Monday, September 23, 2019 Edition

Monday, September 23, 2019/ Muharram 23, 1441 AH Vol. 32 No. 055 N150

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The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Adamawa APC crisis: Boss Oil deal: Nigeria to Mustapha, Bindow, Ribadu earn $6.35bn in taxes, in peace pact royalties -NNPC >>>page 15

Army urges public to carry valid identification >>>page 5

>>>page 5

As it launches new B/Haram operation Police, Fulani leaders meet over clashes

Level of work on the Light Rail project by the Federal Government  from Lagos-Ibadan at Section 4, yesterday in Ido Local Government, Area, Oyo State. Photo: NAN

$9.6b P&ID saga: Nigerian delegation departs to UK -Malami N630m loan scam: Prosecute lawyers, bank officials, Reps order Police pAGE 7

El-Rufai halts demolition of 110 years old church pAGE 6

pAGE 2

Don’t practise polygamy, emir cautions poor Nigerians pAGE 4

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

News

CONTENTS $9.6 P&ID saga: Nigerian delegation departs to UK -Malami News 2-14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Feature Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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delegation from Nigeria has left to the United Kingdom to discuss with legal team on strategies to deal with the recent development regarding the P&ID contract

judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has disclosed.

According to the Minister “all cards are on table but it all depends on the beneficial that has potency for setting aside the award having

regards to the applicable law in the circumstances” The Minister made the disclosure while shedding light on the recent development as to whether the Nigerian delegation leaving for UK was to file a new case based on the new realities

about the contract or would build on the previous judgment.

Malami said no possibility is ruled out including “possibility of filling new case and or using existing proceedings to seek relief of setting aside the award (of the contract) cannot be ruled out”.

KCCN trains Nigerian youths in Korean paper handcrafts

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Korean Cultural Center in Nigeria (KCCN) at the weekend trained Nigerian youths in the processes of making domestic utilities and crafts using Hanji, also know as Korean paper.

During the event which was held to mark the monthly Korean cultural day by KCCN, five different Hanji craft items were designed by the students, including: pen holders, business card boxes, mirror, key trays, and jewelry boxes.

The participants numbering

about fifty, were drawn from the students offering different cultural programmes in the Center, including language, K-Pop dance, Taekwondo, among others.

At the event, the participants were exposed to the Hanji (Korean paper), and to the different crafts objects made with it. After this, they were required to make the objects of their choices using partly formed Hanji paper crafts.

In a news release issued by Lee Jin Su, who is the Director of Korean Cultural Center in Nigeria (KCCN), on the event which has the theme: Making Hanji Paper

Craft, he said the crafts making involves creativity, cutting, placement and gumming to give the desired results in forming objects.

According to the statement, “Hanji literally means Korean paper. It is a traditional Korean paper made from the inner bark of Mulberry tree.” He said also that Hanji crafts are every day products that come from Hanji.

“Hanji paper are surely durable and objects made from it are very elegant”, Lee Jin Su pointed out.

He said that the key point about

the event was to introduce the Korean Hanji paper to Nigerians, as a strategy to promote more cooperation between Nigeria and Republic of Korea.

Guests at the event went home with the craft objects that were made which could be applied to different domestic usage or at work.

Speaking after the training, the participants commended the KCCN for putting up such programme, saying it will go a long way to make people more creative and self-dependent through handcrafts.

Gov. Bello tasks media on professionalism, assures better relationship Page 4

Digest

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Feature

26

Sports 30-31 Back Page

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Numan communities attack: Adamawa police offers bounty on tips From Umar Dankano Yola

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he Adamawa state Police has announced that it will give ransom of financial benefit to any individual or group with useful information that can lead to the arrest of the cattle rustlers that attacked and killed innocent people in Shaforon and

Kudomti villages in Numan Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje disclosed the development in a mobile phone interview with our correspondent in Yola on Sunday.

Recall that in the early morning of Sunday, there was an attack on the two villages

which claimed two lives and left 6 people injured including a military personnel.

DSP Nguroje said the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Audu Adamu Wakili after redeployment of anti-riot mobile detachment instructed that those suspected cattle rustlers must be fished out no

matter what it takes within the confines of the law.

Nguroje added that the Command has packaged a reasonable amount of money for any one with useful information that leads to the apprehension of those suspected cattle rustlers.

Local sources at the villages said the attackers laid siege on

their targets until after 1:00am when they started shooting sporadically in all directions resulting to the gunning down of two villagers and injuring five others while trying to run for their dear lives in fear.

They said normalcy has however, been restored to the affected areas.

Lagos: RAOSA 91 set donates 100 furniture, others to school

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

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he Ransome Kuti Old Student Association , RAOSA, 91 set has donated student furniture to Ransome Kuti Memorial Junior and Senior Grammar School in Lagos.

Chairman of RAOSA, Mr. Olawale Martins, an Architect, during a brief ceremony at the school premises to commission the project said the gesture was a way of giving back to the school.

While speaking during the commissioning, he called on the students of the school to put the furniture into good use and not damage them.

Some of the items donated to the school includes: 100 units of students furniture, furniture and six units of magic marker board.

Architect Martins said, ‘’Between the time we came into the school and now, we realised that a lot has changed. Changes that cannot be taken as normal standard of education has taken place. ‘’Our set started this school when it was newly built but what we are seeing today is not what we started with and not what we could say about education. As old student association, we’ve seen poverty in education and we want to alleviate the poverty in

our educational system through this items we are giving out to the school today. ‘’We want to use this opportunity to call on the students of the school to put this items into good use and not damage them. I remember during our own time, we don’t

damage school property’’.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Christiana Dosumu, who received the items on behalf of the school said RAOSA 91 set has given back to the school in a big way.

She said she is overwhelmed by the gesture of old students of

91 set.

Also, the Principal of the junior school, who spoke at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Afolabi Olawale, said the furniture will go a long way to motivate the teachers to do more in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He assured RAOSA 91 set that the furniture will be well taken care of.

President of RAOSA, Kingsley Muoneke, who was present at the event said the presentation of the furniture will definitely not be the final bust stop of old student association ofbtge school.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state in a handshake with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, during the governor’s visit to the Minister, at the Weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

IPCR boss blames frequent conflicts on Climate change

By Ochiaka Ugwu Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Sanusi Garba Rikiji ( left) presenting drug items donated by the speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to the IDP’s camps in Borno State. Receiving the drugs on behalf of the Government & people of Borno State are : Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Monguno ( 3rd right ), Hon. Usman Zanna ( 2nd right ), Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis ( 1st right ) & others, at the National Assembly, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Group lambasts critics of CBN deposit, withdrawal policy

By Albert Akota

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he Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs) has lambasted those paddling misinformation about the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) deposit and withdrawal cash policy saying those against the policy are those doing shady businesses.

Disclosing this to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, President of the Union, Bassey Etuk Williams said those against the deposit withdrawal policy are against the progress of Nigeria due to their shady businesses at the expense of Nigerians.

Basset said if the cashless

policy is improved upon, wherein electronic transactions is being used, there is no doubt that the overall charges we receive as customers will reduce over time as the banks overhead charges of dispensing their services will be greatly reduced.

“We have listened to various reactions on the directives of deposit and withdrawal cash policy to enforce cashless policy by individuals and corporate organizations re-introduced

by CBN in some states of the Federation, having dully studied the reasons behind this recent policy, we are duty bound to make our generational and

concerned observations on the said policies, and as well call for total support of the policy from Nigerians based on the advantages attached to cash less policy.

“The deposit and withdrawal policies deduction to be made over counter payment that is more than Five Hundred Thousand Naira and Three Million Naira for Individuals and corporate accounts is aimed at ensuring effectiveness of the cashless policies of the Federal Government, by discouraging cash deposits over bank counters but rather use the electronic means that attracts no charges.

He said the threshold that the deposit and withdrawal charges will affect are better secured via electronic transactions, apart from safety of the concerned it also guarantees a relax atmosphere and confidence of transactions without drawing attention.

“It will also make tax payment easy as we know we have bad record of paying tax as a nation. We thus call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support this policy as a means of stopping economic saboteurs and reduce the overhead cost of currency production which the country always goes through,” he said.

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ctivities such as deforestation, inappropriate disposal of waste, burning of fossil fuels, and air pollution among others have contributed to the excessive change in climatic condition and the subsequent environmental degradation leading to frequent strife and contestation over natural and agricultural resources among people, the Director General of the Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution, Prof. Bakut tswah Bakut has said.

Bakut who made this known during his welcome address on the occasion of the 2019 United Nations International Day of Peace held in Abuja at the weekend, said the conflict situation arising from the aforementioned have led to the death of thousands of persons while millions have been displaced.

Bakut noted that experts have linked accelerating migration, increased hunger, diseases and unemployment to environmental degradation which reiterate the importance of the call for “Climate Action for Peace” declared by

UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres to enhance various actions that will help to address the problem.

He however, informed that IPCR as the apex agency of the government responsible for peace promotion, conflict resolution and peacebuilding has deployed conflict sensitive and peacebuilding measures towards adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the country.

Speaking also, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zubairu Dada who was represented by a

senior Director in the Ministry, Mr. B. B. Hamman said that climate change is a threat to peace through occurrences of natural disasters like flooding and desertification which have forced people out of their homes.

Dada said there is no other time to celebrate this event order than now stating that the event was first held in 1982 after the day was adopted by United Nations in 1980.

The Chairman of the occasion and the former Senate President of Nigeria, Sen. Ameh Ebute said the

theme for this year’s celebration is apt maintaining that the “word” peace is next to life as there will be no life without life.

Peace and Development Advisor, UN System in Nigeria, Dr. Takwa Zebulon Suifon who delivered Union Nations Secretary General’s Address, Mr. Antonio Guterres noted that achieving the SDGs is pillar to peace.

While thanking IPCR for striving to actualize Federal Government’s framework for peace informed that a hungry man can never be at peace with self.

Gbajabiamila commends Ganduje over developmental strides

By Christiana Ekpa

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he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has commended the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the developmental strides he has so far achieved in the state.

The Speaker who was in Kano

on a condolence visit over the demise of the father of a member of the House, Hon Sha’aban Sharada, also offered the governor the partnership of the House to further develop the state.

“Your Excellence, you have been a pillar of support and our prayer is that we will continue and jointly help and develop Kano State and Nigeria in general.

“While paying condolence, let me also commend you on the great work you are doing in the state. Each time I come into Kano, I see for myself the footprints everywhere. I believe it behooves on us to commend you for the incredible work you are doing and hope that you continue to do same,” the Speaker said.

He condoled the government

and people of the state on the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Sharada, whom he described as a father, an islamic scholar and political leader.

Responding, Governor Ganduje thanked the Speaker for the love he has shown by coming to Kano for the condolence visit.

He also thanked the Speaker for having a progressive

relationship with the executive arm, saying that would take Nigeria to the next level.

The Speaker, who was received in the state by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Dogowa and other members of the House from the state, visited the family of late Alhaji Ibrahim Sharada and offered his prayers for the repose of his soul.

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News

Kaura Polytechnic shutdown over students protest From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d Gusau

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he management of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda has been compelled to shutdown academic activities for two weeks as mid semester breaks, following a protest by students who are demanding for security and stable electricity in the institution According to the notice which was signed by Hajia Hauwa S. Abubakar on behalf of the Registrar, all students were directed to vacate the polytechnic before 4:30pm of last Friday 20th September, 2019 or face consequences.

The management said it acted on the security advice that, the students should proceed on two weeks break during which all necessary measures will be applied to address the challenges which led to the protest staged by the students.

The Registrar of the polytechnic, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Chorima who was seen enticing the students to exercise patient as the management took the issues very serious and will address it promptly, said the protest was uncalled for, saying, “The protest emanated following an attack launched on some students who were on evening devotion by yet to identified hoodlums”.

Chiroma said four of the students were injured and rushed to the school clinic and were attended to as facilitated by officials of the school management, two of them were discharged on same day while the remaining two were discharged the next day (Friday 20th September, 2019).

On the issue of electricity, the Registrar explained that, the entire Kaura Namoda town has been in total blackout for several weeks as Kaduna Electric not KEDCO had cut off supply of power to the area.

“But the management is using its standby generators as alternative to provide electricity in the polytechnic, adding that, four motorized boreholes also supply water to the students,” he said.

The notice indicated that, normal academic activities will resume on the 7th October, 2019, therefore, all students are directed to returned with an undertaking letter from their parents/guardians address to the registrar through Heads of Departments that, they will never partake in any unlawful demonstration.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

Kaduna Electric begins installation of meters From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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aduna Electric said it has begun installation of meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Scheme, The company disclosed this in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications, Abdulazeez Abdullahi at the weekend in Kaduna.

Kaduna Electric said in the statement that since commencement of the installation exercise, meters have been successfully installed for customers under its Doka, Barnawa, Zaria and Makera Area Offices all in Kaduna state.

Integrated Power Limited is the company in charge of Installing meters for customers

in Barnawa, Makera, Kafancan and Zaria Area offices while Holley Metering is responsible for installations for customers under Doka Area Office.

Mojec International is to meter customers under Rigasa Area Office and Cresthill Limited is in charge of metering customers in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states.

It called on customers under Area Offices where the scheme has yet to take off to be patient as logistical problems that have hindered the exercise will soon be overcome.

The statement urged all its customers to take advantage of the MAP scheme to get metered by visiting the company’s website to register and make a request.

President Muhammadu Buhari with Governor of Osun State, gboyega Oyetola and Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule,departs Abuja for New York, USA ahead of the 74th Session of United Nations general Assembly at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja Photo: State House

Gov. Bello tasks media on professionalism, assures better relationship From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has described the Nigeria media as a critical stakeholder in the country democratic journey, saying that the role of the media can make or mar the entire process

hence the need for better working relationship.

Governor Belli expressed the desire of his administration to partner with the media in the state in other to project the good work of his administration.

He said this in Minna during an interactive session with media

stakeholders in the state.

Represented at the round table interactive session organized by the office of the Chief Press Secretary by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alh. Ahmed Ibrahim Matane said his administration recognized the role and sacrifices of the media in achieving the current

democracy in the country.

Earlier In her remarks, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs Mary Noel Berje said the idea behind the round table interactive session was to chart a new course and to strengthen the existing relationship between the media and the government.

25,000 driving licences uncollected in Delta -FRSC From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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o fewer than 25,000 driving licences have been abandoned at different liencing offices across Delta State, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) Sector Commander in the state,Mr Ocheja Isaac Ameh has

disclosed.

Ameh who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Sunday, explained that the situation was worrisome and needed to be checked to ensure safety on the roads, adding that most times some persons who obtained the temporary driver’s licence papers usually forgot the

original and then continue using that in place of the original card.

According to him, “People should stop parading receipt as driver’s licence as that would further make their cases worse as the Command will soon clamp down on defaulters, especially as they are against the law and it will

not be allowed anymore because we must know the Identity of the drivers and ensure safety and security on the roads” and called on the members of the public who had registered for driver’s licences to pick their original cards as the command would not accept receipts anymore.

Don’t practise polygamy, emir cautions poor Nigerians

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ttahiru Ahmed, Emir of Anka in Zamfara, has cautioned low-income earners against marrying more than one wife.

Mr Ahmed, who gave the warning on Sunday in Anka, said that polygamy was worsening the economic situation of the poor and making them even poorer.

He spoke during the distribution

of some women empowerment items donated by Hajia Aisha Bello-Matawalle, wife of the state governor.

The items were distributed to women from Anka, Bakura, Bukuyyum, Gummi, Maradun and Talata-Mafara local governments areas in Zamfara West Senatorial District.

“Civil servants on a salary of N15,000 a month marry more than one wife and end up raising families they cannot cater for.

“It is this attitude that is responsible for increasing out-ofschool children because the parents cannot shoulder the responsibility.

“People should marry in accordance with their earnings

to ensure that their children have sound education and good moral background,” he counselled.

The emir advised beneficiaries of the gesture to make good use of their packages in order to be economically-self reliant and support their families.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that various

speakers, in their remarks at the occasion, commended the governor’s wife for the gesture and expressed optimism that it would aid the war against poverty and improve living standards in the rural settlements.

They also urged people to plan their lives in accordance with their means.(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

News Army urges public to carry valid identification

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Nigerian Army yesterday revealed the launch of “Operation Positive Identification” against fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North-east.

It would be recalled that the army and other security forces have been battling the Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria since 2009.

Currently, the terror group and its affiliate, ISWAP, are mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The new army operation was revealed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Ado Isa. Isa in a statement issued yesterday urged the public to always carry valid means of identification when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Mr Isa said the operation was aimed at searching for and arresting all suspected terrorists that currently roam some parts of the North East.

The Army said, “Operation Positive Identification” was necessitated by credible information that some criminals were taking refuge in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe States in particular and the North East zone in general.

“Our troops have been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification such as National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification, before allowing such person passage. We, therefore, once again enjoin all to fully cooperate with troops and security agencies in carrying out this exercise”.

The statement further cautioned persons who will not be positively identified that they will be subject to further investigation to determine the question of their possible involvement in activities with the insurgents or otherwise.

This, he said has become necessary following credible information that some of the fleeing criminals are hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe states in particular and North-east in general.

•As it launches new B/Haram operation •Police, Fulani leaders meet over clashes Army spokesperson disclosed that the troops had been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification of persons before allowing them passage.

He advised people to always carry National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification.

“We therefore once again enjoin all to fully cooperate with troops and security agencies in carrying out this exercise.

“The Theatre Command also wishes to state that anyone not positively identified will attract further scrutiny and comprehensive investigation to determine his or her activities with the insurgents or otherwise.

“The general public is please requested to bear with this measure as it is in their best interest and our national security, as well as efforts to end

the madness called insurgency as perpetrated by the erstwhile Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters,” he added.

The statement also announced that the army has embarked on the sensitisation of communities in northern Borno and Lake Chad basin, to rout out Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in the area.

He said sensitisation activities were in progress at Gajiram, Magumeri, Gubio, Kukawa, Gudumbali and adjoining villages of Borno.

“So far, over 20,000 copies of psychological operations and sensitization leaflets have been forwarded to the Headquarters of the Theatre Command for coordination with the Air Task Force (ATF), to air-drop the leaflets on selected locations.

“The airdropping of the leaflets, if conducted alongside ongoing air and artillery interdiction, would exert additional pressure on

Boko Haram/ISWAP bandits and crouching terrorists’ leaders”.

Isa disclosed that normalcy had returned to Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, sequel to the successful and peaceful Juma’at prayer last Friday as well as the robust deployment of troops in the area.

Meanwhile, Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Habu Sani Ahmadu has met with Fulani leaders drawn from various groups across the state as directed by the Inspector General of Police in line with Police community based approach in tackling insecurity and crimes in the state.

Speaking during the meeting held at Police Officers’ Mess, the state Commissioner of Police said the participants were drawn from Fulani socio-cultural groups including Miyetti Allah, Miyetti Allah Kautal Kore, Sammeru Fulbe and Tabital Fulako among others.

CP Habu said Fulanis and other villagers who reside in remote areas face more security threats hence the need to enlighten them on security tips.

He called on them to be wary of the people they accommodate in their villages and report suspicious movements to the police.

CP Habu said community based approach is a global practice in policing urged his Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and area commanders to also adopt the system.

The Commissioner of Police opined that partnering with communities in crime management will help in ensuring peaceful society.

Some leaders of Fulanis who spoke with reporters identified ,extortion, lack of cattle routes, jungle justice by babeli group and various injustices against the Fulanis as some of the problems of Fulanis in the state.

Nigerian Navy officers in a group photograph with the Deputy Governor of Kwara State Mr Kayode Alabi after a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor as part of activities of the Nigerian Navy Medical Services Retreat, recently in Offa, Kwara State...DINFO

Oil deal: Nigeria to earn $6.35bn in taxes, royalties -NNPC

By Etuka Sunday

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said its push to increase crude oil production and grow the nation’s revenue profile gained momentum with the closure of $875.75m alternative financing deal for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated OML 65 through the Funding and Technical Services Agreement with CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC).

A release by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu,

stated that NNPC Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, disclosed that the project, which scope cuts across exploration, development, production and provision of facilities with incremental first oil targeted for Q4 2020, was estimated to have potential reserves of 800 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) with an ultimate recoverable reserve of 244 mmboe and cumulative production of 44mmboe from the Abura Main and Abura SE fields.

Mr. Ajiya explained that over the project’s life, it was expected to generate over $6.35bn in taxes and royalties to the Federation to support government’s medium to long term economic development agenda.

Speaking at the closing meeting with the financing partners in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Ajiya, described the contractor financing model as an innovative approach by NPDC to funding its operations in response to the challenging economic environment, saying the approach would fast-track the development of NPDCs under-developed assets.

He informed that the project was expected to ramp up production at OML 65 from 900barrels per day to 60, 000 barrels per day with average production over field life at 40,000 barrels per day.

Throwing more light on the financing strategy, the CFO explained that the package entailed

comprehensive financing solution that addresses the complex issues involved in growing NPDC’s production, minimizes its cost of capital, and maximizes its value preservation, adding that it also strikes a balance between risk and reward which gives investors a rate of return that is commensurate with funding a brownfield project which has significant exploration risk.

He said the expectation was that this collaboration between NPDC and CPDC would translate in real terms to the efficient execution of the scope of activities for the optimal development of the OML 65 Asset within cost and schedule, whilst maximizing value to all the

stakeholders.

He said it was projected that the collaboration would enhance operational and financial performance strictly guided by the pre-agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which remains critical for determining incentive payment due to CPDC. On CPDC’s right to provide technical services, the CFO listed the field of consideration in this regard to include: drilling and completion services; building capacity and technology transfer; generating employment opportunities for youths with attendant positive multiplier effect on the nation’s economy, among other considerations.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

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News Akpabio tasks NDDC on funding alternatives

By Miriam Humbe

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inister of the Ministry of Niger Affairs, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio has charged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to explore collaborative partnership with other agencies as permitted by law as alternative sources of funding.

Senator Akpabio, gave the charge when he paid a working visit to the Headquarters of NDDC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Minister urged the Commission to imbibe the culture of adherence to due process, international best practices and commitment to the welfare of the real people of the Niger Delta region.

He also taskd the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to drastically curtail its procurement activities by reducing the number of new projects and programmes, because, according to him “the ongoing 12 thousand projects by the Commission is facing funding challenges”.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, must commission legacy projects starting from next year and promised to put a mechanism in place to determine the actual liabilities of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the total numbers of ongoing projects and programmes, and charged the Commission to ensure they move to their headquarters next year.

Senator Akpabio called on the Commission to have a wellstructured fund development regime and also charged them to motivate the staff so as to put in their best in projects monitoring and evaluation.

CAN lauds Kaduna govt. for halting demolition of 110 years old church From: Femi Oyelola, kaduna

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he Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended the Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s government over its decision to save the 110 year old St. George Anglican Church, Zaria from demolition.

The CAN Chairman in the State, Rev. Joseph Hayab made this known to journalists in Kaduna yesterday.

This follows clarification by the Director – General of the Kaduna State Urban Planning

Development Agency, Ismail Dikko that the Church won’t be touched because of its historical value.

The KASUPDA was said to have served the 110 year old St. George Anglican Church, Sabon Gari, Zaria, the seven-day quit notice which it claimed was a directive from Governor Nasir ElRufai.

Following Thursday’s alarm raised by CAN, the KASUPDA’s boss reversed the eviction order on the Church.

“The Church will remain based on its historical value, while

action it takes.

“What we are doing is simply to remind government that we are not at war with them. We are just raising alarm; we are just another added eyes for them to see and know what is happening to people.

“So, if they do good, we will clap for them but if they don’t, we will tell them that something is wrong and that people are crying.”

The chairman, however, pleaded that the DG’s reversed order be documented for future references.

No attempt to subvert Justice Tsoho’s emergence as substantive CJ —FHC

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

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he Federal High Court Abuja on Sunday said that there was no plot to undermine its acting Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, from becoming the substantive CJ. The Coalition of United Political Party(CUPP) alleged a suspicion of a plot to stop the acting Chief Judge Tsoho, who is also the most senior judge, from becoming the substantive chief judge based on ethnic and religious sentiments.”

The coalition also alleged a “sudden change in the proposed screening of the nominated Justices of Supreme Court.

Reacting yesterday, the Chief Registrar of FHC, Emmanuel Gakko, in Abuja described the claim as false .

The CUPP had, on September 20 , accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)of a plot to influence the selection of new Supreme Court justices ahead of move by the Peoples Democratic Party ’s presidential candidate

in the February 23 election , only reason of being selected is to claims by certain persons and Atiku Abubakar, and his party to the guaranteed assurance that groups ( notably , the Coalition appeal against the judgment of no matter what the law says , of United Political Parties) on the Presidential Election Petition the president must be returned alleged attempts to tamper with the Tribunal which recently affirmed and affirmed against all known hierarchy and/ or succession to the President Muhammadu Buhari ’s principles in our constitutional headship of the Federal High Court . governance .” electoral victory.

“We wish to state categorically Reacting , Gakko said that the CUPP ’s spokesperson , Mr .

Ikenga Ugochinyere, who made court and by extension, the entire that there are well- established the allegation at a news conference judiciary, had well- established policies and procedures guiding the in Abuja, said they “intercepted a policies and procedures guiding the issue of succession, not only in the Federal High Court , but for all the secret list of handpicked justices , issue of succession.

“Our attention has been drawn hierarchy of courts in Nigeria.” in violation of the Supreme Court tradition of seven most senior justices .”

The group accused the APC of working with some INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE YEAR high ranking 2016/2017/2018 (MERGED) TERTIARY EDUCATION TRUST FUND members of INTERVENTION IN ICT SUPPORT the judiciary 1.0 INTRODUCTION Technology Development Agency NITDA and Centre for to “constitute Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, intends to procure Upgrade and Management Development (CMD); members of the Migration and Adoption of ICT Facilities and Staff Training and n. All documents for submission must be transmitted with Development under the Year 2016/2017/2018 Tertiary Education a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s presidential Trust Fund Intervention in ICT Support.

Letter Headed Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration e l e c t i o n Interested, experienced and Competent Contractors, Consultants number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission panel with and Service Providers are invited to submit Bids for the execution (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (Preferably GSM of the following projects: No.) and Email Address. The Letter headed paper must bear justices whose the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company

Zamfara: AL-NAHDA varsity matriculates 562, warns against cultism, exam malpractice From Ibrahim Sidi Muh'd, Gusau

T

the market source for expansion elsewhere,” the DG had said.

The CAN chairman commended the state government for listening to the yearnings of the people by reversing its earlier decision to halt any demolition plan on the church.

The CAN leader said, “We commend the government for this act. What we are saying is that govt should remain a listening government. Democracy thrive when government listen to the people but when government don’t listen to people, people thinks negatively about every

he newly established Study Center of AL-NAHDA International University Niamey of Niger Republic in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, has warned the 562 first matriculated students to adhere to the rules and regulations of the institution and to desist from all forms of cult and criminal activities capable of derailing the good intention of the University.

Reading out matriculation Oath to the students at Jubril Bala Yakubu Secretariat Gusau, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdoul-Aziz Umar Sanda, who gave the warning said, the students are expected to pay most needed attention to their studies as all the required equipments, conducive environment for both teaching and learning were provided as well.

He said part of the aims of establishing the Study Center in Zamfara State, was

to contribute towards recovering the lost glory of education and to create a conducive learning ground in an effort to prepare students to morally step up to contain future challenges facing the country.

Earlier, the chairman of the main committee of matriculation ceremony, Malam Nasiru Aula Dabbakal stressed that, the establishment of the Gusau Study Center would help to encourage the teeming youths in the state, who are willing to further their education but failed to do so due to cost of admission fees.

In his remarks, the founder of the Gusau Study Center, Dr. Alkali Labaran S. Salis said, a rush for education especially among the teeming youths is foremost in importance as that could help in achieving crime-free society, stressing that, "Illiteracy has been identified as a contributing factor leading our youths to engage into almost all criminal activities".

RAMAT POLYTECHNIC, MAIDUGURI

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK/SUPPLY Lot 1: Website Upgrade, Design, Migration, Hosting for One Year, Commissioning and ICT Staff Training Lot 2: Computer Training (Base Module), Computer Training (Intermediate Module) and Computer Training (Advanced Module)

3.0 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS a. Evidence of Certificate Incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC2 and CAC7; or Business Name where applicable; b. Evidence of company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate (or Personal Income Taxes of the Partners where applicable) for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2019; c. Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December,2019; d. Evidence of Current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; e. Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate, valid till 31st December, 2019; f. Evidence of Registration on National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/01/2020 or valid Certificate issued by (BPP); g. Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri or Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is a former or present Director, Shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars. h. Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable Commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed. i. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three(3) years; 2016, 2017 & 2018; j. Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of key staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/ Professional qualifications: Qualified and Certified ICDL Expert/Trainer in case of Staff Training and Development); k. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar projects executed. l. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Compliance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Compliance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV Partners); m. Evidence of Firm’s Accreditation by Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), National Information

at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorized officer of the firm.

4.0 SUBMISSION OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL BID DOCUMENTS Interested firms are to submit two (2) bound of Expression of Interest (EoI) documents separated by dividers and arranged as indicated above. The documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to Rector, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri and clearly marked with (the name of the project and the Lot number). Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should have the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box not later than 12:00 noon on Monday, 7th October, 2019.

Late submission will be returned un-opened.

5.0 OPENING OF EOI DOCUMENTS The EOI documents will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Monday, 7th October, 2019 in the Committee Room of the Polytechnic. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register as the Polytechnic will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids. All interested members of the public especially intending contractors are hereby invited.

6.0 PLEASE NOTE a. Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder; b. Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned unopened; c. All costs will be borne by the bidders; d. Submission of EOI documents to Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State is neither a commitment nor an obligation to award contract to any Contractor or his agent; e. Advertisement for Expression of Interest should not be construed as a commitment on the part of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State, or shall it entitle any Contractor to make any claims whatsoever or seek any indemnity from Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State; f. Only shortlisted bidders will be contacted at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals; g. Due diligence would be followed as all documents submitted would be verified. Past executed works, contractors’ offices, may be visited for verification. Any discrepancies found would summarily disqualify the Firm. h. For further enquiries, please contact the Head, Procurement on E-mail mbenisheik@ramatpoly.edu.ng SIGNED: REGISTRAR

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

News

N630m loan scam: Prosecute lawyers, bank officials, Reps order Police

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

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he House of Representatives have directed the Police and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to prosecute the lawyers and some bank officials fingered in a N630million loan scam in Abuja.

The order is following a report of the House’s Committee on Public Petition, which probed a case of fraud and forgery brought against First Bank of Nigeria plc, by Dr. Francis Nwufoh,

proprietor of Whiteplains British School, Abuja.

The House resolution marked NASS/CNA/105/VOL 25/175C, and dated June 17, 2019, was signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, M.A Sani-Omolori.

Accompanying the resolution sighted by newsmen on Sunday was a copy of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 28 May, 20.

More so, the House “urge the Central Bank of Nigeria to investigate

the role of First Bank of Nigeria plc in the forgery of Deed of Tripartite Legal Mortgage Documents.

“Also urge the Nigeria Police Force to conclude investigation and prosecute, if necessary.

“Further urge the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate the matter and bring to book any lawyer found culpable.

“Again, urge the Minister of Federal Capital Territory to direct the

Director of Land, Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) to expunge all the documents filed in securing the Deed of Tripartite Legal Mortgage of plot No 321, measuring approximately 1.8 hectares within Dakibiyu District, Cadastral zone B10, allocated to France Lee Nig Ltd by virtue of the term of grant/conveyance of approval dated 24 July, 1998 and a Certificate of Occupancy dated 31 August, 2005.

“Still urge the Minister of the FCT to prevail on the Director of Land

to equally expunge, discountenance and cancel the said forged DEED of Tripartite Legal Mortgage over the said property as same was secured by fraud.

In addition, the House urged the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) lo Cancel the Letter of Consent to file Signatures of Directors of France-Lee Nigeria Ltd and Form CO7, the particulars of Directors duly filed by Mr. Chuks Dibiezue, the external Solicitor to the First Bank”.

Police arrest 3 over murder of Okada rider in Delta

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

T

he Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three persons in Abraka community suspected to have murdered one Eugene Oliseyenum a motorcycle rider who hailed from Obiaruku.

Police Commissioner in the State, Adeleke Adeyinka who spoke to journalists at a media briefing in Asaba at the weekend, disclosed that the victim’s body was discovered in the bush in Abraka community, adding that a young man had before the incident hired the services of Eugene to take him elsewhere but midway asked him to stop and collect something from a nearby building, unfortunately, after an endless

waiting, he saw the passenger coming out with another motorcycle from a different direction.

He was said to have confronted him over not settling his fare but pleaded that he was a land agent and that the man he came out with was the man he was going to sell the

land to before getting money to pay him, a situation Eugene agreed and while they rode to the site located in a very lonely area, Eugene became suspicious and insisted he was no longer going and he stopped.

According to the Police boss,” At that point, an argument ensued

between the motorcycle rider and the passenger including the other person and in order not to attract public attention they brought out dangerous weapons and quickly came down from his motorcycle and dragged Eugene into nearby bush where they allegedly murdered him

in cold blood.”

Elder brother of the deceased, Ifeanyi Oliseyenum however called on the state government and the police to ensure Justice in the matter, adding that his brother before he was killed was hardworking and law abiding.

Court remands 3 for criminal conspiracy, theft in Kaduna From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

Chief Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Chediya GRA Zaria Kaduna has remanded three people Ibrahim Bala, Niyi Alhassan and Abdullahi Rabi’u in prison custody until 27th September 2019 for criminal

conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen properties which is contrary to section 59,332,217,393 Kaduna State Penal code law of 2017.

The Chief Magistrate Abubakar Aliyu Lamido gave order after hearing charges level against them by the prosecutor, Inspector Mannir Nasir.

The first defendant, Ibrahim Bala denied committing any offence, while the 2nd and 3rd dependants Niyi Alhassan and Abdullahi Rabi’u admitted committing the offence.

The Chief Magistrate fixed 27th September, 2019 for hearing of 1st defendant Ibrahim Bala who

denied committing any offence.

2And the remaining two defendants, Niyi Alhassan and Abdullahi Rabi’u will face summary trial under sec 125 sub sec 8 of the administration of criminal Justice law of Kaduna State 2017 as applied by the Prosecution.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT

MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT

Request for Expressions of Interest For the Engagement of a Geological Consulting and Exploration Management Firm to Conduct an Initial Inspection of a Salt-Lake

Request for Expressions of Interest FortheEngagementofaThermal Exploration Consulting Firm to Conduct Satellite Thermal Survey Map Phosphate Mineral Concentrations on a Regional Scale

SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND 16 YEDSERAM STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA

1 INTRODUCTION The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the initial investigation studies and reconnaissance survey of all salt deposits development in Ebonyi State and the Nigeria brine belt situated in the Benue Trough.

2 BACKGROUND Solid minerals is one of Nigeria’s most promising growth sectors. Although its overall contribution to GDP growth is small, its contribution to GDP doubled from N52 billion in 2010 to N103 billion in 2015. In 2015, quarrying and other mining accounted for 89 per cent of the sector while coal mining represented 7 per cent and metal ores 4 per cent. Nigeria has 44 known types of minerals of varying mixes and proven quantities. Every geo-political zone and State has unexplored or underutilized mineral deposits due to the focus on the oil sector and lack of investment/funding. Mining is rudimentary and predominantly undertaken by small entrepreneurs and unlicensed, unskilled individuals, a situation that aggravates health hazards and environmental degradation. The solid minerals industry has enormous potential to help diversify the economy, but it is constrained by several factors. The lack of geosciences information is a barrier to investment. Funding is insufficient to conduct the required level of technical work, enforce regulation or complete planned projects. Mining infrastructure, including electricity supply, access roads, and mineral deposit sites) is poor. Illegal mining, community unrest and low productivity are a drain on Federal Government resources.

3 OVERVIEW OF THE SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND The Solid Minerals Development Fund (“SMDF” or the “Fund”) is a Government-owned Fund established to drive investments in Nigeria’s mining sector.The Fund was established in 2007 by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act. SMDF is a unique government funding vehicle focused on driving key interventions thatmaximize recovery and impact of capital deployed. The mandates of the Fund include the development of physical and human capacity in the Nigerian mining sector, funding for geoscientific data gathering, storage and retrieval to meet the needs of private sector led mining industry, equipping the mining institutions to enable them perform their statutory functions,funding for the extension services to small scale and artisanal MiningOperators and provision of infrastructure in mines land. To achieve the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ambition of increasing mining sector GDP contribution from 0.14% to 3% of GDP, there is a need to drive three key priority areas of data development, miningproduction and formalization. Sector interventions will be driven by SMDF given its unique mandate as a Fund that can also drive strategic partnership, with a project execution model. As a funding vehicle, SMDF’s key role will be to maximize recovery of mining investments to drive sector growth. Over US$500600m of projects have been identified that SMDF could drive across formalization, data development, production and processing in the next 5 years, which couldunlock an additional ~$1.4billion in capital spend from third parties.

4 SALT MINING INEBONYI STATE In Ebonyi State, the brine salt deposits have been positively identified in six out of the total number of 13 local Government Areas of the state namely (Ohazara, Ikwo, Onicha, Abakaliki, Afikpo North and Ishielu). The highest-grade deposits are located within the Uburu Salt Lake and the Okposi salt ponds. The Uburu Salt Lake which is centralto the proposed initial inspection has a long history that predates the colonial times and has been a major source of both the production of brine and edible salts in the last 100 years. The lake has equally been a major source of income for the host community and neighboring communities with an estimated population of over 1 million.The Uburu Salt Lake lies longitude 60 0’to6 010’N. 5 CONTEXT Currently,theMinistry of Mines and Steel DevelopmentstrategicoutlookoutlinedintheSector Roadmapistogrow the contribution of mining to the economy of Nigeria from 0.33% in 2015 to 3% in 2025 equivalent to circa $27bn. This growth will be achieved through attracting more private investors into the market while ensuring that the extraction of Nigeria’s finite mineral resources maximizes value and developmental impact for the People of Nigeria. This growth is targeted to result in significant benefits to Nigeria and Nigeriansinthefollowingways: (i) direct employment and indirect employment;(ii)increased revenues to the government through taxes and exports; (iii) growth of domestic mining market (e.g.mining, processing, sales); (iv) growthof mining support sectors (e.g. Power, transportation); and (v) growth of non-mining sectors.

A key policy objective under the Country’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan is to encourage and promote mineral processing and value addition industries that strengthen backward and forward linkages. Salt has been identified as one the minerals to drive this policy objective.

6 OBJECTIVES a) Conduct an initial inspection of a salt-lake, with the objective to determine the commercial viability for salt extraction to produce soda-ash, sodium-chloride and hypochlorite and the possibility of the existence of potash (KCl) and lithium (LiCl) across the brine belt. During the initial inspection, the Consulting Firm will be expected to collect a limited number of reconnaissance samples to determine mineralogy; b) Determine the mines and civil infrastructure required to be completed from early exploration to mine development, as the reserves area is prone to erosion during the rainy season; and c) Using the samples collected, determine the possibility of brine occurrences across other locations in the Benue Trough.

7 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The Consulting Firm’s team shall include all the necessary expertise required to complete the work as specified within the terms of reference for the assignment. The experience required of the experts is as detailed below: • Demonstrable knowledge to evaluate and test the brine geoscientific quality, grade and extraction techniques and high-level processing economics • Demonstrable experience to investigate the salt basin hydrostatic pressure andgroundwater recharge associated with salt deposits • Demonstrable track record in resource estimation, modelling, exploration support, grade

control, reconciliation and successful sampling • Demonstrable track record in full mine development cycles from early stage exploration through to mine development • Demonstrable track record in exploration, resource modelling and analysis of industrial minerals and brine deposits • Demonstrable track record of successful project management, teamwork, and project delivery isessential • Availability of Competent Persons in in terms of NI 43-101 & JORC for brine related minerals 8 INSTRUCTION TO NON-DOMESTIC FIRMS Non-domestic consulting firms should associate with one or more domestic consulting firms.

Strong preference will be given to Academic/Research Institutes to drive technology transfer.

9 SELECTION METHOD The Consulting Firm will be selected through Consultant Qualification (CQ) selection method.

10 ELIGIBILITY REQUIRMENTS All respondents to this Expression of Interest are required to provide the following documents/ information in line with Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as a basis for prequalification: a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Forms CAC2 and CAC7; b. Evidence of Company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2019;; c. Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; d. Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; e. Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/1/2020 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g. Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars; h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2016, 2017, 2018; i. Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria; indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed; j. Evidence of Company’s current practice license with the relevant professional regulatory bodies. k. Company Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications; l. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects; m. List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease (where applicable); n. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Compliance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Compliance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner) Certificate of Incorporation and Tax applicable to foreign firms o. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

11 SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST a) EOI/Prequalification Documents, which must be prepared in English Language, and should be submitted in Seven (7) copies (one of which must be marked original copy) in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “Request for Expressions of Interest For the Engagement of a Geological Consulting and Exploration Management Firm to Conduct an Initial Inspection of a Salt-Lake” b) EOI/Prequalification Documents should be addressed and delivered not later than 12 noon (Nigerian Time) on 7 October 2019 to the following address: The Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, 16 Yedseram Street, Maitama – Abuja, SaltlakeEOI@smdf.gov.ng 12 OPENING OF EOI DOCUMENTS The EOI documents shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Monday, 7th October, 2019 at the above address.

Please note the following additional information: • All EOIs must be received by 12.00 noon (Nigeria Time) on 7 October 2019.

• The Solid Minerals Development Fund reserves the right to reject any EOIs not received by this time and in the form prescribed by this request for EOI/Prequalification.

• Companies which submit EOIs within the stipulated time are invited to witness the public opening immediately after the expiration of the deadline.

• After the evaluation of the EOIs, a suitable candidate will be drawn up based on evaluation of the EOIs. • The suitable candidate will be invited to submit a technical-financial proposal.

SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND 16 YEDSERAM STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA

1 INTRODUCTION The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the initial investigation studies, reconnaissance survey and advanced explorationof all phosphate deposits in the country as an extension of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.

2 BACKGROUND As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and sources of income, agriculture andmining have been put in the forefront of the current government’s priorities; andagro-minerals (e.g., phosphate) readily provides a good link between the two important subsectorsof the economy.The lack of sustainable production of fertilizers and other inputshave slowed down the attainment of Nigeria’s full agricultural potential.

Increasing population, changing dietary demands and growing urbanization means we must work towards improving agricultural productivity. A key factor in agricultural productivity is yield improvement and one way of achieving this is using cheap and readily available fertilizers. The widespread occurrence and smallscale production of phosphate and otheragro-minerals minerals in Nigeria (e.g., Sokoto, Ogun and Yobe States) indicatepotential for development and commercial production of phosphate and fertilizersto meet the demand and supply gaps and boost agricultural production.

3 OVERVIEW OF THE SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND The Solid Minerals Development Fund (“SMDF” or the “Fund”) is a Government-owned Fund established to drive investments in Nigeria’s mining sector.The Fund was established in 2007 by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act. SMDF is a unique government funding vehicle focused on driving key interventions thatmaximize recovery and impact of capital deployed. The mandates of the Fund include the development of physical and human capacity in the Nigerian mining sector, funding for geoscientific data gathering, storage and retrieval to meet the needs of private sector led mining industry, equipping the mining institutions to enable them perform their statutory functions,funding for the extension services to small scale and artisanal MiningOperators and provision of infrastructure in mines land. To achieve the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ambition of increasing mining sector GDP contribution from 0.14% to 3% of GDP, there is a need to drive three key priority areas of data development, miningproduction and formalization. Sector interventions will be driven by SMDF given its unique mandate as a Fund that can also drive strategic partnership, with a project execution model. As a funding vehicle,SMDF’s key role will be to maximize recovery of mining investments to drive sector growth.

Over US$500-600m of projects have been identified that SMDF could drive across formalization, data development, production and processing in the next 5 years, which couldunlock an additional ~$1.4billion in capital spend from third parties.

4 REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND AREA OF INTEREST The area of interest is within the Sokoto Basin, underlained byseries of marine and continental sediments deposited on the Precambrian basement.The Sokoto Basin is part of the larger Iullemmeden Basin covers parts of Mali, Niger,Benin and northwestern Nigeria. The basin is filled with succession of sedimentsbeginning with Lower Cretaceous Illo and Gundumi formations (referred to as‘Continental Intercalaire’), followed by the Maastritchian Rima Group comprisingTaloka, Wurno and Dukamaje Formations. These are then succeeded by thePaleocene Sokoto Group comprising Dange, Kalambaina and Gamba Formations.The youngest succession is the Eocene-Miocene Gwandu Formation (the socalled‘Continental Terminal’).

5 CONTEXT Phosphorus deficiency in Nigerian soils is a significant factor that reduces food production in the country.

In some soils of the savanna zone, the fertilizer deficiency is so acute that plant growth ceases as soon as the phosphorus stored in the seed is exhausted. Most of the soils are inherently infertile, and phosphorus is the most prominent missing nutrient because it also affects the effectiveness of nitrogenous fertilizers such as urea. Soil fertility management poses the most significant constraint to sustainable agricultural production and food security. Crops such as groundnut and cotton remove enormous quantities of nutrients through crop harvest; thus, the imperatives for phosphorus fertilizer use are indisputable. High cost and poor distribution network limit the use of inorganic and soluble fertilizer sources; hence, the need to look for alternative or supplementary and cheaper sources. The direct use of sparingly soluble, ground Rock Phosphate (RP) provides an alternative to the imported and expensive more soluble phosphorus fertilizers. Nigerian phosphate reserves are already mined artisanally and applied directly by local farmers. Direct application of Sokoto Phosphate Rock provides an economically viable method of increasing the size of arable land in Nigeria and fertilizer application rates.Various research studies have confirmed the suitability of Sokoto Phosphate Rock for direct application and as input for the production of Superphosphate fertilizers.Based on regional application rates, Nigeria has the potential to consume 2.4 million tonnes of phosphate fertilizers per annum but currently consume less than 200,000 tonnes.

Matching regional application rates will make Nigeria the biggest phosphate fertilizer market in Africa with an annual consumption of 2.4 million tonnes.

A key policy objective under the Country’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan is to encourage and promote mineral processing and value addition industries that strengthen backward and forward linkages.

Phosphate has been identified as one the minerals to drive this policy objective.

6 OBJECTIVES a) Map phosphate mineral concentrations on a regional scale using remote sensing data acquisition and interpretation techniques that are suitable to early stage reconnaissance survey for selection of exploration targets in large areas of outcrop and moderate surficial cover.

7 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The Thermal Exploration Firm’s team shall include all the necessary expertise required to complete the work as specified within the terms of reference for the assignment. The expertise required is as detailed below: • Imaging, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and geodesy experts highly experienced in image processing, orthorectification, georeferencing, feature extraction, and mosaicking.

• Previous experience in the use of satellite imagery for mining exploration including background images

• • • •

for infrastructure planning, environmental impact studies, grassroots exploration and ground access, spectral processing to delineate potential exploration targets and digital elevation model generation.

Demonstrable track record in the use of thermal exploration techniques to discover mineral prospects Availability of Competent Persons in remote sensing and image processing Previous experience supervising remote sensing work for a big mining company is an added advantage Availability of a local geoscientist with good knowledge and understanding of mineral exploration in the Nigerian geological terrain

8 INSTRUCTION TO NON-DOMESTIC FIRMS Non-domestic consulting firms should associate with one or more domestic consulting firms. Strong preference will be given to Academic/Research Institutes to drive technology transfer.

9 SELECTION METHOD The Thermal Exploration Consulting Firm will be selected through Consultant Qualification (CQ) selection method.

10 ELIGIBILITY REQUIRMENTS All respondents to this Expression of Interest are required to provide the following documents/information in line with Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as a basis for prequalification: a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Forms CAC2 and CAC7; b. Evidence of Company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2019; c. Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; d. Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; e. Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/1/2020 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g. Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of Ministry of Mines and Steel Development or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars; h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2016, 2017, 2018; i. Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria; indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed; j. Company Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications; k. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects; l. Evidence of Firm’s registration with relevant professional body(ies); m. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Compliance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Compliance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner) Certificate of Incorporation and Tax applicable to foreign firms. n. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

11 SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST a) EOI/Prequalification Documents, which must be prepared in English Language, and should be submitted in Seven (7) copies (one of which must be marked original copy) in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “Request for Expressions of Interest For the Engagement of a Thermal Exploration Consulting Firm to Conduct Satellite Thermal Survey Map Phosphate Mineral Concentrations on a Regional Scale ” b) EOI/Prequalification Documents should be addressed and delivered not later than 12 noon (Nigerian Time) on 7 October 2019 to the following address: The Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, 16 Yedseram Street, Maitama – Abuja, PhosphateEOI@smdf.gov.ng 12 OPENING OF EOI DOCUMENTS The EOI documents shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Monday, 7th October, 2019 at the above address Please note the following additional information: • All EOIs must be received by 12.00 noon (Nigeria Time) on 7 October 2019.

• The Solid Minerals Development Fund reserves the right to reject any EOIs not received by this time and in the form prescribed by this request for EOI/Prequalification.

• Companies which submit EOIs within the stipulated time are invited to witness the public opening immediately after the expiration of the deadline.

• After the evaluation of the EOIs, a suitable candidate will be drawn up based on evaluation of the EOIs. • The suitable candidate will be invited to submit a technical-financial proposal

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND 16 YEDSERAM STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA

Request For Expressions Of Interest For The Engagement Of A Thermal Exploration Consulting Firm To Conduct Satellite Thermal Survey Map Potash Mineral Concentrations On A Regional Scale 1 INTRODUCTION The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the initial investigation studies, reconnaissance survey and advanced exploration of all potash deposits in the country as an extension of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.

2 BACKGROUND As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and sources of income, agriculture andmining have been put in the forefront of the current government’s priorities; andagro-minerals (e.g., potash) readily provides a good link between the two important subsectorsof the economy.The lack of sustainable production of fertilizers and other inputshave slowed down the attainment of Nigeria’s full agricultural potential. Increasing population, changing dietary demands and growing urbanization means we must work towards improving agricultural productivity. A key factor in agricultural productivity is yield improvement and one way of achieving this is using cheap and readily available fertilizers. The widespread occurrence and small-scale production of phosphate and otheragro-minerals minerals in Nigeria (e.g., Sokoto, Ogun and Yobe States) indicatepotential for development and commercial production of phosphate and fertilizersto meet the demand and supply gaps and boost agricultural production.

3 OVERVIEW OF THE SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND The Solid Minerals Development Fund (“SMDF” or the “Fund”) is a Government-owned Fund established to drive investments in Nigeria’s mining sector.The Fund was established in 2007 by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act. SMDF is a unique government funding vehicle focused on driving key interventions thatmaximize recovery and impact of capital deployed. The mandates of the Fund include the development of physical and human capacity in the Nigerian mining sector, funding for geoscientific data gathering, storage and retrieval to meet the needs of private sector led mining industry, equipping the mining institutions to enable them perform their statutory functions,funding for the extension services to small scale and artisanal MiningOperators and provision of infrastructure in mines land. To achieve the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ambition of increasing mining sector GDP contribution from 0.14% to 3% of GDP, there is a need to drive three key priority areas of data development, miningproduction and formalization.

Sector interventions will be driven by SMDF given its unique mandate as a Fund that can also drive strategic partnership, with a project execution model. As a funding vehicle,SMDF’s key role will be to maximize recovery of mining investments to drive sector growth. Over US$500-600m of projects have been identified that SMDF could drive across formalization, data development, production and processing in the next 5 years, which couldunlock an additional ~$1.4billion in capital spend from third parties.

4 REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND AREA OF INTEREST So far there are no known deposits of potash in Nigeria, but geological andclimatic conditions exist for the formation of such deposits in the northern semiaridfringes of the country. This possibility guided past attempts at the search forpotash and trona (soda ash) deposits.The area of interest is within the Pleistocene (Quarternary) Chad Formation whichis made up of lacustrine strata. The Chad Formation covers large areas of Borno,Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa and Kano State. There are more recent dune sandaccumulations. The youngest deposits of the Chad Formation are the river alluviumand deltaic and lagoonal clay-flats.

5 CONTEXT Potassium is essential in nearly all processes needed to sustain plant growth and reproduction. Plants deficient in potassium are less resistant to drought, excess water, and high and low temperatures.

They are also less resistant to pests, diseases and nematode attacks. According to the World Economic Forum, a silent crisis is brewing in Countries in Africa including Nigeria where current farming methods strip potassium out of soils faster than it is being replaced with fertilizer. Data suggests that farmers are replacing just 10 percent of the potassium being removed with each harvest.

Compare to the global average of 12kg/hectare, Nigeria’s application rate of 1kg/hectare is abysmally low and a threat to food security.

A key policy objective under the Country’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan is to encourage and promote mineral processing and value addition industries that strengthen backward and forward linkages. Potash has been identified as one the minerals to drive this policy objective.

6 OBJECTIVES a) Map phosphate mineral concentrations on a regional scale using remote sensing data acquisition and interpretation techniques that are suitable to early stage reconnaissance survey for selection of exploration targets in large areas of outcrop and moderate surficial cover 7 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The Thermal Exploration Firm’s team shall include all the necessary expertise required to complete the work as specified within the terms of reference for the assignment. The expertise required is as detailed below: • Imaging, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and geodesy experts highly experienced in image processing, orthorectification, georeferencing, feature extraction, and mosaicking.

• Previous experience in the use of satellite imagery for mining exploration including background images for infrastructure planning, environmental impact studies, grassroots exploration and ground access, spectral processing to delineate potential exploration targets and digital elevation model generation.

• Demonstrable track record in the use of thermal exploration techniques to discover mineral prospects • Availability of Competent Persons in remote sensing and image processing • Previous experience supervising remote sensing work for a big mining company is an added advantage

•

Availability of a local geoscientist with good knowledge and understanding of mineral exploration in the Nigerian geological terrain

8 INSTRUCTION TO NON-DOMESTIC FIRMS Non-domestic consulting firms should associate with one or more domestic consulting firms. Strong preference will be given to Academic/Research Institutes to drive technology transfer.

9 SELECTION METHOD The Thermal Exploration Consulting Firm will be selected through Consultant Qualification (CQ) selection method.

10 ELIGIBILITY REQUIRMENTS All respondents to this Expression of Interest are required to provide the following documents/ information in line with Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as a basis for prequalification: a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Forms CAC2 and CAC7; b. Evidence of Company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2019; c. Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; d. Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; e. Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/1/2020 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g. Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of Ministry of Mines and Steel Development or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars; h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2016, 2017, 2018; i. Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria; indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed; j. Evidence of Company’s current practice license with the relevant professional regulatory bodies k. Company Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications; l. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects; m. List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease (where applicable); n. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Compliance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Compliance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner) Certificate of Incorporation and Tax applicable to foreign firms. o. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

11 SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST a) EOI/Prequalification Documents, which must be prepared in English Language, and should be submitted in Seven (7) copies (one of which must be marked original copy) in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “Request for Expressions of Interest For the Engagement of a Thermal Exploration Consulting Firm to Conduct Satellite Thermal Survey Map Potash Mineral Concentrations on a Regional Scale”. b) EOI/Prequalification Documents should be addressed and delivered not later than 12 noon (Nigerian Time) on 7 October 2019 to the following address: The Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, 16 Yedseram Street, Maitama – Abuja, PotashEOI@smdf.gov.ng 12 OPENING OF EOI DOCUMENTS The EOI documents shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Monday, 7th October, 2019 at the above address.

Please note the following additional information: • All EOIs must be received by 12.00 noon (Nigeria Time) on 7 October2019.

• The Solid Minerals Development Fund reserves the right to reject any EOIs not received by this time and in the form prescribed by this request for EOI/Prequalification.

• Companies which submit EOIs within the stipulated time are invited to witness the public opening immediately after the expiration of the deadline.

• After the evaluation of the EOIs, a suitable candidate will be drawn up based on evaluation of the EOIs. • The suitable candidate will be invited to submit a technical-financial proposal.

K

Masari’s pragmatic security drive

atsina State’s governor, Aminu monthly contribution of N100 million Bello Masari’s engagement with never came to pass.

It was at that juncture that Katsina marauding bandits to persuade them to give their arms and government took the bull by the horns. release their captives in return for Since then, the government has been amnesty has been criticized as giving in expending no less than N100 million to criminality. However, this put down every month to assist federal security is misplaced. Instead, the governor agencies operating in Katsina State, deserves commendation for thinking among other security measures. The result was immediate. out of the box.The delicate The Nigerian Army security challenge of his that had only the 35 government required options Battalion, with a colonel other than frontal armed as its head in the state, confrontations with the criminals. Even the UN and It was at that juncture NOW has a brigade under the command regional bodies such as EU that Katsina government of a brigadier general. and AU’s Protocols support took the bull by the In addition, there are the Masari approach, which gives preference to dialogue horns. Since then, the four battalions, one over armed confrontation, to government has been each at Katsina, Daura, settle disputes. expending no less than Dutsinma, Malumfashi and Funtua.

Let us have an idea of the N100 million every Similarly, the seriousness of the security month to assist federal Nigerian Airforce, for the situation in Katsina state. security agencies first time, has berthed in One morning in April 2014, operating in Katsina Katsina State with two armed bandits massacred State, among other formations, one each at 142 people at the border between Faskari, Sabuwa and security measures. The Katsina and Daura.

On its own part, the Dandume local government result was immediate. areas in an operation lasting 7 The Nigerian Army that Nigeria Police Force has increased its personnel hours. At that time, President Goodluck Jonathan, some had only the 35 Battalion, and formations,. It now with a colonel as its has three additional ministers and leading lights head in the state, NOW Area Commands and of then ruling PDP were with Governor Ibrahim has a brigade under the created more Divisions.

Shehu Shema in Katsina to command of a brigadier All these is to beef up security, thanks to the commission “development general.

Masari initiatives. projects”.

The non-kinetic Cattle rustling was another daunting challenge as was approach of persuasion led to an offer the destruction of farmlands and of amnesty to repentant bandits in produce by herdsmen. So destructive 2016. The bandits were led by the were their actions that Masari, then infamous ‘Buharin Daji’, considered as the candidate of APC in the 2015 the Capo de Capo in the banditsdom. governorship election, referred to the During a formal ceremony to seal situation as KIWO HARAM, an allusion the amnesty programme in Kankara to the ideology of Boko Haram terrorists. town, the bandits returned hundreds He won the election on the platform of firearms, mostly the ubiquitous AK of security of life and property. On 47 and AK 49, as well as innumerable taking office, Masari sought a regional ammunition, at a ceremony witnessed approach to the insecurity challenge by the representatives of the Chief of because it was not Katsina State alone Army Staff and the Inspector General of that was affected. Indeed, all the states Police.

Gov. Masari himself, under the in the North-west were. We are talking of Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, current peace engagement, leads government officials and security chiefs Kebbi and Kaduna.

In mid-2015. Masari called a meeting to the ‘dens’ of the bandits for peace of the governors of those states in Katsina. talks with their ‘commanders’. This Niger state, though in far North-central, engagement has, so far, secured the sought inclusion. Some far reaching release of 61 kidnap victims and amnesty decisions were taken at initial meeting, for 19 unconvicted bandits.

In police parlance, sometimes it including a monthly contribution of N100 million by each member state. takes a thief to catch a thief. In the He was unanimously adopted the same way, fighting criminality or permanent chairman of the meeting and insecurity requires, sometimes, going Katsina State the permanent secretariat. unconventional. This is what Masari is However, the forum never met again doing and the happy result is there for in full, after the first meeting, and the all to see.

“

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Letter to the Editor

Like Aminu Kano like Sale Mamman

By Abdulmumin Sangari

H

e who abandoned a house, the house will equally abandon him.This is the best description for Eng. Sale Mamman, minister of power. Before his appointment as a minister of the federal republic by president Muhammadu Buhari, Eng Sale Mamman remained resolute in a his political life in Taraba state.

In most of his political career he refused to be bent, twisted or manipulated by various political heavy weights in the state. One major sterling qualities of Sale Mamman is his detest for money bag politics. His politics is ideological not artificial. He’s an ideologue inductrinaire. He’s more of late Mallam Aminu Kano’s political student.

This is a politician who remained focus politically. Despite all the entreaties to hoodwink him to move to other political parties, the man said no!

He’s never thought of being a political butterfly. Alhaji Sale instead of depending on political bigwig in the state for living decided to run his private business to earn a living.

A class mate of his who works with development control in FCT described him as “a cool headed, organized and resilient.”

For the people of Taraba, the appointment of Eng Sale as a minister is a “dream come true” because the state has never got a grassroot politician before until now.

Born in Lau on 2nd January, 1958, Eng. Sale lived most part of his life in Jalingo, the state capital. He went to the prestigious Kaduna polytechnic where he obtained his Higher National Diploma HND in 1988 and MBA from Bayero University, BUK, Kano.

The minister started his career as a teacher in Technical School Mubi, Adamawa state before transferring his service to taraba state when it was created in 1992.

He rose to the rank of Assistant Director in the state ministry of works before retiring in 2002.

Eng. Sale is truly a political icon in Taraba.

Sangari is a retired broadcaster based in Abuja.

Climate: Older generation has failed, it’s time young people take over

B E

y Ahmad Ibsais

arlier this month, I woke up to the news that a catastrophic hurricane was fast approaching my home in Florida. Living in the southern state for 14 years, I have gotten used to weather emergencies every year.

Get today’s live news on Weather: current events, photos, infographics and Al Jazeera’s exclusive stories from e...

However, what I have found difficult to comprehend is why year after year the US government continues to ignore the plight of impoverished communities (mostly people of colour) who suffer disproportionately more during the hurricane season; and why, given the abundant scientific evidence that such weather emergencies are getting worse, there is little action being taken.

I was born in Jerusalem – a city plagued with conflict. It was there that I first experienced how pollution can be a very real threat to human life.

It was there that I saw first-hand the suffocating impact that smog, excess carbon emissions, and droughts can have on communities – especially ones that are oppressed, silenced and condemned to poverty.

Get today’s live news on Pollution: current events, photos, infographics and Al Jazeera’s exclusive stories from...

When I immigrated to the US, I assumed that things would be different. I assumed that in a country not crippled by a never-ending conflict, a country where all residents are supposedly equal before the law, authorities would do more to stop the environment from turning on them.

But I was mistaken.

Just like those who rule over my homeland, the US government ignores the suffering of communities disproportionately affected by climate change.

Researchers say communities of colour are at the front line of the climate crisis, both within the US and elsewhere in the world.

In the US, where racism is sewn into the very fabric of the nation, they are “more likely to have toxic facilities sited near them, less likely to receive adequate protection to prevent disasters, and less likely to get the kind of immediate response White communities get when emergencies occur”. And across the global south, brown and black communities are the first to suffer the consequences of climate change. They are the ones trying to survive one drought after the other and the ones watching their homes getting submerged as ocean levels rise.

Get today’s live news on Racism: current

events, photos, infographics and Al Jazeera’s exclusive stories from ey...

It is no coincidence that people of colour are the ones most affected by climate change the world over. The climate crisis is, after all, the result of a global system of extraction, dispossession and oppression. While many of us, young people, see this clearly, many people of the older generations do not or choose not to.

Many of them are in denial about the urgency of the situation.

At the recent climate debates between candidates for the Democratic nomination for next year’s presidential election, plans were discussed to reduce carbon emissions by 2025, 2030, and 2050. It was clear that many of the candidates do not understand that we need a drastic overhaul of the way we live and consume now in order to preclude climate disaster.

Introducing weak plans for curbing emissions is simply not enough. Our planet is bleeding, and it needs surgery, not a band-aid if we intend to make it to 2050.

Unimpressed with political sound bites, with politicians merely gloss over climate justice topics, I and young people like me across the world are refusing to settle for anything less than transformational change.

Understanding climate justice and getting into activism was a slow process for me; I too was once used to plastic straws and disposable cups. But as I came to learn more about the danger that the plan is facing and how this is and will be affecting my life, I decided that I couldn’t wait on others to do what I should be doing.

I decided to join climate action at the age of 17 and sought to associate myself with other likeminded young people. Now a year later, I am a member of the youth organisation Zero Hour, which was started and run by women of colour, and which I am helping mobilise students in Gainesville, Florida.

On September 20, we are joining the youth from around the world to strike against our governments and pressure them to take immediate action to save our planet.

We want a Green New Deal, a declaration of a climate emergency, and a fossil fuel phaseout. We are raising our voices in unison to tell politicians across the world that we are not willing to sacrifice our future and our children’s future to sustain the corrupt system built by previous generations.

We have little time to stop the worst effects of climate change, so we need to take immediate action. The older generations are failing our planet. It is time we, the young people, take over.

Ahmad Ibsais is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

Opinion

NATIONAL TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE, KADUNA

Nigeria’s half-hearted commitment to universal health coverage

By Eze Onyekpere

I

t is a trite fact that consistency of good policies, plans and budgets in a continuum is at the heart of development and will be instrumental to the regeneration of the nation’s economy.

Incidentally, the Federal Government and the states have always chorused the fact that growth needs to be restored, the economy needs to be competitive and investments have to be pro-people. The chorus goes on to eulogise the elevation of local content, building of new skills and competencies with education as the bedrock of social and economic progress. We also know as a fact that we need to be alive to enjoy the perquisites of development and progress thereby bringing to the fore the inextricable link between the rights to life and health.

However, a review of some health policies, plans, laws and their implementation in Nigeria within the context of the budget will demonstrate the fatality of stating one thing in law and policy and doing just the opposite. For the economy to grow and be competitive, the human beings who drive it need to be healthy. Now, the buzzword is about universal health coverage; various international human rights standards, the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Health Policy all eulogise how beautiful the day will be when health services will be available to all. Everyone from the President, to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Health and the civil society all affirm their dedication to seeing that day become a reality.

The National Health Act in moving the health for all mantra to the next level provided for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund which should be made up of not less than one per cent of the Consolidated

Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

Contributions are also expected from donors and other sources. The Fund as provided by law would principally go into primary health care. The NHA became law in late 2014 but the excuse was that the estimates for 2015 had already been prepared by the executive; so, it would require extra work to accommodate the Fund in 2015.

But this was just an unreasonable excuse considering that the National Assembly had yet to begin consideration of the executive proposals as of the time this bill got assent to become law. The Federal Government, in preparing the 2016 and 2017 federal budgets, simply refused to include the one per cent as a basis of attracting support from donors and other stakeholders. Yet, the same government through its principal officers continued swearing about their commitment to universal health coverage and health for all.

Enter the process of preparing the 2018 federal budget and the dance steps of senior government officials on the subject of the one per cent became very confusing. The 2018 federal budget call circular in Section 3.2 omitted the Fund as one of the statutory transfers. While discerning minds were considering the implication of the deliberate refusal to provide this Fund, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2018-2020 was sent to the National Assembly by the President. The MTEF at page 25 under the health theme states as follows: “The achievement of Universal Health Coverage is an important goal of government. It is expected that the funding provision for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund of one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund will be implemented over the medium term”.

With this heartwarming statement, the financial projections of the MTEF still leave out the Fund! And information from very

high and official quarters still indicates that the budget to be presented on Tuesday this week omitted the Fund.

As if the foregoing had not inflicted enough damage on the mantra of universal health coverage, the administration has nothing in terms of policy and legislative position to raise funds to pay for universal health care. It is a fundamental aphorism that universal health coverage needs to be funded for it to become a reality.

Government is not pushing for compulsory health insurance nor is it thinking of any new revenue source to make health care available, accessible and affordable by all.

Two years gone out of a mandate of four years, nothing new and no developments that encourage or push the envelope of hope that a new dawn is around the corner.

Just a reminder; the mantra has not changed and the song of the year/decade is still about universal health coverage.

In nearby Ghana, health insurance is compulsory and universal and government raises funding from other sources to ensure the improvement of health services. But this cannot happen in Nigeria. We are too big to use our faculties right.

The Federal Government keeps announcing its dedication and commitment to improving maternal and child health.

One of the key parameters to measure this improvement is access to immunisation and immunisation coverage. The donors who are funding this are withdrawing and we are supposed to make alternative arrangements to do it ourselves through domestic resource mobilisation. What has the Federal Government done? What are the sustainability agenda and the domestic resources mobilisation framework? Maybe, borrow more from concessionary sources?

Is the Federal Government even interested in the sustainability framework being

Why most students fail at first year in varsity

By Emmanuel Onyekwere

F

ear of failure is one tendency that is innate and predominant in every human being irrespective of how influential or powerful, and no matter how much a person has achieved there is this inevitable “failure-phobia” in him/ her, people avoid failure even to the most ignoble degree of it. Failure however does not mean the same to everybody, to every person it has a meaning which is peculiar to him/her, but instantaneously it instigates a negative feeling in everybody. No definition would be given to failure to make it appealing to the ear. It is something every sane person is afraid of and tries in different capacities to avert. No one wants to be known as a failure hence no one dreams or plans to fail.

The aspiration of every student is the opposite of failure, which means graduating with a good grade (first class).

So many factors are responsible for the failure of students at their first year (in the University) but the contributions of the students are apparent and massive (thereby speeding up the rate at which they fail). The new students (freshers) fertilize the factors that pull them down and prevent them from doing well in their first year in the University.

The factors that militate against the success of first year students are numerous that I cannot dare mention all in this piece otherwise it would become voluminous, indecipherable and uninteresting hence the most common factors are as follows; Peer pressure, Impressive/Irrelevant reading, Abuse of freedom, Trusting the untrustworthy, Low self-esteem among others.

PEER PRESSURE I intend not to restrict Peer pressure to just pressure from your mates and colleagues but it extends to the pressure coming from your seniors in the department and faculty. As a fresher, they will tell you a lot about the department, the lecturers

and the courses; how wicked and parsimonious some lecturers are. The misleading part of it is that they would tell you a course you can never pass or even if you pass, it would be with a very poor grade (does it mean you must fail because they failed).

A fresher under such pressure otherwise called orientation may never do well.

A second aspect of it is the pressure that comes from peers, your fellow fresheners (claiming to know the school system even better than those that have spent couple of years in the University).

They know everything about academics and almost everything you do is wrong. As a result of this many fresheners begin to doubt themselves; you are no longer convinced about yourself, they make you feel amateur, your ‘wonderful’ ideas are no longer celebrated. You’ve totally lost confidence in your abilities. At this point you’d start keeping malice with yourself, condemning yourself and the good things God endowed you with. This is when you begin to chase shadows.

IMPRESSIVE OR IRRELEVANT READING Impressive reading is the type of reading you do knowing for sure that you are not really reading anything but reluctantly continued because you want to impress someone; you want to be called the ‘Guru’, book warm’, ‘bookish’ and so on. You forfeit your night rest reading when you know you don’t understand when you read at night. The level and time of understanding differs, some read and understand at night while some do so during the day, some read for longer period of time while some can read for shorter period of time and still grab everything. Not everybody can read throughout the night (otherwise called TDB; i.e. Till Day Break); my former roommate tried it and after the TDB he slept and missed the Exam for which he did the TDB, funny right?

Irrelevant reading on the other hand is the habit of reading outside the scope of the study in hand. Because you want to be called ‘Prof.’ you’d

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

carry heavy textbooks that are voluminous and irrelevant to your present course of study, you end up learning nothing and asking unconstructed and extraneous questions in class.

ABUSE OF FREEDOM Freedom they say intoxicates even more than strong wine. First year students abuse the freedom they have; freedom to go to any place of their choice and come back at wish and do whatever they want; this freedom however poses a huge threat to their level of concentration in school. Away from home, just you and your independence, boyfriends and girlfriends, making new friends, sleeping whenever and wherever you want to, parties and drinks; all of these distract freshers and their inability to manage them appropriately has a negative impact on their first year result. It is disgraceful that a first year student who is yet to see his/her result already has girlfriend/boyfriend, go to parties and clubs and drink out their senses; what would be your excuse if you fail?

Secondly, it would either be because the fresheners are frenzied with been independent, the university party life and all the new exposures, they then slack off in school and in studying they lose focus. Also it could be that they are not ready to take University seriously or they are too immature to manage life away from home. They find it difficult to balance social life, freedom, and responsibilities of the school. They are either mentally or emotionally unprepared, but many of them are just lazy and take the university as one big party and don’t like the lecture side of it (as many would say “school sweet but na exam spoil am”).

TRUSTING THE UNTRUSTWORTHY It is among freshers that you find the ‘serious students’ who have no time for God: they are always in class trusting so much in their intellect which then makes serving God an extra burden and mere waste of time; “the school should be bookish and not religious” while your colleagues

devised by non-state actors?

Thus, how do we expect the health sector to grow and fulfil its mandate when all the provisions of laws, policies and plans have no relationship with actual governance activities where resources should be dedicated to their implementation? There is nothing esoteric about improving funding for health or access to health services and for which no literature exists or practices cannot be replicated and adapted from other countries. What is lacking is the political will to do what is right and practicable in the circumstances.

As a young man growing up in the seventies and early eighties, I heard about Health for All by the year 2000 but when 2000 came, the goalpost was shifted to 2015. Then, when 2015 came, it was further shifted to 2030. So, for how long shall we continue to grope without direction?

The right to life and its concomitant right to health are the foundations and building blocks of economic regeneration and growth. The Federal Government should be seen to be implementing its plans, policies and laws through the revenue and expenditure framework and fiscal policies of the budget. Leadership is about practical ideas which drive resource mobilisation and when these resources are mobilised, they are channelled in an empirical and constructive manner for the greatest good of all.

Universal health coverage is possible; but where are the leaders? Where is the road map and who is in the driving seat?

The ruling All Progressives Congress, the President and the Minister of Health should stand up and be counted and stop this half-hearted commitment towards universal health coverage.

Eze Onyekpere is an Abuja based Legal Practitioner. are in class reading you are in church; “what a waste of time” many would say. Anything you do without God is just same as going to farm without cutlass trusting your bare hands to cut down those giant trees in the farm. Some believe their success to be dependent upon the amount of time they spend in class rather than with God; you need God as much as you need to read.

In most cases, it is not just that the freshers are irresponsible or easily distracted by everything going on around them, it may as well be as a result of the new lifestyle and educational change that many of them find very difficult to adapt to. Many of them fail to understand that University classes are different from secondary school classes. I have come across intelligent students who could not learn how to learn. You have to learn from lectures, talk to lecturers and ask questions where necessary and relevant, if you are not prepared, you have to adapt and learn how to be prepared (pretty quick) or you will be left behind. Higher education is more than just what you learn in the classroom, it’s about maturity and learning how to learn.

LOW SELF-ESTEEM After 2 to 3 weeks in school many freshers lose confidence having seen fashion, the beautiful faces, the so called intelligent ones and the big boys and girls, they start denigrating themselves, having seen those who cat-walk better than they do, those high-class ladies with eye-catching make-ups, guys with better swag; expensive clothes and shoes. This new feeling drives them crazy, they start chasing shadows and desiring to be like a certain individual and behave like a certain person. Some even forget why they are where they are; aspiring to obtain a degree in the science of imitation at the detriment of their academics, they lose their self-esteem and sacrifice their modesty at the shrine of immorality and their vision and mission at the altar of lust just because they want to ‘belong’.

Emmanuel Onyekwere is a Public Affairs Analyst.

KM 5 Kaduna-Zaria Road,Rigachukun, P.M.B. 2191, Kaduna State of Nigeria

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR YEAR 2019 CAPITAL AND SUSTANABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) PROJECTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION. The National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna is in the process of implementing the 2019 capital projects as well as Teacher Training Programmes for Teachers in Primary and Junior Secondary School in 36 states and FCT with funds provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Intervention Project, Consequent upon the forgoing, interested competent and reputable companies with expertise in the relevant fields are hereby invited to submit tender for its Invitation to Tender Notice (ITN) in the following; 2.0 CATEGORY A WORKS Lot 1: Construction of NTI North East Zonal Office and Examination Center Bauchi; 3.0 CATEGORY B GOODS Lot 2: Printing of Training Manuals and Customized Stationary items for participants in the 36 States

and FCT; 4.0 CATEGORY C Consultancy: (Submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) for Consultancy Services) Lot 3: Event managers; Lot 4: Training Component “A” Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SENDs) and Awareness on Early

Childhood Intervention Training for Primary and Junior Secondary School Teachers in the 36

states and FCT. Lot 5: Training Component “B” Moral HIV and AIDs Awareness for Junior Secondary School Teachers in the

States and the FCT. 5.0 Eligibility Requirements: Interested firms should submit their bids along with the documents mentioned hereinafter in a sealed envelope to the address indicated below. Failure to submit any of the under listed documents may lead to the disqualification of the bid: a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC2 and CAC7; b. Evidence of Company Income’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2019; c. Evidence of current Pension Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; d. Evidence of current Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; e. Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2019; f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/1/2020 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g. Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars; h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2016, 2017, 2018; i. Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed; j. Company Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON for works k. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects; l. List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease (where applicable); Additional Requirements for LOT 1 and 2 only;: m. Evidence of past experience in implementing teacher development workshops at a national capacity (across the 36 states and FCT); n. Letter of Firm’s Accreditation by the Centre for Management Development (CMD) for training lots o. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/ Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address.

The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

4.0 COLLECTION OF BID DOCUMENT (GOODS & WORKS) Interested and eligible bidders may obtain further information and collect bidding documents from the procurement unit between 9:00am to 4:00pm (Mondays to Fridays) upon submission of evidence of payment of a nonrefundable fee of (N10,000.00) only for each LOT to the National Teachers’ Institute, NTI Treasury Single Account (TSA) using remita platform to any reputable commercial bank in Nigeria and present the REMITA Retrival Reference RRR and Bank teller receipts to Office No: DR 13, Directorate Department, National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) Headquarters KM 5 Kaduna-Zaria Road, Kaduna. Consultants interested in Consultancy Service are not expected to pay at this stage until after EOI short-listing.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS (GOODS & WORKS) Completed Technical and financial bids shall be submitted in two separate envelopes, clearly tape sealed and clearly marked “Technical Bids” for Lot Number. and Financial Bid for Lot Number Inserted in a bigger 3” envelop.

The Project titles, Lot number and contractor’s name must be clearly written on top of each envelop. Tender shall be addressed to the Director General and Chief Executive, National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) KM 5 Kaduna-Zaria Road, Rigachikun, P.M.B. 2191, Kaduna. Between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays. The bids should be dropped in the Tender Box at the office of the Registrar National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI), not later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 5th November, 2019. Bidders are to ensure that they also sign the Submission Register in the Registrar’s office.

6.0 SUBMISSION OF EOI DOCUMENTS. Interested firms are to submit two (2) bound of Expression of Interest (EoI) documents separated by dividers and arranged as indicated above. The documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to Director General and Chief Executive, National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) KM 5 Kaduna-Zaria Road, Rigachikun, P.M.B. 2191, Kaduna. Between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays. The bids should be dropped in the Tender Box at the office of the Registrar National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI), not later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 8thOctober, 2019. Bidders are to ensure that they also sign the Submission Register in the Registrar’s office.

6.0 OPENING OF BIDS/EOI 6.1 Technical Bids will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 5th November, 2019 in the SMASE Complex Building National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) headquarters Kaduna.

6.2 Also, EOI will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, 8th October, 2019 in the SMASE Complex Building National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) headquarters Kaduna.

Late submission will be returned un-opened.

7.0 IMPORTANT INFORMATION i. Bidders are instructed not to apply more than one (1) LOT. ii. Only companies who’s Technical Bids are successful will be invited to witness the opening of their financial Bids while financial bids of unsuccessful bidders will be returned un-opened. iii. Only shortlisted Consultants will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals. iv. All bids send by post/e-mail will be rejected. v. Late submission will not be entertained. vi. Failure to comply with the instruction(s) and non provision of any required documents may automatically result in disqualification. vii. This advert shall not be construed to be a commitment on the part of NTI nor shall it entitle the bidding companies to any claim whatsoever and/ or seek indemnity from NTI by virture of such company’s having responded to the advert.

9.0 DISCLAIMER: NTI reserves the right to Reject/Accept any/all applications/proposals without assigning any reasons whatsoever.

Sign: Management.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

PAGE 14

news

Vigilantee leader opposes dialogue with armed bandits

R-L: Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Kano State Comissioner of Police and Alhaji Shehu Musa (Aljan) during delivery of over thousand cattles recovered from Cattle Rustlers and kidnappers in Falgore Forest, amunitions were equally recovered.

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vigilante leader, Alhaji Shehu Musa popularly known as Aljan, has kicked against the ongoing dialogue with bandits.

Musa who spoke with journalists over the weekend, said the bandits will never surrender all their weapons.

According to him, “even after the dialogue they will never surrender all their weapons, what somebody sees during the dialogue is only two or three guns which they normally bring along with them.”

He also added that dialogue is only a child play considering the fact that, what the villagers say whenever the rustlers come, “they were so many ranging from 1,000- 2,000, and sometimes 500 – 600 according to what the villagers emphasize.”

When asked about the best way to handle the issue, he said “President Muhammadu Buhari is supposed to sit with those governors clamouring to have dialogue with bandits, to discuss the issue with them before calling for it, because if a governor can have a dialogue will such people there is no need for him or them to collect the security vote set aside for security purpose.

Because he is neither going to give the security personnel money, nor the cattle rustlers.”

Also weather he is getting any assistant from somewhere, his answer is he is doing all that because of God and his country, anywhere they think their assistant is needed, they will go and provide it.

When asked about his advise to the cattle rustlers, he said let them not dream of meeting him.

Because he is urging them to bring up their arms, because even in Kano it took them four hours to accomplish the task.

RTEAN crisis: Industrial Court restrains 7 officials as national executive members

By Albert Akota

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he National Industrial Court presided by Justice Sanusi Kado on Friday in Abuja restrained Alhaji Musa Mohammed and six others from parading themselves as National Executive Council members of Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

The court gave the order following an application brought

by Mr Osakpanmwan Eriyo, national president of the union and argued by their council Olayiwole Afolabi and Simon Ezenwa.

The Judge in his ruling, ordered the defendants to desist from further harassing, intimidating and subjecting members of the claimant to inhuman treatment pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice already before the court.

The judge further restrained them from holding offices in any capacity as servants, agents, assigns, appointees, privies or whatsoever connected to RTEAN. “This includes operations and businesses pending the hearing and determination of the motion

on notice already filed along with the originating process,’’Kado said.

The National Executive Council of RTEAN had last Wednesday threatened to suspend Mohammed, Chairman of the dissolved Lagos State Executive Council, for allegedly disrupting the activities of the union.

The national body insisted that the dissolution of the Lagos State Executive Council on Sept. 13 remained legal and binding.

He reiterated that the expiration of the branch’s tenure as provided in Article 9(I) of the

association’s constitution as the reason for the dissolution.

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

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

Katsina Emir urges NGO to work towards religious harmony From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

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mir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman has called on a non-governmental organization “Brothers Across Boarders" (BAB) to work towards uniting Muslims and Christian brothers to end unnecessary bloodshed and violence across the country.

The Katsina Emir made the

call over the weekend in Katsina when he received the leadership of brothers Across Boarders in his Palace.

According to the emir, it became imperative to the group to extent hands of friendship to both Muslims and Christians for unity and understanding of peaceful co-existence in the country.

He said all hands must be on desk to prevent banditry,

herders/farmers clashes and other heinous crimes that are ravaging the north.

He noted that, the security situation has drastically worsened and the level of poverty equally increased in the region, adding that only unity and prayers will end insecurity in this country.

Usman said, his palace will assist the group to achieve its aims in bringing peace across the country.

In his address, the President of Brothers Across Borders (BAB) Dr Salisu Ahmed Ingawa said the primary objective of establishing the body was the realization of the escalation of insecurity and rapid decline in development in the north.

He said, the group is working towards decisive measures to restore a peaceful and secured environment for all citizens in the country.

Niger gov. grants amnesty to 13 bandits From Minna

N

Yakubu

Mustapha,

iger State Government has pardoned 13 suspected armed bandits that were arrested by security operatives along Kontonkoro axis in Magama Local Government Area of the state.

He made the disclosure at the weekend during the 2nd General Abdulsalami Abubakar Foundation Annual Peace Lecture, saying that, the bandits made their demands as Nigerians.

While delivering a lecture titled “Good Politics At The Service of Peace: The role of Eminent

Persons In The Prevention and Management of Conflict in Nigeria” at JLK ICC however blamed certain politicians for heightening tensions and insecurity in the country with their utterances and actions.

“We signed a peace pact with them (bandits) and there is no better day to enforce that peace than today being World’s Peace Day, and I am pleased to inform you that since we had the Understanding, there has been peace in that part of the state.

“We have expended a lot of resources using military solutions but at the same time we have decided to go into dialogue. And

we found out that the dialogue we engaged in, is beginning to yield positive results in some parts of the state,” he stated.

The governor while declaring that the World Peace Day is a better time to enter a peace pact, the governor said “in our last meeting, we had an agreement and we requested from them to stop their activities and they also requested from us to release some of their members that were presumed to be unlawfully detained as part of steps to resolve the menace and to get peace.

“They are here today, these are people who feel oppressed; they have not been captured in the

federal and states’ budgets; these are people that their ways of living and survival have not received the desired attention; these are people that are aggrieved; these are people that have been attacked.

“They feel they have been forced into carrying weapons and other dangerous weapons. We opened dialogue with them to stop their activities within a certain district or a certain part of the State.”

Bello also said that the bandits made their demands as Nigerians, adding that “they have their prices; they have their worries; they also want to live in the comfort of homes but they are forced to

remain in the bush”.

He further condemned the support being given to the now proscribed Islam in Movement of Nigeria (IMN) saying that such support was capable of disintegrating the country.

In same vein, former Military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has called on Nigerians to eschew all vices of conflicts that can lead to chaos, disunity and promote insecurity in the country.

He urged the youths to embrace virtues of tolerance, fairness and respect for human dignity, adding that Climate change has multiplied effect on the society.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

Tribunal orders rerun in 22 PUs of Kagarko constituency From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he National and State House of Assembly Tribunal sitting in Kaduna State has ordered a rerun in two wards, 22 polling units of Kagarko Constituency.

Nuhu Shadalafiya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the victory of Hon. Morondia Tanko of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in the 9th March election for Kagarko Constituency.

In the judgement which lasted for about thirty minutes, the three man panel of the tribunal chaired

by Justice Adamu Suleiman, in a unanimous decision, ordered for a rerun in the affected wards.

The judgement read by Justice Habiba Abubakar yesterday said

the respondent failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts that he did not commit the malpractices petitioned against him.

According to her, the petitioner, Hon. Nuhu Shadalafiya, has among other things said the election held in Kagarko Local Government on the 9th March 2019 was full of malpractices such

as over voting, manipulations and multiple electoral malpractices.

In her lead judgement, Justice Habiba said the petitioner has proved that all the electoral malpractices were committed.

The judgement as delivered by Justice Habiba stated thus: “that election be re-run in two wards, polling unit 001 to polling unit 018 because the margin between

the first respondent and the petitioner is 2,318 votes as the petitioner got 24,008 votes and the first respondent got 36,302 votes, However the result of the over voting filed in the petition was 9,702 votes for the first respondent and 2,128 for the first petitioner thus showing over voting in the election.

Adamawa APC crisis: Boss Mustapha, Bindow, Ribadu, others, form peace alliance From Umar Dankano, Yola and Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Abuja

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he All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamawa state chapter, has commenced moves to reconcile the various factions and stakeholders which had characterized the party during the 2019 governorship election held in the state.

At the weekend, it convened a stakeholders meeting to reconcile aggrieved parties, including the three major factions that characterised the party in the state for a very long time.

Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Billal, while addressing the stakeholders and teeming members of the party at the meeting held in Yola Saturday said it has became very imminent for the three blocs sharply divided over sundry issues to come together in the interest of the party.

Billal called for the immediate dissolution of the existing factions which was believed to be a major setback that brought the party to lose the state and other vital post at the 2019 General elections in the state and nation at large.

Billal appealed to the stakeholders to sheath their swords so that the unity of the party can be regained again for the future electoral engagements, stressing that “United we stand, Divided we fall”.

Peoples Daily reports that the party in the state has been in political crisis as a result of factional disputes between Former Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, Former EFCC Boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and President Buhari’s in law, Alhaji Modi Halilu, over the gubernatorial race during the 2019 elections.

In an interview with journalists after the reconciliatory meeting.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said they were present at the meeting for the sake of their supporters.

Ribadu stated that the meeting was timely so that they can come together to forgive and forget with a view to forge ahead.

Ribadu confessed that they have realised that the division among them made them and their teeming supporters to lose out, saying “We are the leaders of the party in Adamawa state and therefore the need we bury the hatchet and this meeting had all carders of members, the lower, the high and mighty for the reconciliation in the interest of our people, our state, as well as our party, the APC”, Ribadu said.

Former Senator Binta Garba Masi also disclosed to journalists that the reconciliatory meeting started some two months ago with a sole reason to unravel what went wrong so that at the conclusion, the family must remain one.

Our correspondent in Yola reported that the reconciliation committee is headed by Former Minister of state for Interior, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Adamu, with SGF, Boss GIda Mustapha, Former Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, Former EFCC Boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Modi Halilu, as members, among others.

Kebbi State Government.Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, his wife,Dr.Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu at Government House, Birnin Kebbi recieving delegation of Doctors headed by Dr.Oladipo Hameed of ROCHE Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics for a clinical meeting on cancer with the theme “ Therapeutic updates in Breast Cancer” organised by Medicaid Cancer Foundation.

LG poll: Niger APC delays list submission over candidates’ certificate forgery From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state has shifted the submission date of list of candidates over the allegations of certificate forgery involving it aspirants contesting the forthcoming local government polls slated for 23rd November in the state.

At least no fewer than three chairmanship and four councillorship aspirants are said to been involved in certificate forgery which the Department of State Security (DSS) is helping the party to unravel the genuineness of the certificate they have submitted to State Independent Electoral Commission.

Consequently, our reporter reliably gathered that the matter have prevented the party from submitting

the final list of successful candidates to the state electoral body after the party primaries three weeks ago to ensure that only names of candidate who did not have any questionable certificate are cleared and submitted to avoid losing the seat to the opposition part through litigation.

A source at the state party secretariat, said that the party had received a number of petitions which borders on falsification of educational certificates by some aspirants both for chairmanship and counselorship positions.

“We have received a lot of petitions, three against chairmanship aspirants and some councillorship aspirants that they forged the educational certificates they presented to us.

“The party is therefore trying to verify the authenticity of these

certificates so that we do not field a wrong candidates whereby after the election, the opposition party will challenge it in court and claim the mandate.

“This is the main reason why the party has not submitted the names of the successful candidates after the party primaries about three weeks ago. The party does not want to take any chance, so any candidate that is found to have forge his educational certificate will be disqualified”, he said.

However a copy of one of such petitions of certificate forgery against one of the chairmanship candidates from Paikoro Local Government Area of the state made available to our correspondent alleged that his grade 11 certificate which he submitted to the party was forged.

NUJ congratulates Okowa on tribunal victory From; Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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he Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has congratulated the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, on his victory at the tribunal delivered on Friday in Asaba.

The council in a statement signed by its Chairman, Michael Ikeogwu and Secretary,

Churchill Oyowe, said the victory is a reaffirmation of the confidence vote passed on him by Deltans at the April 2019 gubernatorial poll.

According to the statement, the tribunal judgment further strengthened the saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common, adding that if it had been otherwise, the wishes of the people of Delta State would have

been truncated.

The council therefore appealed to the Governor to reciprocate the judgment by remaining people-oriented in his programmes and activities of building a stronger Delta.

The council used the opportunity to congratulate Comrade Kingsley Azuh on his reappointment as Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Special Duties.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

politics Masari Yakassai says South East to lauds produce next President in 2023 tribunal verdict A

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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overnor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has said the decision of the State Gubernatorial Elections Tribunal upholding his election as the right and courageous one.

He said the verdict to dismiss the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke and his party had also vindicated the Katsina State electorates who overwhelmingly gave him their mandate in the March 2019 General Elections.

He explained that he had always believed that the tribunal would rule in his favour, saying all the issues raised in the petition were absolutely baseless.

While thanking the people of Katsina State for giving him their mandate and keeping faith with his government, he assured them that his second term would avail them even more dividends of democracy in his second term.

Second Republic politician, Tanko Yakasai, has stated that it is the turn of the South-east to produce the next president in 2023, just as he said that a few Northerners clamoring for power in 2023 were doing so for their selfish interests.

Yakassai added that some of the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari do not represent the general position of the north.

According to him, “The North has 55 percent of the population of this country. One man from the North cannot speak and his views will be taken as the views of the entire North. It is wrong.

“Buhari did not speak for the North and his actions do not represent the North. He is just one man. We should separate these things and save the unity of this country.

“When Buhari ran for election, he did not win the entire North. The man who ran against him was from the North too.

“They divided the votes. If

Buhari could not win the entire North, does that not tell you that his views or actions do not represent that of the North?

“President Buhari is on his own, he is a northerner but his action does not represent the North. South East is a part of Nigeria. It is high time the South East produced the President of Nigeria.”

L-R: Lawyer for the Liberation of Saharawi Democratic Republic in Africa, Mr. Femi Falana, Lawyer of Saharawi to Europe, Mr Gilles Devers; Former Ambassador of Saharawi to Nigeria, Amb. Oubi Bashir and Member, Nigeria Movement for Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS) Mr. Owie Lakemfa, during the NMLWS Press Conference on the Independent and liberation of western Saharawi , recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

NASS ready for 2020 budget – Lawan

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

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he Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said the National Assembly is eager to receive the 2020 budget proposals.

“We are hopeful and optimistic, as well as hungry and thirsty, to receive the 2020 appropriations bill,” Lawan told reporters at the weekend.

“I am aware that the executive arm of government is working assiduously to ensure that the appropriation bill for the year 2020 is presented to the National Assembly by the end of this month.

“The National Assembly will work so hard to ensure that the 2020 budget is passed before we go on Christmas break,” Lawan

•Confirms receipt of MTEF/FSP said.

The Senate President said budget is one issue that the National Assembly will take headon to ensure that the undesirable trend of the budget is reversed.

“We believe this can be achieved, as doing so would make the economy better and predictable.

“We also think an early passage of the 2020 appropriations bill will have a desirable impact on Nigerians,” Lawan said.

Lawan also disclosed that the executive has forwarded to the Senate the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which will be considered when the

Senate is back from its recess next week.

“We hope to take on the MTEF within the first legislative week.

Our committee on Finance will be saddled with its first major responsibility that it works expeditiously on the Fiscal Strategy Paper/Medium Term Expenditure Framework’s request of the executive arm of government and thereafter the budget will come after that.”

The Senate President said the ninth National Assembly would work assiduously with the executive arm of government to improve the security situation of the country.

The Senate, he added, will also evaluate the crisis that affected Nigerians living in South Africa.

“In the eighth Senate, we had an Ad-Hoc Committee that I was privileged to chair, to review the security architecture of the country. We are going to look into that report, and in addition, other contemporary issues that affect security in the country.

“We are also going to look into the crisis that affected Nigerians living in South Africa.

“You recall that this issue was reviewed before we went on recess.

The Senate felt as an institution that our citizens’ diplomacy must be protected where ever they go in

the world.

“The government must be there for them, and I’m happy that after the xenophobic crisis, the Federal Government was able to take a position.

“We need to be much more resolute, whatever the situation is; our citizens must be protected.

If someone runs afoul of the laws of a country, there are processes and procedures on how such a person can be prosecuted.

“Therefore, we must try to protect our citizens. I also think we must be proactive to tell our citizens that if they choose to live in any country, they must ensure to stay within the limit of the laws of that country, just as we expect of foreigners in ours,” Lawan stated.

Insecurity: Group faults Gbajabiamila over comments on Service Chiefs

By Stanley Onyekwere

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pro-democracy group, National Democratic Front (NDF) has cautioned Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to stop making unguarded utterances on issues of national security especially to heads of critical agencies in the sector.

This caution trails

Gbajabiamila's purported statement last Friday where he berated the Service Chiefs for failing to honour invitation to the lower chamber.

NDF in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Abdukakadir Bolaji, the group said it is appalled by the “careless utterances of the Speaker”, on issues of serious concern.

According to the group, Gbajabiamila should retrace

his steps and not bow to any pressure to derail the country's democracy.

It advised the Speaker not to return to the era where instead of parliamentary functions, the legislature issued summons to heads of critical agencies as bait for extortion.

The statement reads: "Our attention has been drawn to statements credited to the Honourable Speaker

of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila wherein he berated the refusal of the Service Chiefs to attend a meeting with him over killings in the country.

"The National Democratic Front is appalled by the careless utterances of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, which by and large presents a despicable picture to members of the unsuspecting general public

on how some political office holders though holding sensitive positions of authority, but not in tune with the realities on the ground in the country.

"It is indeed ironic that the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives has chosen the dishonourable path of displaying arrogance and blind ambition to play to the gallery on issues of national interest to the detriment of over 180 million Nigerians.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

AEDC, USTDA sign $1.06m grant to extend electricity to underserved communities

By Etuka Sunday

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buja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have signed a $1.06million grant to provide electricity to underserved communities through the implementation of up to 1,370 solarpowered mini-grids with energy storage systems.

The signing ceremony which was held on Friday in Abuja was another visible effort of AEDC to explore available solutions for the provision of 24/7 electricity to customers within its franchise area of FCT, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States.

The Managing Director/CEO, AEDC, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya while signing the grant expressed gratitude to the USTDA for funding the study, saying that the gesture will enable AEDC achieve sustainable overall improvement consistent with its desire to provide quality electricity to its franchise area.

“We are grateful that the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has committed funding to help the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company provide electricity to underserved communities through the implementation of up to 1,370 solarpowered mini-grids with energy storage systems. Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Institute will carry out the study.

“With this support from the USTDA in partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute, we are going to be able to conduct a feasibility study that will identify specific opportunities for different areas so that we can ultimately have bankable solutions, which in turn can facilitate partnerships with other investors.

“This will enable us achieve sustainable overall improvement consistent with our desire to provide quality electricity to our franchise area,” he said.

Engr. Mupwaya said, electricity no doubt is one of the key parameters used in measuring the extent of development of any nation.

He said, the 2017 report by International Energy Agency revealed that while many of the developed countries have already attained 100% electrification access, scores of developing nations particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa have remained behind and are recording low access rates that are characterized by poor reliability.

He said, the report estimates 1.1 billion of people yet to be connected while another 1 billion is being supplied with poor quality of electricity.

The reasons, according to him, could be group under brad headings of economic, social, legal and environment.

He said, globally, electrification for all has been identified as the 7th united nation’s sustainable development goal which must be attained by 2030.

Cashless Policy to eradicate fraudulent activities in banking system -Emefiele

By Etuka Sunday

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he Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele has said that the introduction of the Cashless Policy was to eradicate fraudulent activities in the banking system.

He clarified, that the policy was not meant to punish Nigerians, especially business owners as being speculated.

Recall, CBN, in a circular to all deposit money bank (DMBs), dated September 17, 2019 announced the commencement of charges on deposits in addition to already existing charges on withdrawals.

According to the circular, the charges, which took effect from

...as MPC retains MPR at 13.5%

Wednesday, September 18, 2019, will attract 3% processing fees for withdrawals and 2% processing fees for lodgments of amounts above N500,000 for individual accounts.

Similarly, corporate accounts will attract 5% processing fees for withdrawals and 3% processing fee for lodgments of amounts above N3,000,000.

It said, the charge on deposits shall apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, and Rivers States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

It added that the implementation of the cash-less policy would take effect from March 31, 2020.

The apex bank governor, while addressing newsmen shortly after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on Friday, said, the policy was not a new initiative, saying that it was launched in 2012.

He explained that the policy was not fully implemented because there was a lot of cash outside the banking industry when it was launched.

“Because there was lots of cash outside the banking industry we decided that there was no need to penalise those that wanted to bring in their cash from outside the banking industry into the banking industry, therefore, we retained the charges

on withdrawals and relax charges on deposit.

“After five years, we expect that all the cash that was outside the banking system has been returned. So we think it is time to fully kick start the cashless policy,” he said.

The CBN boss said, the implementation of the new Value Added Tax (VAT) is a government strategy of raising revenue to meet its obligations which includes the provision of good roads and proper electrification in the country.

Meanwhile, for the MPC, he announced that the Committee decided by a unanimous vote to retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 13.5 per cent and to hold all other policy parameters constant. .L-R: Charge de Affairs United State Embassy of Abuja, Kathleen Fitzgibbon, Regional Drector fo Sub-Sahara Africa U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Heather Lanigan, Managing Director/CEO Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Engr. Ernest Mupwaya and Chief Finance Officer of AEDC, Ije Ikoku Okeke, during the Grant Signing Ceremony for $1.06m USD Provided by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) With AEDC for the complementary Off-Grid Supply Solutions Technical Assistance, at the Weekend in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

GenCos reject NBET’s 0.75% Administrative Charge

By Etuka Sunday

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eneration Companies under the auspices of Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) have rejected the 0.75% unregulated administrative charge by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

The companies have also threatened to declare force majeure if the directive by NBET to them on the charge is not reversed.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, the Executive Secretary, APGC, Dr. Joy Ogaji said, if the issue is not “addressed quickly, the time may just be right for GenCos to declare force majeure and release themselves of all market obligations, for which we (GenCos) cannot be held accountable.”

Dr. Ogaji said, NBET, on 13th September, 2019 issued a letter to individual thermal GenCos directing them to obtain, as a matter of urgency, their respective board approvals or resolutions, bequeathing responsibility for payment of gas and transportation to the respective supply companies for an administrative charge of 0.75%.

She said, the letter gave each GenCo three (3) working days ultimatum to respond with the board resolution i.e.

September 13 to 18, 2019 or face nonpayment of energy invoices.

She noted that “NBET like other market participants, is a licensee of

...threaten to declare force majeure NERC, and as such is expected to understand that in a regulated market, every expense/cost must be backed by regulatory approval for effective computation of the market tariffs.

“The generation companies are not aware that such approvals have been issued by NERC nor is there any policy directive to this effect.

“The fact that NBET is placing the extortionist 0.75% “administrative charge” on GenCos who are already convulsing, in the NESI is an aberration on the duty of care placed on NBET. “In addition, going by the principle of privity of contracts, Thermal GenCos have contractual obligations to pay their gas suppliers. If they do not pay, that burden remains with them,” she said.

According to her, “NBET claims that thermal GenCos have not been making pro-rata payments for gas from monthly invoices paid by the market.

For example, from the paltry 15% of the June 2019 energy invoice paid to each GenCo, NBET expects each Thermal GenCo to make pro-rata payments of 15% of the gas invoice to gas suppliers and transporters.

“Given that a Thermal GenCos’s gas bill is between 50% and 70% of their total monthly revenue (depending on their efficiency and tariff), the

implications of carrying out NBET’s directive of pro-rata payments is that a thermal Genco with about 60% of its total revenue as gas cost, will be left with about 6% [15% - (0.6*15%)] of such total energy invoice to operate the power plant! This is because of the 15% received from the market, about 9% must be allocated to gas as pro-rata payment.

“This is certainly not sustainable as it is unfathomable that any going concern gets paid only 15% of its invoices and yet be expected to perform within the requirement of the performance and other relevant market agreements entered into.

“Given that a GenCo requires 20% to 30% of its total revenue to meet the direct operating cost of keeping the plants running on a monthly basis, gas exclusive, if NBET’s directive on prorata payments is carried out, the 6% that will be left for the GenCos cannot even cater for staff costs, not to talk of having the resources to procure basic spare parts that the machines require to keep them in operation,” she said.

The APGC Secretary said, it was “curious to note that during a face- to-face meeting between NBET management and the GenCos, NBET claimed that: “It was directed by the Presidency

to take over the processing of gas payment on behalf of the GenCos “It had approval to apply 0.75% as administrative charges or cost on payment to gas suppliers.

“The said 0.75% administrative charge is compulsory as it is a Condition Precedent (CP) for GenCos to access the N600bn the Federal Government has approved for immediate payment to gas suppliers and GenCos. “Introducing an additional burden of 0.75% to GenCos gas invoices payments implies that NBET is looking to rake in a windfall of not less than N2.7billion as its administrative fees for a service of only collating and submitting invoices to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who in effect makes the payment to GenCos and the gas parties.

“If NBET gets its way in executing its planned action, it will set in motion a significant precedent that any entity can take up the role of a regulator in the NESI, giving directive without relevant stakeholder engagement and regulatory (NERC) approval.

“NBET therefore needs to come out clean and make known where and when stakeholders’ meetings involving all parties such as the Regulator (NERC), NBET, Gas suppliers and GenCos held to discuss and explore the intricacies of such multi-party transaction before issuing such a directive,” she said.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

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BU$IN€SS FG to reduce Shares in Oil JV Companies to 40% -Sylva

By Etuka Sunday

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he Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Friday in Lagos, enumerated his Ministry deliverables on which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other departments and agencies under his watch should take a cue.

In a presentation at the commencement of a two-day Next Level Strategic retreat of the Minister for Directors of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Heads of Agencies under his purview, Chief Sylva listed the priority areas to include: Implementation of the reduction of Federal Government’s equity stakes in Joint Venture (JV) participation to 40 per cent; Curbing petroleum products cross border leakages, Completion of gas flare commercialisation, Increasing crude oil production to 3million barrels per day and Effecting reduction in cost of crude oil production by at least 5 per cent.

A release in Abuja by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, explained that other priority areas Sylva itemised included: Aggressive promotion of passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); Promotion of inland basin exploration activities; Promotion of deep offshore exploration activities; Collaboration with private sector to aggressively increase domestic refining capacity and Working assiduously to support Mr. President in his poise to achieving his target of raising millions of Nigerians out of poverty via job creation.

The minister told heads of the agencies that at end of the retreat they would be required to collectively sign an undertaking to deliver on the set tasks and targets, saying they must execute the mandate with all the seriousness it deserves.

In his response, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, expressed the readiness of corporation to align the corporation with the spirit and letter behind the key priorities areas, stressing that as the main enabler of the Nigerian economy, NNPC would work with other agencies of the Ministry to make the outlined aspirations a dream come true.

Petrol truckout declines by 35% due to partial border closure -PPPRA

By Etuka Sunday

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he Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) said has observed with keen interest the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply trend since the partial closure of the country’s border, as indicators point to the gradual reduction in the volume of PMS trucked out.

According to statistics, records from various depots nationwide for 5th to 11th August 2019 stood at about 61 million litres, representing the average daily volume trucked out before the border closure.

The General Manager, Corporate Services, PPPRA, Kimchi Apollo in a statement said, the Agency observed from the data obtained between the 12th and 18th August 2019, a drop of about 35% in volume trucked out from the previous week, which could be attributed to the reduction of activities at various facilities during the Sallah holiday.

However, from the 19th to 25th August 2019, which falls within the period in which the borders were partially closed, the Agency recorded an average daily truck out figure of about 57

million litres which falls below the daily average figure for the week 5th to 11th August 2019.

Similarly, from 26th August to 1st of September 2019, 371.82 million litres of petrol was trucked out, averaging a daily figure of 53million litres. This represents a decline of about 4million litres when compared to the previous week.

Available data from the Agency, indicates that the downward trend continued from 2nd to 8th September. The daily average truck out figure for that week was 50.22million litres, indicating a further reduction of

2.9million litres.

The high truck-out volume recorded before the partial closure of the nation’s borders could be attributed to the seepage of petroleum products across the border, coupled with the widening fuel price arbitrage with neighbouring West African countries.

While the downward trend in the consumption pattern is a welcome development, the Agency assures stakeholders that efforts are being made not only to curb the smuggling of products, but to ensure that petroleum products are available in the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

METRO

Nyanya gridlock: Security personnel cautioned against violating traffic rules S

By Stanley Onyekwere

ecurity personnel have been implored to shun violation of traffic regulations of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in order to ensure orderly human and vehicular movement in the Territory.

This caution is coming on the heels of the reinvigorated efforts by the FCT Administration to decongest roads in the nation’s capital.

Making this call, Chairman, Special Ministerial Task Team for smooth traffic movement

along the busy AYA-Nyanya road, Ikharo Attah, noted that it was observed that some uniform personnel were in the habit of driving against traffic, whenever there was traffic gridlock on the axis.

The chairman of the Traffic Control Team, spoke at the weekend, when he met with representatives of military and para military agencies within the FCT. Attah, while speaking with the stakeholders at Mabushi Headquarters of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) warned offending uniform

personnel would be made to face the full wrath of the law when they contravene FCT traffic rules.

He faulted some uniform men for contributing to the serious perennial gridlock on the AYA-Nyanya axis, and urged them to be role model to civilians, warning that offenders would not be spared.

According to him, the committee set up by FCT Minister Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, last week had immediately swung into action to ease the traffic gridlock on the axis, despite the severe

A

liko Dangote foundation (ADF) has again resolved to empower 106,000 women across four states in the Northern region with a whopping N1.1 billion.

Towards achieving this women empowerment scheme, ADF has already commenced the identification of eligible beneficiaries, towards the implementation of the programme across these states.

The foundation will empower 23,000 women in Sokoto, 34,000

downpour rainfall during the evening rush hours.

He added that the stakeholders’ interface was an emergence meeting with members and relevant agencies to discuss ways at sustaining the success recorded during its Thursday’s operation.

Similarly, the Director of DTRS, Wadata Bodinga underscored the importance of synergy between government agencies in making the Special Traffic Control Team a huge success.

Recall that the Team, which consists of representatives

drawn from different traffic management and security agencies, with its chairman selected from the media, is expected to submit a preliminary report for further action within two weeks.

However, some residents of the FCT and neighbouring communities in Nasarawa state have called on the FCT Minister to extend Traffic Control Teams work to other busy axis like Dutse-Bwari and Nyanya Checkpoint-Mararaba, following the success recorded so far in the area.

Infrastructural dev’t: Monarchs pledge support for FCT Minister

By Stanley Onyekwere

T Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (3rd left), Minister of State Science and Technology Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi (3rd right), Director Science and Technology Promotion Dr. Ekanem Udoh (2nd left) National President Biotechnology of Society Nigeria Prof. Benjamin Ubi (2nd right), Director Human Resources Management Mr. Dominic Ogamaya (left), and Secretary Biotechnology of Society Nigeria Mr. Yarama D. Ndirpaya (right) during the Courtesy Visit by the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria to the Hon. Ministers , recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Kaduna Electric begins MAP meter installation

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he installation of meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Scheme has commenced, Kaduna Electric has said.

The company disclosed this in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications, Abdulazeez Abdullahi at the weekend in Kaduna.

Kaduna Electric said in

the statement that since commencement of the installation exercise, meters have been successfully installed for customers under its Doka, Barnawa, Zaria and Makera Area Offices all in Kaduna state.

Integrated Power Limited is the company’s MAP in charge of Installing meters for customers in Barnawa, Makera, Kafancan

and Zaria Area offices while Holley Metering is responsible for installations for customers under Doka Area Office.

Mojec International is to meter customers under Rigasa Area Office and Cresthill Limited is in charge of metering customers in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states.

It called on customers under

Area offices where the scheme has yet to take off to be patient as logistical problems that have hindered the exercise will soon be overcome.

The statement urged all its customers to take advantage of the MAP scheme to get metered by visiting the company’s website to register and make a request.

raditional leaders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have declared unconditional support for the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to enable him consolidate on achievements recorded in the Territory over the last four years.

The monarchs who made declaration through a delegation of graded chiefs in the Territory during a courtesy visit to the FCT Administration, also commended the Minister for engineering rapid and inclusive infrastructural development in Abuja.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, and Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, commended the FCT Minister for the tremendous success recorded in his first tenure especially with the completion of on-going and abandoned projects.

Baba Yunusa who is also the Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs said that the visit was to formally congratulate Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on his reappointment as FCT Minister and Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu on her appointment

as the Minister of State.

He also thanked President Muhammadu for recognising and honouring the duo.

While urging both ministers to build on the success recorded in the past, the Ona of Abaji said “We are happy with your programmes and policies which were community development-driven.

“We therefore wish you will continue with these policies so that the entire FCT can feel the impact of your leadership.”

He continued: “You have equally made a landmark in project execution and delivery which is a testimony that you appreciate value for money as such abandoned projects were identified and completed during your first term in office.

“It is our hope that the Minister of State will key into this step for the general development of FCT and its residents.”

Commending on peace and security, the Ona said: “We cannot express our thanks and appreciation enough in this speech, you have indeed done wonderfully well in tackling our security challenges.”

However, while responding, FCT Minister thanked the royal fathers for their support in his first tenure and appealed to

Dangote empowers 106,000 women with N1.1bn in four states

By Etuka Sunday

Page 21

women in Katsina, 21,000 women in Kebbi and 28,000 women in Zamfara.

The programme is a N10 Billion programme that targets 1 Million indigent and vulnerable women.

It was launched in Kano State in 2011 and is being systematically rolled out nationwide to cover the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.

So far, 334,500 women and youths have benefitted from the programme across Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Lagos, Nasarawa and Niger States.

The Dangote Micro-grants

is one of the empowerment programmes of Aliko Dangote Foundation.

It provides disadvantaged women, and from time to time disadvantaged youth, with a one-time N10,000.00 cash grant to boost their household income generation. This, according to ADF, will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs. As far as possible, participants also receive training tailored to bolster their incomegenerating activities which are critical for the welfare of millions of Nigerians.

Beneficiaries of this programme

are evenly selected from the target community/ward/hamlet based on the following criteria: Vulnerable women, Food distressed household with infant or children underfive year old, disabled, divorcee, widow with multiple dependents, extremely poor and resident in the community, and at least 18 years old irrespective of marital status.

It would be recalled that the Programme is implemented in partnership with States Government to complement their economic empowerment and poverty reduction drive across the country.

The Executive

Governor of a benefitting state set up a committee to oversee the implementation of the programme alongside Aliko Dangote Foundation in the state.

From 2016, the Foundation automated the beneficiary enrolment and payment processes.

Also, in addition to the cash grants, beneficiaries were also given mobile phones and SIM cards by the Foundation. In the last two states the scheme was implemented, the Foundation partnered with a leading commercial bank to open bank accounts and provide ATM card for each beneficiary.

Teevo FC striker, Yohanna Jeremiah (R), beat Goalkeeper, Abbas Zaka of Unistar FC (M) to a goal during final match at a soccer tournament organized for IDPs by the US Embassy, at Kuchingoro Camp at the weekend in Abuja, Teevo FC won 2-0. Photo: NAN

them to also support him this time around and also extend the same support to the Minister of State.

According to the him, the continued support from the chiefs would enable the FCT Administration to achieve the mandate given to them by President Muhammadu

Buhari for the development of the nation’s capital.

He also indicated that his Administration would work closely with the royal fathers and other critical stakeholders with a view to developing the FCT of which every Nigerian will be proud of.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

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world news

Commentary: The evolving face of “China speed” T

he blistering pace of expansion by China’s economy in the past decades has impressed the world as “China speed.” Now the term is taking on new meaning as the country enters a new development phase.

The past 70 years have witnessed how “China speed” impacted the country and the rest of the world. From 1952 -- when the earliest official national GDP data after the founding of New China was available -- to 2018, China’s GDP soared 452.6 times in U.S. dollar terms, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The true economic takeoff started after 1978 when the country began its reform and opening up. China achieved an average annual GDP growth of 9.4 percent between 1979 and 2018 at constant prices, well above the 2.9-percent rate the world economy logged in the same period. The leap in the economy’s global influence is evident: in 2018, China contributed to 27.5 percent of world economic growth, up 24.4 percentage points from 1978, the NBS estimates.

While fast economic expansion tremendously elevated people’s living standards in the world’s most populous country and boosted its economic clout globally, better rather than faster growth is becoming the new trend as China seeks higher-quality development. “China speed” is

now less about the breakneck pace of GDP growth, or the sheer velocity of building roads, bridges and skyscrapers. Instead, it’s more about how swiftly an economy of China’s size embraces a new development approach.

For starters, “China speed” is propelled more than ever by technology and innovation. A few clues on this front: a designed top speed of 600 kph for the country’s newly minted high-speed maglev train testing prototype; the Tianhe-1 supercomputer that can compute in one hour what would have taken the entire Chinese population 340 years to process; the 5G network that can download movies within seconds.

The galloping technology advancement is underpinned by China’s unprecedented spending on research and development, which jumped at an average annual rate of 20 percent between 1992 and 2018 to rank second in the world.The speed of China’s shift toward greener growth is equally impressive. China’s per unit of economic output is obtained with 43.1 percent less energy consumption in 2018 than in 1953, and 11.4 percent less than in 2015. Instead of pursuing reckless industrial expansion, Chinese officials now show little tolerance for smokestack factories and energy waste, even if that means slower GDP growth.The “China speed” in greening the

Xinhua Earth is leading the world and is visible from space. A study in February using data from NASA satellites revealed that China contributed to a quarter of the increase in global green leaf area since the turn of the century.

To observe it from the eyes of entrepreneurs, “China speed” is increasingly relevant to how fast the country betters its business

environment and opens up its market to foreign businesses.

As a result of China’s reforms to expand market access and cut administrative red tape, the number of enterprises in the country mushroomed at an average growth rate of 16.9 percent annually from 2012 to 2017. A World Bank report ranked China 46th worldwide for

ease of doing business in 2018, up 32 places from the previous year.

In particular, China is moving fast to share more development opportunities with foreign firms.

The negative list for foreign access to business sectors is shortening year by year, new pilot free trade zones have been launched across the nation in just a few years, and once heavily-restricted domains such as finance are being opened up at a non-stop pace.

Behind the new face of “China speed” is the country’s all-out efforts to pursue national rejuvenation, a vision that can not be realized without a modernized economy that entails better quality, higher efficiency, more robust drivers of growth and opening-up on all fronts. By downshifting its GDP growth and demonstrating a new understanding of desirable speed, the country shows to the rest of the world that it favors not economic dominance, but economic sustainability, which makes structural reforms and shared, win-win development a requisite in a highly connected global economy.Recasting an economy as large as China’s takes time and courage, but it is a critical battle that China must and can win. The evolution of “China speed” has proved how far the country has come and will continue to bear witness to this journey.

Climate change: Impacts ‘accelerating’ as leaders gather for

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he signs and impacts of global heating are speeding up, the latest science on climate change, published ahead of key UN talks in New York, says.

The data, compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), says the five-year period from 2014 to 2019 is the warmest on record.

Sea-level rise has accelerated significantly over the same period, as CO2 emissions have hit new highs.

The WMO says carbon-cutting efforts have to be intensified immediately.

The climate statement is a pulltogether of the latest science on the causes and growing impacts of unprecedented levels of warming seen in recent years.

Recognising that global temperatures have risen by 1.1 degrees C since 1850, the paper notes they have gone up by 0.2C between 2011 and 2015.

This is as a result of burgeoning emissions of carbon, with the amount of the gas going into the atmosphere between 2015 and 2019 growing by

20% compared with the previous five years.

Perhaps most worrying of all is the data on sea-level rise.

The average rate of rise since 1993 until now is 3.2mm per year.

However, from May 2014 to 2019 the rise has increased to 5mm per year.

The 10-year period from 2007-2016 saw an average of about 4mm per year.

“Sea-level rise has accelerated and we are concerned that an abrupt decline in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which will exacerbate future rise,” said WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas.

“As we have seen this year with tragic effect in the Bahamas and Mozambique, sea-level rise and intense tropical storms led to humanitarian and economic catastrophes.”

The report also highlights the threats to the oceans, with more than 90% of the excess heat caused by climate change ending up in the waters. The WMO analysis says 2018 had the highest ocean heat content

values on record.

The study underlines the fact that wherever you look on the planet right now, the story is the same: humaninduced warming is impacting the scale and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and wildfires.

“Climate change due to us is accelerating and on a very dangerous course,” said Prof Brian Hoskins, chair of the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, and professor of meteorology, University of Reading.

“We should listen to the loud cry coming from the schoolchildren.

There is an emergency - one for action in both rapidly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions towards zero and adapting to the inevitable changes in climate.”

‘No fancy speeches’ The WMO report is meant to inform the special UN summit on climate change taking place in New York on Monday.

A range of political leaders will attend the one-day event, which is

designed to be about action and not words, according to UN secretary general António Guterres.

“I told leaders not to come with fancy speeches, but with concrete commitments,” he said ahead of the meeting.

“People want solutions, commitments and action. I expect there will be an announcement and unveiling of a number of meaningful plans on dramatically reducing emissions during the next decade, and on reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Greta Thunberg and other youth activists, fresh from marching on the streets of New York on Friday, will speak at the opening of the meeting.

Protesters will bring an inflatable version of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the UN in protest over his support for coal About 60 heads of state are expected to follow, with countries expected to announce new actions to limit the causes of warming or to speak on initiatives developed by a coalition of nations.

While China, India, France, Germany and the UK will speak at the meeting, there is no place on the podium for Japan or Australia.

Mr Guterres has asked that as well as committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, countries should reduce subsidies for fossil fuels and stop building new coal-fired power stations. The question of coal has led to the barring of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australia’s Scott Morrison.

The US, Brazil and Saudi Arabia will also not be taking part.

The success of the special summit remains in the balance - what isn’t in question is the urgency of action and the fact that delay means more difficult decisions down the line.

“It is highly important that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, notably from energy production, industry and transport. This is critical if we are to mitigate climate change and meet the targets set out in the Paris Agreement,” said Petteri Taalas from the WMO. Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

News From Africa

Egypt: Protests and clashes enter second day

E

gypt has seen a second night of clashes and dozens of arrests in rare demonstrations against President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

About 200 demonstrators took to the streets in the port city of Suez demanding his resignation.

Dozens were reportedly arrested and police responded with tear gas.

The protests - which also took place in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday - are in response to corruption allegations against President Sisi’s government.

Mr Sisi has dismissed the allegations as “lies and slander”.

Why are Egyptians protesting?

Protests have been extremely rare under President Sisi, who took power in 2014 after he led the military’s overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi.

But anger has spread since an Egyptian businessman and actor, Mohamed Ali, posted a series of videos online accusing the country’s leader of wasting millions on luxury residences and hotels while millions of Egyptians lived in poverty.

Egypt has pursued a policy of

economic austerity in recent years.

Hundreds filled Tahrir Square - a key site of the 2011 Egyptian uprising - late on Friday shouting “Sisi out”, while demonstrations also took place elsewhere around the country.

At least 74 people were arrested, AFP news agency reported. There is no official confirmation.

What happened on Saturday?

Around 200 Egyptians took to the streets in Suez, which had seen protests on Friday, too.

There were clashes, with police firing tear gas and arresting dozens of protesters.

“There were about 200 or so people.

They (security forces) fired tear gas, rubber and live bullets and there were injuries,” one man, who took part in the protests but declined to be named, told AFP. Videos posted on social media show demonstrators calling President Sisi “the enemy of god”.

On Saturday, Mr Ali upped the ante, calling on Egyptians to join a “millionman march” next Friday and to fill all “major squares” of the country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

A SI A

Iran warns foreign forces to stay out of Gulf, amid new US deployment

I

ran’s president has warned that foreign forces are threatening the security of the Gulf, after the US said it was deploying troops to the region.

Hassan Rouhani said foreign forces had always brought “pain and misery” and should not be used in an “arms race”.

The US is sending more troops to Saudi Arabia after an attack on Saudi oil facilities both nations blame on Iran.

Mr Rouhani also said Iran would present a new Gulf peace initiative at the United Nations in the coming days.

This year has seen continuing tension between the US and Iran, following President Donald Trump’s abandonment of a deal aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear activities in return for the easing of sanctions.

The latest flashpoint was caused by drone and missile attacks on the Saudi oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had carried out the attacks, but both the US and its ally Saudi Arabia - Iran’s main regional rival - said Iran was behind them, something Tehran has strongly denied.

Angry rhetoric and its dangers The crisis sparked by the attacks is being dangerously inflamed by angry rhetoric. President Trump’s knee-jerk reaction was to tell the Iranians the US was “locked and loaded”. So the region braced for a US retaliatory strike.

Washington pulled back,

restrained by a nervous Saudi Arabia. Instead it is sending a small detachment of what are essentially military technicians to bolster Saudi Arabia’s blatantly inadequate air and missile defences.

The move is defensive, and may not even be enough to prevent another “swarm” attack of explosive drones. Yet Iran’s hard-line Revolutionary Guards are interpreting it as an aggressive, almost invasive, act.

The danger now is that one side or the other misinterprets the signals from the other side of the Gulf and does something that inadvertently propels this region into a war that nobody wants.

What has Mr Rouhani said?

He was speaking on the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, and alongside a series of military parades in Tehran and other cities.

Hassan Rouhani said foreign forces had always brought “pain and misery” “Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity for our people and for our region,” he said in the televised speech.

He called the deployment of such forces in the past a “disaster” and told them to “stay away”.

“If they’re sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race... The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our nations, the more security there will be.”

What about his peace initiative?

The president said it would be presented to the UN, which

Iran has been holding military parades to mark the start of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war begins the main part of its general assembly in New York on Tuesday.

However, he gave no details, saying only that peace in the Strait of Hormuz could be achieved “in co-operation with various countries”.

Mr Rouhani said Iran was “ready to let go of the past mistakes” made by regional neighbours.

“In this sensitive and important historical moment, we announce to our neighbours, that we extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood to them,” he said.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have also made a peace initiative,

saying they would end all attacks on Saudi Arabia provided the kingdom and its allies did the same.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said in a statement it was important to “take advantage of this opportunity and move forward with all necessary steps to reduce violence, military escalation and unhelpful rhetoric”.

What is the US troop deployment?

The Pentagon announced on Friday that, in response to a Saudi request, there would be a moderate deployment to Saudi Arabia, not in the thousands and focused on air

and missile defence.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper said: “We will also work to accelerate the delivery of military equipment.”

The announcement brought a strong response from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps - an elite branch of Tehran’s military designated a terrorist organisation by the US. Commander Maj Gen Hossein Salami said: “Whoever wants their land to become the main battlefield, go ahead. Be careful, a limited aggression will not remain limited. We will pursue any aggressor.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

education

Kano State spends N600m on Scholarship Maryam Abeeb,Abuja

K

ano State Government has spent over N600 million on its joint tuition-free post graduate scholarship between the State and French Embassy in Nigeria.

This covers four batches of Kano indigenes, mainly lecturers, from the state’s tertiary institutions sponsored under the agreement.

Speaking while presenting travelling documents to the 4th batch of beneficiaries, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said the programme was initiated to support teaching in the tertiary institutions owned by the state.

Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, said the government was spending a lot to ensure that lecturers get the best of training requirked to improve their performance.

Under this programme, a lot of money has been spent based on 60/40 percent agreement where French Government used to take 60 per cent while Kano State Government takes 40 to ensure that our lecturers from tertiary institutions get the best training. So far, with this batch, by the time everything is being paid, over N600 million has been spent on the programme,” he said.

Ganduje said all the candidates had been admitted to the top ranking universities in

France, which he believed would certainly benefit the state in a couple of years.

He praised the heads of the various tertiary institutions for their commitment towards promoting equality and fairness in selecting participants for the programme.

“We usually mention how our students emerged best students when they go for this programme. I think we have to give this credit to you. Why I said this, is because of the transparent nature and prudence being used in terms of selecting these students,” said Ganduje.

To the students, Ganduje urged them to put in their best to make not only the state but thecountry proud of their performance while aborad.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor Kano University of Technology, Prof Shehu Musa Alhaji, said students were chosen on merit, saying, “so far the first, the second and third sets of the students that have been sent from Kano had made the state proud”.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mustapha Sani Musa from Kano University of Technology promised to perform beyond expectations.

“I want to express our appreciation to all people that have contributed in one way or the other in giving us yet another opportunity to acquire further training which will be of great benefit of our dear state.

FG to integrate Quranic education in UBE programme

By Maryam Abeeb Abuja

T

he Federal Government has concluded plans to integrate the Quranic and Tsangaya education into the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in the country.

Already, over 135 master trainers drawn from the nine pilot states have been trained on the Integrated Quranic and Tsangaya Education (IQTE) programme.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, while declaring open the five-day workshop said the Federal Government would do everything possible to ensure that the Quranic schools are properly integrated into basic education curriculum.

Bobboyi, who was represented by the Director, Quality Assurance, Alhaji Mansir Idris, said the commission would adopt best practices in IQTE implementation through effective consultation and partnership with stakeholders.

He affirmed the readiness of the commission to do all within its powers to create opportunities for all schoolage children to access quality basic education in the country; hence, the need to integrate Quranic schools into the formal basic education structure.

He challenged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity so that they can effectively train the IQTE teachers and managers in their various states.

Nine states of Sokoto, Yobe, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Niger, Oyo, and Adamawa are currently implementing the pilot phase of the IQTE programme, after the proprietors of the selected schools had undergone training on key aspects of the IQTE operations.

Bobboyi said the training was part

of efforts geared towards putting in place appropriate structures for quality teaching and learning in the IQTE schools and is considered a critical aspect of the foundational arrangements for the programme.

Under the IQTE arrangement, the Federal Government provides support for the beneficiary proprietors of Tsangaya schools who would in turn make their learning facilities as well as human resources available for use as centres for integrating elements of basic literacy into their Quranic/ tsangaya education activities.

The Federal Government’s funding support will be used to enhance infrastructural development with a view to improving access and quality of learning in designated centres with states and local government education authorities playing supervisory roles.

The UBEC boss said through the IQTE, the commission would provide educational opportunities for Islamic learners found in urban centres.

He added that with 157 model tsangaya schools located in 27 states and the FCT, UBEC will provide a conducive boarding and learning facilities for designated classes of children thus maximising the use of facilities earlier made available for its almajiri programme.

According to him, the current master trainers’ workshop was a further step in consolidating on the successes already attained in actualising the integration plans of government.

Director of Special Programmes, Alhaji Hassan Umar applauded the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring inclusive education and appreciated the pilot states for showing commitment to the IQTE process by turning up in good number for the exercise.

Page 25

Senator urges FG to provide teaching hospital, medical college In Yola

S

enator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Medical College and teaching hospital in Yola, Adamawa State.

Ahmed who represents Adamawa Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber made the call when a Special Committee of the National Universities Commission (NUC) visited the Moddibo Adamawa University of Technology (MAUTECH) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yola at the week end.

The visit by the Seven-man panel led by Professor Abdullahi Suleiman Ribadu was meant to assess the facilities in the two federal institutions to determine their suitability for the introduction of medical college in the University and the conversion of the FMC to a teaching hospital.

In the same vein, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, said his administration would support the realization of the project.

Sen. Ahmed who accompanied the Committee on the visit alongside the Senator representing Adamawa South, Senator Yaroe Binos Dauda and Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, representing Taraba Central, She said the introduction of a medical college in the university and conversion of the FMC Yola to a teaching hospital would bring a great relief to the people of Adamawa, Taraba and beyond.

Sen. Ahmed who spoke during a courtesy visit on the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa by the Committee, said the visit followed a motion she sponsored on the matter on the floor of the Senate.

She said: “Your Royal Highness sir, in company of this special committee of the NUC, who are to make an on-the-spot-assessment of the Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa and Federal Medical Centre Yola, for the consideration of the possibility of establishing a medical school and upgrading the Federal Medical Centre Yola to a teaching hospital.

“This followed a high-powered meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education, Senators from Taraba State, and Senators from Adamawa state and the Executive Secretary of the NUC at the instance of the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ahmad Lawan following a motion which was sponsored where I was the lead sponsor and 37 distinguished other senators co-sponsored.

“The motion was not only unanimously approved but was overwhelmingly so. Your Royal Highness, this issue started in way back 2011 to 2015 where you people gave me the opportunity

to represent Yola North/Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency in the Lower Chamber. I sponsored the same motion.

“At the lower chamber, the motion was unanimously approved even though it did not see the light of day.”

“And I would not forget to mention that our number one citizen, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, in his wisdom led a bipartisan high delegation to Mr. President over the same issue where Mr. President said a formal letter should be written and a positive consideration would be given to it.”

Also in her remarks when the NUC’s Special Committee visited the management of the MAUTECH, Senator Ahmed said the National Assembly wholeheartedly supports the realization of the project.

“From the legislative arm of government, we will do everything that needs to be done to ensure the realization of this project.

“Within the jurisdiction of the Senate we would certainly do it. And the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan is all out for this project,” she said.

On his part, the Lamido of Adamawa, Musdafa, thanked members of the team and the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Senator Ahmed for their concern towards the welfare of the people of Adamawa and the Northeast.

Musdafa said: “I thank all members of this high powered delegation which is in Adamawa in respect of our request for the conversion of the Moddibo Adama University of Technology to a conventional University and the Federal Medical Centre Yola to a teaching hospital.

“Thank you very much for your concern for the hopes and aspirations of the people of Adamawa and the North East zone to be realized.

“And I don’t need to say a lot about this project because now we must thank Allah that has caused the government to look at the problem seriously and to constitute a committee like this to under study the situation here.

“I want to thank the Senator representing Adamawa Central, for the vision and her efforts towards this project since she was in the House Representatives.”

Also in his remarks when the NUC’s team visited him, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, thanked the delegation and Senators Ahmed and Dauda for being in the state to attend a major educational and health concern in the state.

He pledged the readiness of his administration to ensure the smooth take off of the project if approved by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of the Special Committee of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Suleiman Ribadu(Fourth left), the the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa(Fifth left), the Senator representing Adamawa Central District, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) and other others when the committee paid a visit to Lamido on the establishment of a medical college in Moddibo Adamawa University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola

PAGE 26

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

CLASSIFIED

e a t u r e

Mexico missing students: Questions remain five years on

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE COMMISION INVITATION TO TENDER The National Assembly Service Commission hereby invites interested and reputable Contractors with requisite qualifications and good track records to tender for the following contracts under its 2019 Capital Budget and General Store Items.

S/N 1.

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Families of those missing continue to demand answers, while President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (centre) has pledged to take action

O

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

n the evening of 26 September 2014, a group of 43 Mexican students disappeared in south-western Guerrero state. Five years later, the case remains shrouded in unanswered questions.

When news of the young trainee teachers disappearing was first reported, it sent shockwaves around the world. In Mexico, it continues to be a dominant political issue and source of protests to this day.

While authorities long ago claimed to have uncovered the “historic truth” of the case, rights groups and families of the 43 say they are still awaiting real answers and justice.

Here is what we know - and do not know about the missing students.

Who were they?

All 43 were young, male students at a teacher training college in Guerrero state The 43 studied at an all-male teacher training college in the town of Ayotzinapa. The college has a history of left-wing activism and the students regularly took part in protests.

What were they doing on the day of their disappearance?

The 43 were part of a larger group of teacher trainees from Ayotzinapa who travelled to the nearby town of Iguala to protest against what they saw as discriminatory hiring practices for teachers.

They also wanted to raise funds for a trip they were planning to Mexico City to mark the anniversary of the 1968 Tlatelolco Massacre, when a large number of students were killed by the security forces in the capital.

One member of the group said they were planning on commandeering a number of buses for their trip, although he insisted they would convince the drivers to take them rather than force them.

What happened that night?

Six people, three of them students, were killed the night of 26 September 2014 near Iguala As they were travelling back from Iguala to Ayotzinapa, they were confronted by municipal police, who opened fire on the buses they were travelling in.

The officers maintain they did so because the buses had been hijacked, while the surviving students say the drivers had agreed to give them a lift.

Police also mistakenly fired on a bus carrying a local football team, killing its driver and one of the players on board. A woman travelling in a nearby taxi was killed by a bullet.

Three students were also killed, two of them shot dead, while the body of the third was found mutilated the next morning near the scene of the shooting.

What about the missing 43?

A group of 43 students was reported missing after the clash between the municipal police and the students. An official government report said they were seized by municipal officers and taken to the police station in the

nearby town of Cocula.

There, they were handed over by corrupt police officers to members of a local drugs gang, Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors), the report said.

The gangs then took them to a local rubbish dump, where they killed them and burned their bodies, the official report continued. They dumped their bones and ashes in a nearby stream, it concluded.

However, that report has since been widely discredited, and prosecutors are investigating the attorney general who was in charge of the probe as well as his top aides.

Have any of their remains been found?

Independent forensic experts matched charred bone fragments reportedly found at a rubbish dump near Iguala to Alexander Mora, one of the 43 missing students.

They also said there was a high probability that another set of remains could be those of Jhosivani Guerrero de la Cruz, another of the students.

However, experts from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights later said that the chain of evidence had been broken and that they could not be sure Alexander Mora’s bone fragments came from the dump.

Another independent investigation by Argentine forensic experts also concluded that there was no biological or physical evidence to indicate that the bodies of the 43 students were burned at the rubbish dump.

Just days ahead of the fifth anniversary of the students’ disappearance, the head of Mexico’s human rights commission said that the state had failed to solve the case.

“We don’t know with any certainty were the youngsters ended up and there is impunity, Luis Raúl González Pérez said.

If they were not killed in Cocula, where are they?

Many relatives have long suspected that students were taken to the local army barracks. They demanded access to the barracks months after their disappearance but were denied entry.

The government of President Enrique Peña Nieto, which was in power until December 2018, refused to let the soldiers be questioned by anyone but government prosecutors, which raised suspicions among the relatives that there was a cover-up.

Why did the students become a target in the first place?

There have been many theories as to why the students may have been targeted. Their left-wing activism and protests in Iguala had angered the mayor of the town at the time, José Luis Abarca, even before the night of the clash.

On the day the students came to Iguala, Mr Abarca’s wife, María de los Angeles Pineda, was giving a speech at the town square, and there was speculation police were sent to stop the students from disrupting her event.

Source: BBC

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SAMIRA ZUHAIR JIBIR 2.

ABBA ABDULLAHI SAIDU 3.

ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI SAIDU 4.

FARIDA ZUHAIR 5.

ZAHIDA ZUHAIR 6.

ZUHURA ZUHAIR 7.

ZAKIYA ZUHAIR 8.

ZAINAB ZUHAIR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. Providing educational scholarship, endowments for orphans, host communities, adopted schools, and sponsorship for the underprivileged in the society 2. To provide welfare support for the vulnerable and Internally Displaced Persons 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.

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 : BY Barr Prince Daniels

PUBLIC NOTICE

SYNAGOGUE THEOLOGY SCHOOL

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. AGBASIERE CHINYERE LINDA - FOUNDER 2. AGBASIERE OBINNA KINGSLEY. - SECRETARY. 3. ORJI BLESSING CHIOMA THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO GIVE CARE TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED CITIZENS IN OUR SOCIETY.

PUBLIC NOTICE Star Progressive Brothers Club of Nigeria 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. Ogbonna Sylvester Ikechuk ( Chairman ) 2. Mbamalu Uzonna Michael (secretary ) 3. Nwafor Ndubisi Augustine’s 4. Onuawuchi Chijioke.

SIGNED : AGBASIERE CHINYERE LINDA FOUNDER.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOMTO NEW LIFE FOUNDATION

ANDYTEX HUMAN RIGHTS & PUBLIC DEFENDER’S 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 TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ARUOGHAREN ISAAC - President/Founder 2. AGUBE FRANCIS 3. ARUOGHAREN EMMANUEL ERHI -Secretary 4. OBASUYI MATTHEW

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IJEO, NWANKWO BEATRIC UZOAMAKA 2. PASTOR EHIOROBO NDIDI ANDREW 3. HASSAN NADIA HANNTU. 4. IJEO NWANKWO PATRHCIA EBELE. 5 SONTOCHUKWU UZOAMAKA IJEO.

SIGNED : By J. E. Obasuyi Esq 08024729418

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : (1) To promote peace, love and unity among members.

(2) To care for one another and to assist each other financially.

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.

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.

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 OBJECTIVE : 1.To reenforce biblical values in the life of present and future ministers of God. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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. RAHAMA ABDULLAHI MUSA 2. SADIYA SALEH AMINU 3. MARYAM ADAM IBRAHIM THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To assist the current student in the teaching, financing and guidance and counseling in everything of their education 2. To promote and educate members on craft, formal education, technical education and social awareness 3. To promote and assist the student in chosen relavant courses and securing admission in tertiary institution in Nigeria and abroad.

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 AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To care for the welfare of members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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. AKOR ANDREW AKOR 2. JAMES SUNDAY

-

-

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To engage in promoting and protecting the rights and human dignity for less privileged, and people with disabilities.

2. To cater for the less privileged in the society.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : ANDREW AKOR (07035970911)

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

HaleYouth Foundation

Government secondary school wuse class of 2001 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 THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1) Mr. Lukman Enegi Ismaila - Chairman 2) Mr. Salami Ismaila Musa 3) Arch. Sumaila Onimisi Yusuf 4) Mrs. Hajara O. Sumaila. - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.Humanitarian services 2.special care for orphans and windows 3.skills acquisition programs for youths 4 education for less privileged 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 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Barrister Labiru Ahmad

PUBLIC NOTICE Auction!

Auction!! Auction!!!

This is to inform the general public that there will be public auction sales of unserviceable vehicles / items in Federal ministry of Education Headquarter, Abuja.

Date: Thursday, 26th September, 2019 Time: 11:00 am prompt.

For more information call 08035834267 or 08134178838 Signed: Mr Benneth I. Okeke Auctioneer

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that MILESTONE REHABILITATION FOUNDATION had agreed and proposed in her Trustees meeting held on September 7, 2019 at her present office address located at No1 Libya Crescent Barnawa, Kaduna to make application to change her name to MILESTONES FOUNDATION. All enquires and complaints should be directed to the Executive Director on 07032300802 or billebiti@gmail. com within 28 days of this notice after which the constitution will be amended to reflect the new name.

NOTE : MILESTONES REHABILITATION FOUNDATION in her Trustees Meeting held on September 7, 2019 at her present office located at No 1 Libya Crescent Barnawa, Kaduna had agreed to make application to make changes in her Trustee Members as follows: OUTGOING TRUSTEE MEMBERS 1. Florence Jonathan Danbaki 2. Saraya Yashim 3. Haruna Adamu NEW TRUSTEE MEMBERS 1. Hauwa J. Akilu Isa 2. Jibril Norma Shirley Franco De Lisboa 3. Bala Julius Jibril 4. Sefiya Umar The following Trustee Members are retained 1. Nkereuwem William Ebiti 2. Joseph Ike All enquires and complaints should be directed to the Executive Director on 07032300802 or billebiti@gmail.com within 28 days of this notice.

Signed: Management

PILLAR of LIFE BIBLE CHURCH RESTORATION OF RESTORATION

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

THE Trustees ARE 1. Jibril Raji 2. Casimir idele 3. Bolarinwa Akadiri 4. Margret Kari 5. Rakiya usman Aim and Objective to care for the welfare of its membersuga..

PUBLIC NOTICE

ANAM FOUNDATION

MUSTARD SEED HOME FOR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) KASE NANCY NGUNAN - PRESIDENT 2) RUGAH PAUL - VICE PRESIDENT 3) OLORI AUGUSTINE EKUOGBE - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1) To cater for the old and widows.

2) To provide affordable education for orphans.

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 : ORGA WALTER (07032941918)

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. Echendu Abraham Obinna - Chairman.

2. Chuks Chukwuwen Okoriekwe - Secretary 3. OLAYEMI SAMUEL OLORUNFEMI - Member 4. Geraldine Ezinwa - Member 5. Olasupo Abiola Oladimeji - Member 6. Akanni Quam Oladimeji - Member THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To assist the less privileges in our local community.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : Presenter SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

El-shadai soul revival and prayer ministry

TRUE VINE BRANCH FAMILY ASSEMBLY OF ALL NATIONS

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 Joshua obukohwo ikuku 2.ikuku Angela lgwearide 3.ikuku Ejiro praise

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Olaoluwa Oluwalonimi Israel 2. Olojo, Seinde Oladiji 3. Onanuga, Olajumoke Olufunmi

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to increase the frontier of the church ministry to the whole 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.

UBA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja, for remover Trustee under part “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

Trustees are: 1.

MOHAMMED DAUDA 2.

ELISHA DANIEL 3.

SALIHU MUSA 4.

YAZIDU HAMZA 5.

SULEIMAN BUBA 6.

FAISAL YAU’BA 7.

NURU HASSAN 8.

MUSTAPHA ABDULLAHI 9.

MUSA SALEH Aims and objectives.

To empower the youths to be independent and self sufficient through counseling. Training and mentoring.

To organize on a regular basis, seminars, lectures, vocational training and other related activities in schools, training and youth centres which would contribute to job creation and youth capacity building..

Any objection to this remover should be forward to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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.

Sports monday, September 23, 2019

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29

PEOPLES DAILY

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

‘N15 billion NFF fund: Why Pinnick, Dikko, others have questions to answer’

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. REV DR, NWORIE FIDELIS NWEKE --president 2 .PROPHETSS GRACE NWABUURU NWORIE ..... Treasurer 3.ONYEMAECHI FIDELIS PRINCEWILL .... Secretary 4 .SUNDAY FIDELIS ------ P.R.O 5. NWORIE PRINCESS 6. CHIKAODI NWORI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: D.A MOMOH ESQ

PUBLIC NOTICE EDO IN DIASPORA THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION AT NO. 7, SILUKO ROAD, OPPOSITE TRAVIS COLLEGE IN BENIN CITY, HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EHIMWENMA OMOROSE SMART - CHAIRMAN 2. OYOBAGIE DAVIDSON KINGSLEY - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS IN SOCIETY. 2. TO PROMOTE AND ASSIST IN THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY HENCE EMPOWER THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN SOCIETY. 3. TO EMPOWER WIDOWS AND ORPHANS WITH VIABLE SKILLS. 4. TO TEACH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FACILITATE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS ABILITY TO MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES IN BUSINESS. 5. TO INCULCATE THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, UNITY, PEACE, AND PATRIOTISM IN ALL, AND EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER AS PEOPLE OF ONE INDIVISIBLE DESTINY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION, SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed. Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

By Amaechi Agbo

F

ormer Presidential candidate to the 2018 Nigeria Football Federation NFF election in Katsina State, Chief Chinedu Okoye has claimed that the current leadership of the Nigeria football under Amaju Pinnick does not allegedly have vision for the development of football in the country.

Chief Okoye who is also the chairman of Bimo Sporting Club, in an interview also suggested that since ascending to the office of NFF presidency, the officials of the federation who are facing various allegations of corruption bothering on financial infidelity, have allegedly stolen over N15 billion from the coffers of the Nigeria football.

Okoye who spoke in an exclusive interview with Bestchoicesports.com.ng further alleged that the accused persons have bribed everybody in order to subvert justice but stressed that “they can bribe the angels but they cannot bribe God.” He wondered why the various state Football Associations (FAs) chairmen across the country had not gathered to

impeach the accused officials adding that if it were in a saner country, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and other accused officials should long have vacated their positions.

“The best thing for Pinnick and his gang in NFF is for them to resign now and leave Nigeria football alone. They don’t have any vision to develop our football. These guys have destroyed our football, they have looted Nigeria football to zero.

“You cannot fool all the people all the time. Football is the only thing that have united this country. Football is the only language that all Nigerians speak together – Hausa, Igbo Yoruba – every culture in Nigeria. We speak one language when it comes to football. When it comes to football, we don’t have Boko Haram, we don’t have IPOB, we don’t have Ayes as we saw in Lagos, we don’t have Niger Delta Militants. We just have one love when it comes to football.

“Look at what is happening to the senior female team, the coach (Thomas Dennerby) is not coming back. Why? The criminals in NFF have a case to answer. They should go to the court and answer their cases. Nigerians now know that after the elections in Katsina which Pinnick bought with money, that

there was no election. I said it before and I am saying it again, the whole FA chairmen, all of them, are the problems of Nigeria football because if the whole state FA chairmen are sincere enough, nothing stops them from coming together and impeach these criminals. But they are doing nothing, they are there for their own selfish interest.

“The development of football in Nigeria should be done at the grassroots and the state FA should start it but they are not there to do it and they don’t want to send the criminals out. In which sane country will Pinnick still be the president of the federation with all these allegations upon his head? These are not allegations, they are facts. FIFA brought money, the money was diverted; there was money stolen from the federation’s account.

“We know that President Buhari is working. The President of Nigeria will not close his eyes and let these people get away with these loots which is more than 15 billion Naira they stole in 5 years from Nigerians. N15 billion is what they have stolen from this country and they are still working around in the streets but I know that with time their rooms are already made in Kuje Prison.

“Their rooms are already in Kuje, they can run but they cannot hide, I told them that last year, you can bribe the angels but God don’t take bribe. They have bribed all the bribeables but their bribes have already expired. In this second term of Buhari, he will prove something to Nigerians, he is there to sanitise the system.

“God willing, we have a new minister of sports and he needs to know what is going on in the Nigeria football.

“Our league is dead, our football is dead, and nobody is talking about the league because the LMC chairman’s house is sealed. How could you talk about the league when he takes the sponsorship money to go and buy houses and jewelleries, sleep in five-star hotels and live expensive life style?

What is the salary of Shehu Dikko to make him acquire such property? What is the job of Shehu Dikko in the last five years? So let’s not just close our eyes and think that everything is okay.

“Some of the Nigerian press editors have failed Nigerians by not telling the truth. I know the people they have bought over, they gave them small money and they closed their mouth.

UEFA U-17 Tourney: Eaglets coach optimistic After Turkey Win

>>>PG 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

S p r

Asamoah Gyan joins Indian Super League side NorthEast United

A

samoah Gyan has signed for Indian Super League outfit NorthEast United.

Ghana Black Stars all-time top scorer moves to the Guwahatibased club having left Turkey this summer The 33-year old moves to the subcontinent after his contract with Turkish Super Lig side Kayserispor expired on July 1.

This is the 10th club he will be representing in his professional career, having had stints in home country Ghana with Liberty Professionals, as well as Italy,England,France, United Arab Emirates,China and Turkey.

“I am extremely excited to start this new chapter in my career,” Gyan told the media.

“I have heard great things about NorthEast United FC and the Indian Super League and I am thrilled to be a part of it for the upcoming season.

“I am confident that we can better the wonderful season the club had last year.”

Gyan is Ghana’s leading topscorer with 51 goals from 107 International matches. He is also the country’s leading scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations and Fifa World Cup. The Ghana star is a direct replacement for Nigeria’s Bartholomeu Ogbeche who left NorthEast United to join another ISL side,Kerala Blasters.

The Highlanders finished fourth in the ISL last season, their highest ever placing since their formation in 2014. They kickstart their 2019-20 campaign with an away tie at Bengaluru FC on October 21.

t

UEFA U-17 Tourney: Eaglets coach optimistic After Turkey Win

By Amaechi Agbo

G

olden Eaglets coach Manu Garba is optimistic the UEFA/CAF Tourney in Turkey will sharpen his team up for the FIFA U-17 World Cup coming up in Brazil next month.

Garba spoke before his wards defeated host Turkey 2-0 in the opening match on Sunday The Turkey Technical Centre in Istanbul witnessed some interesting football when Nigeria filed out against their counterparts from Turkey, host nation of the eight-nation UEFA/CAF U17 International Tournament.

Speaking after a technical meeting ahead of the match, Manu Garba, Head Coach of the team insisted that the tournament is a perfect opportunity to test the readiness of the players for the task ahead at the FIFA U17 World Cup starting next month in Brazil.

“I am very optimistic that the tournament will come good for the players to stand the test of time in Brazil.

“Playing Turkey will definitely be a strong test for the team.”

Manu said.

Goals from Olakunle

I, formerly known as ZULKIBILU DAUDA now wish to be known and addressed as ZULKIFLU DAUDA YUNUSA, Date of birth, 1-12-1996. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

SALISU I, formerly known as SALISU IDRIS ADAM now wish to be known and addressed as SALISU IDRIS AGATA. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned, FCMB, and the general public should please take note.

Muhyiddeen Olusegun in the 10th minute and Divine Nwachuku’s second half confirmed victory for the Golden Eaglets against the host nation.

The 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 18th edition of the FIFA U-17 contested by the under-17 national teams of the

member associations of FIFA, to be hosted in Brazil between 26 October and 17 November 2019.

Originally, it was determined that Peru would have hosted it between 5 and 27 October 2019, however, it was announced in February 2019 that they would

no longer host the tournament, following inspection of the facilities and concern over organizational challenges.

A formal announcement on 15 March 2019 ratified the recommendation to move the tournament to Brazil.

igerian winger Samuel Chukwueze came off the bench to inspire Villarreal to a 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid in Saturday’s LaLiga game.

Chukwueze was not in the starting lineup, but was introduced in the 66th minute to replace Moi Gomez.

The 20-year-old provided the assist for Javi Ontiveros to score his debut goal for Villarreal in

the 89th minute, which doubled the hosts’ lead after Santi Cazorla broke the deadlock in the 77th minute.

Saturday’s game was Chukwueze’s fourth league appearance of the season.

The victory at Estadio de la Ceramica moved the Yellow Submarine to third place in the La Liga table with eight points after five matches.

crossed corner kick with a powerful strike that nestled into the back of Mohamed Awad’s net.

In the 37th minute, veteran fullback Ahmed Fathi advanced up the right flank and found El-Shahat inside the box with a perfect cross, but the winger’s header missed the target by a narrow range.

El-Shahat continued to be at heart of attack for the league champions, when he got at the end of a loose ball following a massive error from Mohamed Abel-Shafy who failed to clear the ball to reach El-Shahat, who smashed the ball home from a close range.

It only took Al Ahly five minutes after the restart to extent their lead to 3-0. Ramadan Sobhi intercepted the ball from Mahmoud ‘Shikabala’ in a dangerous zone and squared it towards Ajayi, who doubled his tally with a smooth finish into the bottom corner.

In the 62nd minute, the Whites were awarded a penalty kick after Mostafa Mohamed was brought down inside the box

by Mohamed El-Shennawy. Mahmoud Alaa converted cleverly from the spot to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Around the 75-minute mark, Zamalek

were given another penalty kick after Hamdi Fathi’s poor challenge on Achraf Bencharki.

Alaa once again sent the ball home calmly, making it 3-2.

Zamalek tried to net the equaliser in the remaining minutes, however, they failed as Al Ahly maintained discipline and composure until the referee blew the fulltime whistle.

Al Ahly and Zamalek are set to start their 2019/20 league campaign on the 23rd of September. The Reds will face Smouha, meanwhile, the Whites will host Ittihad of Alexandria.

South Africa wallop Seychelles 28-0 In COSAFA Women’s U-17 championship François Xavier Stadium Stadium on the second day of the eight-team tournament with Simphiwe Dludlu’s team 15-0 up at half-time‚ which included six goals from Oyisa Marhasi ‚ who was then promptly taken off.

Captain Jessica Wade was the first to get a hattrick‚ doing so inside the opening 18 minutes and Nabeelah Grant matched her – scoring on the stroke of half-time‚ another a minute into the second half and completing

her hattrick in the 74th minute.

Tiffany Kortjie netted within two minutes of coming on in the 47th minute and went on to score six in the space of 30 minutes at an average of one goal every minutes.

In total South Africa had 11 different goalscorers.

The previous record for a South African team was the 17-0 win for Banyana Banyana over Comoros in the Cosafa Women’s Championship in Port Elizabeth on July 31.

That is also a world record for a competitive women’s international.

The previous record score for a match involving a South African team was the 24-0 win for Mamelodi Sundowns over Kimberley amateur club Powerlines in the Nedbank Cup in 2012.

The record score in any international is a 31-0 victory for Australia over American Samoa in World Cup qualification in 2001‚ including 13 goals by Archie Thompson.

I, formerly known as Muhyiddeen Usman Abdallah now wish to be known and addressed as Muhyiddeen Usman Abdullahi. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned, FCMB, and the general public should please take note.

Muhyiddeen I, formerly known as Muhyiddeen Usman Abdallah now wish to be known and addressed as Muhyiddeen Usman Abdullahi. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned, FCMB, and the general public should please take note.

EMMANUEL I, formerly known as EMMANUEL UGBAJE now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL ELEOJO UGBAJE. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned, FCMB, and the general public should please take note.

IDRIS I, formerly known as ABDULLAHI MAIMUNATU now wish to be known and addressed as IDRIS MUHAMMED MAIMUNATU. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

sylvester I, formerly known as akpoghudo frifay aleakwue now wish to be known and addressed as sylvester moses aleakwue. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned, FCMB, and the general public should please take note.

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) Yusuf Aminu Anzere (2) Yusuf Jatau (3) Monday Musa (4) Jerusalem Monday THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To promote and advocate Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom for all without any discrimination of race, religion, caste, color, sex and language.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE (1) PETER, OPEYEMI FLORENCE (2)OLUBIYO FLOURIPSH OLAMILE (3) AYODELE HELEN (4) OWOBO MATTHEW DADA. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO PREACH GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Fatima Mas'ud Umar 2..Aisha Abdu Umar 3. Bra'atu Almustapha AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assist the needy especially an everlasting reword by building Islamic schools, mosques and providing water to the rural communities and any purely sadaqatal jariye course.

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IMBOKO, HERBERT JAMES 2. ATUBO, JONATHAN INIMOTIMI 3. EBOGHO, SAMUEL THOMPSON 4. TORUGHEDI, SELKY KILE.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Mrs. Jummai S. Dorh 2. Mrs. Naomi Senche 3. Rev. Sunday Tono 4. Dr. Habila Mathew 5. Mrs. Martha J. Audu Dabai 6. Mr. Benjamin Dikki.

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Junior Ajayi nets brace in Al Ahly Super Cup win against Zamalek

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Samuel Chukwueze

outh Africa’s under-17 women’s team set a host of new records on Saturday as they walloped the Seychelles 28-0 in the Cosafa championship in Mauritius including two double hat tricks.

It was the biggest score in an international match in Africa‚ the biggest winning margin in a women’s competitive international and the largest margin of victory by any South African team.

It was a rampant performance at the St.

ZULKIFLU

I, formerly known as OKONKWO CHINWENDU PREVIOUS now wish to be known and addressed as OKARANIME PRECIOUS CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

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Chukwueze inspires Villarreal victory over Real Valladolid

igeria forward Junior Ajayi scored twice as Al Ahly were crowned Egypt Super Cup champions after an entertaining 3-2 victory against Zamalek.

The Reds got off to a quick start, when Hussein El-Shahat squared the ball towards Amr El-Sulaya, who found Magdy ‘Afsha’ near the edge of the box with a clever backheel pass.

The number 19’s finesse shot went just wide off the post in the 14th minute.

Al Ahly continued to push forward and just four minutes later they broke the deadlock through Junior Ajayi, who finished Ali Maaloul

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, September 23, 2019

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loss of document This is to inform the general public that I ABDULAZEEZ AUWAL MUSA of no. 166, Bakori road,FHA, kubwa Abuja lost my original offer letter with file No: MFCT/LA/MISC. 21740 of about 2,500sqm within Kado District, Abuja with a purpose of housing estate on the paper date 20-05-2003. The said loss occurred while on transit from Imani estate, Maitama, Abuja to AZMAN oil & Gas, area 11, Abuja. All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive.

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(11) LAMBERT DUMBARI _(NEW).

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SPORTS The president and his vice in history latest

Oshoala scores brace as Barca beat Atletico Madrid

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uper Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala scored a double to help Barcelona Ladies beat Atletico Madrid 6-1 in the Spanish Primera Iberdrola.

Oshoala scored Barcelona’s 4th goal just before half time to record her first league goal of the season after Jenni Hermoso, Mariona Caldentey, and Laia’s penalty have put the Lluis Cortes’ ladies ahead.

The 24-year-old Super Falcons new captain completed her brace two minutes into the second half and put Barca 5-1 ahead before being replaced

by Claudia Pina in the 73rd minute.

Silvia finally wrapped up the 6-1 routing to return Barcelona to the summit ahead of their Champions League Round of 32 reserve fixture against Juventus on Wednesday.

Tite reveals why Neymar will play against Eagles

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razil coach, Tite, has revealed the rationale behind his decision, to include Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar, in his 23man roster for the friendlies against Senegal and Nigeria next month.

“Neymar is happy in the national team, I can talk about the national team, he is happy here.

“He has no control over other situations because I have no control. But he demonstrated it in games,” Tite told reporters at Friday’s Taye Taiwopress and conference.

Oduamadi

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n the beginning of Presidential system in Nigeria, we had an almost perfect pair. Both President Shehu Shagari and Vice President Alex Ekwueme were civilized gentlemen. The former was an experienced, consummate politician while the latter was an experienced professional architect and accomplished intellectual with a chain of degrees in various disciplines.

All through their four years of presidential voyage (1979-1983), we never heard of any fight between the two most powerful men in Nigeria. The fact that they had barely known each other before politics put them in the same cage did not matter at all. They carried out the business of government as if they were Siamese twins.

I find it significant that the military intruders who shot their way to power in the evening of 1983 did not cite any squabbling between the President and his Vice as one of the reasons for their putsch. It was a perfect union which even the military fault finders admired.

The Americans who had over two hundred years of presidential practice ought to have learnt a lesson or two from Shagari and Ekwueme.

The relationship between American Presidents and the Vice has always been a bumpy one. The worst so far in recorded history is that between President Andrew Jackson who threatened to kill his Vice President, John Calhoun. Andrew Jackson was a street fighter who had been involved in over 100 duels before becoming President. In this fight over state taxation laws, he threatened to “secede the head of John Calhoum from the rest of his body”. Given his antecedents, all Americans took the threat as credible.

In Nigeria, the first tussle for power between the President and his Vice took place under the President Ibrahim Babangida.

Incidentally, Nigeria was then under the military, an institution that prides itself about discipline, hierarchy of command and authority. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe was appointed the Chief of General Staff when General Babangida took over power from General Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida jettisoned the traditional caption normally reserved for his office as Head of State, preferring to be known as President. As Chief of General Staff it was assumed – even by Ukiwe that he was the Vice President.

Soon, the reality dawned on him that he was expected to play second fiddle not only to Babangida but to General Sani Abacha and Domkat Bali as well. Such issues as who was to

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come first at military/national ceremonies became so contentious that they threatened national stability. Later still, the issues surrounding Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) exploded, turning the disputes over protocol to juvenile pranks. I remember interviewing Ukiwe in Kano at the time over the contentious issue with Hajia Bilkisu Yusuf (now late) and Kabiru Yusuf for the Triumph newspapers. He was emphatic that the government had not taken the country into the OIC. By 1986, the bubble finally went burst. Things fell apart and the center could not hold any longer. Ebitu Ukiwe the respected Naval Officer, popularly known as the Sea Lord lost out in the power game. He left the military and government under very controversial circumstances. But the worst was yet to come.

The most publicized case of a President engaging his Vice President in a brutal fight in broad daylight is that between Olusegun Bosanko and his vice, Atiku Abubakar. They were elected into office in 1999 for a period of four years on the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. In certain political circles, it was assumed that Bosanko would play the Statesman like Nelson Mandela, serve only one term and leave the stage when the ovation was highest. And as the party prepared for its presidential primaries, pressure started piling up on Atiku Abubakar to run against his principal. Most state governors who controlled the delegates at the convention were rooting for Atiku. A clash between the President and his Vice was

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eminent. Also inevitable was the fact that given the trend of unfolding events, Atiku was going to humiliate his boss.

Suddenly and for inexplicable reasons, Atiku made the fatal mistake of chickening out of the race which remains the best chance he ever had in his colorful political career of becoming President of Nigeria. What he got in the bargain was the vengeful anger of his principal.

The politics of the second term of the Bosanko presidency was defined by what happened in the days preceding the PDP primaries of 2003. Bosanko felt insulted by the gumption of his Vice to oust him out of office. Worst still, he felt humiliated that he had to go and beg a man whom against all odds he brought on board to become his Vice President. Early in the life of his second term, he started clipping the wings of Atiku.

Bosanko further compounded his own political problems. Midway in the life of his second term, he conceived of and started the process of rewriting the Nigerian Constitution.

This elaborate process, spiced with juvenile tricks, was to serve no other purpose but to grant him a third term as President of Nigeria. Some people even expressed the fear that his hidden agenda was to make himself a perpetual President of Nigeria.

The third term issue further worsened the relationship between the President and his Vice. If before now they had played a game of cloak and dagger, their fight was now in the open. Atiku openly denounced his boss in very vitriolic terms.

Bosanko responded by depriving him of his duties, perquisites, staff

Bosanko further compounded his own political problems.

Midway in the life of his second term, he conceived of and started the process of rewriting the Nigerian Constitution

– even his drivers and security personnel. He unleashed his attack dogs on Atiku who booed him at Federal Executive Council meetings and smeared his name in the media with wild and salacious allegations. As far as Obasanjo was concerned, Atiku was a dismissed Vice President and he thought he had taken adequate steps to accomplish that. Atiku did the wise thing by going to court where he got the protection of the law, even of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

On the surface, his successor, President Yar’ adua had a smooth relationship with his Vice, Goodluck Jonathan. Later revelations however exposed the façade. They did not enjoy the best of relationships. Before Yar’ adua became terminally ill, Patience the talkative wife of Goodluck Jonathan complained that her husband was occupying a sinecure office had been reduced to a newspaper reader in the Villa.

Then as it became clear that Yar’ adua was a very sick president, the evidence of an unhealthy relationship between the President and his Vice became so glaring that the whole country was almost engulfed in a constitutional cul-de-sac.

Nigerians felt relieved when President Buhari came on board with a suave, politically unambitious Vice President.

He demonstrated his loyalty to the President in the days of the Presidents illness in the first term when he spent months on admission in a UK hospital. Now in their second and final term, our newspapers are becoming awash with stories reminiscent of the Obasanjo Atiku days.

Nigeria deserves to be spared the agonies of the old tactics. We will lose nothing if the glamourous and harmonious relationship between Shehu Shagari and Ekwueme is replayed.

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