“Franchisees will be seeking their own independent advice, but we’re encouraging them to adopt this policy too,” said the chain.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

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N e w s F r o m A f r i c a Kenya allows opposition figures to fly to Zimbabwe

James Orengo (pictured) and Jimi Wanjigi were held overnight before being allowed to fly There is growing concern that the government enyan officials have allowed two opposition supporters to fly to Zimbabwe after detaining is ignoring civil liberties in response to the mock inauguration of Mr Odinga. them at an airport overnight.

Unlike Mr Orengo and Mr Wanjigi, Mr Odinga Senator James Orengo and financier Jimi Wanjigi planned to attend opposition leader Morgan was allowed to fly to Zimbabwe, without any difficulties, for the burial of Mr Tsvangirai, his longTsvangirai’s burial.

But officials said the pair failed to present a court time friend.

The Zimbabwean politician died of colon cancer order overturning an existing suspension of their on 14 February, and thousands of people are expected passports.

Both men support Kenyan opposition leader to attend his interment in his home village of Buhera.

Kenyan immigration officials had held Raila Odinga, who named himself “the people’s Mr Orengo and Mr Wanjigi at Jomo Kenyatta president” last month.

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DR Congo faces ‘disaster of extraordinary proportions’

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he UN refugee agency is warning of a “humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions” in the south-eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The region, with a population of around three million, now has more than 630,000 people internally displaced, the refugee agency said.

Since January an upsurge in violent clashes between Congolese forces and militias has caused thousands to flee.

The UN, speaking with those who have fled, has recorded 800 “protection incidents” in the first two weeks of February alone, including killings, abductions, and rape.

The UN refugee agency received less than $1 a day in 2017 for its programmes for the internally displaced in DRC. In 2018 it is appealing for $368.7m (£264m) for its operations in DRC, $80m of that for internally displaced.Madonna: My son is Malawi’s future president Pop star Madonna has called her son, David Banda, “the future president of Malawi” in a tweet praising the 12-year-old.

The US singer has six children, four of whom she adopted from Malawi.

The singer has reportedly had a fractious relationship with Malawi’s authorities.

In 2013, Malawi accused Madonna of “bullying state officials”, exaggerating her contribution to the country and demanding VIP treatment.

Madonna’s manager accused Malawi’s government of having a “grudge” against the singer’s charity, Raising Malawi, which she founded the same year she adopted David.

Last year, Malawi granted Madonna permission to adopt two more children, and she became mother to twin baby girls Esther and Stella Mwale.

A funeral service was held for Tsvangirai in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, on Monday International Airport overnight on Monday after the court order on Monday night.

He and Mr Wanjigi are due to leave for they failed to present a court order authorising them Zimbabwe later on Tuesday. to fly.

In recent weeks, the Kenyan government has “When the two arrived at the airport, they were requested to avail copies of the said court orders but been cracking down on supporters of Mr Odinga.

Earlier this month they deported his close they had none,” the director of immigration services said. “Instead, they showed some writings on their aide Miguna Miguna, saying that he did not hold a Kenyan passport. phones purporting to be court orders.”

The government also took three television On Tuesday, Mr Kihalangwa tweeted that the stations off air ahead of Mr Odinga’s mock swearingcourt orders had finally arrived and the men had Mr Orengo has disputed Mr Kihalangwa’s in, and kept the channels suspended in defiance of a timeline, saying that immigration officials received court order overturning the ban.

Zimbabwe will still mark Ivory Coast ‘boy in the suitcase’ ‘Robert Mugabe Day’

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obert Mugabe may no longer be Zimbabwe’s leader, but the country will still mark his birthday with a public holiday.

Zimbabwe’s new government has said tomorrow - 21 February - will continue to be known as Robert Ga-

briel Mugabe Youth Day. Mr Mugabe, who was ousted from power in November last year after three decades as president, will turn 94 on Wednesday.

However, our reporter Shingai Nyoka says the day will be without the extravagant celebrations seen in

previous years.

Meanwhile, a picture of Mr Mugabe, his wife Grace and the African Union Commission’s Moussa Faki Mahamat has created quite the stir on social media.

As one social media user notes, Mrs Mugabe “looks particularly happy”.

Israel in historic gas deal with Egypt

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srael’s government says a historic, multi-billion-dollar gas deal has been signed with Egypt.

An Israeli company, Delek Drilling, announced what it said was a 10-year deal,

worth $15bn (£10.7bn), to provide natural gas to Egypt.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the deal will not only boost Israel’s economy and security, but enhance its regional

ties.

Analysts say the deal appears to undercut the recent promise by Egypt’s President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi that his country would soon be self-sufficient in natural gas.

Missing separatist’s wife begs Nigeria for news

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he wife of a Nigerian separatist leader who has been missing since last September has begged the Nigerian government for answers.

Uchechi Kanu told the BBC’s Nkem Ifejika she believed the government knows where her husband Nnamdi - the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra

(IPOB) movement - was being held after his home was raided by soldiers.

He failed to appear in court on treason charges in October.

trial begins today

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he trial of an Ivorian man who tried to smuggle his eight-year-old son across the Spanish border in a suitcase is due to begin today.

Ali Ouattara is facing a possible three-year jail term if he is found guilty of attempting to get the little boy into Europe illegally, and endangering his life.

But Mr Ouattara told news agency AFP he was not worried.

“I’m going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I’m not a human trafficker,” the 45-year-old said.

The boy was found inside the case after it was put through an X-ray machine at the border between Morocco and Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa.

It was being pulled by a 19-yearold woman in May 2015.

His father, a former philosophy and French teacher in Ivory Coast, had paid 5,000 euros ($6,200; £4,400) to smugglers to get his son into Spain, where the family had been living.

But he was not told he would be smuggled in a suitcase.

Mr Ouattara’s attempts to be reunited with his son legally had failed, he said.

The trial begins in Ceuta today.

Mr Ouattara’s son, who has been living in France with his mother and sister, is expected to return.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

CLASSIFIED winding up

winding up

winding up

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF NIP-MART LTD RC: 1199213 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF NIP-MART LTD HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT NIP-MART LTD (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF REWIT NIG. LTD RC: 1016063 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF REWIT NIG. LTD HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT REWIT NIG. LTD (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF TUSE GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED RC: 1069127 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF TUSE GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT TUSE GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017.

ADDRESS: NO. 38, HARBOUR ROAD, TOWN, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE TEL: 08039093843

ADDRESS:NO. 10, ZUBA ROAD, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE TEL: 08038832498

A217, TRADE FAIR COMPLEX, KIGOMA STREET, WUSE ZONE 7 WUSE, FCT ABUJA. 08039093843

winding up

winding up

winding up

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMP ANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF HADUMA NIGERIA LIMITED RC: 1058876 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF HADUMA NIGERIA LIMITED HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT HADUMA NIGERIA LIMITED (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF MAIB KONSULT NIG. LTD RC: 1016063 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF MAIB KONSULT NIG. LTD HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT MAIB KONSULT NIG. LTD (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 PRIVATE COMP ANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF AISH-MARYN LIMITED RC: 1097010 AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF AISH-MARYN LIMITED HELD AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY ON THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017 THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED: 1. THAT AISH-MARYN LIMITED (“THE COMPANY”) BE WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(B) OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

2. THAT MR. PAUL GBAFADE OF SUITE FF8, METRO PLAZA, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA, IS DULY APPOINTED LIQUIDATOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF WINDING UP THE COMPANY. 3. THAT ALL NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE ABOVE RESOLUTION IS CARRIED INTO EFFECT BY FILING THE REQUISITE DOCUMENTS AT THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2017.

ADDRESS: NO. 4, BADUNDU STREET, WUSE ZONE 1, ABUJA FCT TEL: 08039093843

ADDRESS: NO. 26, NOBLE DRIVE, OFF WIMPEY PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, TEL: 08039093843

ADDRESS: 26, NOBLE DRIVE, OFF WIMPEY, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE. TEL: +2348188134221

PUBLIC NOTICE

EKPEYE LOGBO WOMEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1 DR. PATRICIA WUDHIGA OGBONNAYA - CHAIRMAN 2. DAVID CHUKWUMA OGBONNAYA - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : TO PROVIDE FOR THE WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WOMEN IN EKPEYE COMMUNITY THROUGH SKILL ACQUISITION AND ADULT LITERACY. 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

SHAMSUDEEN I, formerly known as AHMED MOHAMMED AND SHAMSUDEEN YUNUSA SAMBO now wish to be known and addressed as SHAMSUDEEN YUNUSA SAMBO. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

public notice

space for sale

PAGE 25

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

P

r o p e r t y

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

NMRC makes mortgage market accessible for housing affordability

F

or the country to attain housing sufficiency, there is the need for the construction of affordable houses and access to adequate funding that will make cheaper mortgages possible. This is because affordability is critical in the quest of citizens to own personal homes with mortgage market.

The difficulty in housing affordability, which boils down to financial capacity, has been further accentuated by the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHFA). The body noted that for an organised developer to build a house in Nigeria, the cost comes to $28,000 or N10.08 million (at N360/$1). This means that only about 9.7 per cent of urban households in the country can afford the cheapest house.

The Managing Director, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Prof. Charles

Inyangete, agreed. He explained that the situation has been compounded because of the barriers in the housing sector.

“They are such that before you own your own home, you have to pay in the region of 34.5 per cent in Governor’s Consent, bank charges and so on. This is aside the 20 per cent you have to deposit if you are taking mortgage, which makes the whole process unaffordable. So, even if you were looking to buying a N10 million house, you have to find half the price to receive your keys because of these charges,” he said, adding that this has made home ownership one of the most difficult things for an average Nigerian to achieve; hence, the need to tackle the problem of affordability.

According to the NMRC boss, one of the key components that must be addressed is housing policy for first-time homeowners, which is the

norm in developed countries, where first-time homeowner are supported.

He is convinced that if easy homeownership becomes a reality in Nigeria, a great deal of the country’s economic problems would have been solved.

“We need to systematically address these problems. Homeownership will not take off until we have addressed the issue of affordability. We should help those who want to own a home to step on the escalator and move up to the point of homeownership,” he admonished.

Inyangete, who spoke to a select team of real estate reporters in Lagos, however, disclosed that with the establishment of the NMRC in January 2014, to deepen the primary and secondary mortgage markets for increased homeownership by Nigerians, the process of

Residential property markets likely to continue to be slow in Dubai this year

L

ast year saw the residential property market in Dubai slow considerably and this year is likely to see more of the same, according to the latest housing market analysis.

Villa prices fell 3.3% in the final quarter of 2017 and apartment prices were down 4% while rents fell by the same amount, the fourth quarter real estate report from Asteco shows.

Apartment rental rates recorded steady declines throughout 2017 ranging from 2% to 4% per quarter, on average while drops in sales prices were slightly less pronounced with variations of 0% to 4%. In the villa market average quarterly decreases in sales prices and rental rates of 2% and 3%, respectively.

The report also show that 2017 saw a significant number of new project launches, particularly targeting the middle income market, with a marked shift to smaller units offering lower price points, together with a greater choice of incentives such as guaranteed returns, reduced/no commissions, low down payments and post-completion payment plans.

This resulted in a rise in end users and first time buyers entering the market and as a result off-plan sales far exceeded secondary property transactions, which the report suggest was mainly due to the high loan-to-value ratios stipulated by the UAE Central Bank, which make buying difficult to those with limited equity.

There has also been a steady rise in project completions, which has put the bargaining power firmly in the hands of tenants who have taken advantage of the increased choice and competitive rates to relocate to new properties or renegotiate existing contracts, the report points out.

Asteco expects 2018 to follow similar trends as last year, although project launches are anticipated to ease off as the market finds a new equilibrium. The report says that sales prices and rental rates are expected to continue to come under pressure with a more pronounced drop anticipated for the latter as a result of the sheer amount of supply projected for delivery this year.

It also suggests that investors will continue to be more sensitive to the price point of properties as opposed to the price per square foot, meaning units that were previously advertised below the AED1,000 per square foot mark, will be marketed, for instance, at below AED500,000 for studios or AED1 million for one bedroom apartments to entice take up.

Asteco adds that in order to stimulate demand for completed properties and increase sales activity in this sector, the UAE Central Bank would need to relax their LTV ratios to make home ownership more accessible to a large proportion of the local and overseas population, but there is no indication this is about to happen.

Looking back over 2016 and 2017, the analysis says there was a significant amount of

new project launches and deliveries resulting in moderate but steady declines in sales prices and rental rates.

Tenants and Investors drove the market as more and more people looked for value for money options, which resulted in affordable developments outperforming luxury accommodation in terms of sales activity.

At the same time, the number and range of incentives increased as Landlords tried to retain

tenants and increase take-up and developers increasingly offered smaller, off-plan units at lower price points with flexible post-completion payment plans.

As a result home ownership has become more accessible to people who were previously unable to jump on the property ladder due to high down payments. This resulted in a drop in demand for completed properties.

Source : propertywire I

Dubai Property Market Forecast

making homeownership affordable had kicked off.

“The NMRC’s key role is to make homeownership a reality through providing funds for mortgage lenders so they can make mortgages a reality for lenders,” he added.

Yet, the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP) represents another initiative at making home- ownership affordable. Through the NHFP, initiated by the Federal Government and being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the World Bank’s International Development Association loan, mortgage financing will receive a boost.

The Managing Director, Homebase Mortgage Bank Limited, Dr. Femi Johnson, said stakeholders in the housing and mortgage industry were working assiduously to create an enabling environment for housing finance; this is to ensure that more people are able to own homes with ease of financing and also ensure that houses were available at the right prices. This effort is also inclusive of making mortgages available at the right interest rates and tenor, with issues of title transfers, foreclosures and the rights of tenants protected.

Johnson, who is also a Board member of the NMRC, said another of such laudable steps that has been taken to actualise this dream is the My Own Home scheme. The initiative is being executed through the NMRC, mortgage guarantee/insurance scheme and housing microfinance scheme components of the NHFP. Giving further explanation on the scheme and how it works, Johnson narrated: “The first aspect of the scheme is mortgage where the NMRC plays a very active role; the second is the mortgage guarantee scheme, which is about to be launched by the CBN. This stage is essentially an insurance, which allows people that cannot afford the minimum 20 per cent equity contribution for mortgage to contribute five per cent and get a loan of up to 95 per cent. It is an innovative tool that is being used in other climes’’.

He further explained that the other aspect, which is anchored by microfinance banks, is that of the housing microfinance for people at the end of the ladder. This category is for building incrementally.

And the scheme seems headed for success.

“Before the NMRC, the longest loan we gave was for five years even if usually our loans were for two years; but now, we give 20-year loan as a standard and what it means is that people are not under so much pressure to repay; they can spread their repayment over a long period and more people can now afford it. The NMRC takes bond from the mortgage market for 15 years and we lend for 20 years and such mortgages are very prevalent in the market today,” Johnson explained. These initiatives, Johnson believes, have led to an increased confidence in the mortgage industry.

LASG shuts down more houses, arrests several others over illegal development

T

he Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, at the weekend shutdown eight more houses at Ebute Metta and Surulere areas of the state for illegal development of buildings.

The agency also arrested nine people found on site during the enforcement exercise carried out in collaboration with task force officials.

Last week, LABSCA had shutdown a Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and several buildings in Ajegunle area of the state.

The houses were shutdown at the weekend for illegal activities, ranging from not obtaining building permit, breaking government seals, adding additional floor without approval, among others. Some of the building shutdown were located at No.28 Adegbenro Street, Iwaya, Yaba for failing to obtain permit and breaking government’s seal; while another building on 2 Araoti Street was shutdown for adding additional floor to the existing three-storey

building without approval and for breaking government’s seal.A Gas Plant being constructed in a residential area on Borno Way, Ebute Metta was also shut for not being approved, while another four-storey building at 9 Coates Street, Ebute Metta was shutdown for adding the fourth floor without approval.

A house at No. 1, Rasak Balogun Street, Surulere was shutdown after it was illegally inhabited by squatters who paid money to live inside.

Over 40 people were evacuated from the building being used as a guest house. People evacuated from the buildings said they paid up to N20,000 monthly to live inside, even after the building was sealed in 2017 for being distressed.

One of the tenants, Beneta Joseph said she paid N20,000 monthly to live in the house and that she did not know that it had been sealed by government.

General Manager, LASBCA, Engr. Olalekan

Shodeinde said the law made it clear that before erecting a building, the developer must obtain a plan approval, which most of the buildings shutdown did not have.

He said all the buildings had been previously sealed, but lamented that their owners broke government’s seals to continue development illegally, which he described as a criminal offence punishable under the law.

Shodeinde, who was represented by Engr. Oyewole Ganiu, Head, Enforcement Department, LASBCA said the building at I Rasak Balogun Street was shutdown last year because it was distressed and that government did not want to lose any life.

He said the owner had been told to carry out integrity test on the property, but that he refused, adding that government was shocked that the building had been rented out to people as a guest house.

Source : Nigeriarealestatehub

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 26

Healthy Living Global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, says UNICEF

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he United Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that the global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world’s poorest countries.

UNICEF made this known in a report it issued yesterday in a new report on newborn mortality.

A statement issued by its Communication Specialist, Eva Hinds, however said the situation in Nigeria is improving but progress is very slow.

According to the statement, every year, 2.6 million newborns around the world do not survive their first month of life, adding that one million of them die the day they are born.

It said the report further stated that globally in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 births, while in high-income countries, that rate is 3 deaths per 1,000.

“While we have more than halved the number of deaths among children under the age of five in the last quarter century, we have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old,” said Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director. “Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly, we are failing the world’s poorest babies.”

The report noted that 8 of the 10 most dangerous places to be born are in sub-Saharan Africa, where pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance during delivery due to poverty, conflict and weak institutions. “With

the newborn mortality rate of 29 deaths per 1,000 births, the global estimates rank Nigeria as the 11th highest on newborn deaths.”

Meanwhile, in the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the Government of Nigeria in 2016/17, the rate of newborn deaths per 1000 births is 37. This national average hides the differences between the 36 states and the slow progress in some of them.

“A fair chance in life begins with a strong, healthy start. Unfortunately, many children in Nigeria are still deprived of this,” said Mohamed M Fall, UNICEF Nigeria’s Representative.

“MICS data tells us that the trend is improving but urgent action needs to be taken for Nigeria to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. It cannot afford to fail its newborns today.”

The statement also said more than 80 per cent of newborn deaths are due to prematurity, asphyxia, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.

These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits as well as delivery at a health facility, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition.

However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands don’t receive the life-saving support they need to survive.

The statement added that UNICEF this month, launch a global campaign tagged “Every Child Alive” to demand and deliver solutions on

behalf of the world’s newborns.”

Through the campaign, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, health care providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses to keep every child alive by: “Recruiting, training, retaining and managing sufficient numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives with expertise in maternal and newborn care.

Guaranteeing clean, functional health facilities equipped with water, soap and electricity, within the reach of every mother and baby. Making it a priority to provide every mother and baby with the life-saving drugs and equipment needed for a healthy start in life; and empowering adolescent girls, mothers and families to demand and receive quality care”.

National hospital received 2nd cancer treatment machine

T

he National Hospital, has taken delivery of the second Radiotherapy machine for Cancer treatment, yesterday in Abuja.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director, Media and Public Relations, in the ministry of health, Boade Akinola, said the Elekta machine for Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is made up of several components to be coupled and installed soon.

It said the Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital, Dr. Jeff Momoh, said the Abuja Radiotherapy centre would be the only

centre in West Africa running two Linear accelerators at the same time. This, the CMD explained, was to avoid running down the 1st machine which has currently treated over 200 patients.

Describing the arrival of the 2nd machine as a major breakthrough for the country, the CMD said its installation would further check medical tourism as patients who travelled abroad for cancer treatment would return home to receive treatment at the centre.

In his words, “A cancer patient has returned

from India for treatment at the centre and we will soon see patients from other sub-regions receiving cancer treatment in the hospital because with the state of the art equipment available, it will be the best Cancer treatment centre in West Africa” Commending the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, for seeing to the delivery of the machine, Dr. Momoh informed that the procurement of the second machine was made possible by the unflinching commitment of the Minister who had earlier made a pledge to

the hospital in that regards.

According to Momoh, similar machines would soon be installed in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.

On the maintenance and optimum functionality of the Cancer machine, the CMD said the Hospital has fully trained the First set of Nigerians on the maintenance and supervision of the Linear Accelerator under the supervision of Engr. Ikede John, a Deputy Director in the National Hospital, Abuja, to ensure its proper use.

Existing drug effective at preventing onset of type 1 diabetes in 60% of patients

A

drug commonly used to control high blood pressure may also help prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes in up to 60 percent of those at risk for the disease, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The study was published online this week in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

“This is the first personalized treatment for type 1 diabetes prevention,” said Aaron Michels, MD, a researcher at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes and associate professor of medicine at CU Anschutz. “We made this discovery using a supercomputer, on the lab bench, in mice and in humans.”

The drug, methyldopa, has been used for over 50 years to treat high blood pressure in pregnant women and children. It is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential drugs.

But like many drugs used for one condition, Michels and his colleagues found it useful for something totally unrelated.

Some 60 percent of people at risk of getting type 1 diabetes possess the DQ8 molecule which significantly increases the chance of getting the disease. The researchers believed that if they could block specifically the DQ8 molecule they could also block the onset of the disease.

“All drugs have off-target effects. If you take too much acetaminophen you can hurt your liver,” Michels said. “We took every FDA approved small molecule drug and analyzed HLA-DQ8 binding through a supercomputer.

We searched a thousand orientations for each drug to identify those that would fit within the DQ8 molecule binding groove.”

After running thousands of drugs through the supercomputer, they found that methyldopa not only blocked DQ8, but it didn’t harm the immune function of other cells like many immunosuppressant drugs do.

The research spanned 10 years and its efficacy was shown in mice and in 20 type 1 diabetes patients who took part in a clinical trial at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes at the University of Colorado School

of Medicine.

“We can now predict with almost 100 percent accuracy who is likely to get type 1 diabetes,” Michels said. “The goal with this drug is to delay or prevent the onset of the disease among those at risk.”

The drug is taken orally, three times a day.

Michels and fellow researcher David Ostrov, PhD, hope this same approach of blocking specific molecules can be used in other diseases.

“This study has significant implications for treatment of diabetes and also other autoimmune diseases,” said Ostrov, associate professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Center for NeuroGenetics.

“This study suggests that the same approach may be adapted to prevent autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and others.”

The next step will be a larger clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in spring.

“With this drug, we can potentially prevent up to 60 percent of type 1 diabetes in those at risk for the disease,” Michels said. “This is very significant development.”

The other authors of the study include: Aimon Alkanani of the Barbara Davis Center at CU Anschutz; Kristen McDaniel of the Barbara Davis Center; David Ostrov of the University of Florida in Gainesville; Stephanie Case of the Barbara Davis Center; Erin Baschal of the Barbara Davis Center; Laura Pyle of the Barbara Davis Center and Colorado School of Public Health; Sam Ellis of the Barbara Davis Center and Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy at CU Anschutz; Bernadette Pollinger at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland; Katherine Seidl at Novartis; Viral Shah at the Barbara Davis Center; Satish Garg at the Barbara Davis Center; Mark Atkinson at the University of Florida and Peter Gottlieb at the Barbara Davis Center.

Source: Science Daily

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVANCEMENT OF BEHAVIOUR 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.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. CHINWEDU LINA AJURU - PRESIDENT /CHAIRMAN. 2. CHINYERE MERCY OKPARA - SECRETARY. 3. MR. EZENWA RUFUS NWOSU. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED, DISABLED AND HOMELESS IN THE SOCIETY THROUGH FEEDING PROGRAMMES AND CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITY. 2. TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDING LESS PRIVILEGED WIDOWS IN THE SOCIETY. 3. TO EMPOWER YOUTH WITH SKILLS FOR SELF RELIANCE. 4. TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED, THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

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.

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.

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

ASSOCIATION FOR AJORO OMO ODUDUWA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.BALOGUN YISHAU BABATUNDE 2.BALOGUN HAUWA DANJUMA 3.ABDUL KABIR ADEYINKA ADEWOYE 4.ADEYEMI SIKIRU KAYODE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.To promote Yoruba culture and languages.

2.To create awareness on the use of dialect amongst indigenes of ODUDUWA. 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

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.OLUWATOSIN ADEJOKE ALLI 2.ADEYINKA SAHEED AJALA 3.AYODELE CAROLINE ALUKO 4.AFOWOWE OMOLOLA MARGRET THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.POVERTY ALLEVIATION INITIATIVES.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.UKOHA UFERE CHIKA 2.OSUJI IFEYINWA GENEVIEVE BUILDING

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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.

THROUGH

CAPACITY

SIGNED : SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association CAC/IT/RC/NO. 8858

CECILIA KOLAWA AKINBOHUN FOUNDATION FOR WIDOWS AND FATHERLESS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REMOVAL AND AMENDMENT OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Rev. Reuben Ezemadu (old chairman- reappoint as trustee alone) 2. Bro. Peter Ozoda (remove) 3. Rev Nicholas Osameyan (old secretar- remove) 4. Rev. Olu Peters (remove) 5. Bro. Moses Osho (remove) 6. Rev. Emma Onorfurho THE TRUSTEES ARE : 7. Rev. Panya Baba (remove) 1. Rev. David Kanda TRUSTEES AFTER CHANGE 2.Rev. James Bayo Famonure 1. Rev. David Kanda 3. Mr. Gabriel Barau 2. Rev. James Bayo Famonure 4. Rev. Dr. William Okoye 3. Mr. Gabriel Barau (new secretary) 5. Rev. Timothy Olonade 4. Rev. Dr. William Okoye 5. Rev. Emma Onofurho (new chairman) 6. Rev. Reuben E. Ezemadu 7. Rev. Timothy Olonade AMENDMENT OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : C.K Wami, Esq.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.AKINBOHUN JEROME ADETUTU 2.AKINBOHUN ADETOLA OMOLARA 3.SALVADOR TAOFEEK OLASENI 4.OSA DANIEL SOLOMON 5.AYINDE OLAYINKA OMOLADE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO HELP THE LESS-PRIVILEGE AND TO CATER FOR THE WIDOWS. 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

HARUNA JOHN FOUNDATION CAC / IT/RC/NO:55972

CHRIST FOUNDATION POWER HOUSE

KHAN 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.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Pastor Olatunji Temidayo Jerome - Chairman 2 Onyeije Ngozi Edmund - Secretary 3 Asika Chidinmma Florence THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst the mankind.

2. To foster love, peace and Unity amongst the members and the general public.

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. Awhinawhi Joseph oghenetega (Chairman) 2. Opemipo Sotiloye (Secretary) 3.Bowofade Elegbede 4. Olaoluwa Ajoni

SIGNED : Mark Chidi Agbo, Esq. 0804457788

SIGNED :TRUSTEES

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To help the less privilege in Nigeria through spreading education.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REMOVAL, ADDITION AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Jennesse Haruna -----Retained 2.Opeyemi Joan Haruna ----Removed 3.Jesse Haruna ----Removed THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Aisha Tosan ----Appointed 2.Yemi Dada ----Appointed 3.Enoch kanawa ----Appointed 4.Benedict Uzor ----Appointed 5.Jennesse Haruna ----Appointed 6.Olayinka Haruna ----Appointed THE CONSTITUTION IS HEREBY AMENDED ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : Jennesse Haruna

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

PAGE 28

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

JESUS SAVES SOULS GLOBAL MINISTRY

AFRICAN UNION STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Ginger Golf Resort club Kachia

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.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ASEMOTA PECULIAR MARY 2. NWEKE NNAMDI PETER 3. ASAOLU TUNJI JOHN 4. OMOAKHIA HARRY OSIKWUEMHE

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. PASTOR ELIJAH ONAH, 2 MOSES AWURU, 3 Elizabeth odeh 4 Ezekiel Auru 5.Ona Daniel Odeh THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ..

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO SERVE AS THE UMBRELLA BODY FOR STUDENT. 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

IGBO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION - IT NO. 666O8

MR & MISS CHRIST AMBASSADORS FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF THEIR CONSTITUTION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT- I99O.

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pst Abraham Daniel (Chairman) 2. Elizabeth Iorlamen (Secretary) 3. Albert Loma Odama.(Treasurer) 4. Victor Ezekiel 5. Enoch Ayenajeyi Bawa 6. Mrs Chioma Lilian Chigozie, 7. Stephen Ameh, 8. Mathew Elojo Attah 9. Martins Oruma.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote Christian social activities Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: I. DR GODWIN IFEANYI UDIBE 2. AFOEKELU CHIKE THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: I. PROF. GREGORY IYKE IBE 2. ONYEBUCHI CYPRIAN OBETA ESQ ANY OBJECTION TO THIS change 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 : ONYEBUCHI OBETA ESQ. ABUJA O8O3654I064

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

DAYO SANNI FOUNDATION

GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS.

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Sanni Adedayo Olamide- chairman 2.Sanni Opeoluwa 3. Sanni Ismail Akorede- Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Emmanuel Omeiza Shadrach...... Chairman 2. Deborah Justin Ajayi.... Secretary 3. Oluwafemi Oloyede Adegboyega 4. Jibril Onoru-Oiza Abu

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To provide financial aid and scholarship to secondary school and university students who dropped out of school due to lack of fund.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

CINEMA OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF BORNO This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) ABUBAKAR KYARI chairman (2) SHEHU INUWA secretary (3) SHERIFF ABUBAKAR (4) ALI NASIR MOHAMMED (5) WAZIRI ISA THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote film and football competitions among members across the nation.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

The Aim and Objective: 1. TO GIVE VOICE AND JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE AND HUMANITY UNDER THE RELEVANT LAWS. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.. Colonel DE Amego -- chairman 2. Commodore Danjuma Dogonyaro -- vice chairman 3. Christantus Ebeden -- member 4. James Adeyemi -- Secretary 5. Colonel AJ Anetor -- member 6. Captain (NN) James Otache -- member 7. Samuel Akau -- member 8. Solomon Maigida -- member 9. Jelili Safiu -- Treasurer THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To promote unity among members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

musa

I, formerly known as haladu musa yartofa now wish to be known and addressed as musa haladu shaibu. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

aliyu

I, formerly known as aliyu umar mohd now wish to be known and addressed as aliyu umar muhammad. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

loss of Document I INUWA ADAMU KURNA DO HEREBY MAKE OATH AND STATE AS FOLLOWS THAT IAM THE DECLARANT HEREIN AND ONE OF THE ESTATE OF LATE ALH. ADAMU MUSTAPHA WHO DIED SOMETIMES IN THE YEAR 1999 THAT DECEASED IS THE LEGAL AND RIGHTFUL OWNER OF PLOT NO.3298 SITUATET AT KOFAR WAIKA QUARTERS IN GWALE LOCAL GOVERMENT OF KANO STATE THAT THE TITLE DOCUMENTS COVERING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE SAID PLOT GOT LOST AND ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE SOME PROVE ABORTIVE THAT I THEREFORE WANT AUTHORITY CONCERNED TO TAKE NOTE.

loss of Document This is to inform the general public of the LOSS OF ORIGINAL OFFER OF STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY in respect of Plot No. 1782, Cadastral Zone B O8 Jahi, Abuja with file No. KD 2133 and New File No. KD 20023, measuring 1,242.00 sqm bearing AMINU GARBA. All effort made to trace the said missing document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station. General public please take note. signed : AMINU GARBA

loss of Document

loss of Document

This is to inform the general public of loss of Original offer Terms of Grant/ Conveyance of Approval in the respect of Plot No. 1354 measuring about 1,500sqm, dated 09/04/02 with New file No. 10024 situated at Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse district Abuja.

All effort made to trace the original document proved abortive. If found please return it to the nearest Police Station or AGIS.

This is to infoem THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF DOCUMRNT BELONGING TO mrs haleema alhassan IN RESPECT OF shop document, no. a4 on 22nd september, 1977 at wuse zone 3 nebour hood centre. All effort made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station. General public please take note.

Khadija

I, formerly known as Khadija Abubakar Now wish to be known and addressed as Khadija Aliyu. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

CHINASA

I, formerly known as CHINASA OKORIE Now wish to be known and addressed as CHINASA CHIDOZIE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE

BETTER LIFE CHRISTIAN GATHERING MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. AMAECHI EMMANUEL DELIGHT-PRESIDENT 2. AMAECHI JESSIE -VICE PRESIDENT 3. KONDO STELLA -TREASURER 4. IWARA MOSES EBRI-SECRETARY THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : BARR. TEMITOPE DUYILEMI 07033772011

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHINWENDU LINA AJURU FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. CHINWENDU LINA AJURU - PRESIDENT /CHAIRMAN. 2. CHINYERE MERCY OKPARA - SECRETARY. 3. MR. EZENWA RUFUS NWOSU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED, DISABLED AND HOMELESS IN THE SOCIETY THROUGH FEEDING PROGRAMMES AND CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITY. 2. TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDING LESS PRIVILEGED WIDOWS IN THE SOCIETY. 3. TO EMPOWER YOUTH WITH SKILLS FOR SELF RELIANCE. 4. TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED, THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRATION-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED.: SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

United Christian redeemed chapel.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Pastor Pius Obi Boniface - General Overseer.

2. Evang. Pius Eucharia Ogechukwu - Secretary Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the word of God. 2. To win souls and reaching the lost all over the world.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

OGBUESE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ASSOCIATION UMUSIOME NKPOR

UMUWOR YOUNG WIVES EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE.

OTORIRRI OIL AND GAS LOCATIONS LANDLORDS 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. CHIEDOZIE AMECHI. 2. UDEZUE POLLYCAP 3. KINGSLEY ANYAELE 4. AMAECHI EMEBOZOR 5. STEPHEN NWOSU 6. GABRIEL OGBOGU 7. ANENE NWONU 8. VINCENT AMUTA. The Aim And Objectives: 1.TO PROMOTE UNITY, PEACE, LOVE AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : CHIEDOZIE AMECHI.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Living Good Organization

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.

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.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. NGBANWA NWANYIBUNWA BENEDICTA - CHAIRMAN 2. MAGWAI AUGUSTINE 3. ASHIMEDUA MICHEAL 4. OKONKWO NNAMDI NAPS 5. ADIGWE ANGELA CHIEDU - SECRETARY 6. NWANI CHRIS 7. OKONKWO PHILOMENA ADAOYIBO 8. OBANYA MARGARET EBEHIREME. The Aim And Objective: 1. To foster Unity among members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : NGBANWA NWANYIBUNWA BENEDICTA - CHAIRMAN

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IKIBE PAUL OMANUDHOWHO (PRESIDENT) 2. OGWEDHO ISRAEL(vice president) 3. OKORO GREGORY MICHEAL(secretary) 4. AJOVO ATEMEJOYO ETEGHOVE 5. ODUEME GODSPOWER 6. OSO BENERD 7. OTUAGA UZUAZOEFE The Aim And Objectives 1. TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Ofumbongha-yala sand and gravel dealers 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.

SIGNED : IKIBE PAUL OMANUDHOWHO (PRESIDENT)

Child is Gold 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.

The Aim and Objectives 1. To promote/protect the interest of members.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Elizabeth Rike James -Chairman.

2. Usman Napoleon Daniel.

3. Bedwom Deborah Elias.

4. Kasai Jesse Arung.

5. Kuluuwamsu Elsy Yohana - Secretary THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. Protecting the rights of children.

2. Helping vulnerable Children.

3. Creating awareness on the rights of children.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

EPHPHATHA POWER MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

THE WILL & HIS GRACE CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM CHURCH WORLDWIDE

WORLD-CLASS REDEMPTION CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Mr. Nathaniel Ayomonekha - President 2. Pharm.Odion Akhilome - Secretary 3. Pharm.Ogungbemi Olufemi Stephen - Treasurer The Aims and Objectives: 1. To carry out legal activities that will improve the living conditions of the people.

2 To assist the less privileged by providing succor for them.

3. To educate and sensitize the masses on the need for the need for better living conditions for sustainable 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 : Mr .Anthony Ayomonekha president

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. YAKUBU MUSA BALA 2. CALEB PETER DIAH 3. VINCENT JUMI

- PRESIDENT - SECRETARY

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: i. Preaching the word of God. ii. Setting the captives free from satanic bondages. iii. Reaching out to the unreached.

Helping the poor, orphans and widows.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Emem Sunday - chairman 2. Ekem David peter - secretary 3. Cornelius ajah abeng - treasurer 4. Edim Bassey Ekam.

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HASSAN NATHANIEL OLUWOLE 2. NATHANIEL PAUL 3. OLUWANIMODIMU JULIUS SUNDAY 4. ALBERT OLORUNFEMI 5. OSANYINTILE FRANCIS OLUSEGUN 6. NATHANIEL PETER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Senior Pastor Desmond Idegun 2) Deaconess Jane Desmond 3) Bro. Sunday Richard 4) Bro. Tony Iyere 5) Mrs. Grace Anthony THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

wednesday, february 21, 2018

Lagos has capacity to host FIFA tournaments Ambode

Eagles against Messi at 2014 World Cup

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agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has said that the State has the capacity to host international football tournaments and use sports as a tool to showcase its rich tourism, hospitality and entertainment culture.

Governor Ambode, who spoke when he received the President of the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino and his team on a courtesy visit to the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, said the population, soccer enthusiasm and the tourism potentials that abound in the State are indicators to the fact that the State has the enabling environment to receive any FIFA projects in Nigeria.

The Governor, while welcoming the choice of Lagos as the host city of the FIFA Executive Committee Summit, said it would present a great opportunity for the State to showcase its huge investment in football development especially for youths and women.

He also expressed confidence that the FIFA President and his team, after the

visit, would consider Lagos favourably to host a FIFA competition, while also pledging support for events by the world’s football governing body.

“I want to say that we are so excited that Lagos is playing host to the FIFA Executive Summit, we would be the second African city that would be hosting this kind of meeting and we are excited that you decided that Lagos would host it.

“It is very important for us because soccer is big in Lagos and we are able to show you the kind of facilities and things that football can actually do to us as a nation. I believe strongly that your hosting this meeting in Lagos portends greater potentials for us in Lagos; we are very strong on youth development and youth soccer development and also soccer development for women.

Governor Ambode who also spoke at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF/ Aiteo) Awards held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, said that partnering with the NFF for the hosting of the award was also a privilege to showcase the Lagos as

the emerging sports hub for Africa.

“What we are saying to the world through these partnerships and our other sports programs like the Lagos City Marathon, International Table Tennis Federation Nigeria Open, the Lagos International Sports Classics in Squash Racquet, Badminton and Taekwondo is that Lagos is ready to host the world; and use sports as a tool to showcase our rich tourism, hospitality and entertainment culture,” he said.

Earlier, the FIFA President said he was in Lagos with his team, not only for the FIFA Executive Committee Summit, but also to discuss with the NFF on the possibility of developing some projects in the country.

He commended Governor Ambode for his administration’s investment in the development of football, describing it as excellent.

“It is for me a pleasure and honour to be here today in Lagos to meet you; I know you are a great football fan. You’re more than a football fan, a lover of football and

that’s why I needed the meeting to hold in Lagos.

“We are here on one side to discuss with NFF a few projects on Nigeria football and how we can work together with CAF as well to improve football, even though you don’t need it because your football is already excellent, but one can always try and do something more and other projects we would discuss with the Nigerian FA. In addition to this, I would like to thank you for welcoming us for the FIFA Executive Committee Summit,” he said.

Infantino who was accompanied by the Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura and CAF President, Mr. Ahmad Ahmad said the Summit, which would bring yesterday, would feature top executives and General Secretaries from 15 to 20 Football Associations from Europe, North America, Central America and also Africa adding that it was part of FIFA’s new democratic system to discuss with stakeholders on the future of global football.

Moses, Oshoala triumphant at AITEO -NFF Awards

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 21, 2018

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Basketball: D’Tigers not afraid of Mali at FIBA World Cup

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he assistant coach of D’Tigers Abdulrahman Mohammed, Nigeria’s senior male national basketball team, is unfazed about the threat of hosts of this weekend’s 2018 FIBA World cup qualifier series, Mali.

Despite admitting the threat posed to the team by the host, the coach is confident that the team can repeat their 2017 FIBA Afrobasket feat having defeated the same opposition by 90 points to 67 when they met at the group stage.

Speaking on the strength of opposition to be expected from Rwanda, Uganda and Mali, he said, “Mali is the biggest threat for us. I know we are better than Uganda while I know that Rwanda is going to come up with a few tricks but we are well prepared and we just see out it goes.”

He explained that home advantage will play a major role when they face Mali on Sunday.

“I think Mali will be our biggest opposition because they are also a big basketball nation and they are playing at home and that is going to go a long way in giving them a little edge over us.”

The Coach who led Gombe Bulls to their first ever continental outing last season however ruled out any form of pressure on the team irrespective of the results recorded when they start their campaign on Friday against Uganda.

“It’s a long qualification series. It’s not as if when we lose, we are knocked out of the stage but I don’t see us losing to Mali regardless of the fact that they

are playing at home. If we get our players in and we play our game, we are going to beat Mali on their home court.”

Head coach of the side, Alex Nwora will hope to start the world cup qualification campaign on a winning note when they face Uganda on Friday before meeting Rwanda on Saturday.

With the foreign-based players already reporting straight to Bamako, the Nigerian contingent will depart Nigeria few days to the games to team up with their mates.

Going by recent records, D’Tigers is expected to enjoy an easy ride against less fancied side like Rwanda who only managed just a win in their group at the 2017 Afrobasket where they finished 10th out of the 16 participating teams.

For Uganda, despite starting on a strong note against Angola which they eventually lost to in overtime, they were not able to win any of their group games as they limped to a 13th place finish.

Mali who were grouped alongside Nigeria at the tournament finished 9th.

D’Tigers

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Moses, Oshoala triumphant at AITEO -NFF Awards

By Albert Akota

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helsea of England and Super Eagles’ ace Victor Moses and reigning African Woman Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala were among the winners at a hugely entertaining inaugural edition of the AITEO-NFF Football Awards at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, with his retinue of cabinet members and senior aides, joined Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Ahmad, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, a couple of former governors, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, AITEO and NFF bigwigs, NFF Congress members, presidents of 17 Member Associations of FIFA, industry chieftains, political movers, legends of Nigerian Football, media owners and heavyweights and foremost artistes to witness a spectacle at Eko Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

Ambode declared that his government was determined to continue to support worthy sporting projects, with an eye on extensive sports tourism that could have major economic impact on the “fifth largest economy in the African continent” and make Lagos a sports hub of gargantuan proportion.

NFF President Pinnick praised President Muhammadu Buhari (GCON) for creating the enabling environment for sports to thrive

again, and Infantino and the FIFA and CAF hierarchies for tremendous support to the Nigeria game.

AITEO’s Deputy Managing Director Francis Peters, in obvious elation, said: “The amazing power of football to heal wounds, enrich the gifted and entertain the majority is the reason why AITEO, Africa’s leading energy solution company, is investing in the game.

We remain grateful to the Nigeria Football Federation for giving us the opportunity to begin charity at home.

We also praise the leadership of the Confederation of African Football for providing us with the platform to be part of the continental terrain.

“AITEO is an organization that is committed to the vision of every African realizing his potential, whether they be in football or some other profession, and our operating business principle revolves round encouraging and empowering the teeming youth population of this country, and of this continent, to take their destiny in their own hands and aim for the very top.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Olusade Adesola commended the NFF leadership for institutionalizing “a project that will reward and encourage Nigerian footballers and in turn inspire their commitment and sense of patriotism to national assignments,” while Gianni was delighted by the presence of Nigerian legends, insisting they are also legends of world football.

Other winners on the night included Super Falcons’ star

Football is more than religion in Nigeria – FIFA President believe

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IFA President Gianni Infantino has described Nigeria as a country with unquantifiable passion and love for football, and where football is more than a religion.

“I was told that in Nigeria football is passion, but it is a lie because it is more than that. In Nigeria I was told that football is love, but it is a lie it is more than that.

“In Nigeria, I was told that football is a religion, but it is a lie.

It is more than that. In Nigeria, football is life,” he said in Lagos.

Infantino spoke at the maiden edition of the AITEO-NFF Awards, which was organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and bankrolled by oil giants AITEO Group.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event held at the Eko Hotels and Suites saw Chelsea FC winger Victor Moses winning the “Player of the Year” award.

Speaking also at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, pledged his administration’s continued support to football and sports in general.

“We will continue to give our

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unrelenting support to football and sports in general, I want to assure the President of FIFA that whenever he is coming back, Lagos will be considered to host a FIFA tournament,’’ he said.

In his address, the Deputy Managing Director of AITEO Group, Francis Peters, said the oil conglomerate was happy to be part of football history in Nigeria in good times.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick, on his part, said the awards night was to celebrate Nigerian legends for their contributions to the development of football in the country.

He also said football administration was a journey and not a destination, adding “therefore, there must be a conscious effort to minimise errors for fear of losing the opportunity.

“In Nigeria, football is a way of life and everybody is a coach.

So, we need to be very careful.

Football teaches us ethics and how to live a normal life,” Pinnick said.

NAN reports that Moses got the award and recognition for his stellar performances for the national team, the Super Eagles,

en route their qualification for Russia 2018.

He was an integral part of the side during the historic qualification matches where he played in four of the six matches scoring three goals in the process.

Moses also helped his Chelsea side reclaim the English Premier League title in the 2016/2017 season where he featured in 40 games.

The 27-year old also got CAF’s recognition by being among the nominees for CAF’s Player of the Year award eventually won by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

To win the AITEO-NFF award, he beat competition from Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Lobi Stars’ Anthony Okpotu.

NAN reports that other winners at the awards include Rasheedat Ajibade who claimed the “Player of the Year (Women)’’ award and Ikouwon Udoh who emerged “Young Player of the Year (Women)’’.

Ann Chiejine won the “Coach of the Year (Women)’’ award, while MFM FC’s midfielder Sikiru Olatunbosun took the “Goal of the Year’’ award.

Remo Stars FC won the Fair Play award, while the “Coach

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino with NFF President, Amaju Pinnick of the Year (Men)’’ award went to Kennedy Boboye, coach of 2017/2018 NPFL champions Plateau United FC of Jos.

Victor Moses Rasheedat Ajibade, Enyimba’s FC’s Ikouwem Udoh, Ann Chiejine, Kennedy Boboye, Plateau United FC, Elkanemi Warriors FC Fans, Remo Stars FC, Channels Television and MFM FC’s Sikiru Olatubosun.

Universally –acknowledged dancer Kaffy, Miss Vee from Ghana and Nigerian raves Patoranking, Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks and Falz thrilled the audience as Mimi Fawaz and A-list stand –up comedian Mr. Bovi compered.

At the end, former Nigeria captain Olusegun Odegbami declared: “This is highly fulfilling. An Awards ceremony of this nature has been long overdue, but it is not surprising that the present NFF administration that has been taking giant strides and instituting a level and scope of development never before seen in Nigerian Football is the one to finally make this happen.

“On behalf of all generations, male and female, young and old, I salute the NFF and wish them the very best in their journey to take Nigerian Football to new levels of excellence.”

AWARD WINNERS Young Player of the Year (Women): Rasheedat Ajibade Young Player of the Year (Men): Ikouwem Udoh Fair Play Award: Remo Stars FC Fans of the Season: El-Kanemi Warriors FC Fans Coach of the Year (Women): Ann Chiejine Coach of the Year (Men): Kennedy Boboye Goal of the Year: Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC) Team of the Season: Plateau United FC NFF Development Award: Channels Television (Channels Kids’ Cup) Legends Eleven: Ann Chiejine, Austin Eguavoen, Felix Owolabi, Nwankwo Kanu, Christian Chukwu, Uche Okechukwu, Segun Odegbami, Mercy Akide-Udoh, Thompson Usiyen, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Adokiye Amiesimaka Special Recognition: Nigeria’s 1973 All-Africa Games Gold Medallists Platinum Award: Gianni Infantino

QUOTABLE QUOTE

. . . putting the people first

Wednesday, february 21, 2018

“Chief Obasanjo said that President Buhari is selective in his anti-corruption war. I agree with him because if the president were not selective, Chief Obasanjo himself would be in the dock today on trial on charges of corruption arising from the corrupt practices in the pursuit of his third term gambit in the national assembly in 2006” —Senator Abdullahi Adamu

SPORTS Blame it all on failed institutions latest

Konta beats Pavlyuchenkova at Dubai Duty Free Championships

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ritish number one Johanna Konta reached the last 16 of the Dubai Duty Free Championships with a straight-set win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Konta, the world number 12 and seventh seed, beat the Russian 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to become the first British woman to win a main-draw match at the tournament.

The 26-year-old will play Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the next round.

Kvitova beats Muguruza to win title at Qatar Open

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etra Kvitova will return to the world’s top 10 after recording her 13th consecutive victory by beating Garbine Muguruza to win the Qatar Open.

The Czech 16th seed came from a set down in Doha to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 for her second title of 2018 after triumphing in St Petersburg two weeks ago.

Kvitova, 27, is continuing her comeback following six months out after a knife attack at her home in December 2016.

Victory seemed unlikely after Kvitova lost the first five games of the match, then gave up break points in three separate services games in the second set.

However, Muguruza could not convert and Kvitova broke the Spaniard to edge ahead 4-2.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: business: news: lagos:

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he war on corruption championed by the president Muhammadu Buhari led administration has suffered countless setbacks despite his courage against stacked odds of gluttonous officials, and failed institutions.

A combination of crafty few, faulty institutions has indeed undermined Buhari’s change effort and corruption war.

Buhari will be remembered for his change mantra, but that’s how far it may go amidst calls to “change the change”. It is instructive however to note that war against corruption is not reserved for Nigerians alone, the fight has gone round Africa.

Jammeh, Mugabe, Zuma, many more have been edged out to propagate a corruption free system, which has been the bane of the continent. How this could happen in the future in Nigeria, will has to be within the context of vibrant, workable institutions.

What many Nigerians have failed to realize is the fact that our institutions are failed - I am talking about social, political and economic structures. Failure of the system has affected Nigeria in the area of progress, development and economic growth. For ordinary Nigerians, it has killed the spirit of patriotism, common sense, collective developmental aspiration. For the political class, it has made them all powerful, invisible, untouchable even almighty. They have been able to condition an average Nigerian to belong to a side of broadly split ethno-religious platforms, which makes it easy for the leadership class to gain votes, services, taxes and votes.

With taxpayers monies in the pockets of politicians, the minds of the hungry majority is in their firm control. That is why a failed system may remain so to empower a few, constrict the majority.

War on corruption is not about unleashing agencies and commissions on people or groups, it should be about taking deliberate steps to strengthen existing institutions to encourage probity and accountability then, everything will fall in place.

We have lost count of monies recovered and suspected to have been re-looted by officials of this administration and those before it. We have seen so many corrupt officials arrested yet

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WEdnesDAY Column

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Israel A. Ebije ebijeo5@gmail.com or @ebijeisrael.com

money not recovered. Sadly, many Nigerians are willing to steal and go to jail because they are poor and hungry. The failed System has made the ruling class so powerful, while ordinary Nigerians are weaker, hungry and largely left to exist.

No change can be effected once the people are hungry, and find themselves groping in a system where infrastructures, medical care, education, job opportunities are not available.

We must accept we have faulty institutions, a society that celebrates mediocrity, bigotry sustained by ethnic fiefdom. We have to accept that our institutions will continue to underperform based on our hypocrisy as a people, while our leaders will continue to smile to the banks with ill-gotten wealth, enthrone stooges, recruit family and friends at the expense of service, competence and patriotism.

There is no competent system or institution to check the skewed appointments, employments and faulty executive policies.

Even the National Assembly couldn’t get Mr. President to sack the acting chairman of EFCC despite reports against him from DSS. The NHIS boss was recalled despite allegations against him are still under investigation. No strong institution to check executive excesses. Sadly, nobody sees all the anomalies as corruption because the masses have been

“

conditioned to think stealing money is the only act of corruption.

The system is so weak politically that politicians make a carrier out of it. Most of them have no other means of livelihood except hanging around the winning political platform, hence no conscience or commitment to a particular political party except their pockets. The ruling party at all times only waits for the right time to receive harvests of hungry opposition members.

Yesterday it was PDP, today it’s the turn of the APC to reap from the harvest of “internally displaced” politicians ahead of 2019. There is no internal democracy or rules set and respected against decamping.

Political parties are not anchored on ideologies. Every politician seeks relevance, which cuts into any party that can pay the bills. Followers are always available to clap their way to feed from the crumps, which the failed System has reduced them to on the food chain. Jacob Zuma was removed by his own political party, a party not afraid to confront him regardless of his effort at fighting against apartheid. How marked Naija?

A combination of a faulty system, bad leadership and mediocre/hypocritical populace simply encourages impunity.

Today it is Buhari, before him were leaders who were piloted

What many Nigerians have failed to realize is the fact that our institutions are failed - I am talking about social, political and economic structures. Failure of the system has affected Nigeria in the area of progress, development and economic growth. For ordinary Nigerians, it has killed the spirit of patriotism, common sense, collective developmental aspiration. For the political class, it has made them all powerful, invisible, untouchable even almighty.

on the wings of above-mentioned fault lines. That is the reason why it is no longer about Buharis performance but the number of people comfortable with him regardless of administrative ineptitude, which were identified by his colleague retirees (OBJ, IBB). For some, Buhari is their god on earth. Some see him as the holiest Muslim who cannot go wrong. His aides see him as the next meal ticket. The other broad divide sees him as the devil, the man brought in to destroy Nigeria. Still on the other divide, some feel he took the national cake from their mouths too early in 2015. A vibrant institution would have gone beyond mere talks, gossips, and cleavage based sentiments to address lapses and effect necessary changes.

For the system to work, good people must be voted into sensitive position of leadership. Nigerians who have common sense, commitment, competence, devotion to nation building must be given the chance.

People with integrity to serve Nigeria with zeal using logical, transparent and rational means to build an institution that will live gazillion years after them.

Finally, it is indeed instructive for every religion to stop being in competition with each other.

It’s a sign of failure on their God-given role to appeal for stability, peace and progress.

Politicians and political parties must eschew vengeance or zest for ill-gotten resources and seek service. Politics must never be a carrier opportunity and should never be sustained by failed institutions.

DAN GAYE

IPOB: Court orders separate trial of Kanu -News

Have they seen him?

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