Wednesday, June 26, 2019 Edition

Wednesday, June 26, 2019/ Shawwal 23, 1440 AH Vol. 31 No. 097

CBN disowns financial inclusion training by individuals pAGE 19

1903 Days after The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

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Ortom rejects FG’s proposed Ruga settlement for herdsmen As President promises lasting solution to herders, farmers clashes

Buhari justifies autonomy for state legislature, judiciary >>>page 5

>>>page 5

Pre-deployment Flag off of the Police K9 Unit to Railways Stations across the country by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, at the Force Headquarters, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kidnapping: IGP deploys dogs to railway stations

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Lawan’s shaky takeoff: Tip-off Why I dealt Tribunal didn’t reject on C’ttees composition our request to access with Onnoghen (Page 4 report) -Buhari INEC server -Atiku pAGE 15

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Stockwatch Business Feature

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

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Oil prices tick up ahead of U.S. crude stock data

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il prices ticked up on Tuesday after the U.S. market open on anticipation that data due later would show crude stocks there declined, erasing earlier losses linked to concerns over waning demand.

Benchmark Brent crude futures were up 32 cents at $65.18 a barrel.

U.S. crude futures rose 24 cents to $58.14 a barrel.

Sending a bullish signal, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday that U.S. crude oil inventories likely fell for a second consecutive week last week.

The numbers came ahead of crude stock data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group, at 2030 GMT on Tuesday, and the Energy

Information Administration (EIA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, due on Wednesday.

“The market is waiting for inventory data later today. If we get a signal that declines are continuing that will be positive,” for oil prices, said Giovanni Stauvono, analyst at Swiss bank UBS. Weighing on prices, hopes for progress in the trade war between China and the United States during this week’s G20 meeting were dampened by a senior U.S. official saying President Donald Trump was “comfortable with any outcome” from the talks.

“The likely failure to reach a mutually acceptable trade agreement will raise demand concerns that will dishearten oil

bulls,” PVM analyst Tamas Varga said in a note.

Demand concerns were briefly overcome last week when Brent climbed 5% and U.S. crude surged almost 10%, its strongest week since 2016, after Iran shot down a U.S. drone, adding to tensions stoked by previous attacks on oil tankers in the area.

Washington has blamed the tanker attacks on Iran, which denies having any role.

U.S. President Donald Trump targeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials with sanctions on Monday. Iran said this move closed the path of diplomacy.

Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including

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Property 25 Health

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Sports 30-31 Back Page

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Pastor jailed 7 years for raping 14-year old girl

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

J

ustice Hussain Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, has convicted Apostle Basil Princewill, for raping a 14-year old girl, name withheld.

The senior pastor of the Founder and General Overseer of Mountain Mover Fire Ministry of International, Nyanya Abuja, was convicted on counts one and three but was discharged on counts two and four.

The court, in its decision, held that ‘’it is bad for a person to indulge in this kind of devilish act. ‘’Those who are supposed to be men of God are expected to be highly religious, exhibit decency and act as role models to their followers. ‘’Considering the interest of the girl, the interest of the public and the rising cases of rape in the Church by those who serve in the Lord’s vineyard, the court has duty to send signal to the public to serve

as deterrent to others.

Justice Baba Yusuf said the behaviour of the pastor was ‘’despicable, shameful, degrading and satanic’’. ‘’By this conduct, the accused deserves to be taken to prison wall like a monastery until he changes to a better man of God. ‘’It is more worrisome especially when a person in question is looked up to as a man of God,’’ the judge held.

Consequently, the court sentenced Apostle Princewill to 7 years imprisonment for raping and defiling a 14 year girl (Favour) and 5 years sentence for attempting to abort the resultant pregnancy.

According to the charge sheet, count one bordered on rape while count three was on allegation of attempting to cause miscarriage on the girl, by giving her drugs to take in order to abort the resultant pregnancy.

The incident took place on July 27, 2011 to 31st December 2011 and the convict was arraigned by

an amended charge on dates 22nd September 2017.

Reading out the court decision, Justice Baba Yusuf, said that from the evidence of PW1 (the victim’s Mother); that of PW2 (the victim) and the PW3 (Dr Ogunlade Felix), the accused perpetrated the act of rape ‘’under the pretense of carrying out deliverance and cleansing on the girl on July 27, 2011.

He maintained that the evidence of PW1, PW2 and PW3 because, ‘’the PW2 was very detailed on what happened to her in the accused pastor’s office and same evidence was corroborated by PW1 and PW2. ‘’I am impressed by the testimonies of PW1 and PW2; I believe PW2’s story of how the accused rapes her. ‘’The accused did not deny the fact that he invited the 14-year girl to his office for deliverance and cleansing and the fact that he gave postnor to the girl to take, the court said.

Further in his ruling, the Judge

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

L-R: Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barr. Abdullahi Mukhtar, Director FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board FCTMPWB), Malam Muhammad Bashir, receiving an award for the board for outstanding overall performance state, from Representative of the Senate President, Sen. Sabi Aliyu, during the 2018 Hajj operation by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, during the stakeholders meeting on hajj 2019, at the National Mosque, yesterday in Abuja.

Russia appear likely to extend a deal on curbing output when they meet on July 1-2.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said international cooperation on crude production had helped stabilise oil markets and was more important than ever. He also voiced concerns about demand.

The chief executive of Saudi Aramco, the state oil firm of OPEC’s de facto leader, said its spare capacity of 12 million barrels per day (bpd) was sufficient and that it would meet its customers’ needs.

U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela have cut oil exports from the two OPEC members, but U.S. production has been rising.(CNBC) R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari receives the report of Financial Autonomy for State Legislative and Judiciary from the immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami during the Presentation of the Report of the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Financial Autonomy of State Legislative and Judiciary at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

Senate begins January - Dec budget cycle - Lawan

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

held ‘’I believe PW2 that on July 27, 2011, the Apostle in the guise of deliverance, took advantage of the girl by having sex with her.

The court noted that the act of ‘’slapping the girl constitutes act of threat to hurt her, adding that the fact that the accused took Favour to Fountain Head Medical Centre Nyanya was an indication that he knew something about the pregnancy.

Moreover, the court said it did not believe the testimony of the accused, stressing that apart from being full of contradiction, it was different from the testimony he gave at NAPTIP. ‘’I find it difficult to believe the accuse person’s incoherency, riddle puzzled testimony. ‘’Evidence of PW1 about what PW2 told her is direct and positive evidence, and not hearsay. ‘’Defence of the accused is not tenable and is therefore rejected.

Prove of case of rape against the accused is sustained, the court held.

NDLEA arrests 2019 Hajj: NAHCON awards stakeholders, says inaugural flight departs July 10 Niger state Governor won the He promised Nigeria’s pilgrims He said in order to give chance to

By Maryam Garba Hassan 186 illicit more Nigerians to perform this year’s that there will be tight security, good award for best supporting Governor he National Hajj Commission of hajj, the Commission has extended the welfare and medical care for this year’s for the 2018 hajj while the award for the most disciplined Pilgrims Welfare Nigeria has announced that the date for the registration to 15th of July hajj. drug users in In his remarks, the Senate Board was given to Lagos state. inaugural flight for this year’s 2019.

Kaduna, Kano and the FCT won He said henceforth, hajj exercise President who was represented hajj exercise will be on the 10th of July.

Jigawa The Commission said the state will be done with more caution adding commended the Commission for the the award for the overall best States to flag up the inaugural flight will be that there will no longer be room for reduction of this years hajj fare and respectively.

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From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Jigawa State Command has arrested 186 illegal drug users in six months.

The state commandant of the agency, Barrister Obi Josephine Ruth dropped the hint while briefing news men to celebrate the United Nation’s Internal Day against drug abuse held at her office in Dutse.

According to her, “Among the 186, four were females and 182 were males respectively.”

Josephine said the suspects arrested were in connection with the abuse of cannabis sativa, codeine and psychotropic substances such as Diazepam, Exol, Tramadol and Rohypnol as well as nonconventional substances including rubber solution, suck and die and lizard dung among others.

She said NDLEA will continue to sensitize state through arrests, seizures, diligent prosecution and counseling. “We seized 61.24 kgm of various narcotics and psychotropic substances this year.”

The state commandant commended Jigawa state government for the establishment of rehabilitation center to serve as residential counseling center in the state.

She therefore said out of the number arrested, 22 were convicted while 108 persons were counselled.

announced soon as the bidding is still open even as Kano, Niger and Katsina States have expressed interest.

The announcement was made yesterday in Abuja by the acting Chairman of the Commission, Barr.

Abdullahi Muktar, at the 2019 stake holders meeting and award presentation.

He said this year’s hajj is unique as visas will now be issued in states not by the Saudi embassies as it was before.

changes but strict compliance with the Saudi Arabia rules and regulations.

He said pilgrims must meet all health requirements as stated in the guides before they can be registered successfully.

He said enlightenment should be taken seriously as knowledge is essential part of hajj rites and urged the Ulamas to discharge their responsibilities diligently and stick to their roles and not to interfere with operational matters.

called on them to ensure that pilgrims’ Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) are paid locally before departure to avoid issue of delay in payment and mismanagement by some states.

He further urged the Commission to also ensure that pilgrims are given value for their money during the hajj exercise.

Awards were presented to different categories of stakeholders for outstanding performances in the 2018 hajj exercise.

Kogi State won the award for the most innovative Executive Secretary of Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The ward for best performing tour operators goes to Al Qibla International Limited, Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited, Shehura Travel Tour Limited, Al hujjaj Travel and Tour Limited and Comrel Travel and Tour Limited respectively.

For the media category, Blue Print Newspapers won the award for the highest NAHCON coverage for 2018.

Magu charges judicial officers to support corruption fight Femi Oyelola, kaduna

T

he Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has again charged judicial officers to live above board and support the effort aimed at fighting crime

especially corruption in Nigeria.

He made the call yesterday during the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Law week 2019, Kaduna branch held at Sir, Ahmadu Bello Foundation Kaduna.

Speaking through Mailafia Yakubu the Zonal Head, Kaduna

office of the Commission at a five- day conference with the theme”, “ Security challenges in Nigeria, Legal Perspectives and solution “, , Magu emphasized on the important role of the judiciary and the relationship shared as crucial in the fight against corruption.

He urged the Nigeria Judiciary to work hand in hand with the EFCC to ensure the nation becomes corrupt free.

Speakers at the event include: Anthony Idigbe SAN, Wole Agunbiade SAN, Aisha Abdu Mohammed ESQ among others.

Flood sacks communities in Badagry

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ome communities in Badagry Local Government Area, were on Tuesday sacked by flood due to the ongoing construction of drainage by the Lagos State Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the communities are Oropo, Yoyowe, Zogbakomeh and Sadoyon, all along Samuel Ekundayo Road in Badagry.

Residents of the area abandoned their vehicles at home and waded through the flood to their different places of work, while motorcycles could not access the areas due to the flood.

Mr Joseph Ajaji, a resident of

the area told NAN that his vehicle was damaged while attempting to cross the flood on Monday morning.

“Before the construction of drainage on both sides of the road, we used to manage ourselves to get to our destinations, but the flood coupled with the construction work is really affecting us.

“I spent almost one hour before some good Samaritans rescued me out of the flood yesterday.

“I cannot go anywhere today because of the flood, I have to park my car in a friend’s compound because I don’t want to go through the same stress as yesterday

morning.

“The Lagos state government should accelerate work on the drainage and road leading to the communities because we are stranded by flood,” he said.

Ajayi said that residents of the affected communities were helpless and urged the State government to compel the contractors handling the project to expedite action on the construction work.

Mr Idowu Jimoh, a community leader in the 4th Cele Area, said that the water levels had been on the increase “which is usually expected at this time of the year.”

According to him, the water

level this year is high and cannot be contained because of the construction work blocking its flow.

He said that the water had started entering houses, adding that residents had been put under pressure because of the flood.

“Most of us living in this area know that when it rains, the flood used to cut us off from the main town but when they started the drainage construction, we thought it will be all over.

“From Mobil Junction to Oropo, the construction works have blocked water from the gutter resulting in flooding in the area.

NAN

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

News

Lawan’s shaky takeoff: Tip-off on C’ttees composition

Buhari justifies autonomy for state legislature, judiciary

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

By Lawrence Olaoye

S

enator Ahmad Lawan was recently elected to preside over the 9th session of the Senate. Being the choice candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he defeated his rival, Ali Ndume with great ease.

With hindsight over the consistent disputes which characterized relationship between the 8th Senate and the executive arm of government, during the tenure of Senator Bukola Saraki, analysts agree that expectations are really very high on Lawan.

This is not just on the fact that he emerged the consensus candidate of the APC and even the Presidency, it is mostly given his very wide exposure both politically and academically, which is in addition to being the likable senator among his peers.

Moreover, Lawan has so far no scandal around him despite being in the parliament and having held sensitive positions, he also has PHD in one of the difficult fields of science; Remote Sensing/GeoInformation Science (GIS) from the prestigious University of Cranfield, United Kingdom.

With these in mind, one can begin to understand why all eyes are on the Senate President, who must not fail Nigerians, especially in this critical moment when Nigerians are expecting tangible legislative provisions that will change the face of events in Nigeria, socially and economically.

However, few days into his tenure as the Senate President, Lawan appears to have started with the wrong or ailing foot. He, unlike President Muhammadu Buhari, who usually take his time and luxury to form his cabinet, within days of his ascension, quickly began to put his team in place, as he appointed his Chief of Staff, Media Advisers and Administrative Aides.

Sadly, the few appointments made by Lawan has generated heated controversies which observers say will remain a watershed in the history of the 9th session of the Senate. First was the appointment of Festus Adedayo, who shortly after his appointment, spoke callously about his new job.

Shortly after his appointment as Lawan’s publicist and image maker for the Nigerian parliament, some social media users launched sever criticisms against his choice by the Senate President. The argument was basically that Adedayo has been a severe critic of President Buhari and APC. Responding to this criticism, and in order not to appear remorseful, Adedayo resorted to self defence and succeeded in convincing the world that he is not desperate about the job and that he was even compelled to take up the appointment.

According to him, “I have never been a politician. But if the politicians feel that it is their birthright, they can have the appointment; it is not a do or die thing for me at all. If I go there, I am going there to serve the country,” he said.

When asked if he has accepted the appointment, he said “As I talk to you, I am a student of the Law School and it is a certificate that I have sought to own all my life. So, for me to abandon it, is an issue that I am still battling.

“I have never done anything in my life other than in the media. I have been a reporter, features editor, opinion editor.

The only affiliary thing I have done is to be a media adviser to two governors and in

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan those respect, I did my job as a journalist and a professional.”

“The Senate President, I reckon, wanted me on the basis of my professionalism but if politicians feel it is theirs for keep, so be it,” he said.

“I do not have any apologies for the fact that I am not a politician. I never worked for any political party and I am not going to work for any political party. But I have an idea of what a good country needs. And I will always write about it all the days of my life.

“I did not canvass for the job. I did not lobby for the job. I did not ask for the job”, he explained. He added that should he accept the appointment, it “can never change anything.”

“One thing which I always did with my principals in government was to walk up to them and tell them the truth. If I take this appointment, I will continue in the same mode”, Festus was reported to have said.

This outburst by Adedayo forced Lawan to review the appointment, even as many described the review as a damage control or volta-face by the Senate President, who is receiving his first baptism of fire presiding the Senate.

In addition to this, just few days ago, another of his appointee, Olu Onemola, resigned his appointment as the Special Assistant to the Senate President on New Media. He cited similar reasons of

political interference like the Adedayo, but unlike Adedayo, Olu Onemola served in the administration of the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Bearing this in mind, also on Monday, in what appears like an allusion that the gale of attacks on Lawan’s formation of his work team are instigated from the Presidency, the Aide to President Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, in her twitter handle: @Laurettar, twitted “Our youth are out and about this morning to continue the fumigation of the appointees at the National Assembly, 3 down. More to go.

Recall that during campaigns for the position of Senate President, Lawan’s opponents leveled the allegation of stooge against him, sequel to this argument, he was perceived by observers as being an installation of the APC leaders, Bola Tinubu and Adams Oshiomhole.

This explains why it is mostly believed that his few early appointments were based purely on the recommendations of the Tinubu and Oshiomhole structures, hence the attacks coming from those who perceive themselves as loyalists of President Buhari.

However one chooses to look at this recent development, one factor remained constant, and that fact is that the Senate President does not have a personal knowledge and relationship with those he has appointed, as most of them came

“

This outburst by Adedayo forced Lawan to review the appointment, even as many described the review as a damage control or volta-face by the Senate President, who is receiving his first baptism of fire presiding the Senate

through recommendation from his political allies.

From the arguments of political commentators, the bigger challenge before Lawan will certainly be how he is able to compose the standing committees of the Senate. Another is if he will be capable of navigating debates on controversial Bills lying before the parliament.

It is certainly expected not to be easy for Lawan, for many reasons. He is perceived uptill now as a stooge of the Presidency and the APC by the opposition PDP lawmakers.

In addition, he now has a firebrand Senate Minority (opposition) Leader in the person of Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe.

Aggregation of these factors leave one with the conviction that for Lawan to dream of having a seamless reign as Senate President, he must first work hard to convince all key stakeholders that he has succeeded in extricating himself from the vested interests that brought him to majesty.

Soon, standing committees of the Senate will be composed, but how this is done will go a long way to determine if the 9th session of the senate will be peaceful or controversial.

The lobby over who takes over what juicy committee have commenced in earnest.

Observers are of the view that, just like in the recent appointments, there will still be recommendations from extraneous factors.

However, the good thing is that about forty three senators returned from the 8th session and these are people whom the new Senate President has personal relationship with either at committee level or at plenary level.

Based on this, pundits think the senate president has a call to be more firm and resolute while constituting the standing committees and making other appointments. This is not the time to pander to irrelevant considerations, especially considering the very high expectation on Lawan’s Senate President.

One remarkable feature which makes President Buhari remarkably different from ex President Goodluck Jonathan is his strong mind. For four years, Buhari, despite huge public demands that most of his ministers, including service chiefs, are not up to the task assigned to them, has paid deaf ears to the calls, even when their tenures have expired, he still exercised his presidential prerogatives to extend their tenures, careless of whose ox is gored.

It is a sign of a man who controls his affairs, unlike Jonathan, who will sack a star minister because few disgruntled social commentators or Non-Government Organisation (NGO) take to the media to mount pressures.

This Buhari’s philosophy of who will condemn a man when the gods have not done so, is what Lawan must adopt at this critical time, especially to correct the impression going round that he will be a weak Senate President.

The point here is that though the APC and persons in the Presidency may want to intervene in the choice of who become chairman of what juicy committee, however, the capacity of the man on the saddle to stand solid in bringing to bear what he considers to be right and in the interest of democracy and Nigeria, remains the benchmark to compare his tenure and that of his predecessors on the scale of success. To whom much is given, much is certainly expected.

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has said efforts to ensure autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary will further strengthen democracy and deepen inclusiveness of citizens by guaranteeing fairness for ordinary Nigerians.

According to a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President gave the opinion while receiving the Report of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, chaired by the immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The President said the government will study the report and recommendations and take an appropriate decision.

“I went through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections. That’s why I want to stabilise the system so that others will not pass through the same experience.

“Both young and ordinary Nigerians depend on leadership to ensure justice is always done. So we must ensure that trust is not compromised. This administration will take the report seriously,’’ he added.

In his remarks Malami said implementation of the recommendations will entrench constitutionalism, democratic principles and separation of powers.

“The recommendations clearly

spell out that if uniform modules for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and state judiciary are approved for implementation across 36 states, it will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s democratic principles, practices and public governance,’’ he said.

The ex-minister added that the committee had observed that most states honoured the constitutional provisions for financial autonomy in the breach, than in observance, noting that the legislature and

judiciary remain the last hope of the common man and should be given autonomy.

He said the committee consulted with state governors, Chief Judges of states, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and relevant stakeholders, including members of the public.

Asked how soon the recommendations would be implemented, the former AGF said, “Well, the independence has already been established by the Constitution

so, it is now about the implementation of the modalities and amongst the recommendations made to Mr. President is an Executive Order by the President designed to give effect to the implementation of section 121 which Constitutionally establishes the independence of the two arms of government.

“So, it is about the application, Operation and enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution and with the signing of the Executive Order, l believe the necessary

formalities of the whole hearted implementation of this provisions will come into effect.”

The Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary was inaugurated by President Buhari on March 22nd, 2019, to fashion out strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and state judiciary in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended).

President Muhammadu Buhari in a handshake with the Nassarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule and other delegation, during the Governor’s Led State Delegation to the State House held, at the Council Chambers, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

Ortom rejects FG’s proposed Ruga settlement for herdsmen From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi and Lawrence Olaoye Abuja

B

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has rejected the proposed establishment of Ruga settlement being embarked upon by the Federal government.

This is just as President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to find a lasting solution to the incessant clashes between the farmers and the herders in the country.

Ortom’s rejection was contained in a press statement signed by the governor’s press secretary, Terver Akase and made available to our reporter yesterday.

The Governor viewed the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as not only a gross violation of the ranching law but also as an insult on the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue State.

“It has become necessary to make the position of the government and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal Government across the states including Benue.

“A few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials

• As President promises lasting solution to herders, farmers clashes of the State Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means Fulani settlement’ in parts of the state.

“The director stated that the local government areas selected for the Ruga settlements were Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum.

“The Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Agriculture drew the attention of the director and his team to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented in the state. When they were also reminded about the Land Use Act which confers on the Governor the powers to administer lands in all parts of the State, officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture left with a promise to relay the message to their headquarters. They surprisingly returned a few days later with contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements”, he said.

Governor Ortom maintained that the people and government of Benue State have rejected cattle colonies and will still reject the policy in whichever robes it is disguised.

He stressed that the State

would embrace the policy only if it supports implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.

Governor Ortom also insisted that Benue State has no land for open grazing of cattle and restated that ranching remains the only lasting solution to the incessant herders and farmers crisis which the country ought to embrace.

“We wish to remind those pushing for Ruga settlements that the constitution of the country gives states the right to make laws for the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert such right is a direct attack on the Constitution.

Those behind such a move are enemies of peace and progress.

“The Government of Benue State is willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting open grazing.

“We however wish to reiterate that Benue State has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or ruga settlements. The State only has land for the establishment of ranches”, Governor Ortom stated The president gave this

commitment yesterday when he played host to a delegation of traditional rulers and leaders of thoughts from Nasarawa state led by the governor, Abdullai Sule, at the Presidential Villa.

The President, who commended the people of the state for staying by him in thick and thin since he joined partisan politics in 2003, particularly singled out the former governor of the state, Alhaji Tanko Almakura, for praises for identifying with his project from the word go.

He said “As a government, the responsibility on us is enormous. In the last four years we have focused on enhancing security, inclusive economic empowerment and fighting corruption. In all these areas we have made progress despite the significant challenges we faced.

“I am pleased to hear that there is a federal government’s project in Nasarawa state that is impacting on your citizens. I will like to congratulate the governor, deputy governor and all the newly elected officials from Nasarawa state on your victory in the polls including of course, Senator Almakura.

I must commend the steadfastness,

commitment and the enormous hardwork of the former governor of Nasarawa state senator Tanko Almakura, who identified with our project from the word go. I wish him well in his new assignment.

“In the next four years I want to assure you that we will remain committed to the change agenda. Our goal of building an inclusive, secure and prosperous Nigeria is achievable.

However, the federal government cannot do it alone. We need the full cooperation and support of states, local governments as well as traditional and religious leaders.”

The Nasarawa governor, in an interaction with newsmen after the meeting said his state has become the President’s laboratory in politics as the state was the only state won by his defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

While disclosing that he had resolved to name some government institutions in the state after the President, the governor thanked Buhari for appointing two sons if the state as the Inspector-General of police an Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

PAGE 6

News

Edo University denies revocation of operational licence

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

T

he management of Edo University, Iyamho, Edo State, has refuted the alleged revocation of the operating licence of the University.

The institution made the rebuttal yesterday in a statement released and signed by its Registrar, Dr Isoken Ogboro.

The statement described the information as “fake news” aimed at tarnishing the image of the University.

It read in part, “The attention of the management of Edo University, Iyamho has been drawn to a news item being peddled in some social media platforms.

“The University management wishes to inform the general public, parents, students and prospective applicants that the information being peddled is false, baseless and unfounded.

The University is running.

In fact, admission for the 2019/2020 academic session is currently ongoing.

“The University authority wishes to use this medium to call on the general public to disregard the fake news aimed at tarnishing the image and name the university has built over the last few years of the University.

“The university management states categorically that Edo University, Iyamho, has no dispute over the ownership of the University.

The university is a property of the Edo State Government as it was established by a law of the Edo State House of Assembly, signed into law by the Executive Governor and given recognition by the NUC as the 41st state-owned University in Nigeria in 2016. The University is fully owned by the Edo State Government”.

The University management assured the general public that the institution would continue to maintain the highest standard possible in delivering quality education to Nigerians.

Senate begins January - Dec budget cycle - Lawan

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

S

enate has began the January to December budget cycle as it promised to work towards ensuring that the appropriation Bills are passed within three months if President Buhari presents the document in September ending.

Speaking yesterday when he received in audience the Forum of senators who paid him a courtesy call, the Senate President therefore urged the executive to cooperate with it to ensure that the 2020 Appropriation Bill is submitted to the parliament before September ends.

Addressing members of the forum of senators which comprises both serving and former senators, Lawan also called for more funding of

•Says no jumbo pay for lawmakers the parliament to enable it oversight the executive.

He said as a senator, his salary.

Is not more than N750,000, but said more funds is required to fund his office and that of other senators adequately. Lawan said insinuation of jumbo pay for federal lawmakers was untrue.

According to him, the 9th National Assembly in collaboration with the executive arm of government wants to get rid off yearly budget delays with their attendant economic dislocations.

“In achieving this, as soon as budget proposals are received from the executive in September, this Senate will spend only three months

for its consideration and passage.

“It is our determination that once the executive does its own side of the processes by presenting budget proposal in September of every year, we will ensure the passage of the budget before embarking on Christmas break in December”, he said.

He appealed to the former senators to join in giving the true narratives to Nigerians as regards emoluments of federal lawmakers.

“Although as an important institution, monies are provided for office running, oversight functions by lawmakers etc, which are always added up by the ordinary man on the street as monthly salary of

lawmakers.

“My monthly salary is N750,000 and nothing in the radius of millions”, he explained.

He added that in making Nigerians understand the workings of the National Assembly better, the open week policy started last year by the 8th National Assembly, will further be enhanced by the 9th National Assembly.

Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the Senators’ Forum , Senator Khariat Gwadabe told the President of the Senate that as former senators with institutional memory, they will always be there, to support him in leading the 9th Senate and by extension, National Assembly aright.

R-L: Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu and Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), during the interactive session with Senate President in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Senate President Media Office.

Nigeria not a fragile state — World Bank

T

he World Bank Group on addressing Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) has said Nigeria is not a fragile state even with the current security challenges.

FCV Adviser, Amara Konneh, made this known on Monday during a meeting by the group to address fragility, conflict and violence affecting some countries.

He said the World Bank Group

is focused on addressing FCV and as an institution has a way of classifying a country fragile, after critical assessment.

“Nigeria is not a fragile country but there is need to address some issues to prevent it from being a fragile state,” he said.

Mr Konneh noted that the objective of FCV was to address the drivers of FCV in affected countries and their impact on

vulnerable populations with the end goal of contributing to peace and prosperity.

He said this could be achieved by helping countries escape fragility trap, protect essential institution and deliver critical services such as health and education.

He, however, said the group would not only address the root cause of FCV, but would partner private sectors to create job

stability to increase growth.

The spokesperson of the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said the Nigeria government should do more in terms of conflict prevention and resolution.

He said most of the violence in the country was driven by poverty and high level of unemployment.

(NAN)

Yobe govt. moves to curb maternal, child mortality From Uche Uche, Damaturu

Y

obe state governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has expressed discontentment with the present high rate of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in the state, stating that his administration would map out plans toward reducing the trend and possibly prevent it altogether.

Represented by his deputy,

Hon. Idi Barde Guban, the governor stated this yesterday on the occasion of the flag-off ceremony of the first round of 2019 maternal, new born and child health services which took place at the palace of the Emir of Damaturu, Alh. Dr. Shehu Hashimi 11 Ibn Umar ElKanemi.

“We noted the fact that maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates have been

un-acceptably high in our state in spite of all the efforts that have continued to be made. We will intensify efforts including formulation of new strategies to curtail the situation and prevent them all together by Allah’s grace,” the governor said.

He therefor urged the traditional and religious leaders and institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to come together

to continue to contribute their quota in ensuring that no woman or child dies as a result of preventable diseases.

He assured that his administration would be resolutely committed, within the limits of available resources at its disposal, to ensure establishment of at least one functional primary health care center in each of the 178 electoral wards in the state.

Speaking also, during the occasion, the permanent secretary, Yobe state Ministry of Health, Hamidu M. Alhaji, state that the MNCHW is a weeklong biannual event aimed at improving efficiency, quality and utilization on maternal, new born and child health services and other health interventions in an integrated approach in Nigeria and by extension, in Yobe state.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT) has restrained the arraignment of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi for noncompliance with its rules.

This is contained in a statement signed by Ibraheem Alhassan, the Press and Public Relations officer of the tribunal.

The CCT, in a statement, yesterday, said “The CCT returned the Federal Ministry of Justice

Police parade armed robbery kingpin in Jigawa

CRIME News CCT stops planned arraignment of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi application to commence trial against a Senator named Peter Nwaoboshi for substantial noncompliance with the Tribunal’s Practice Direction 2017.

“We were compelled to issue this release because over the weekend some national dailies in their content reported that: Sanetor Nwaoboshi was before CCT ready to be arraigned, this was before the registry of CCT studying the

application before taken a decision.

“But suddenly it got leaked out by an imposter, purportedly to be believed it was from Tribunal”.

The letter dated 20th June, sent to the Federal Ministry of Justice, with the attention to SM Labaran was caption “Re: CCT /ABJ/02/19 FRN V Senator Peter Nwaoboshi” It reads: “Please recall that you filed an application to commence trial in the above-named suit on the

17th of June, 2019.

“I am however directed by the Hon. Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal to return the application filed due to the following:“Noncompliance with paragraph 3 (2) (i) (iii) and (iv) of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Practice Direction 2017 in that:No name of witness(s) is listed on the application; the CCB staff so stated without given a name

and address is vague: Since accounts are involved, a Sterling Bank Official ought to be listed as a witness with the attached statement of witness(s). ”We crave the indulgence of media operatives not to use any matter before Tribunal from anybody outside it, in order to avoid this kind of mishaps of our procedures,’’ the statement concluded.

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

T

he Jigawa Command of the Nigerian Police in Dutse have paraded a notorious armed robber, Muhammed Bello, 25 years popularly known as ‘Governor’ .

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Bala Zama Senchi told journalists yesterday in his office that the suspected armed robber has been on the wanted list of the police for quite a long time.

Mr. Senchi said the armed robber was arrested after conniving with one Shanono Ya’u who robbed one Dan Azumi Yusuf of Madobi at his residence.

The suspect also alleged to have confessed to have actively participated in other robberies and snatching of motorcycles and disposing same to willing buyers.

The commissioner also commented on the effort of the state in controlling the possible breakdown of law by some Fulani men that threatened to impose sanctions on some popular markets in the state capital.

Their grievances stemmed from barring them and their cattle to graze at a government forest reserve that was used by Fulani men to graze their cattle.

The commissioner said the dispute was brought under control after the governor Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar met with the Fulani people and other stakeholders and formed a committee under the Chairmanship of the Dutse Emir Alhaji Nuhu Muhammed Sunusi.

Newly Promoted Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).Dada Muhammad (middle) being decorated by his wife, Murjanapu Muhammad (left) and the FCT Director of State Security Service. Ado Muazu (right) during NSCDC decoration ceremony of the newly promoted commandants, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Enugu Police arrest two over transformer vandalism

T

he Police Command in Enugu State has arrested two suspected transformer vandals, whose activities had kept some communities in the state in a blackout.

The police also recovered uprisers cables, armoured cables and some other components of a transformer from the suspects.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the vandals were arrested on June 23.

Amaraizu noted that the feat was achieved by police operatives on “stop-and-search” duties through intelligence information and partnership of the members of the public.

He gave the names of the vandals as Jude Chibuoke and Chigozie Egwuonwu.

The police spokesman said that the suspects had been in the habit of vandalising electricity transformers in Udi Local Government Area and its environs.

Amaraizu noted that the

vandalisation has left the communities without power supply for months.

“They were arrested in Umumba axis of Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state with the exhibits by police operatives as they were trying to make their way to Onitsha to sell the items.

“Further intelligence gathered revealed that the suspect, Chibuoke, is a notorious electricity transformer vandal, who specialises in targeting isolated communities.

“He takes the same vandalised

and stolen items to his standby buyers in Onitsha; just as Egwuonwu assists and conveys him and the exhibits with motorcycles,’’ he said.

Amaraizu noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Suleiman Balarabe, had directed for an investigation into the incident with a view to unmasking more suspects involved in the alleged unwholesome act.

According to him, the suspects are now helping police operatives in their investigations.(NAN)

Police move to end banditry in Zamfara, dialogue with Fulani community

T

he Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Usman Nagogo, on Monday met with hundreds of Fulanis living in the state in his bid to amicably end the raging banditry in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, held in Gusau, the state capital, was sequel to a similar one he had with representatives of the Hausa community and local vigilantes on the security challenges in the state.

NAN further reports that although the leadership of the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association had been dissolved, Ahmed Hussaini, spoke on behalf of the Fulani at

the meeting.

According to him, part of the causes of the crisis that led to armed banditry in the state was the takeover of cattle grazing reserves by farmers and the branding of the Fulani tribe as thieves or criminals.

Mr Hussaini lamented that there was a conspiracy of silence as the Fulanis were being maltreated across the state.

“We have nowhere to take our case to because even the emirs that appointed our leaders as ‘Sarkin Fulani’ no longer come to our defence due to their involvement in politics and the weakness of their authority.”

Mr Hussaini stressed that all the Fulanis wanted was an environment free of harassment to tend to their animals without molestation.

“We are aware of increase in population the world over which necessitates the need for more farmlands to produce more food, but farming cannot go without animal rearing.

“The grazing sites should be divided into three with farming taking two parts while grazing takes one part so that our animals can feed,” he suggested.

The spokesperson who condemned both Fulani and Hausa involved in the killing

of innocent people, however, blamed the act on illiteracy and appealed to the state government to establish schools around Fulani settlements so that their children could get good education.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Nagogo, said the meeting was aimed at bringing lasting peace through the cooperation of both Hausas and Fulanis who have all along been living together.

“I want to assure you that this meeting is crucial to the whole country and there will be no deceit or disappointment because we have realised that Zamfara has become a hiding place for bandits.

“If peace is attained in Zamfara,

there will be peace throughout the nation,” he explained.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Security Matters, Abubakar Dauran urged displaced Fulanis to return to their settlements.

He assured them that any of their property taken over by the Hausas would be retrieved and returned to the original owners.

“We know that many people are in possession of firearms cutting across the Hausa and Fulani communities and we are confident that gradually they will surrender such weapons as part of the peace accord,” he said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

PAGE 8

News

Second edition of Nigerian Flavor holds in Abuja

By Abba-Eku Onyeka

A

ll is set for the holding of second edition of Nigerian Flavour in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) soon.

Nigerian Flavour is a yearly event being organised by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC): a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, saddled with among others, the responsibility of development and promotion of tourism sector of the economy in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement and invitation letter from the Corporation to different media houses in Abuja, signed by Adamma Afanga.

The statement said, the aim of the NTDC, to be holding the yearly event, known as Our Food Flavour is to be organising local food competition from various ethnic groups in the country by the Corporation in Abuja.

It will also be used in showcasing the rich culinary diversity of Nigerian cuisines and delicacies.

The event is an initiative of the Folorunsho Coker-led NTDC. Expected at the event are over 50 food and beverage vendors across the six geo-political zones; musical performance by Nigerian Artists; merchandizing opportunities for arts, crafts and fashion. Others are safe children’s games area; affordable farmers’ market; great comedies and; dances, among others.

FCT: NGO urges rehabilitation LEA School in Kwali

By Paul Efiong,Abuja

A

Non-Governmental Organization(NGO) known as Women Africa has expressed the need for the immediate rehabilitation of Local Education Authority (LEA) primary and secondary schools in Dangara community of Kwali Area Council of FCT. The NGO which visited the school as a part of its programme designed to mark 2019 Children Day celebration had in the occasion distributed learning materials to the pupils as well as held interactive session with the pupils, teachers and the community leaders in the area.

The NGO also advised children and youths to avoid violence crime as well as take their study seriously in other to make a better future for themselves and their parents.

She charged the parents, teachers and traditional leaders to have close attention to their children as the immediate contacts and instruments of positive influence.

The head teacher of the primary session of the school Mr David Musa commended Woman Africa for the concern, he stated that the bad structures of the school especially during the raining season poses problems to the pupils and the teachers hindering them from normal learning activities.

Women lobby Aisha Buhari to institutionalize first lady’s office From Ahmad Bauchi

Mohammed,

T

he Women Coalition for Sustainable Peace and Viable Democratic Gains in Bauchi State has advised the First lady Aishatu Muhammadu Buhari to do all she could to institutionalize the office of the first lady to enable them contribute more to the socio economic development and wellbeing of women and children in the country.

Leader of the group, Hajiya Addaji Mohammed stated this while speaking to reporters at the end a one- day meeting organized by the group to ponder on issues affecting Bauchi State and the nation.

She said history will not forget the effort made by former first ladies like Maryam Babangida, Turai Yar’adua, Stella Obasanjo, Maryam Abacha for their contributions towards the improvement of the condition of women and children in the country.

The group noted that, some of them left legacies that Nigerians are still benefitting from like the National Hospital, Women Center and many other laudable programmes.

She said for Mrs Buhari to be bold to restore the office of the first lady and to speak about the issue of insecurity bedeviling the country is commendable. “we pray they will sponsor a bill that will institutionalize the office in order to sustain the benefits women and children drive from the office, especially when you

consider the contribution of women during elections.”

“We therefore call on all well meaning Nigerians, local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) especially those with focus on women, to rally round Hajiya Aisha and canvass support for the institutionalization of the office of first lady in Nigeria because of obvious advantages and benefits drivable from projects to be executed by the office targeting especially women and children.

L-R: Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State presents a souvenir to the Kano Campus of Nigerian Law School Deputy Director General, Dr. James Agaba when the latter paid a courtesy call on the former, yesterday in Katsina

Niger: Farmland owners protest Madalla Ultra-Modern market, demand N550m compensation From Yakubu Mustapha From, Minna.

L

ack of compensation for the original farmland owners of the newly identified and proclaimed site for the construction of proposed Madalla UltraModern Market by the Niger State Government has halted commencement of the project in Suleja local government of the state.

This was contained in a petition through Peoples Rights Advocacy for Social Justice to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State dated 16th June, 2019 that was made available to journalists in Minna.

The petition titled: “ Petition against the confiscation of Madalla

Farmlands without Recourse to Process against the Fundamental Rights of Owners.”

The petition said that the land which covered 51.8 Hectares with about 57 farmland owners who were peasant farmers were stopped from their farming activities since 2002 by the then Niger state government led by Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu without compensation.

It said the Niger State Government indicated interest in taking possession of the entire land for so called ‘Overriding Public Interest’ promising them during official visit to the site of adequate compensation and to be accompanied by allocation of new farmland for their farming

sustenance to no avail till date.

The petitioners, however, expressed disappointment over the failure of the incumbent Governor who promised them during his campaign in 2015 when he visited the District Head of Madalla to rightly resolve the matter immediately he emerged and was sworn-in.

The Governor, they said has derailed by going ahead to issue Certificate Of Occupancy (C of O) to begin the construction of the said market.

It accused Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of “deliberately, knowingly and interestingly declining to look in their way as promised hence a breach of reposed confidence on him” despite their support for him in

2015 and 2019 voted for him.

Consequently, petitioners to approach court of law for injunction to stop action on the said farmland while seeking for their compensation to a sum of N550 million for their denial from farming activities for the last 17 years.

The petitioner led by the Peoples Rights Advocacy for Social Justice, Executive Director Abu-Bakari Idris K. on 15th May, 2019 has written a letter of Notification of trespass and candid advice to avoid proclaimed site proposed for Madalla UltraModern Market with all urgencies and caution to the contractor handling the project under Public Private Partnership (PPP), Messrs Dodo Projects Consult Limited.

National Librarian bemoans poor reading culture of Nigerians From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

T

he National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Lenrie O. Aina has said that Nigeria is among the least in reading nation culture in the world.

He stated this yesterday when they took the readerships promotion campaign to Kebbi State, adding that to revive a

moribund reading culture, there is the need to develop reading interest right from childhood.

The program which took at the school of nursing Birnin Kebbi “tittle” National Readership promotion campaigned theme Reviving moribund culture of reading Nigeria for sustainable national development.

“The objective of the campaign are to encourage

reading among Nigerians, promote the increase of reading materials in Nigeria and identify major obstacles that inhibit reading and ways of addressing them,” he added.

The chief executive who was represented by the director in charge of public service department, Alhaji Nagya Minin, appealed to the Kebbi State Government for the establishment of the National

Library in kebbi State adding that it will be a long way in promoting education system in the state.

In his remark, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu thanked the National library for championing this course on learning system, assured them of government commitment towards promoting education systems in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

Foundation grants scholarship to indigent students

By Paul Efiong

A

Non-Governmental organization, Shiloh Global Development Empowerment Foundation has inaugurated and presented scholarship to 250 students for 2019 / 2020 academic session.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, The Chief Executive Officer of the Shiloh Foundation, Prince Emmanuel Ezewuiro, said, “ life is a stage and opportunities presented trust must be harnessed to the later to become an effective, however self-discovery is the greatest task before everyone to grow a society where young peoples has hope, note, as a pupil and student, poverty can limit your potentials, it is in this regards that our foundation deem it necessarily and committed in this scholarship programme which we have been doing for years , this mark the firth edition of this scholarship award, so that children in our Nation that cannot afford education can have access to it .”

Chief Host and the proprietress of Solid Fundamentals Montessori Academy, Mrs Mmayen Obaigbona, expressed appreciation to the management of Shiloh Empowerment Foundation for coming to the aid of the school through this scholarship award which many students of the school from Primary to Secondary are our the target beneficiaries.

She implored the awardees to make good use of the opportunity and put their best to study very hard to come out in flying colours and make the foundation and school proud.

Highlight of the event was a lecture series by different guests with good will massages from the Chairman of Karu LGA of Nasarawa State and other educationists.

Page 9

News

Why I dealt with Onnoghen -Buhari

By Lawrence Olaoye

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has said that he dealt with the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Salter Onnoghen because of his failure to declare his assets as prescribed by the constitution.

The President said this while hosting the leadership of the Yoruba pan-cultural group, Afenifere, led by its Chairman, Pa Ayo Fasanmi.

The delegation included the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other notable leaders from the Southwest.

Buhari in his remarks told visitors about his administration’s achievements in his first tenure which included achievements in securing the country,

repositioning the economy and fighting corruption.

While acknowledging some degrees of progress in securing the country, the President admitted that there were still much more to do in that direction.

On his fight against corruption, the President said his administration was recovering stolen properties as much as it could stressing that such proceeds of corruption recovered would be sold off to safeguard the possibility of subsequent administration from returning them to the looters.

He said “now what I do is when a person cannot justify what he has or fails to declare as the constitution specifies, some of them swear to almighty God that their property doesn’t belong to them until we show them their bank accounts and their companies then we have some

peace.”

He continued “I will tell you as Afenirere, that was why I had to deal,though reluctantly, with the former Chief Justice. Because there were millions of dollars, euros not to talk of Naira which were not declared. I wonder what sort of conscience some of us have. How can you sit and preside and lock people up for years and even sentence some to death and yet you are not doing what the constitution says you should do by occupying that vital institution?

The Afenifere in a presentation made by Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, the group demanded that the President increase number of policemen and make them to be spread across the 774 local governments of the country.

They also demanded that the President introduces free universal and compulsory

education across the country; youth employment; true federalism and increased investments in power supply and agriculture.

Asked what the next level portended for Nigeria, Tinubu, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting with the President said “You have economic progress that we are working for as a party; we have the diversity of the economy itself; we have the various scale of thinking that the economic council will have to bring about; the infrastructural deficit; poverty, security; those are the things that we will put emphasis on; you know it; I know it; there is infrastructural deficit across the country and without infrastructure, you cannot galvanize the economy; you have the question of electricity that is critical to industrialization and economic growth.”

L-R: Ambassador of the Republic of Burund to Nigeria, Emmanuel Mpfayokurea, Minister of Education Technical Professional Training Burundi, Dr Janviere Ndirahisha and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education. Arc. Sonny Ochono, during the Burundi envoy’s courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Nasarawa Gov. appoints ex Peoples Daily reporter, Abare SA Media

By Ochiaka Ugwu

T

he Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Alhaji Sule has appointed a former Politics Editor of the Peoples Daily Newspaper, Mallam Ali Abare as his Special Assistant on Media.

This was contained in a

statement issued on Monday, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed.

Until his appointment, Abare was the immediate past editor of an Abuja based online newspaper, the Peoples Journal.

A graduate of Mass Communication from the

University of Jos, Abare was formerly Politics Editor and Senate Correspondent for the Peoples Daily. He later transferred his services to the Sun Newspaper and served as Gombe State correspondent of the national daily.

Abare is also Nigeria’s correspondent for the Associated

Reporters Abroad (ARA), a group of professional freelancers writing mostly for international news media. He is a member of the US based Muck Rack, with his articles severally published in USA Today, Washington Times among others.

He is happily married with children.

a truck driver because the truck was faulty, she kept knocking but there was response.

“She then went to the window to see if she could gaze from the back and that was how she saw him hanging in his room.

“It is a sad experience.

Nobody would have thought such a thing would have been planned by him.

“The police have just taken his corpse away. If you had come

earlier, you would have seen it.

He was a young man full of life,” the relation said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident.

He said the command was currently investigating the incident leading to the man’s death.(NAN)

Truck driver commits suicide in Bayelsa

A

45 year-old man, described as a truck driver, has hanged himself inside his room at Etegwe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the man, identified as Oliver Osieme from Anambra State took his own life late on Monday.

He was said to have committed suicide when his

wife, a trader and other close relations left home for their businesses.

The entire community was in mourning when the NAN correspondent visited the place.

Sympathisers were seen trooping into the apartment of the deceased to condole the wife and other family members.

A close relation of the deceased, who preferred anonymity, said nobody was

in the house when the incident happened.

The relation said every family member was surprised to come home and see the deceased hanging inside his home.

“Everybody, including his wife went out but the wife’s younger sister came back from school and noticed the door to his room was locked.

“Knowing that he is always at home since he lost his job as

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

PAGE 10

N ews

Kano NDLEA seizes 6.7 tons of hard drugs in one yearCommander From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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brahim Abdul, the Kano State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has revealed that the command has seized the total of 6,726,012kg of hard drugs from 2018 to date.

The commander made the disclosure at a press briefing in commemoration of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, held at his office, yesterday.

He said, within the period under review, the command had successfully intercepted 3,201,155kg of cannabis satiba.

Abdul added that the command had also intercepted 3,370,911kg of psychotropic, adding that 150.007kg of khat, marijuana-like leaf that is imported from South Africa had also been seized by the command within the period under review.

He further revealed that 3.190kg of cocaine had been intercepted by the command with one year, in addition to 29.3gm of heroin that was seized within that period.

Giving further breakdown of the success achieved so far within the period, Abdul said the command had arrested 620 and 105 male and female suspects respectively.

“This is unprecedented success that has never been achieved within short period of time since the establishment of this command,” he said The commander further disclosed that the command had recorded 47 convictions, adding that 47 suspected were nabbed with cocaine and heroin.

He also revealed that the command had successfully arrested suspected notorious members of a drug syndicate en route to Saudi Arabia with 2.92kg of cocaine.

“The statistics recorded shows a decline in the demand and supply reduction of some substances such as tramadol and codeine, owing to the sustained raid operations and drug demand reduction activities by officers of the Kano State command,” said the commander He, however, stated that lack of adequate manpower, shortage of logistics, lack of enough facilities to accommodate the teaming addicts that require counselling and rehabilitation, as well as lack of enough cooperation from some communities are some of the challenges bedeviling the command in the discharge of its duties.

Kidnapping: IGP deploys dogs to railway stations

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Inspector-General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday deployed Police dogs to railway stations across the county.

The deployment is in view of the increasing rate of kidnapping, killings and other crimes across the country.

The IGP explained that deployment is expected to complement the existing security measures put in place for the security and safety of passengers and critical infrastructure of the Nigeria Railway Corporation across the country.

He also added that the deployment of the dogs was meant for detection and prevention

crimes along the railway corridors.

The dogs are for patrols, surveillance, detection and apprehension of criminals in and around railway facilities.

Before this recent deployment, about 1000 additional police personnel were deployed to the Nigeria Police railway Command.

Speaking during the flag-off of K9 deployment to all railway stations, the IGP said: “Indeed, K9 are known to possess extraordinary capacity for detection of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), narcotics and other illicit drugs, firearms and other prohibited items which criminals usually engage for the perfection of their criminal activities.

“By this event today, our plan is to maximize our unique K9

strength to complement other sections that have been deployed as part of the broad policing architecture which we recently emplaced towards addressing our internal security challenges.

“This unprecedented deployment was designed to address the manpower gap of the Command and reposition them to address vulnerabilities, projected threats, and security challenges which the increasing human traffic and expanding assets of the Nigeria Railway Corporation may present.

“With today’s initiative, passengers, staff, and indeed, all the citizens of this country can further be re-assured of their security as they patronize the services of the Nigerian Railway

Corporation.”

Adamu also assured that all the assets of the Police would continually be mobilized and deployed towards denying criminal elements of any space to operate in any location in the country.

He also solicited the support of members of the public to curb the menace.

“We encourage all citizens to embrace the concept of ‘if you see something, say something’.

Indeed, our appeal now is ‘if you suspect something, say something’. This is a civil obligation of all citizens and this is the most potent weapon towards collectively winning the war against elements bent on threatening our security.”

L R: Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya receiving the final report of the Transition Committee from the chairman of the committee, Malam Muhammad Kabir Ahmad yesterday in Gombe.

Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine wants infant mortality reduced to 10 per cent From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine has appealed to the three tiers of government, corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to partner it in reducing cases of infant mortality to the barest minimum of 10 per cent.

The appeal was made at a press briefing in Kaduna yesterday ahead of its 12th Annual General Meeting,.

Speaking at the briefing, Professor Mustapha Bello, its National President, said that the present mortality rate of infants which us above 30 per cent is unacceptable and must be scaled down.

“The new born content of under five years mortality contributing to 30 per cent. We hope to bring it down to ten o’er cent, which is achievable,” he said.

He said that it was in view of

that they are seeking support.

“We still look for support and collaboration from government not only in primary health facilities but in secondary and tertiary facilities He explained that in view of that, they chose the theme, “Improving Newborn Health in Nigeria: Still Many Miles To Go” for the AGM scheduled for June 24 to 28.

“We need support from the government to consolidate on successes.

“We noticed that attendance at anti natal care is a major issue.

As soon as pregnant women get pregnant, they are expected to book for ante Natal care in recognised hospital and if any problem complications arise, they would be tackled.

“Attendance for anti Natal care is quite low, especially in the north, many still deliver at home, the place may not be conducive, infections may occur,” he said.

Speaking further, he said

three factors were responsible for the high mortality rate.

“Again, three items were discovered to lead to death. One is not breathing when born, two infections and premature births.

“We are collaborating with govt at our conference workshops where knowledge is given so that they health officers can manage babies better.

“Equipment as simple as amble bag when a baby is not breathing, you use it to resuscitate the baby. We make available cheap tools to health centres so they make use of it.

“For this AGM, the society has a number of amble bags to be given to facilities,” he added.

Speaking further, he said that they have realised that unhealthy practices based on culture or beliefs contribute a lot in making babies infected.

“We realised one way they acquire infection is through the umbilical cord attached to the baby. You need to take care of

these cords. On the cord are three major vessels. If you don’t take care of the umbilical cord well, infection will get in and spread through these large blood vessels. ” Some are eager for it to fall off, but for us, the must important is to prevent infection.

“That is what we advocated when we went to Miyetti PHC. If you deliver, go there, they will give you something for preventing infection through the cord. It is free. But it is also cheap, ranging between N200 for a tube and one tube is sufficient for a baby,” he added.

He also emphasized the importance if breast milk to infants, warning mothers to always engage in baby friendly.

“Breastfeeding is also important in keeping the baby healthy. The first breast milk, colostrum is very important. It comes with a lot of protective elements for the babies,” he stressed.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

S

Time to knock sense into governors

omeone ought to have done this a They are too complacent to think outside long time ago. However, it is for the box. This handicap has also affected good that President Muhammadu the way they use or misuse the money Buhari has taken it upon himself to that comes to them from the centre and knock some sense into many of our what they borrow from banks. It is often unproductive but, at the same time, very wasted on frivolous overseas trips by the wasteful state governors. On Thursday governors and their personal comforts at in Abuja, he told all the 36 governors it home. was high time they strengthened their There are some exceptions though revenue base, promoted agriculture and in Lagos and Rivers states. The two can improved debt management. He gave the afford to go without the money from advice while inaugurating the National Abuja. Their IGRs are hefty enough.

Economic Council (NEC) Even so, they are faring session of 2019-2023 and its better than the other 95th meeting chaired by Vice states because they There are some are economic hubs of President Yemi Osinbajo.

The states cherish their the country. In Lagos, exceptions constitutional autonomy but though in Lagos the seaports, airports, are mostly dependent on roads and industries and Rivers handouts from the central were built by the federal states. The two government and were government. For instance, can afford to only recently handed in the past four years, the go without the over to the Lagos state Buhari administration supported states with close government.

Ditto money from to N2 trillion in the form Rivers.

Abuja. Their of restructuring of loans, One other area the IGRs are hefty refunds on federal roads, President mentioned enough. Even so, is cooperation between refunds from Paris Club debt exit. Those handouts had they are faring the two levels of helped the state governments better than the government. As of today, to pay salaries, pensions and this liaison is lacking other states gratuities. The few wise one because they are or ineffectual at best. have put some money aside to economic hubs President Buhari asked invest in key infrastructure. the NEC Coordination of the country Team to, in the next four However, by now it should be clear that this regimen of years, “press forward financial handouts cannot be sustained with key initiatives that will strengthen because the economy is not expanding at the implementation mechanism, a rate that can accommodate it for much enhance cooperation across states and longer. further promote joint deliberations, This is why we welcome the peer learning and experience sharing, President’s exhortation ( in a sense a under a very strong Monitoring and mild warning): “Going forward, states Evaluation Framework.” Because this must in the next four years find ways to is not already happening, the federal increase internally generated revenues, government cannot monitor the way improve VAT collection and increase its handouts are utilized. To do so will agricultural output. I also want you to amount to meddlesomeness because the work with federal agencies and the service Constitution says the states may do as providers in ensuring that broadband they like with their resources. The centre infrastructure is made available all can only give directives and do no more. over the country. Information and This lack of peer mechanism is what is Communication Technology is the future responsible for the scandalous wastages of work and we must not allow ourselves in the states. It does not have to be forced to be left behind.” Indeed, IGR, VAT and on the states but something mutually agriculture are potential high yielding accepted. Kano and Lagos states recently revenue sources for the states. However, showed that peer mechanism works as over dependence on their shares of oil both a check and a window to learn from receipts have made them unthinking. each other’s experiences.

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

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Should security chiefs remain or go?

By Professor Emmanuel Ome

A

lot has been said about the security situation in Nigeria. Some have said the situation has worsened, some have also said the situation has improved. While it’s normal for divergent views on the security situation in Nigeria, one thing stands sacrosanct.

The security chiefs in Nigeria have performed creditably well.

There is a significant challenge that I have come to realize in this country. A situation where, for inexplicable reasons, hard work is not always appreciated. A situation where people throw all manners of spanners in the wheels of progress. Also, a situation where people cry wolf where non exist.

I want to use the tenure of the present security chiefs in Nigeria as an example. I recall in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the security chiefs, he did state that he never knew any one of them personally, but relied on the track record in their careers.

Most Nigerians didn’t believe it because it sounded strange and not the usual way of doing things in a country where one must have a godfather to be so appointed into a strategic or sensitive position of authority. But President Muhammadu Buhari changed the norm, and the nation was shocked.

But today he has proved that his judgment was not in error. Not in error in the sense that the security chiefs have lived up to expectations and defied all the odds to prove doubting Thomases wrong that there are people whose passion and commitment to the Nigerian cause is unflinching.

A critical analysis of the security situation of the country before 2015 and now gives us a vivid example of how hard the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olonisakin and the various services chiefs have worked towards ensuring that the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria is preserved at all cost. Make no mistakes. The present chiefs came on-board when Nigeria was on the brinks.

There was the Boko Haram threat; there was also the Indigenous People of Biafra threat, the Niger Delta Avengers as well as that of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and other clandestine forces within and many being fueled from outside just too numerous to mention.

That the Federal Capital Territory is now safe for all is a testament. That no local government in Nigeria is under the control of Boko Haram terrorist is also a testimony. If these are not noteworthy, I don’t know what else to call it.

We must be true to ourselves to know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Yes, there might be pockets of security challenges here and there, but if we must admit, we have made substantial progress in ensuring that Nigeria is safe for all.

And this brings me to the call in recent times about the suitability of President Muhammadu Buhari continuing with the present security chiefs in his next tenure. This is quite an interesting topic that I would like to highlight on in this piece.

As a start, it is the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint those he feels he can work with. It is also the prerogative of the president to know those who have delivered in their national assignments.

I, therefore, ask, what will be the problem if the Security Chiefs also make the President’s second term list for another four years? What is the difference between civilian appointments and military appointments? What does the constitution say about appointments?

I stand to be corrected; it is only those with mischief that would want to impress on the president to change a winning team. But they forget that the president himself was once a member of the constituency and he knows what to expect from those handling the various services in the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If we must admit, the past four years have witnessed the rebuilding of state institutions like the military that saw an unimaginable level of rot

with the morale of its personnel at its lowest ebb.

But can we say of that now? Your guess is as good as mine.

If only we could realize the efforts made towards ensuring that the military institution recovers from the rot it was entangled in by past administrations. This much can be seen in the substantial gains recorded since 2015. Those that have refused to be on the side of the truth probably are basking in the prism of their selfish interest. Just maybe, it has not been business as usual for them, and as such there must be a change in leadership so that they can take advantage of the heist that reigned supreme in previous administrations.

As a researcher, I can say that I know what has gone into making the military institution what it is today. I also know for a fact that the Nigerian military of today has experienced a transformation that has defied the odds. The odds that stated that Nigerian would disintegrate. The odds that posited that Boko Haram was going to overrun the country and establish caliphates.

The odds that stated that the people of Zaria would not know peace under the threat of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The odds that also predicted that the Niger Delta Avengers would cripple critical oil infrastructures and cripple the economy. But they were proved wrong.

All of these didn’t happen by magic. But for the efforts of a group of people who have strived day and night for Nigeria to stay united. These are no mean feat, and we must give kudos to those that have made significant contributions in service to the country — starting with Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs.

Aside sentiments, I have always identified with the paradigm that posits that “you don’t fix it when it is not broken” and not in a sector as sensitive as the security architecture in the country. I stand to be corrected, the bulk of Nigerians want the present crop of security chiefs to continue in office for as long as the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces so decide. Personally, changing the security chiefs now would do the country no good. This is not to say there are not others out there, but we must understand the peculiarities of our security challenges and why there is a need for consistency. But it remains the president’s prerogative, and no one should make no mistakes about that. If the president so decides, we must give him that support and understanding.

In a similar light, the Customs has also not done badly in terms of revenue generation. This is another area where the president’s choice of appointment has also proven to be effective.

Under the present arrangement, the Nigerian Customs Service has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of revenue generation, and Nigeria is better for it.

We cannot deny these facts, and as such we should stop playing to the gallery on the efforts of the present administration towards ensuring that Nigeria is on the path to greatness through the quality of appointments in these critical sectors.

The Central Bank of Nigeria is undergoing the same kind of healing permissible by Mr. President’s wisdom. It is a historical fact that has settled in our polity today that Godwin Emefiele will be the first CBN Governor to be appointed back to back for a second term. This tells much about President Buhari building strong institutions for our country and never interested in playing politics with critical aspects of our national life. Those who mouth ethnic and religious sentiments in appointments went to bed at this point.

I can go on non-stop on this topic. But I would not because I firmly believe that Nigeria is on the path of greatness. And those with a contrary opinion should provide us with facts and figures and not sentiments. Like I stated earlier. This is a discourse.

Ome is a professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, june 26, 2019

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

University education not a low hanging fruit

Of failing teachers and primary education

By Sam Aruleba

N

T

he controversies surrounding the Joint Admission Matriculation Board’s policy on admission into universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country in the 2017/18 academic session are not receding just yet. With Nigerians in the Diaspora residing in the United Kingdom, over the weekend, the raging arguments continue to strengthen even though on a moderated paradigm shift as Nigeria clocks 57 years of independence. The 120 cut-off mark for universities, 100 for polytechnics, colleges of education and 110 for special centres of learning have since been considered by many stakeholders as pathetically deficient to academic progression. To this, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, may be wearing an apron of indictment if he had to say, Welcome on board the Nigerian premier learning centres, oh yea, that is lazy or known to be academically backward. Je suis de votre côté! “I’m on your side”. This is your clarion call to obtain your degree on the cheap, wear the gown and endorse your signature on the indelible ink of academic history. We offer everyone a 30 per cent success for our universities”.

The minister couldn’t brush off the dust of sentiment under his skin by thoughtlessly veering into the ideas of further smearing an institution already on its kneels with his so-called education distribution equaliser in all the states of Nigeria. Former presidential spokesperson, Dr Reuben Abati, was even unapologetic and would go the extra mile to protect his pay master whilst exonerating him as not a party to the debate and final conclusion of drubbing down the credibility of education in the country. The more he addresses the issue in the public, the louder the people in chorus cry out their umbrage, condemning mediocrity and loathing panel-beating the body of knowledge. It is indefensible, slovenly crass, intellectually fraudulent, and erosion of academic value. These are many of best ways the Diasporas could ascribe the ludicrous flu jab administered over tertiary institutions’

revised admission policy by JAMB. The fire of condemnation and clamour for a reversal of policy couldn’t have generated more heat than stated. Children, they say, are treasures of life to their parents and in their later years of development if properly nurtured and groomed could also become beacons of joy and happiness to their community.

In some parts of Nigeria, child education is religion, and treated as the prime factor for economic development and social fulfilment.

Yet, quite a number of states still whirl near zero ground level in its improvement. In the South-West of the country, primary education became free in 1955 under the leadership of the late Sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Higher education, post-secondary education, or third level education is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completion of secondary education. Tertiary education at the non-degree level is sometimes referred to as further education or continuing education as distinct from higher education. Regardless of the rainbow colour each portrays, the terrain of university education is not for the halfhearted but the domain for the candidates of lateral thinking ability and of analytical mind.

It is the parameter that separates the master from the apprentice. In its days, university graduates were seen and treated like minigods. They called the shots, they made the policy, and they ran the shop. They directed national affairs, others followed. They were the logicians who are rich in knowledge. They were the Socrates and Oasis of their time. They defined and refined the society. Doctors were rare and professors even rarer.

In spite of its spread further down the line of little fish in the pond, one cannot still attribute university education as a low hanging fruit for the reach of all aspiring entities. It is an exclusive nutrition for those that are mentally prepared, intellectually sagacious, and with reasoning abilities that go beyond averageness. From this class of people, we have the gifted candidates who perform on natural endowment, and with less strain to cope with all it takes inside and outside the classroom. They are the highest bidder.

Thomas Edison, the American inventor, once said, “Discontent is the first necessity of progress”. The unprecedented lowering of UTME entry requirements to 30 per cent for potential university candidates in the country is contentment on the slow lane of progress and nothing but cowardice and self-relegation back to the Stone Age. It is an expression of self-worth and the belief that we lack the moxie to effectively compete with the best around us.

Already, we have 23 universities in the country that were so elated to implement the below par standard policy of the ministry of education. Many of them are nothing more than glorified secondary schools. Some could even be honoured with chicken and pig institutions. What would become of their seeds after graduation on half-baked tuitions? That is left to one’s imagination. But one thing is sure; any tertiary institution found to be keen at promoting mediocrity is not adding value to human enlightenment and development.

Ordinarily, such institution should be boycotted and left in self-ruin. Looking around, these universities are spineless as they are visionless. Their focus hangs on filling up the empty classrooms as against quality control.

They also relish on collecting and feeding fat on easy money from those underperforming candidates seeking literacy at the prime level.

Candidates with aura of showing off a university certificate as against what good education would do for them and tailoring them at serving their country in the very best capacities are those to be found at Adamu’s influenced centres of learning. Devoid of any underpinning fugaciousness, these universities were primed by the education ministry to serve a permanent cocktail of intellectual backwardness, further compounding the malaise of the giddy candidates that should have been lifted up in their quest to acquiring acceptable standard education in reflection of the modern day needs. University education is important to national economies, both as an industry, in its own right, and as a source of trained and educated personnel for the rest of the economy. University educated workers have commanded a measurable wage premium

and are much less likely to become unemployed than less educated workers. However, the admission of so many undeserved candidates of only average ability to university education inevitably requires a decline in academic standards, facilitated by grade inflation. Also, the supply of graduates in many fields of study will be exceeding the demand for their skills, which aggravates graduate unemployment and underemployment, as well as credential and educational inflation.

In addition to the skills that are specific to any particular degree, potential employers in any profession are looking for evidence of critical thinking, and analytical reasoning skills, team-working skills, information literacy, ethical, judgment, decision-making skills, language power, problem solving skills, and a wide knowledge of liberal arts and sciences. It is noted and widely accepted even before the introduction of 30 percentres into the body of learning at our tertiary institutions that Nigerian graduates are parading certificates obtained on false pretence of academic ingenuity. They have long been classified unemployable by prospective employers, hence, the millions parading the streets as urchins. If the past could still offer a glimpse of hope to jump-lead a veritable life back to the lifeless body of learning in Nigeria, the present directive by JAMB to accept and enlist as authentic candidates every Dike, Tomiwa and Haruna into our universities has completely wiped out such hope and left us in the cliff. In football terms, it is like we have taken unprecedented decision as a nation to relegate ourselves from a top-six Premiership side by deciding to play exclusively in the League One! Some people may dismiss omissions as sophistry, but they have lost sight of the fact that precision of expression reflects precision of thought. Adamu in whatever adoptable guise might urgently need a rethinking to bring back the deserved sanity to our tertiary institutions.

Dr Aruleba, a policy analyst based in London, wrote in via samarus@rocketmail. com

RSF’s growing power: The Sudanese protest movement must change strategy

By Hatim Salih

O

n a hot May evening, I was stuck at a traffic light in a small rickshaw on my way to the sit-in in front of the army headquarters in Khartoum, when the call to prayer rang loud, marking the time to break fast.

I saw a member of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF – a rebranded version of the notorious Janjaweed militia) approach with dates and water. As he moved from car to car, I hoped the traffic lights would turn green, or his supply would run out before reaching us, as I didn’t see myself breaking my fast that day, or any other day, with a member of a militia responsible for many horrors in Darfur and Yemen.

To my disappointment, he reached us and so I picked up a date. After a short hesitation, I chewed on it, finding it hardly palatable.

Just a few weeks earlier, right after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir had been ousted, I had watched dozens of his colleagues taking positions around the same army headquarters where the sit-in was staged. They were wellarmed and unsociable, with such ghostly looks as if arriving from another dimension. The RSF have since tried, with little success, to mix dates with bullets.

Sudan’s military seizes power from President Omar al-Bashir Defence minister declares Sudanese leader ‘toppled’ and two-year military rule in move rejected by protesters.

This brought to mind the start of the sit-

in on April 6, before the RSF appeared, when I saw army soldiers handing drinking water to protesters braving the heat. I remember feeling somewhat suspicious – how else, given that the army had been the bedrock of the Sudanese dictatorship for decades? But as is now clear, the army was far from unified that day, and neither is it today.

Disobedience spread from the bottom up when the order to crush peaceful protesters was issued, and when some soldiers and officers, such as colonel Hamid Othman Hamid, sided with protesters, leaving the top ranks little choice in the end but to sacrifice al-Bashir, their commander-in-chief, to save their own skin.

After all, once it starts, insubordination can quickly turn, out of fear of regime retribution, into outright mutiny.

There are a number of reasons why the RSF, whose core fighters come from the violent war zone in Darfur, were handed control of Khartoum. First, the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) stopped trusting the army ranks. Second, being largely from outside the capital, the RSF would likely show no hesitation cracking down on strangers. Third, having already engaged in atrocities in Darfur and elsewhere, they could be more willing to obey orders no matter how ghastly.

Credible reports, based on video evidence and eyewitness accounts by survivors of the sit-in massacre, have painted a horrific picture of killings, beatings, burning of tents, and widespread rape – tools previously used by the genocidal Janjaweed against defenceless Darfuri

villages. Inexplicably, even the University of Khartoum next door was ransacked.

Yet, the RSF retain regional, if not international support. Crucially, they are backed by both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who want to ensure their continued participation in the catastrophic war in Yemen. Egypt, too, has shown its support, hoping the militia would be used to purge Islamists of the “former” Sudanese regime.

Add to that an often overlooked but valuable service that the RSF provide – namely controlling undocumented migration through Sudan to Europe. This might in part explain how Janjaweed leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), a former camel trader accused of crimes against humanity, recently received top Western diplomats in his new lavish Khartoum office.

The commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan (aka Hemeti), sworn-in as int...

Yet, things have quickly turned sour for the RSF and the TMC in the aftermath of their bloody crackdown on the sit-ins in Khartoum and other cities. They were ill-advised by their allies in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Cairo, who likely wanted to send a clear warning to their own and other Arab populations, but underestimated the international backlash.

Over several months, Sudan’s nonviolent revolution had captured the world’s attention through mass mobilisation, poetry, song, and art.

Today, the Sudanese capital, under the RSF,

feels eerily like a city under occupation. A few days after the massacre, I talked to two of their soldiers deployed near my home. One of them, a Darfuri, looked disturbingly young and against all logic harboured dreams of policing the 2022 World Cup. Both seemed unsure as to what purpose they served exactly, but when asked about the killing of protesters at the sit-in, they said it was punishment from the heavens.

Get today’s live news on Qatar 2022: current events, photos, infographics and Al Jazeera’s exclusive stories fro...

While RSF fighters have engaged in dreadful crimes in Darfur and lately in Khartoum and elsewhere, it is vitally important that our approach to them is different from the one we take up towards their leadership.

Many of them are victims of a harsh reality, where widespread impoverishment and deliberate underdevelopment, the absence of the rule of law, and empowered tribalism have left little choice to young men but to join militias and armed groups.

This also means that within a future transitional justice process, the victimisation of the young men serving within the ranks of RSF will have to be recognised. While accountability is essential, not least as a deterrent, so is reconciliation as a step towards either disarmament or possible integration into the army. Sudan can look to a number of other countries, including Colombia and its peace process with the FARC, for models to follow.

Hatim Salih is a Commentator on International Issues.

By Niran Adedokun

ot too long ago, I had the rare privilege of being in the same room with six of Nigeria’s 36 state governors. Discussions mainly centered around the need to urgently restructure the country and let the constituent units have their say on the issues that affect them.

While this lasted, only one thing agitated my mind. As discussions went on with questions receiving answers and suggestions on how to make things better followed one another, I could not take my mind off the questions of how Nigeria, restructured or not, will survive without taking care of the now neglected children and youths. When I eventually had the opportunity to speak, I told the governors that they and I had a different concern from the issues that had dominated the evening. I said while restructuring the country and giving a sense of fairness to everyone single citizen was paramount, I worried that the future of the country would remain in jeopardy if we did not address increasing levels of illiteracy and unemployment amongst our children and youths respectively. I indicated that the governors were in a particularly good position to take these questions because basic education was within their purview.

I still cannot tell how sensible the question came across to the other governors, which included Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Kashim Shettima of Borno State; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Aminu Masari of Katsina State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State, but it was Shettima who spoke up.

He identified the question as a very important one and went on to reel out the dangers ahead of Nigeria’s future if we

did not begin to make a conscious effort at reducing the burden of out-of-school children in Nigeria, in addition to providing gainful employment for our teeming youths.

The statistics of education in Nigeria are indeed gory. Well over 11 million children of school age in the country will never make it to a classroom as we speak while a sizeable number of those who are in school do not learn anything. Most times, due to the lack of competence and motivation of teachers.

Some statistics say, for instance, that about 45 per cent of instruction time is lost to one of absenteeism or neglect by teachers in this part of the world. If we do not do anything to reverse this trend, how then can our country hope to survive in the increasingly competitive and global nature of our world?

From the way Shettima reacted on the evening under discussion, it was obvious that this was a discussion that the governors must have engaged in at one point or the other. This is especially so as the Borno governor is chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum. However, nothing in the recent past has shown that any intervention has made positive impact on the educational situation in the country especially in the north.

So, you wonder whether governors are addressing the problems correctly. There is hardly any of our governors who would, for instance, not have examples of initiatives and projects said to be aimed at addressing the disgraceful state of education in the country.

The very obvious diagnosis of the problem in most of our states is the modernisation of school buildings and furniture. So, on a regular basis, you find governors boasting of having awarded contracts for the renovation of dilapidated school buildings or even the construction of new ones.

Comment

While one cannot say that such infrastructural intervention would not contribute to the improvement of the quality of learning in our schools, the fact that we have not seen any significant improvement in spite of huge investments in infrastructure shows that there are a few more fundamental steps that we are missing out.

This is why the current attempt at reviewing the quality of teachers by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State calls for some attention.

This is not an original initiative though.

About a decade back, the Kwara State Government set an examination to test the competence of its teachers only to discover that a sizable number of them could not even pass examinations meant for primary school pupils. A number of years later, former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, also tried to assess teachers in the state but met stiff resistance which made him backtrack. That el-Rufai is embarking on the same exercise at this moment indicates that governors understand the importance of quality instruction in our primary and secondary schools. What probably restrains them from going all the way to deal with this situation is a consideration for their political survival. Given that teachers make up a substantial number of the civil service and the electorate of any state, governors fear for their political future and would usually avoid seeing the idea through. That lack of political will is why the state of education has remained what it is in Nigeria, without doubt.

Given el-Rufai’s well-known tenacity however, one can only hope that he has the steel to see this initiative through.

Although there have been protests against

the government’s announcement of a mass failure of the simple test administered on the teachers, some of those protests themselves justify the government’s position.

One of the teachers alleged to have failed the tests, wrote on his Facebook page: “Is a matter of time they almost finish their first 4years nothing on ground… how can you SAID more than 65% of teachers failed primary four EXAMINE#Wallahi is LIED.” Now, this post itself shows how much of mis-education this character will peddle.

It is said that el-Rufai’s administration plans to take out about over 20,000 teachers who have failed these tests and employ, young trainable people in their place. This will at least ensure that pupils in the state have quality instruction. But the governor would also have to manage those who are losing out in the circumstance. Truth be told, it would be dishonest to assume that all the teachers likely to be affected by this situation found themselves at this post by their own making.

And even if they did, the society would be unfair to them and do itself a lot of risk to send these 20,000 people or so into the unemployment market without consideration. It would therefore make sense to ease them out by building their capacity to remain productive rather than become a burden on society.

El-Rufai has vindicated himself as a man of courage and vision over the years, but governance also bestows a requirement for compassion on office holders. And beyond compassion, throwing this huge number of able-bodied men and women into unemployment can become a source of insecurity in the state.

Niran Adedokun is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Teachers, the most neglected

By Emmanuel Onyekwere

L

et me begin with the story of the late Igbo highlife musical icon Chief Oliver De’coque. Oliver in one of his songs told the story of a great hunter and his brave dog which he valued and cherished only in the battle field (i.e during hunting expedition) he calls the dog all sorts of stirring names just to make the dog act appropriately.

The brave dog on his part would work tirelessly running from one end of the bush to another chasing wild animals many of which most times fight back rebelliously causing the dog bruises and open wounds. The success of the hunter depended solely on the effort of this dog and not his gun, most times animals run away with bullet wounds and without the dog they will die somewhere and waste without the hunter finding them.

The pathetic end of the of the story is that at the end of the day’s toils the dog becomes something to watch out for, the dog is relegated to one corner of the house in chains living on the mercy of waste foods and bones, the hunter will give a very stringent warning to his entire household “beware of this dog, it might steal the meat. The dog, the best friend and companion of the hunter has all of a sudden become a thief.

I am optimistic I have not taken your mind elsewhere; the question then is who is a teacher? A teacher literally is a person who helps others to acquire knowledge in other words that person who instructs or passes information to a person or group of persons.

The above definition does not in any way relate the wonderful set of

people I want to talk about, the role of teachers according to the foregoing can be carried out by anyone starting with parents, relations and friends and even enemies (your enemies also teach you big time lessons). Instead, Teachers are a set of brilliant individuals who by training and self-development undertook to carry the burden of other people’s future knowing that whatever a person becomes is their making (be it good or bad). They start from the scratch to raise children bearing the burdens that even the biological parents of such children cannot bear. At a very infantile stage in my life, my mother always sent us out to school (even on Saturdays), as a child I thought she so much loved education but far from it she didn’t just want us to be home all-day troubling her and the entire neighborhood, but with love and passion our teacher bore the headache on daily basis.

At a time in my secondary school my Social Studies teacher was brutally flogged by a certain man for flogging his daughter in school. The teachers was bad injured, we all expected a retaliatory action from him or at least a legal action

but he didn’t nothing, not because he couldn’t do nothing but because he didn’t want to.

This is not actually what I want to address, I want us to ponder on how our teachers are treated here in Nigeria, the type of miserable and wretched life they are plunged into. Little wonder the gifted minds are running away from the profession leaving the upbringing of our dear future leaders in the hands of those ‘who had no other alternative’, our universities admit students who scored the least points in their entrance examinations into education department where our teachers are bred, this means that in the nearest future, the teaching profession will become something to abhor. Salary and allowances happen to be the bait that magnetize individuals to a particular profession but alas! The teaching profession is not enticing at all. Recently, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu announced that the federal government is working towards making teachers earn more than any other workers; according the minister this would attract the best to the teaching profession.

“

It does not baffle me however why the above statement is made every 5th October (Teachers day) and sometimes during events where teachers are actively involved, the government had never had any genuine intention to better the lives of our dear teachers, to appease their minds just like the name the hunter calls his dog during their hunting expedition

It does not baffle me however why the above statement is made every 5th October (Teachers day) and sometimes during events where teachers are actively involved, the government had never had any genuine intention to better the lives of our dear teachers, to appease their minds just like the name the hunter calls his dog during their hunting expedition, they lament the poor condition of teachers on who lies the task of molding the tomorrow’s generation and leaders, how they do not get their salaries and allowances as at when due, how they deserve the best of remuneration and so on, all these are just said to the Press and at the end of the day nothing is done and the condition grows even worse.

If they want their voices to be heard or their demands met, there is no medium, they must have to go on strike, only to come back with wonderful promises of better working conditions but still they end up unattained. They still don’t give up knowing that their profession is more of a sacrifice than just profession.

Conclusively, the big question is where would a nation that yearn for human development head without teachers?

Our country has taken for granted the role of teachers in her all-round growth and development, the less lucrative the teaching profession the less the interest and this invariably results in the mass exodus of the gifted minds while the other class of ‘no other alternative’ will take over the future of our children and many generations yet to come.

Emmanuel Onyekwere is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

N ews Edo Assembly crisis: Southsouth APC group calls for caution

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he All Progressive Congress (APC) South-south zone support group, APC Consolidated Network has called on the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to trade softly in his quagmire with the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle.

The group in a press release yesterday in Port-Harcourt signed by the Publicity Secretary of the organization, Barr Peter Ekpeyong described the action of the governor as a deliberate calculation to denied the state of development while working assiduously to shift the blame of his failure on the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle.

Ekpeyong said that if Comrade Oshiomohle was interested in distracting the governor to derail development in the state, he wouldn’t have supported the governor ahead of his deputy Hon Pius Odubu who worked with him for 8 years.

The South-South APC Consolidated Network publicity secretary said that the defeat of the ruling party in the last presidential election in the state orchestrated by the governor will not been forgotten in hurry so for the governor to say that the APC chairman was behind the state’s assembly upheaval is to say the least absurd.

He further said that aligning with the former chairman of the party, Mr John Oyegun on chairman was to overheat the polity which is in tandem with opposition plan in the state.

He urged the governor to sheath his dagger to take the state to another level of development.

Nigeria’s challenges are huge investment opportunities – Osinbajo

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday in New York said the huge development challenges facing Nigeria and the rest of Africa were “excellent opportunities for groundbreaking investments and innovation”.

He stated this as a guest at an interactive session hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a think-tank.

In his opening statement on the topic “Nigeria’s Economic Prospects”, the vice president hinged his discussion on four areas including population, and environment with respect to climate change.

He identified the other two areas as production especially agriculture, manufacturing and technology as well as security, and the challenges of terrorism, violent Islamic extremism, social exclusion and resource conflicts.

Mr Osinbajo noted that what happened in the four areas in the continent in the coming years would impact positively or negatively on the fortunes of the world.

He said, “The doomsday scenario is as follows: Africa’s population grows exponentially, food production is not able to

match population growth, a rise in transhuman conflicts due to shrinking vegetation and water.

“Lack of jobs and opportunity for a large poorly educated youth population, leading to aggressive illegal migration, vulnerability to extremism and, the creation of a convenient breeding ground for extremist groups and a terrorist launch pad to the rest of the world.

“A horrifying situation indeed, and possible if in the next three decades Africa drops the ball on these four indicators.

“Neither Africa nor the rest of the world can afford to have these scenarios playing out.”

Mr Osinbajo stated that being the most populous nation in the continent, Nigeria had a critical role to play in those four areas.

According to him, it is not an exaggeration to say that as “Nigeria goes, so goes Africa”.

The vice president said although the challenges were huge, they were excellent opportunities for “groundbreaking” investments and innovation by both local and foreign players.

“So take population, the mere fact that we will become the third most populous nation in the world

by 2050 and the 14th largest economy, means a huge market.

When we opened up our telecoms sector for private investment 18 years ago, many thought, ‘yes, they have a large population but not a large enough middle class to buy and use mobile phones’.

“They were wrong. MTN and Econet took the plunge, and today market penetration for mobile phones is 114.9 per cent, which technically means almost everybody has a phone,” he said.

The vice president said Nigeria was trying to replicate the same feat in the power sector by opening it for investment in endto-end power supply.

According to him, Power Africa, a USAID project, has made a commitment of 110 million dollars between 2018 and 2023.

The fund is meant to provide transaction support to the entire electricity value-chain covering gas supply, distribution, transmission and generation activities, he explained.

“With our population, and a market-driven power sector, the next few years promise exciting prospects.

“This is also the case with other

infrastructure. We are embarking on the largest investment in infrastructure in our history, welcoming private investments in concessions and projects like rail, roads, airports, and other infrastructure.”

In agriculture, Nigeria boasts of the ninth largest stock of arable land in the world, and has become a world leader in cassava, yam, sorghum, and millet production, he said.

He added that the country was on the verge of self sufficiency in paddy rice production, seeing greater interest in agriculture and the agro-allied value chain.

Mr Osinbajo emphasised that besides the export market, the country’s population presents a massive and lucrative domestic market.

“Carlos, a major Mexican vegetable farmer, came to Nigeria to do vegetables for export and found he was making far more money servicing the domestic market,” he said.

According to him, challenges in other areas such as manufacturing, environment, climate change and security were investment opportunities waiting to be explored.(NAN)

R-L: Newly Promoted Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Mauigari Peter, his wife, Enitan Peter being congratulate by the Comptroller General, NSCDC Abdullahi Muhammadu , during the decoration ceremony of the newly promoted commandants, yesterday in Abuja.

T

he foremost non-partisan advocacy organisation, One Voice Nigeria, has launched a campaign to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in sufficiently furnishing the Nigerian military with adequate resources.

Our correspondent reports that the group, committed to rallying Nigerians of diverse persuasion to adopt a common ground, officially kick-started this crusade tagged

Protesters differ over call for Kyari, Daura’s sack

By Umar Muhammad Puma

M

embers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were sharply devided over the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and remove his uncle, Mamman Daura from the Presidency.

While on Monday some protesters in Abuja demanded the duo’s immediate sack, some members of the party also stormed the National Secretariat of the party on Tuesday to call on the party’s leadership and President to retain both Kyari and Daura.

The youths, who protested against Kyari had said, they were protesting state of insecurity in Northern Nigeria and blamed the president’s inability to adequately tackle the insecurity on Kyari and Daura whom they referred to as Presidency Cabal.

They alleged that, the cabal was also responsible for what they described as low performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in his first four years in office.

The youths displayed banners and placards with inscription such as; ‘we need security in Northern Nigeria’, ‘Abba Kyari must go’ and ‘Mamman Daura must go’ among others.

However, the group, under the aegis of Muhammadu Buhari Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group (MBO-DSG), who took their protest to the secretariat faulted their argument, insisting there is no any cabal in Aso Rock.

The APC members, led by the National coordinator of the group, Usman Ibrahim while briefing journalists restated President’s rights to exclusivity of appointments of his personal aides, advisers and ministers.

According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari rode on the public trust in 2015 to emerge as the President and Commader-in-Chief of the Armed forces and has never

deviated from his commitment and covenant to the Nigerian project.

“The cabal ideology was introduced into the Nigerian political lexicon from the time immemorial and every administration that existed before now have been accused to be under the influence of a perceived cabals; this we viewed as a familiar song and we felt if our brothers are genuine in their agitations, they would have made their points and register their grouse sinking into error of language.”

The group was addressed by National Auditor of the party, George Moughalu on behalf of National Chairman, who assured them of proper communication of their message to members of National Working Committee of the party.

Meanwhile, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has said that political jobbers within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were the sponsors of protest against tbe Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

National Chairman of ACPN, Alhaji Ganiyu O. Galadima, who condemned the protest in a statement issued in Abuja, said the people that were calling for the head of the Chief of Staff to the President are Nigerians who do not mean well for the President and the country.

“I have observed with keen interest the sustained campaign against the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari. This was followed with a protest on

Monday, 24th of June in Abuja. I then wondered what the sponsors of the campaign wanted to achieve by getting Abba Kyari out of the Villa.

“From my observations, any campaign against the Chief of Staff to the President, is a campaign against the President who appointed him and also found the services he was rendering to him useful and impacting positively on the Nation.

“The chemistry of the Chief of Staff to the President also aligned with the President which allowed for a good working relationship, trust and mutual respect between the President and his bossom friend. The quality of advise, commitment, selflessness and patriotism of Alh Abba Kyari are some of the qualities that endeared

him to the President besides loyalty and friendship.

“The people that are calling for the head of the Chief of Staff to the President are Nigerians who does not mean well for the President.

The motive behind the campaign of calumny is to strip the President of the protection, loyalty and genuine service of Abba Kyari and become vulnerable to the antics of some unpatriotic Nigerians who does not wish the President well in governance.

“It is the responsibility of the President to appoint his personal Staffs, the Chief of Staff inclusive.

I implored political jobbers and Hawks in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) to let Abba Kyari be as we appreciate his sacrifices to the nation,” Galadima stated.

Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, Asiwaju Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Immediate Past Deputy Governor of Osun Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo LaoyeTomori, President Muhammadu Buhari, APC Zonal Women Leader, Mrs Kemi Nelson, Leader of the Delegation, Sen Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Segun Osoba, Sen Olabiyi Durojaiye, Immediate Past Oyo State Governor, Sen Abiola Ajimobi and others during the Visit of the Afenifere to congratulates him on his reelection for a 2nd term in office held at the Council Chamber, State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

Ahmed Lawan: Ninth Assembly is a bipartisan one, will work for Nigerians without bias

Insecurity: Group canvasses for improved funding

By Stanley Onyekwere

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

“Nothing is Too Much for Our Security,” yesterday.

In a statement signed by Convener Comrade Kabiru Ibrahim Dallah, the group said that security is the most serious business and should be given utmost attention.

While applauding the efforts of the 8th National Assembly to marginally increase funding for defence, the group, however, charged the 9th National Assembly to go more steps further.

The statement reads in part:

“It is on this note that One Voice Nigeria today launches the “Nothing Is Too Much For Our Security” campaign. The campaign will focus on several areas to ensure that there is an improvement in the quantum of resources available for providing security to Nigerians, ensure that the appropriation of the resources is not delayed and ensure prompt release of funds that have been approved. “ We hereby present our 3-point agenda for security

spending. The first point of the agenda we are setting for the National Assembly is to double and possibly quadruple defence and security spending. This point is premised on the reality that the current budgeting for the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Police Force is very low. “ The need for the Federal Lawmakers to find ways of increasing the funds available to these bodies in view of ongoing

operations against Boko Haram/ ISWAP, cattle-rustlers, bandits, kidnappers, militants and other threats that have necessitated the massive deployment of the military and mobile police units.

“The budgeting for these organizations simply has to change to reflect the current reality. We see the necessity to pass a special supplementary budget to ensure that they are speedily empowered to deal with the security threats in the land.”

By Musa Adamu and Ikechukwu Okaforadi

P

resident of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has emphasized that the ninth Assembly was a bipartisan one and that it would not allow political differences to hamper its work in the interest of Nigerians.

He stated this while hosting Senators’ Forum (SF)made up of ex- Senators of the federal republic of Nigeria.

In a veil response to those calling for the exclusion of some Nigerians with different political leanings from employment, Lawan warned that any party pushing for the sack of any Nigerian on the basis of different political affiliation should forget it, adding that the ninth Senate was one ready to work for all Nigerians.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to emphasize that this Senate is a bipartisan

one because we got elected to lead the Senate

by Senators across party lines. So, any party that is asking for the sack of any Nigerian on the basis different political party should forget it.

“We all have witnessed what a rancorous and disunited national assembly can be and what a united one can also be. We all know that it is not in the interest of any Nigerian to have a rancorous assembly. So, we have resolved to work for Nigeria and would not allow political differences to prevent this.

“We will take our oversight duty seriously and any minister or head of agency who does not work in line with the extant law will have us to face. We would not allow partisanship to derail us on this.”

He thanked the Senators’ Forum, led by Senator Khairat Gwadabe, for its faith in the present leadership of the Senate, adding that his leadership would be ready to accept any

useful input from them.

“We thank you for your contributions to the growth of the country while you were here. We are also aware of the leadership you are providing in your various communities and Nigeria is the to you.

“We are happy that you thought it wise to visit. This kind of visits is required from time to time so that we may continue to tap into your wealth of experience. The Senate will continue to operate an open door policy in line with the ‘Open Senate’ agenda started by the last Senate.

“It is in this regard that I want Nigerians to know that there is nothing like jumbo salary being earned by members of the national assembly. I earn N750,000 as salary but my office has to function and for this to happen, funds need to provided. I believe Nigerians deserves to know our take home pay but they must know that we do not

take what we don’t deserve.”

He reiterated that under his leadership, the national assembly would pass the budget in three months, adding that “ all the executive need to do is to ensure that its proposal is before us latest by September.

And heads of MDAs must be ready to come forward for their defence so that the nation will benefit from budgeting circle.”

Earlier on, Sen Khairat Gwadabe informed the the Forum was ready to work the leadership as stakeholders for the create benefit of the country.

She said with the wealth of experience of Sen Lawan, the Forum was optimistic that the ninth Senate would do a great job for the benefit of the country.

She said: “We are here to say we are ready to partner with you in the task of leading the country to the enviable height it so much desire.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

PAGE 16

POLITICS

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has condemned recent protests by some persons claiming to be All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders against some trusted aides of President Muhammadu Buhari especially his Chief of staff Malam Abba Kyari.

It described it as ill-thought, needless and unfortunate and also distanced its members from the protest at Kyari’s official residence.

BMO said in a statement signed by the Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke that the protesters were people with little or no understanding of President

Kogi state youths drum support for Bello’s reelection

Protests against Abba Kyari needless - BMO Buhari and how he works.

It said: “We wish to dissociate the Buhari Media Organisation from the recent protest at the Defence House, by persons calling for the resignation of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari. We did not sanction or support those protests including interviews on various media platforms, neither do we subscribe to the mission of the protesters and their sponsors.

“Malam Kyari as Chief of Staff to the President has brought sublime sophistication to the dispensation of his duties; he has given his best dutifully, and has been instrumental to the

many successes of the Buhari administration.

“A decision by the President to retain him – if he so wishes – is one we cannot object to, but rather endorse wholeheartedly.

“We have no doubt that those who took to the streets against a key player in the Buhari administration are sponsored elements who can best be described as meddlesome interlopers.”

BMO said contrary to the position of the protesters and their sponsors, the Chief of Staff is one individual with a pedigree “Here is a man with academic background in Sociology and Law

from two of the best universities in the world but later veered into Banking where he rose to the highest position in one of Nigeria’s most influential banks, United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA).

“The Cambridge-trained lawyer who once worked for the law firm of Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo had never been a politician but had since 2015 successfully implemented the agenda of President Buhari.

“So we are amused that some people somewhere could insinuate that the President is being controlled by his employee or anybody in the Presidency by

whatever name they chose to call them.

“The President we know is his own man and we have his authority to say that the buck stops on his table.

“It is all about political appointments but our message to those blackmailers is that only President Buhari will exercise his right to choose who he wants to work with in his second term in office and he would do that at the appointed time,” It added.

The group consequently urged Nigerians to ignore any suggestion by the protesters of a President whose every action is determined by a shadowy clique.

By Albert Akota

T

he Kogi Youths Development Initiative (KYDI), a coalition of youth groups has declared their support for the second term ambition of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The national president of the group, Ayokanmi Olusunle, in a release after their meeting in Lokoja, yesterday, said over 1000 youth organization gathered in Lokoja, Kogi State to adopt and declare support for the Governor.

He said his organization conducted wide spread opinion poll to ascertain the level of Governor Yahaya Bello’s acceptability amongst the youths of Kogi State and that the outcome of the opinion poll was astonishingly in favour of the incumbent Governor.

He said it was unanimously agreed that the decision of Yahaya Bello to contest for a second time in office is a blessing to all and should be supported by all and with vigour.

"The group observed that it is in the interest of the youths to take this opportunity as a challenge to sustain the spirit of NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN and prove to the entire country that Kogi remain a forerunner to any good vision of our country Nigeria.

"We hereby call on all youth to carry on the dynamic statue, outstanding capacity, humor, selflessness and love for ones people expressed by His Excellency to join others in reelecting the Governor for a second time in office.

"This is because we observed that the Governor did well in his bid to attract investment to the State. We congratulate him in the area of Job creation and wealth generation for the teaming Youths in the State.

"The delegation also observed gratefully the effort of the performing Governor in the area of security and infrastructure.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

POLITICS

Access to Server: Atiku maintains he won 2019 Presidential Poll

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

A

tiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Parry (PDP), yesterday, reiterated that he not only won the February 23, 2019 elections, he added that the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari lacks executive temperament and capacity.

The former Vice President said this in reaction to a statement from Aso Rock Villa, praising the the presidential Tribunal decision against his application to access their server used for the 2019 presidential election.

The statement described the ruling as “landmark ruling”, as well as claimed that “the existence of a purported server is being contested and if a purported inspection had been allowed at this stage, it would have amounted to the determination that it indeed existed even when its existence is being contested.”

However, Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, stated that his request to inspect the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission was not rejected.

He maintained that what the tribunal said is that it is still at preliminary stages and the main case HAS NOT begun and that the matter of granting access to inspect the INEC server is not relevant to the preliminary stages.

The statement, however, said that Atiku’s team is eagerly anticipates the actual ruling of the Tribunal when the case proper begins.

The statement reads; ‘’Our attention has been drawn to a statement from Aso Rock Villa, wherein spokesperson for General Muhammadu Buhari praised the ruling of the Presidential Election Tribunal, which ‘rejected’ the request by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and the Peoples

Democratic Party, to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to grant ‘’After praising the so-called “landmark ruling”, the statement went on to claim that “the existence of a purported server is being contested and if a purported inspection had been allowed at this stage, it would have amounted to the determination that it indeed existed even when its existence is being contested.” ‘’Our response is to plead vindication of our case that not only did Atiku Abubakar win the February 23, 2019 elections, but that the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari lacks executive temperament and capacity as we will

now establish. ‘’Let us educate the spokespersons of General Muhammadu Buhari on what yesterday’s judgment actually says. The request by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party to inspect the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission was NOT rejected. ‘’What the honourable Tribunal said is that it is still at preliminary stages and the main case HAS NOT begun and that the matter of granting access to inspect the INEC server is not relevant to the preliminary stages.

It is a matter to be adjudicated upon when the case proper is being heard. ‘’As such, the celebration by the administration of General Buhari that

their electoral heist has been covered is premature. Their giddiness has even blinded them to the eye witness testimony given to multiple media in interviews by staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission that there is indeed a server and that they actually submitted results and accreditation through it. ‘’In their rush to claim a Pyrrhic victory, the General Buhari administration missed out the fact that the 2019 budget has multiple line items for procurement, maintenance and service of the server they claim does not exist.’’

Furthermore, Atiku and PDP said that the statement emanated from Aso Villa tried to spin the recent

verdict on the election passed by the EU election observers. ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, what the EU report said is that the 2019 elections had SIGNIFICANT defects and fell short of the 2019 elections.

It should be noted that one of the issues they raised is the attempt to muzzle not just the media, but more importantly, the judiciary. ‘’In the light of this, we remind those who are gloating in their ignorance that ‘he who laughs last, laughs best’. ‘’The last has not been heard of this matter and we eagerly anticipate the ACTUAL ruling of the Tribunal when the case proper begins,’’ the statement concluded.

B…Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (left), exchanging greetings with Senator Ibrahim Ida (right) while Senator Khairat Gwadabe looks on (middle), when the Senators Forum paid a courtesy visit to the Senate President, at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Senate President Media Office.

Chief Executive Officer, Christ Orphanage Foundation, Patricia Aho (second right), presenting gifts to Widows, during the annual thanks giving service, yesterday in Abuja.

PDP expresses anger with IGP’s handling of invasion of Gov. Darius residence

Oyo Assembly approves 12 Special Advisers, wants road contractors back to site

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he 9th Oyo State House of Assembly during its maiden sitting has honoured the request of the State executive to approve 12 special advisers to the Governor, Engr.

Seyi Makinde.

While reading the letter from the executive, the Speaker of house, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin said the 12 Special Advisers awaiting approval are to occupy strategy positions which are imperative to the executive duties.

According Ogundoyin, administering a State is a lot of work for the Executive Governor and definitely he needs good

hands as advisers.

“Since the inception this administration, lot of responsibilities are mainly on the the Governor and his Chief of staff.

“That is why we had a quick pass and approval of the executive request so that we can hit the ground running in the best interest of the good people of Oyo state,” he added.

In his observation, the lawmaker representing Iseyin/ Iwajowa, Hon. Adeola Bamidele implored the Governor to consider skills and profrssionalism in the appointments.

“Putting the round peg in the round hole is what can guarantee efficiency in every governmental

duty, and Governor Seyi Makinde should please consider this in appointing the Special Advisers.

“His excellency should also take cognizance of the constitution too, by spreading these appointments across the zones in Oyo State to ensure even representation and human development,” he added.

Speaking on the state of roads under construction and rehabilitation in the state, Hon. Akeem Mustapha representing Kajola constituency moved a motion appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to remobilise contractors back to ongoing road projects across the State.

Mustapha who emphasized that the abandonment of

Moniya-Iseyin-Ojutaye road by the contractor is making life unbearable for the users of the 65kilometers road, which linked about 10 ten local governments especially in Oke Ogun axis of the State.

He said, “Good road network contributes immensely to the socio-economic fortune of either developed or developing nations.

“We understand the past administration awarded these roads to contractors for either rehabilitation or reconstruction, but in the best interest of our people who are predominantly agrarians and also food basket of the state, we call on our Governor to help remobilise the contractors back to the sites.”

T

he national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed is handling the recent invasion and violent attack on the residence of the Governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Ishaku, by Police operatives, who claimed to have been detailed by presidential authorities.

The PDP has thus harped on the need to expose the actual forces behind the invasion and their real intentions with a view to bringing all the culprits to book publicly.

The PDP leadership said this through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, at a press conference addressed yesterday in Abuja.

The PDP also challenged the relevant federal authorities to search the residence of some APC leaders, who have been accused of stashing stolen money in their houses and

in secret bank accounts within and outside Nigeria.

According to Mr Ologbondiyan, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been following with keen interest the unfolding events relating to the illegal invasion and violent attack on the residence of the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Ishaku, by Police operatives, who claimed to have been detailed by Presidential authorities.

“Nigerians can recall that at the wake of the attack, on June 11, 2019, allegedly led by one Police DSP Edwin Oruakpa, the PDP charged the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to immediately get to the root of the matter, expose the actual forces behind the invasion and their real intentions, as well as to bring all the culprits to book publicly.

“The PDP however states in clear terms that it is not satisfied with the manner with which the Federal Government is handling the issue.

“Already, the poor handling of the matter is now sparking off suspicions

of a creepy ploy to suppress facts and divert public attention from the questions surrounding the unlawful assault.

“That invasion, as you all are aware, is in direct violation of the Governor’s immunity under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), prompting many Nigerians to point to no other motive other than a deliberate and calculated attempt to intimidate and hurt the person of the Governor of Taraba state, Arc. Ishaku.

“This is especially as the invading operatives had ferociously stormed the residence, threatened the occupants with AK 47 rifles, violently broke the entrance doors, manhandled the governor’s son and carted away valuables belonging to the governor and his son, after finding nothing incriminating in the residence.

“The poor handling of the matter is already heightening apprehensions in the public space that the invasion was primarily designed to setup,

frame, incriminate and smear the image and popularity of the Governor of Taraba state; as part of the larger plot to harass, hassle, intimidate, persecute and distract PDP elected officers and bring them to public opprobrium.

“There are already fears that the invading operatives may have planted incriminating items or even compromised the security architecture of the residence to facilitate a sinister plot.

“The PDP is therefore worried that the Federal Government and the Police are yet to provide answers and come clean on this matter.

“The questions are: who ordered the unlawful invasion of the residence of a sitting state governor in violation of his constitutional immunity? Under what powers was the invasion ordered and what was the real motive?

“Furthermore, what is the response of the Federal Government and the Police in guaranteeing the safety of Governor Darius Ishaku and his family members? Who is in

custody of the valuables carted away from the residence by the invading operatives?

“Who takes responsibility for the damage caused to the residence of the Governor?

“Until these questions are answered, the PDP and the people of Taraba state will continue to hold the APC and the Federal Government responsible for the invasion or should any harm suddenly befalls Governor Darius Ishaku, members of his family, officials of his government or officials of our party in Taraba state.

“Nigerians across the board are all aware of the schemes by the APC to drag down Governor Darius Ishaku before and during the last governorship elections but for the overwhelming popularity he enjoys among his people due to his unprecedented achievements and developmental projects that touch directly on the wellbeing of the people of the state”, the National Publicity Secretary said.

PAGE 18

HEALTH

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

SORENID donates 500,000 naira worth machines to prevent ‘Europe by road’ journey

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A

nongovernmental organisation, Society for the Reconciliation of Distressed Nigerians in Diaspora (SORENID), has donated machines worth N500,000 to discourage young Nigerians from embarking on perilous journey to Europe by road.

The NGO believes that such donations would help the young ones in the country to concentrate on skills instead of embarking on illegal migration.

The machines donated at the weekend in Karu, Abuja, to the three beneficiaries included; popcorn machine, car washing machine and juice extractor machine.

Speaking on the selection of the recipients, the founder of SORENID International, a retired Diplomat, Sir Uchenna B. Okafor, said the beneficiaries were people in dire need of help. “We had over 20 beneficiaries who were trained by this NGO with different skills and empowered. We will continue to assist as many people as we can.

“The selected beneficiaries need our help. They have no one to cater for them.

We took them in because of our desire to help the society and give people a sense of belonging, and make them feel important in the larger society. It has always been my passion to help other people and I am very happy doing it.

“We know that if we hand over the money to them, they might not use it effectively; that is why we are giving them these machines to enable them start their own various businesses and expand as time goes on.

“It is always important to have a skill especially now that there is no job. We are also encouraging graduates to ensure that they have one or two skills that will assist them in life Incase the job they are looking for is hard to come by.”

Okafor, said he is back in to the country to contribute in human development and help shape people who need assistance.

The SORENID boss said he founded the NGO to cater for deportees and assist orientate people who are yet to travel, about the dangers that awaits them.

“We are not stopping people from traveling. We are educating them on what they must do to travel the right way.

We are against them traveling by road to Europe. It is always to have a skill so that you can be useful to yourself when you finally travel the right way to the country of your choice.

“I have staff who are training people on various skills to make them useful.

It is important for people to know how to do something, instead of selling their organs for money.”

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of SORENID, Oliver Nwodoh, who was also a victim of illegal migration, said there is a lot of dangers in

traveling to Europe by road.

He called on young Nigerians to be useful to themselves instead of traveling to be slaves in other countries.

On her part, V.P Academics Government Secondary School Airport,

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

Mrs. Onwuka S. Ngozi, harps on the need for education.

She said education is important because young Nigerians are deceived on daily basis to travel abroad.

“It is unfortunate that some of our

youths are interested in quick money. It is this quest for quick money that usually forces them to embark on the perilous journey.

Let’s be patient and pray to God for His Will to be done in our lives.

Make ICT Investment Friendly Policies, NCC urges African Governments

By Etuka, Sunday

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday called on African governments to make ICT investment friendly policies that would attract both foreign and local investments for the improvement and growth of the African digital ecosystem.

The Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta who made the call at the official opening of the 7th Annual Digital Africa Conference holding in Abuja, said, ICT friendly policies would not only create an economic friendly environment, but would spur investment inflow into the sector.

Prof. Dambatta who spoke through the Director, Research and

Development, NCC, Mrs. Iyabo Solanke said, formulating the right policies would also accelerate overall economic development of the African nations.

“It is considered highly expedient for African countries to formulate friendly policies that will produce the right environment capable of attracting the foreign and local investment into their ICT/telecoms sectors. This will enable African economies to build a desirable digital ecosystem that will accelerate overall economic development of the African nations,” he said.

The NCC boss added that African nations, must strive to reposition their various economies for digital prosperity and abundance to drive efficiency, productivity and create

jobs for the tsunami of their youth population to deploy their creative energy for African economic development.

“The theme of this year’s seventh edition of the conference which is: Africa’s Technology Renaissance: Positioning Africa for the Age of Abundance” is, in my view, an attempt by the organisers to broaden the scope of discussion which started during the sixth edition of the programme held in June 2018 with the theme: Africa’s Technology Renaissance.

“This conference also provides the Commission the privilege to share with you what we have been doing, as telecom regulator in Nigeria, towards driving digital transformation in the continent’s largest telecoms market.

“Globally, the telecommunications industry is witnessing a paradigm shift which Africa nations must be conscious of. Voice segment of the telecoms industry is gradually becoming saturated with demand for broadband services increasing by the day.

“Today, access to broadband services is transforming the way and manner we live, work and play in ways humanity has never witnessed before, be it in education, agriculture, healthcare, commerce, transportation, government and so on.

“This development, therefore, calls for appreciable level of consciousness and re-awakening by African nations to the tremendous benefits obtainable in technology L-R: Deputy Governor of Rivers, Mrs Ipalibo HaryBanigo; Gov. Nyesom Wike; Vice President of Turkish Airlines, Mr Kerem Sarp and other dignitaries at the inauguration of the arrival of the first Turkish Airline flight, at Port Harcourt International Airport, Umuagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, yesterday in Rivers. Photo: NAN

SORENID staff in a group photo graph with the beneficiaries.

MamaYe calls for accountability, transparency in health sector funding

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

M

amaYe Evidence 4 Action has called for accountability and transparency in health sector funding to cater for the needs of women and girls.

The Organisation made the call recently in Abuja, while marking its 2019 celebration.

Speaking at the programme themed; “Importance of Accountability in Health Care Service Delivery”, MamaYe Country Director, Dr. Tunde Segun expressed worry over the poor accountability system in the health sector.

He said there is need to step up accountability mechanism to cater for women and girls who need better health care service.

“We need to strengthen accountability mechanism in Nigeria.

It is not only the NGO, the media and the community that should be part.

The media should also get the right information and at the right time so that they will publish to alert that a particular service is needed in a particular place.

Every hand must be on deck to ensure that the Nigeria health sector in 2019 and beyond is successful and delivering universal health coverage and ensuring accountability and accessibility to effectively deliver on our mandate.”

While speaking on the need to increase funding for health sector to address various challenges, the Country Director also said there is need to support the openness of the system to ensure transparency.

“The need o track health budget is to ensure the money is judiciously put to use by the appropriate authorities.

It is also necessary to support the communities, CSO’s and the media to

ask questions so that the government can respond and provide service to them. At times what you see in the approved budget is not what comes to the health sector. Without tracking we won’t know how much was released to the government. So, accountability and transparency is necessary to know if the money was judiciously used for what it was meant for.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Gafar Alawode said the call for accountability is necessary in the system to support many people in need of health care.

He noted that thousands of women and children die on daily basis because the the poor accountability system kept the money in few pockets.

“All of us must participate and hold people to account. We must take charge and ensure that the health system works for the better.

Trainings on Financial Inclusion not endorsed by us - CBN, FISSCO From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and Financial Inclusion State Steering Committee (FISSCO) have disassociated themselves from financial inclusion trainings organized by some individuals alleged to be linked and working together with them.

This was contained in a press statement issued in Minna yesterday at the end of 2-day Stakeholders engagement and 2019 second quarter FISSCO meeting by Minna Branch Controller of CBN and Niger State

FISSCO Chairman, Malam Mas’ud Ibrahim Tulu.

Tulu stated that those individuals took advantage of the vulnerable and gullible populace to defraud innocent people of their money in the form of training fees and used the names of CBN and FIS to garner credibility for their devilish acts.

He warned that the Financial Inclusion Secretariat has not endorsed any outfit to conduct financial inclusion trainings either on its behalf if supposed partnership urging the publishing to be aware of the nefarious activities of

those outfits.

The statement added that Niger state FISSCO is targeted at 94,610 new accounts to be open for 2019 saying that the state has 38.1% financial exclusion rate in Nigeria hence strategies has been put in place to achieve the mandate as sensitization of all the 25 local governments in the state has commenced.

Tulu informed that that a 21 member team of local government Financial Inclusion Steering Committee (LOGFISCO) has been set up to be chaired by the Head of Administration

of each of the council as five corps members to be posted to local areas for the scheme.

He disclosed that the CBN programme is to create jobs, fight poverty and to improved the economic wellbeing of the citizens of Niger state by driven Financial Inclusion.

The Controller however charged on the people and Governments to key in to the CBN Development Finance Initiative, Agency Banking Platform, Digital Products, micro-pension and other financial products amongst others.

development,” he said.

Speaking further he said, “it is with this consciousness in mind that the NCC developed the regulatory and licensing framework to accelerate broadband availability, accessibility and affordability in Nigeria.

“Permit me to emphasise at this juncture that it is by no accident that we have made the facilitation of broadband penetration the flagship of the 8-Point Agenda of our administration. We have put a lot of effort in this direction, including auctions of frequency spectrum in some bands, and re-farming to optimise some. We have also licensed Infrastructure Companies (Infraco) across the six geo-political zones in the country. Lagos is carved out of the South-Western zone as the seventh zone considering its high commercial profile.

“The Infraco licensing is coming under the Open Access Model (OAM) initiative of the NCC aimed at deepening broadband infrastructure in the country. We believe that it is through robust telecoms infrastructure that Nigeria, as a country, can witness unhindered access to pervasive broadband services. As a result of this infrastructure development push and other regulatory interventions”.

He said Speaking in terms telecom industry to the nation’s GDP, he said, “we have improved the overall broadband penetration, with a remarkable 31.48% penetration as at December 2018, thus surpassing the Strategic National Broadband Plan, which prescribed penetration of 30% by end of 2018. As at April 2019, the broadband penetration stood at 33.70% compared with 8.50% penetration in 2015. In real figures, Nigeria has more than 64.3 million subscriptions on broadband services.

“The Nigeria’s telecom industry is making remarkable contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As at the 4th Quarter 2018, it contributed 9.85%. The figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that at the same 4th Quarter 2018, contributions of Telecommunications and Information Services to GDP stood at about N1.9 trillion. Total investments in the Nigerian telecom industry is also estimated at $70 billion.

Drug trafficking, FAAN to punish culpable staff From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Management of FAAN has caution staffs to expose drug traffickers passing through any of it airports across Nigeria warning that those found to have connive in perpetrating the illicit trade will face the music.

It said appropriate sanctions will be taken against any staff who helps traffickers tag their baggage in order to beat security checks.

General Manager public affairs at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu journalists in Lagos that the report

of the special task force set up by the managing director of FAAN to investigate the involvement of FAAN staff will determine the punishment to be meted out based on their involvement.

Yakubu said the agency was disturbed over allegation against some staff of the agency of their involvement at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in the Zanab Aliyu case last December, adding that the task force will submit its report soon.

She explained that the Kano airport incident ensure it to tighten security which has led to the agency

evolving means of curtailing future occurrence.

According to her, the agency has moved the operation of unaccompanied luggage to the newly created cargo section for proper tagging while comprehensive profiling of background passengers and baggage handlers have commenced.

Mrs. Yakubu disclosed that six sniffer dogs have also been deployed to the Kano airport, while more metal walk through screening detectors from entrance to terminal before boarding the aircraft have been installed.

She explained that the action was to ensure that no passenger

pass through the airport with drug adding that the agency has intensified surveillance on baggage handlings under aviation security supervision.

Mrs Yakubu explained that there has been an improvement of Close Circuit Television at the single interface desk to capture the area adding that FAAN was working hand in hand with NDLEA. The FAAN image maker further explained that it was the responsibility of the NDLEA to install drug detecting machines at airports not FAAN as stated by some individuals.

According to her, the Federal government has made

recommendation for additional sophisticated scanners to be brought in to the country to complement the existing ones, stressing that it will be installed as soon as it arrived and drugs will be detected.

She advised passengers not to assist anyone to carry any form of bag at the airport and to get to the airport two hours before boarding to avoid unnecessary pressure Yakubu who said that all agencies were working together for the good of the country, expressed delight that the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ has assisted in decongesting the terminal and brought sanity.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

METRO

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An accident scene involving two vehicles at NICON Junction, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Inclusive dev’t: FCTA assures equal opportunities for women

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has promised to provide the enabling environment for all women within the nation’s to succeed in their various fields of endavour.

FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa gave the assurance when the Social Development Secretariat (SDS) hosted De-lis Blackely, fecilitator of support for women and youth

in Africa, to a dinner in Abuja.

Ohaa said the administration runs an inclusive system that provides women with the same opportunity that any other person enjoy.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by a Director in his office, Mr. Udo Samuel Atang, explained that in line with the spirit of fairness most of the top positions at SDS are being occupied by women, not men.

“Here in FCT women have

the same opportunity with men; most of the directors at the social development secretariat are women, this show how keen we are about gender balance, the administration is committed to do more.

“There are other areas that the women have been given right to participate, we believe that involving more of them in scheme of activities will encourage them to do better.

Women contributions in time memorial cannot just be

jettison,” he said.

Ohaa said women history in all African countries and beyond show their outstanding contributions to the success of the society which they must be given the opportunity.

In her remarks, De-lis Blackely fondly known as ‘Queen mother Africa, urged the FCT Administration to always give women the necessary support to excel.

She stated that the future depends on what the female

especially the mothers have put in place.

“Women deserve equal opportunity in any given society, so that they can add value to what men do, therefore women must live the back seat and take the front seat,” she said.

The Queen mother of Africa called on the women to be agent of better society at all times irrespective of the situation that may arise, than compromising for reasons that would not bring meaningful development.

Gov’t moves against unwholesome practises in Karu abattoir, others

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n what seems as a subtle move against unwholesome practices in and around abattoirs in Abuja, the nation’s capital, authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have threatened to shutdown anyone facility involved in the menace.

In particular, the FCTA warned stakeholders that the government not tolerate practices that will portray abattoirs in a bad light, as it poses mortal dangers to people in the Territory.

Issuing this warning, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa said the Administration was concerned with activities that would ensure sanity, and make the Territory stand out as a nation’s capital in the eyes of Nigerians and foreigners at all times.

Ohaa, who when he led other senior officials of FCTA to inspect the abattoir in Karu under Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) decried the description of Karu abattoir as a place where evil is permissible.

According to him, the FCT

Administration was not going to accept acts of drugs and other crimes in any abattoir.

“We were alarmed by a newspaper ‘s report that Karu abattoir is where evil is permissible, so I have come with other senior officials of the FCTA to inspect the place and ascertain the reality of that report. But as we hear from the butchers, it is not as reported.

“This place is very clean and they are doing their normal business. The issue of drugs and prostitution, the administration will take further action on that,

base on the report available to us, we are going to work with security agencies and make sure that we raid this place with all kind of crimes” he said.

However, when asked on whether the abattoir will be closed, Ohaa said after interfacing with the management and workers who took his team round the slaughter facility, showed that nothing bad had been found about the place, as”the sanitary situation of the place is encouraging, nothing bad in this abattoir.”

On his part, the chairman of Karu abattoir, Malam

Magaji Kata, said there was no unwholesome practices or other nefarious activities inside the abattoir.

“Inside this abattoir there is no problem, the challenge we have around this place is from people that come in from neighbouring states with drugs.

“But we have been doing our best. Our regret is that, soldiers are behind the drug dealers.”

Kata urged the FCT Administration to put in place more measures that will provide adequate security for their activities and the customers.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

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world news

N international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

US-Iran crisis: Trump lashes out at ‘ignorant and insulting’ statement

D

onald Trump has lashed out at the “ignorant and insulting statement” released by Iran after the US president announced fresh sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation.

The tweets came after Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said the move proved the White House was “mentally retarded”.

Mr Trump said it showed Iran’s leaders “do not understand reality”.

He unveiled the sanctions on Monday, saying they were a response to recent “aggressive behaviour” by Iran.

The sanctions target a number of individuals, notably Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Mr Trump said was “ultimately responsible for the hostile conduct of the regime”.

The US has alleged Ayatollah Khamenei has access to vast wealth which helps fund the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRCG). In a 2018 op-ed, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested it was as much as $95bn (£75bn) and was “used as a slush fund for the IRGC”.

But Mr Rouhani questioned why the US would single out a man who he said only “owns a Hoseyniyyeh [prayer venue] and a simple house”, calling the sanctions “outrageous and idiotic”.

He also said it suggested the US is lying about wanting dialogue.

But Mr Trump said the only thing Iran understood was “strength and power, and the USA is by far the most powerful military force in the world”.

“Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force,” he added in a tweet.

“In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration.”

Who do the new sanctions target?

Some analysts said the sanctions were largely symbolic, although the US treasury department said the measures would lock up billions of dollars in assets.

Mr Trump said the measures would deny Ayatollah Khamenei, his office, and those closely affiliated with him, access to key financial resources and support.

The treasury also said it was also imposing sanctions on eight senior commanders of the IRGC’s navy, air force, and ground forces, including the head of an air force unit that the US said had ordered the shooting down of a US surveillance drone last week.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif - who was the country’s top negotiator on the nuclear deal - would be targeted later this week, it added.

Donald Trump signed an executive order for new sanctions against Iran on Monday How did tensions between the two countries escalate?

Tensions have increased steadily since May 2018, when Mr Trump abandoned the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, and began reinstating sanctions to force Iran

to renegotiate the accord.

Last month, Iran scaled back some its commitments under the deal, including on the amount of low enriched uranium it is allowed to stockpile, after Mr Trump ended exemptions from US secondary sanctions for countries still buying

Iranian oil.

On Tuesday - after Mr Trump’s tweets - Iran’s deputy foreign minister said “with attention to the promises that have not been carried out from the European side”, it had no reason left to carry out its nuclear deal commitments

unilaterally, Iran previously announced the stockpile limit would be breached on 27 June, and it plans to announce further reductions in its commitments on 7 July.

Tensions have manifested themselves in other ways, including the shooting down of the US drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it had violated its airspace; the US insisted it was over international waters.

The US has also accused Iran of being behind two sets of explosions that have damaged six oil tankers in the region, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes each day. Iran has rejected the allegation.

Despite this, Mr Trump insisted he was willing to start negotiations on a new nuclear accord that would also see Iran agree to curb its ballistic missile programme and end what he calls its “malign” activities in the Middle East.

“If they don’t want to, that’s fine too. But we would love to be able to. And, frankly, they might as well do it soon,” he said.

Jeremy Hunt: Next PM ‘must be trustworthy to avoid no Brexit’

J

eremy Hunt has said the next prime minister should be someone who is trustworthy, otherwise the UK risks a general election and no Brexit.

In an interview with the BBC, the foreign secretary said the ability to negotiate a new Brexit deal “is about the personality of the prime minister”.

“I do believe I can be trusted to deliver this deal,” he said.

Mr Hunt said he would leave the EU without a deal, but not if there was a “prospect of a better deal”.

He and Boris Johnson are competing to take over from Theresa May, with the winner of the contest due to enter Number 10 on 24 July.

‘Who, not how’ In an interview with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Hunt said he and Mr Johnson both wanted to change the Brexit deal negotiated

by Mrs May - and their aspirations for the substance of a new deal were similar.

But, he said: “The judgement is who is the person we trust as prime minister to go to Brussels and bring back that deal?

“If you choose someone where there is no trust, there’s going to be no negotiation, no deal and quite possibly a general election - which can mean we have no Brexit either.”

Mrs May’s deal has been rejected three times by MPs, but Mr Hunt said he believed that there was a better “deal to be done” with Brussels and he was the man to get it.

“We’ve had a lot of discussion

about how, but we need to have more of a discussion about who.”

When asked whether he was implying that rival Mr Johnson was untrustworthy, he said he would “never” make those comments about a colleague.

“No, I’m saying I am trustworthy and I believe that I can be trusted to deliver that deal,” he added.

He said if Mr Johnson became prime minister he would serve him to the “best of my ability” and he hoped Mr Johnson “would do the same as me”.

Mr Johnson told the BBC on Monday that anyone questioning his character was “talking absolute nonsense”.

At the moment the UK is leaving the EU on 31 October, after the date was twice extended from 29 March.

Mr Johnson has insisted he will leave by that date “deal or no deal” and challenged his opponent to do the same.

But Mr Hunt called the date a “fake deadline” that could “trip us into a general election and hand the keys to Jeremy Corbyn and we will have no Brexit at all”.

He said that while he was prepared to leave without a deal, he would not pursue a no-deal Brexit if there was “a prospect of a better deal” within reach.

“What Theresa May tried to do was a deal involving the backstop,” he said, referring to the controversial policy that aims to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

“I was in cabinet at the time and

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

I supported her loyally, but I never thought that was the right approach.

“What I’m talking about is a deal that doesn’t involve the backstop as it’s constituted, so it would be different.”

When asked how he would solve the issue of the Irish border without the backstop, he said he would pursue a “technology-led solution”.

He said he believed the government would “know very soon, well before 31 October” whether a new deal could be negotiated, and based on that, he would make a decision about whether or not to pursue no deal instead.

The EU has repeatedly said it will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement, and has rejected the idea that technology could overcome the potential Irish border issues.

Jeremy Hunt is the underdog in this race and where does he see an opportunity to change that? Well, by talking about character.

He knows very well that many Tory members, many MPs, many members of the public, have real doubts about whether or not Boris Johnson is suitable to take the reins at Number 10.

And although Mr Hunt tried very hard to deny it - he said he was not suggesting Mr Johnson was actually untrustworthy - it was very telling that he chose again and again to emphasise he is the one to trust - and only if someone you can trust is in charge is there a possibility of getting a revised Brexit deal.

He clearly is determined to push

and push again at the doubts that are in some people’s minds about the suitability, the temperament and the character of the frontrunner in this race.

Clearly, they are very different political characters - one the showman, one wanting to pitch himself as the steady hand.

But it’s also important to understand we should not let that mask the fact that there isn’t a vast amount of difference between what they are both promising on the EU. And both men’s proposals for how they get us out of the Brexit mess are based on suggestions the European Union has turned down on many occasions.

Mr Hunt also set out his policy on social care in the interview, suggesting a system of automatic contributions towards costs where people are rewarded for “doing the right thing”.

He said councils did need more money for social care and people wanted to know that as they get older “they’re going to be properly looked after”.

“So I think there is a bit of public money, but it’s also about personal responsibility,” he said.

“I think we should be a country where people save for their social care costs, particularly those last few months, possibly years, of their life when things can be very uncomfortable, very painful, just in the same way they save for their pension.

Source: BBC

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Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed weeps for general killed in ‘coup bid’

E

thiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been seen weeping at a memorial for the army chief of staff who was shot dead in an alleged coup attempt on Saturday.

Gen Seare Mekonnen was reportedly assassinated by his bodyguard as part of a plot to seize power in the northern region of Amhara.

Officials say the bodyguard is being treated for his injuries, contradicting an earlier claim that he was dead.

The alleged ringleader of the coup was shot dead on Monday, police said.

Brig-Gen Asaminew Tsige was reportedly killed as he tried to escape from his hideout in Amhara’s capital, Bahir Dar. The internet has been shut across Ethiopia, after a brief resumption in service that followed an unexplained blackout lasting more than a week.

Tuesday’s memorial service took place at a large venue in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, amid tight security.

Mourners paid their respects before flag-draped coffins bearing the bodies of Gen Seare and Gen Gezai Abera, who was assassinated with him.

Mr Abiy was filmed wiping away his tears while soldiers eulogised the dead men.

Many of the people at the memorial were weeping openly In a statement on state media on Monday evening, Ethiopian federal police apologised for having earlier said that the alleged assassin, Gen Seare’s bodyguard, had killed

himself.

The latest statement from the police said the bodyguard, who has not been named, was being treated for gunshot wounds in hospital. It is not clear if the injuries were selfinflicted.

Emotional scenes at memorial This has been a sombre ceremony full of religious and military symbolism. Priests from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led the prayers, chanting hymns for the dead. The top brass of Ethiopia’s military would later line up, one by one, as they saluted in front of the caskets of the killed generals.

Prime Minister Abiy wept throughout the ceremony, his head in his hands. As one general broke down while paying his tributes, Mr Abiy reached out to embrace President Sahle-Work Zewde. Both were in tears. There were tributes from Gen Seare’s son and his colleagues, who all described him as a loyal servant.

Hundreds of people turned up from early morning. The majority were locked out with no space to accommodate them in the hall.

After the memorial, Gen Seare’s coffin, draped in the Ethiopian flag, was flown to his birthplace in the northern region of Tigray for burial.

The attack on Gen Seare and Gen Gezai on Saturday came hours after gunmen in Bahir Dar killed the governor of Amhara, Ambachew Mekonnen, along with two senior officials.

The government described the events as a co-ordinated attempt to seize power in the northern region.

State officials told local television on

The memorial was held under tight security in Addis Ababa Monday that Brig-Gen Asaminew had been present at the killing of the governor.

What has been the response to the alleged coup attempt Mr Abiy has urged Ethiopians to unite against “evil” forces set on dividing the country.

The weekend’s assassinations represent the biggest challenge yet to his year-old government, which has undertaken sweeping reforms to the security apparatus.

The BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza says there is clearly still significant opposition within the military to the prime minister’s style of leadership.

The US, a key ally, has condemned the unrest, saying it was

probably linked to “vestiges of the old regime” unhappy with Mr Abiy’s reforms.

Why did the alleged coup take place?

While details are still unclear, news of Gen Asaminew’s alleged bid for power was not a surprise for some Ethiopians.

He was a member of the Amhara, the country’s second largest ethic group. He had a reputation for hardline ethnic nationalism and had previously called for the Amhara people to have greater autonomy.

This month, in a video on social media, he openly advised the Amhara to arm themselves. He had been serving as Amhara’s regional

security chief and was said to have a significant following among young people.

He was among a group of highranking military officers released from prison early last year when the government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure.

The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup.

Gen Asaminew also had a bad relationship with the regional government of neighbouring Tigray province. The government claimed that Gen Seare and Gen Abera had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group.

Aliou Sall, Senegal president’s brother, resigns post amid corruption claim

Aliou Sall has denied any wrongdoing

T

he brother of Senegal’s president has resigned as head of a state-run savings fund after the BBC named him in a report over alleged corruption.

The report alleged that Aliou Sall was secretly paid $250,000 (£196,300) in 2014 by a gas company that sold its shares in

Senegalese gas fields to BP. Mr Sall has denied the claims, calling them part of a campaign to make him “public enemy number one”.

Senegal’s attorney general said an investigation had been launched.

“This unfortunate

controversy is based only on untruths,” Mr Sall said in a statement on Monday.

He had directed Senegal’s Caisse des Depots et Consignations, or CDC fund, since September 2017.

In 2012, Senegal’s then government awarded exploration rights for two offshore oil and gas fields to Petro-Tim. The firm was part of Timis Corporation, run by Romanian-Australian business tycoon Frank Timis.

The company had no previous experience of oil and gas exploration and an investigation - ordered by President Macky Sall after he took office - concluded that Petro-Tim should lose its concessions. President Sall still pushed the deal ahead, leading to protests in Senegal.

According to the BBC investigation, his brother was later hired by Timis Corporation and paid $1.5m (£1.18m) over

five years. Aliou Sall was also promised shares in some of Mr Timis’s companies which were worth $3m.

When gas was discovered in the two fields in 2016, BP agreed to pay between $9bn (£7.06bn) and $12bn in royalties to Timis Corporation for its stake, over a 40-year period.

The BBC investigation said documents showed BP was aware of Timis Corporation’s $1.5m payments to the president’s brother, and went ahead with the deal anyway.

Records also allegedly show that, in 2017, an offshore trust owned by Frank Timis secretly paid $250,000 (£196,000) to a company owned by Aliou Sall, which it said was for “tax due to the Senegalese government”.

BP said it had conducted extensive due diligence and that figures published by the BBC were inaccurate. Mr Timis has

also denied any wrongdoing.

There have been protests in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, against the deal President Sall has weighed in on the affair, calling the accusations an attempt to destabilise the country.

His brother had already stepped down in October 2016 from his post at Timis Corporation after facing criticism of a possible conflict of interest.

The report has dominated the country’s media and prompted protests in the capital, Dakar.

Political opponents and civil society groups have demanded “transparency” in contracts related to gas and oil exploration in Senegal.

One MP, Aymérou Gning, has told local media that a parliamentary inquiry could be opened.

Source: BBC

PAGE 24

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

Israel-Palestinian conflict: Kushner says peace can bring prosperity

D

onald Trump’s son-inlaw and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, has set out an economic plan that he says offers the Palestinians a “more prosperous future” if they agree a peace deal with Israel.

He described the proposals, which envisage $50bn (£39bn) being invested in the region over 10 years, as “the opportunity of the century”.

Mr Kushner was speaking at the start of a two-day “workshop” in Bahrain.

Palestinian leaders have rejected the plan and are boycotting the event.

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has insisted that, before anything else, there has to be a political agreement.

Mr Trump is not expected to release the political part of his peace plan until possibly November, once Israel holds a general election.

What did Jared Kushner say?

He opened his speech by warning the Palestinian people that they had been “trapped in an inefficient framework of the past”. The White House’s economic plan - dubbed “Peace to Prosperity” - offered them “a modern framework for a brighter and more prosperous future”, he said.

Mr Kushner, addressing Palestinians, stressed that President Trump and the US had “not given up you”, and that economic growth and prosperity was not possible without an “enduring and fair political solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“However, today is not about the political issues. We’ll get to those at the right time. The goal of this workshop is to begin thinking about these challenges in a new way.

“Let’s try to view this conflict and the potential of the entire

region through a different lens and work together to develop a concrete plan to try to achieve it.”

EPA Palestinian economic woes • 0%real GDP growth in 2018 • 31%unemployment rate • 67%of youths in Gaza are unemployed • 24%of Palestinians live below the $5.50 a day PPP poverty line • 70-80%of Gaza’s GDP comes from aid or the Palestinian Authority Source: World Bank Mr Kushner also dismissed critics who he said mockingly referred to his plan as “the deal of the century” - a reference to President Trump’s desire to secure what he has called the “ultimate deal”.

“At its core, it is not just about making a deal,” he said. “In fact, this effort is better referred to as ‘the opportunity of the century’ if leadership has the courage to pursue it.”

What does the US economic plan propose?

It envisages donor countries and investors contributing $50bn for a newly created fund administered by a development bank. About $27.5bn would go to projects in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip - areas the Palestinians want for an independent state - while the rest would go to Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

The projects would seek to “unleash the economic potential of the Palestinians” by: • Opening up the West Bank and Gaza to regional and global markets. One proposal is for a $5bn transportation corridor for Palestinians directly connecting the territories that would include a major road and possibly a rail line • Upgrading and constructing essential electricity, water and telecommunications

U

weather and unauthorised drone activities”.

“Members of the public are reminded that the authorities take a serious view of errant operations of unmanned aircraft which may pose threats to aviation or endanger the personal safety of others,” the statement said.

The agency said investigations are “ongoing”.

CAAS also said offenders could face fines of up to $20,000 Singapore dollars ($14,780; £11,596) or 12 months in prison.

It marked the second time in a week that flights at the Singapore airport - a major international transit hub - had been disrupted by drone activity.

Last Wednesday, CASS said 37

PROPERTY

Poll finds lack of knowledge among landlords on lettings sector reforms

M

Mahmoud Abbas said he was certain the Manama workshop would not be successful infrastructure to increase capacity and improve efficiency, such as by supporting the conversion of the Gaza Power Plant from diesel fuel to natural gas • Promoting private-sector growth in entrepreneurship, small businesses, tourism, agriculture, housing, manufacturing and natural resources • Strengthening regional development and integration by boosting the economies of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon and reducing trade barriers The aims of the plan are to more than double Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP) within 10 years; create one million jobs; bring down the unemployment rate to nearly single digits and reduce the poverty rate by 50%.

Palestinian unemployment rate (%) Individuals aged 15 years and above Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Who is in Manama?

The US delegation is being

led by Mr Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Mr Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt.

The finance ministers of several US-allied Gulf Arab states are also attending, along with International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and World Bank president David Malpass.

Jordan and Egypt have sent less senior officials, while Lebanon and Iraq said they would not participate in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The US did not invite any Israeli officials because of the Palestinians’ absence.

What do the Palestinians say?

The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, cut off diplomatic contacts with the US in late 2017 after Mr Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy to the city from Tel Aviv.

Mahmoud Abbas said he was certain the Manama workshop

would not be successful Since then, the US has ended both bilateral aid for Palestinians and contributions for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The Palestinian Authority has also reacted angrily to recent suggestions that the US peace plan would not be based on the so-called “two-state solution” the international community’s shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent state of Palestine within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel.

President Abbas asserted that the Manama workshop would not be successful.

The US says it wants to “unleash the economic potential of the Palestinians” “We will not be slaves or servants for Greenblatt, Kushner and [US ambassador to Israel David] Friedman,” he told foreign journalists in Ramallah.

Changi Airport: Drones disrupt flights in Singapore nauthorised drone flying has prompted disruptions at Singapore’s Changi Airport for the second time in a week.

The country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS) said 18 flights had been delayed, and seven flights diverted due to drones and bad weather.

Last week, one runway was suspended at Changi and dozens of flights delayed after drone sightings.

Airports around the world face growing security concerns as drone use becomes more common.

In a statement on Tuesday, CAAS said: “15 departures and 3 arrivals were delayed and 7 flights were diverted due to bad

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

flights were delayed and one flight was diverted after “confirmed

sightings of drone flying in the vicinity of Changi Airport”.

Singapore’s Changi Airport is a major transit hub An increase in drone flying has become a growing security concern for airports all over the world.

Drone sightings caused travel chaos at Gatwick airport in December, with about 140,000 passengers caught up in the disruption.

The runway at the UK’s second busiest airport was closed for 33 hours over three days - causing about 1,000 flights to be cancelled or delayed.

The incident prompted Gatwick and Heathrow airports to spend millions of pounds on antidrone technology.

Source: BBC

any landlords in the UK are struggling to keep pace with new legislative and regulatory reforms that have been introduced in the past year, according to an independent survey.

Some 30% do not understand the changes to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing, which came into effect in October 2018 and 28% are not aware of the abolition of Section 21, which came into force at the start of June 2019 to prevent unfair tenant evictions.

The survey commissioned by bridging lender Market Financial Solutions, also found that 27% are uncertain about the tenant fees ban, with a further 19% saying they understand the reform but are unsure how it will affect them.

When it some to tax, there was also significant confusion, with the poll showing that 28% do not understand the reforms to inheritance tax that have changed the tax free allowance on properties being passed down and 25% do not know about the reforms affecting tax relief on mortgage repayments, which were implemented in April this year.

The research also found that far more landlords opposed these reforms than supported them. Some 44% are against the banning of letting fees, compared to 23% in favour, 37% against the abolition of Section 21 with 16% in favour, while 48% are against changes to buy to let mortgage relief and 16% for.

‘The legislation and regulation governing the UK’s rental market is constantly evolving, and today’s research clearly shows that landlords are struggling to keep pace with the change. From HMO regulations to the abolition of Section 21, these are significant reforms that, for the most part, are rightly designed to protect tenants,’ said Paresh Raja, chief executive officer of MFS. ‘Nevertheless, there’s evidently frustration among landlords who feel they are being unfairly targeted, particularly when it comes to the stricter taxes being introduced. It’s essential that anyone renting out a property, even if they would not consider themselves a landlord, understands all the new reforms and takes action to ensure their properties meet the necessary standards and their finances are structured in line with the new reforms,’ he added.

Source property wire

Page 25

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

COREN accredits 16 engineering courses ,approves 1,146 engineers

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Council for the Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), yesterday said it accredited 16 engineering courses in six universities across the country.

The organisation also said it approved the registration of six engineering consulting firms, 1,146 engineers, 172 technologists, eight engineering technicians and 26 engineering craftsmen in the second quarter of 2019.

The President of COREN, Engr. Ali Rabiu, made the disclosure in Abuja at the end of the 162nd Ordinary Meeting of COREN. Rabiu said that of the 16 programmes considered in six universities in the country, eight were given full accreditation while the

others were granted interim accreditation.

He said that interim accreditation was granted to institutions commencing the various programme with a view to undergo another stage of accreditation before graduating the first set of students.

He said that none of the institutions was denied accreditation but added that the council had resolved at the meeting to resume its post accreditation visit to universities.

Rabiu said that the challenge of having more engineers than technicians in the country was an area of concern to COREN and the entire engineering family in the country.

He said the council was still discussing with state governments to revive technical colleges in the country with a view to adopt and maintain global standards of having more

technicians than engineers.

Similarly, he noted that the council has also resolved to bring informal sector on board; Builders and Construction Skilled Artisans Association of Nigeria (BACSAAN), to join the engineering family. “We have directed the National Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) to find a way to register them, even though they are not certified because they are in the informal sector and we known that all over the world today, there is less emphasis on certificate but what one can bring to the table is what matters the most.

“When they are inducted into the engineering family, we can improve on their skills and add them to the development of country to boost a better Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The-engineering-drawing-Stock-Photo

Between Buhari govt and PDP (3)

Cont. from page 32

instead of suppressing it at the bud, the past administration turned it into a corruption conduit. This to the death, displacement of communities from almost 17 LGA’s and continued hostage taking of innocent Nigerians while billions of Dollar allocated to suppress the insurgency were been shared by the same people whose responsibility it was to protect us.

This was the situation inherited and time was not wasted in putting things on ground to start the process of revival and reconstruction of all dilapidated infrastructures.

Turning Government business into corruption conduit is another fight the APC-led government engaged massively. The process of doing business changed as soon and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) was fully enforced thereby making it difficult for anyone to take public monies illegally. This angered so many people who tried to ensure that President Buhari is not returned elected in the 2019 general elections, but they failed because Nigerians know better.

The BVN ( Bank Verification Number) policy was equally fully implemented which made it difficult for corrupt individuals and looters of our resources to have a safe haven.

They have no hiding place anymore. As a result of this, several

prosecutions of corrupt individuals were concluded and a lot more ongoing. This has led to the recovery and forfeiture of huge sums of monies stolen by corrupt individuals and past leaders.

These recovered monies we have put to good use (through funding of the budget) in the interest of the entire country.

Together with monies we recently borrowed, we have been able to commence the rapid construction of road network across the country leaving no geopolitical zone out. For the first time in over 28 years, Nigerians could once again be proud of railway transport system. We are all witness to the massive ongoing construction across the country (Lagos-Ibadan-Kaduna-Kano, Itakpe-Warri, among others).

The Anchor Borrowers Programme was created to ease business for the farmers and the response and outcome has been magnificent. Farmers in group now find it easy to access capital and raw materials: seeds and seedling included at very low interest rate.

The MarketMoni and TraderMoni programmes have provided small capital to traders (market women and men).

Currently above 300,000 traders have benefited from the first stage of the program and several others will soon benefit too.

In keeping with the campaign promises before the 2015

elections on provision of social welfare package for the poorest among us, the payment of N5,000 Conditional Cash Transfer was commenced to identified recipients in states that were picked to kick start the programme. This is to be expanded to all the state of the federation.

Bold steps were taken to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production and we are about to reach the targeted goal. Nigeria is now closer to becoming self-sufficient in rice production with our annual production capacities increased. The rice industries in our erstwhile major supply countries have witnessed decline in export rate because Nigeria has stopped patronizing them.

The question we ought to ask today is not about the competence or lack of competence of the administration of President Buhari, but what had been happening in other administrations before him that make the task of re-orienting and developing Nigeria such a herculean one. Our level of aspersion to changes only reveals the level of our alienation from real developments and change since our return to democratic governance in 1999.

The competency of all PDP governments since 1999 should be queried instead.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Concluded.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, June 26, 2019

26

feature

CLASSIFIED

Nupe Day and its prospects to the diaspora From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

N

upe Foundation (Ninibo Nupe) is a socio-cultural organization of Nupespeaking people of Niger, Kwara, Kogi States and the FCT as well as the diasporas with its headquarters in Bida.

The Foundation was formed in (2009) to among other things, provide a platform for all Nupe-speaking people to connect, unite and push to the global stage the affairs of the Nupe people.

The Foundation is governed through various advisory, non executive and executive structures namely: Patrons, Elders’ Council, Board of trustees and Executive council made up of prominent sons and daughters of KinNupe.

More so, the Foundation has various committees that are saddled with different responsibilities. Such committees include: Agriculture, Political, Socio-cultural, Economic, Education and Security to enhance effective and efficient performance.

One of the key activities of the Foundation is the organization of an annual Nupe Day celebration which was started since 26th June, 2009. This annual event offers the Foundation, with strong support of the Etsu Nupe and other Etsus as the Grand patron and patrons respectively. It is a huge opportunity to showcase the various aspects of Nupe culture and the economic potentials of the Kingdom.

The annual event bring to Nupe land especially to the ancient City of Nupe Kingdom Bida numbers of her sons and daughters as well as guests from within and outside the country.

It is one event the Foundation has used to a very great deal to achieve one of its cardinal objectives of fostering unity among the Nupes and providing catalyst for general development of the people.

Another key objective of the Foundation is to draw investors to different parts of Nupe land to invest in Agriculture and other numerous solid minerals that are abound in Nupe land.

Furtherance to that is using different fora to attract development to the great kingdom of Nupe. The Foundation’s leadership has continued to pressure the State and Federal Government to pay attention to the exploration of the rich natural resources the land is endowed with.

Chief among the issues on the list of the Foundation’s demands with the Federal Government is the call for the Dredging and utilization of Baro Port and Exploration of petroleum products among others. The Foundation believes that the accomplishment of these all important projects will draw a lot of economic benefits not just to Nupeland but the State and the country at large.

It would be recalled that the Foundation has also been in the forefront in the call towards the State and the Federal Governments to the dilapidated infrastructure in the State.

Not to forget that the 26th Day of June every year which is “Nupe Day Festival and Cultural Celebration” is a brain child of the resolution by elders of Nupe land under the leadership of His Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe/and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar (CFR) that the date be set aside to be marked for celebration

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TRADERS & ARTISAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION BENIN CITY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS : (1)ORIGINAL OFFER LETTER FOR PLOT NO.A135 MEASURING 1500SQM LOCATED IN KARU VILLAGE EXTENSION LAYOUT. (2)ORIGINAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF REGULARIZATION FROM AGIS FOR PLOT NO.A135 AND FILE NO.AN54688.(3)ORIGINAL OFFER LETTER FOR PLOT NO.A136 MEASURING ABOUT 1500SQM LOCATED IN KARU VILLAGE EXTENSION LAYOUT.(4) ORIGINAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF REGULARIZATION FROM AGIS FOR PLOT NO.A136 AND FILE NO.AN54687, ISSUED TO MR KEN.O.MOORE.(5) DEED OF ASSIGNMENT TRANFERING OWNERSHIP OF PLOT A135 FROM KEN.O.MOORE TO MR SOLOMON YAKUBU MSHELBWALA(6) ORIGINAL COPY OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY DONATED TO MR SOLOMON YAKUBU MSHELBWALA IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO.A135 BY MR KEN.O.MOORE. (7)ORIGINAL OF THE DEED OF ASSIGNMENT TRANSFERRING THE OWNERSHIP OF PLOT 136 FROM MR KEN.O.MOORE TO MR SOLOMON YAKUBU MSHELBWALA.(8)ORIGINAL OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY DONATED TO MR SOLOMON YAKUBU MSHELBWALA OF PLOT NO.A136 BY MR KEN.O.MOORE.GOT MISSING. ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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If found please returned to the nearest police station, AGIS at No. 4, Peace Drive CBD, Abuja or any Polaris Bank LTD branch. All authority concerned and general public take note.

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ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA ENTREPRENEURSHIP TEACHERS AND LECTURERS

COOKING GAS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION EBONYI STATE

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. OHIZU COLLINS NNANNA (chairman) 2. KESHI LAWRENCE.(SECRETARY) 3. OJO JOHN OTAMERE. 4. IGHOMARO MOSES ARIAWHORA. 5. ENEMUO OBED EJIKEME. 6. NNAKWE MICHEAL NDIDI. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO cater for welfare of members.

by all sons and daughters of Nupe extractions as this cut across Niger, Kogi, Kwara States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja as well as those residing elsewhere within and outside the country.

Apparently, both oral and written histories have it on records that it was on 26th June, 1896 about 116 years ago that the Nupe Calvary had the first encounter and resisted British Colonial Army who were on expedition of some African countries for political and economic explorations.

Accordingly, the events took place at Ogidi town in the present Kogi state of North Central Nigeria during the reign of the 4th Emir of Nupe, Etsu Bubakar (Abubakar) who impeded and frustrated the efforts of the British Army in the entire area of what today is known as Northern Nigeria which was then under Sokoto Caliphate of Usman Dan-Fodio.

The whole idea of marking the date annually can therefore be attributed to the agility, graveness and courage demonstrated by the Nupes against the colonial forces on that historic day and more importantly the event is seen by many as an instrument for strengthening the already existing unity among Nupes, hence its aimed at promoting cultural identity among decedents of Tsoede across the world.

In spite of all that the Foundation has done and is still doing, Nupe foundation still hopes to continue its push towards attainment of a State for KinNupe.

Also, the Foundation aspires to continue to provide avenues for showcasing the economic potentials of Nupeland with a view to attracting investors.

Through its ambitious ICT drive, the Foundation in 2016 launched the ground breaking ceremony for KinNupe ICT Centres across all the LGAs in Nupeland. The intention is to provide ICT infrastructure for educational advancement as well as research purposes of Nupe communities.

The Foundation hopes to create an educational fund from where it can be able to sponsor sons and daughters of KinNupe in science, technology and Humanities Courses in the near future.

Consequently, the Chairman of Niger state traditional Council and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has said the Annual Nupe Day celebration for 2019 would focus solely on prayers in mosques and churches in Nupe speaking areas of Niger, Kogi and Kwara States as part of its contribution to reduce the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued to the media by the royal father who disclosed that prayers solve all problems, adding that the

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.

Etsu Nupe, Dr, Yahaya Abubakar rising cases of insecurity required prayers by all Nigerians.

“So in our own little contribution to the ongoing fight to curb insecurity in the country and rebuilding the nation’s economy, this year’s Annual Nupe Day will solely focus on prayers by all sons and daughters of Nupe all over the world,” he explained.

The 2019 edition would be the 11th in the series of celebration since the idea was muted by the organizers.

He said the prayers would be offered in all the mosques by the Muslims on Friday, 21st June, while those of the Christian faith would do the same in all the churches on Sunday, 23rd June respectively.

According to him, the prayers would also be offered for the country’s leadership at the local, state and federal level during the occasion so that God would give them the wisdom and enablement to move their respective states and country on the path of growth and development.

He urged all Nupe sons and daughters to join in the prayers anywhere they are in the

“

Apparently, both oral and written histories have it on records that it was on 26th June, 1896 about 116 years ago that the Nupe Calvary had the first encounter and resisted British Colonial Army who were on expedition of some African countries for political and economic explorations.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

country.

He said the climax of the event would be media chat with journalists at the Wadata Palace in Bida, the headquarters of the Nupe kingdom on Wednesday, 26th June which is the actual Nupe Day. The annual event is celebrated with different kind of activities which includes; lecture series on topical matters concerning Nupe history, culture and development, Ninibo Nupe (Nupe Foundation) Merit awards, Face of Nupe that identified an individual that personified Nupe race.

Also, Agriculture exhibition to promote Nupe land, Nupe Turf showcasing the gallantry and sportsmanship of horse riders, turbaning of deserving individuals with traditional titles

by Etsu Nupe.

Others are boat regatta showcasing the ingenuity in canoe race and adversity of culture in Riverine Nupe communities as well as fishing festival to mark the date of 26th June annually by Nupe speaking people of Nigeria.

This according to the elders of Nupe Kingdom was aimed at achieving some objectives like to be the vehicle for actively promotion of the tourist attraction, to showcase Nupe land as safe and secured destination for tourism especially domestic tourism, to also educate and inform the world of the rich culture, history and modernity.

Other objectives include showcasing the tradition of Africa Festival of music, dance and arts, to celebrate the individuals and unity of Nupe people and also to celebrate the role of Nupe Day Festival as the unifier of Nupe people.

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. MR. PASCHAL NWOKOCHA 2. MRS. UGO EKO NWOKOCHA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO SUPPORT THE NEEDY AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN AVUTU, OBOWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IMO STATE. 2. TO SUPPORT THE WIDOWS AND HELP THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN GENERALLY THROUGH SKILL ACQUISITION OF SKILLS. 3. TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOL, SUCH AS DEBATES, DRAMAS, QUIZZES AND ANY OTHER INTER-SCHOOL COMPETITION 4. TO PROVIDE HEALTH RELATED ASSISTANCE AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE NEEDY AND 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 : BEN OBAJI ESQ. SOLICITOR 08052101992.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. SANI BASHIR YOLA

- CHAIRMAN 2. FATIMA UMAR SUNUSI 3. HAMZA ADAMU MUHAMMAD 4. SANUSI GIDADO MUHAMMAD 5. MUHAMMAD ABDULLAHI ADO 6. ADAMU SULE MOHAMMED 7. MUHAMMAD SANUSI MAGAJI - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : i. To provide a platform for sharing teaching strategies and learning issues in entrepreneurship. ii. To strengthen the capacities of members to deliver evidence based teaching and research. iii. To facilitate professional development of members to meet the demand for skills necessary for self reliance.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. JUDE CHUKWUEMEKA ANI -- CHAIRMAN 2. ITUMO FELIX OGBONNA -- SECRETARY 3. NWEKE AMAECHI STEPHEN -- TREASURER 4. ENYA NWACHI MICHAEL -- PATRON 5. NWACHI IDUME -- MEMBER 6. IBE JAMES IFEANYI OGBONNA -- MEMBER 7. EZEUGWU CHARLES CHIDUBEM -- MEMBER 8. NKWO ONYEKACHI SAMUEL -- VICE CHAIRMAN 9. DAVID UCHE -- MEMBER 10. UKACHI UCHENNA MICHAEL -- MEMBER 11. OMABA FRANKLIN OKEREKE -- MEMBER 12. NWABE JAMES . C. -- MEMBER THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST AND 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.

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LAWANI ODE CENTRAL MOSQUE

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.CHRIS OSITA MBAMALU - CHAIRMAN 2.ADEYEMI FASILAT ADEDEJI - MEMBER 3.OBIORA EJIKEME NWAGBO NNADIRI - MEMBER 4.MIRIAM OGHENETEGA AGAJE - SECRETARY 5.JOSHUA MOSES MATIMINU - MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.To exist as a Non- Governmental Organization carrying out charitable works throughout Nigeria.

2.To operate care homes for destitute people and cater for their basic needs.

3.To organise trainings, seminars and conferences targeted at empowerment of people to enable them to earn a living through skill acquisition.

4.To rehabilitate street children and wanderers and provide them with basic welfare and education which will empower then to be successful in life.

5.To empower Nigerian youths through the provision of scholarships, skills acquisition, vocational trainings, etc for indigent youths.

6.To promote, campaign and encourage youths to work hard and take charge of their own lives, through provision of counselling, psychological and financial empowerment and leadership trainings etc.

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 : a. OYERINDE YISA OLAREWAJU- chairman b. MOHAMMED IBRAHIM OLANREWAJU c. ADEGOKE ABASS ADEREMI d. LAWAL ISA AREMU e. ADEYEMI OLABODE GANIU- Secretary f. ALABEDE TAWA g. LAWAL SHAKIRU AKANJI h. ALANI MUKAILA I. EJIWUNMI HASSAN ATOYEBI 3. REGISTERED ADDRESS: NO. 1, ALHAJI ADEGOKE STREET, LAWANI- ODE, OKE-OKO, NEW LONDON, BARUWA- IPAJA, ALIMOSHO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To propagate the gospel of Islam.

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: OCHUMA EJIGA BENJAMIN ESQ. 07055529276

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Women’s Preventive Health Initiative

Ifere-Ogban medical foundation for children

HEAVEN ABOUND CHRISTIAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY CAC/IT/NO 48904

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALHAJI YAKUBU GARBA GOBIR 2. HAJIYA BILKISU GOBIR

- CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO CARE FOR THE NEEDY IN THE SOCIETY. 2.TO PROVIDE FREE INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY EIGHT DAYS 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. Udoukpong Albert Uduak.

2. Ngim Ngim Ewezu.

3. Mfon NSE Udo. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To assist poor and vulnerable women with medical relief materials.

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. Prof Godwin Okoi Ifere 2. Dr Obal Adiaha Otu 3. Eric Onokif Ifere 4. Mrs Helen Okoi Ifere 5. Mrs Amaka Onen -Ifere 6. Dr Imaji Kanu Agabi 7.. Mr Francis Oka Ifere 8. Dr Michael Okoi Ifere 9. Mr. Eno Jonah Williams THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. Out patient Medical services to only children.

2. For the relief of sickness and pursuance of free health care services in children below the ages of 18.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : By Barr Queency Patrick.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IFEANYI CHARLES OGUDE - APPOINTED 2. PASTOR IFEANYI OGUDE - RETAINED 3. ZENEBU OGUDE - RETAINED 4. EDWARD AKPATI OGUDE - RETAINED 5. COLLINS OVILI - RETAINED 6. UZOMA OGOCHUKWU HELEN - RETAINED 7. IFEANYI CHARLES OGUDE - RETAINED 8. BISHOP SUNNY IKIEDEMHE - REMOVED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PAGE 28

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

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JESUS PRAGMATICAL HEALING & DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

HELP EVE REACH FOUNDATION

GOD’S WAY CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF 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. MRS. NWOKOLO, FRANCA - CHAIRMAN 2. MR. NWOKOLO, ALPHONUS 3. MR. NWOKOLO, IFEANYI SAMUEL - SECRETARY 4. MR. OKEKE, SUNDAY NWABUFO.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Lois Asabe Saratu Hamman - President 2. Omeresan Ebun Hamman 3. Motunrayo Oluyemisi Adodo 4. Balafama Ibifirin Gideon Halliday - Secretary THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. The object is basically to carry out informal education/ training/personal development programmes for uneducated women.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 2.TO ASSIST 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 : BARR C. N UDENGWU 08039302589.

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF MISSIONARIES IN NIGERIA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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. OSCAR AMAECHINA SUNDAY - PRESIDENT 2. YUSUF EMMANUEL 3. AMAECHINA JOSEPHINE IDEH 4. ANYATA OGBA JULIET - SECRETARY 5. CHIBUZOR EDEH SUNDAY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : i. To unite all the missioneries in Nigeria ii. To promote the gospel and carry out the mandate of the great commission. iii. To give grant to missionaries in African especially Nigeria.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : ANYATA OGBA JULIET 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. FEHINTOLA GBENGA MICHEAL - CHAIRMAN 2. FEHINTOLA SHINA EMMANUEL 3. ONASANYA RASHIDAT OLABISI 4. ONASANYA SUNDAY ABIODUN - SECREYARY 5. OLAOYE ADEBOWALE JOSEPH .

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. 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 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : BARR OPAOLA OLUWAGBEMIGA.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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ATTAISIR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

ASSOCIATION OF LEADERS AND POLICY PROFESSIONALS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) SALIHU MUHAMMAD YAKUBU - (2) ABDULMAJID MUHAMMAD UMAR - (3) NASIR ABUBAKAR SALIHU

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : (1) To educate and promote the rehabilitation of vulnerable children (2) To promote and develop concept of arbitration and mediation (3) To embrace finding solutions to societal challenges.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE COUNTY APARTMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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SAROY HEALTH AND WELFARE FOUNDATION

HEALTH EDUCATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY INITIATIVE

YOUTH SKILL ACQUISITION SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

SAROY HEALTH AND WELFARE 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. Ninka Agim Takon- CHAIRPERSON 2. Ndodeye Bassey Obongha- SECRETARY 3. Augustine Mbang Obongha THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To promote and safeguard girls' and women's rights; 2. To empower women through education, capacity-building, entrepreneurial and leadership training; 3. To promote the welfare of the aged, orphans, widows, persons living with disability and other vulnerable groups; 4. To promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and women..

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 general public is hereby notified that the above named Organisation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGN: TRUSTEES

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO ASSIST LESS PREVILEGED UPON REQUEST IN STRENGTHENING HEALTH SERVICES. 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.

Eagles shun press conference protest over unpaid allowances ahead of today’s clash

2.Develop contemporary knowledge through research.

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.

MATANMI OF ODOGBOLU FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. OYEWOLE SARIYU BUKOLA - PRESIDENT 2. ADEBAYO RISIKAT ADENIKE-SECRETARY 3. AMIGUN BAMIDELE OYEWUMI-MEMBER. 4. OYEWOLE RAIHANAH MAYOWA - MEMBER 5. OYEWOLE RIDWAN AYOKANMI - MEMBER

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.To bring together all leadership professionals under one body.

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. KEHINDE ABISOYE FUMILAYO 2. KEHINDE KOLAWOLE OLAYINKA 3. MATAN SAMSON FESOGBADE 4. OLADEJI ELIZABETH TITILOLA 5. MATAN EMMANUEL ADEREMI 6. ELEGUSHI OLUFEMI ADERONKE 7. OLADEJI ADEDEJI IYIOLA 8. MATANMI MORENIKEJI EBENEZER 9. MATANMI OLUGBENGA DANIEL 10. MATANMI ADELEKE ABIODUN THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To help the less privileged in the Matanmi family and the Odogbolu community at large.

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.

29

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Desmond-Ihekaire Chineze Hildagard.

2. Prof Prince Nwachukwu Ololube

NCHETA OMEREKPE FOUDATION

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To provide health care and welfare to the rural and disadvantaged members of the communities and masses at last.

2. To provide affordable health care facilities to the less privileged in the society.

Page

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. Ncheta Omerekpe 2. Chioma Ann Omerekpe.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. John Olumide Osunsina - Chairman 2.Rosemary Ibukun Nwankwo - Secretary THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To liaise with the developer on the welfare of the members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY. Phone number: 0803 079 0736.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Auwalu Garba Ahmad 2. Binta Isah Haruna 3. Isah Bashir Abubakar AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To assist and support youth empowerment in the community 2. To support and assist the less privileged with skills acquisition Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Oguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

Super Eagles

By Albert Akota

S

uper Eagles players shunned yesterday’s press conference ahead of their next Group B clash against the Syli Nationale of Guinea billed for the Alexandria Stadium today as they were locked in a meeting to deliberate on the non – payment of their bonuses and allowances.

Vice-captain of the team, Ahmed Musa was expected to attend yesterday’s prematch conference along with the team’s gaffer, Gernot Rohr, but but stayed back at the hotel with the rest of his teammates to discuss the issue. the players who have kept silent on the issue since they started preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt are now ready to take the matter up with the Nigeria Football Federation.

It would be recalled that the Flying Eagles also protested over the non payment of their bonuses refusing to leave their their hotel following their elimination at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

The Super Falcons also staged a similar protest after they were knocked out of the ongoing 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France against Germany on Saturday.

Guinea’s unexpected 2-2 draw against debutants Madagascar on Day 1, for which both teams shared a point each, means any team that harnesses six points in Group B would most certainly progress to the knockout rounds.

The availability of France –based forward Samuel Kalu, who can also play as wing back, has provided further options for Coach Gernot Rohr for Wednesday’s clash between the fierce West African rivals at the Alexandria Stadium.

Kalu elicited jubilation to the Nigeria camp on Monday evening after further tests in Cairo cleared him to play at the AFCON 2019, following a scare after he fell during training session and was stabilised before being taken to hospital on Friday. The incident ruled him out of Saturday’s clash with Burundi.

Kalu can fit into the right side of the attack, where he dazzled against Seychelles on Mahe Island in a qualifying match in

September 2018 and against Libya home and away the following month, and can equally hold firm as wing back, as he did against South Africa in the penultimate qualifier in November 2018.

While AFCON 2019 is Nigeria’s 18th appearance (Wednesday’s encounter will be their 88th match), Guinea is showing up here for the 13th time. Nigeria have won the title three times, finished in second place five times and picked up the bronze medals seven times. Guinea has only a runners-up place to show for their endeavour, back in 1976 when the tournament was held based on a league format.

Honours are even in 14 previous matches between both countries, with Nigeria winning four times, Guinea winning four times and six matches drawn. Some of the games have been nail –biting affairs, including a 1982 World Cup qualifying match in Lagos in April 1981 in which Henry Nwosu’s 88th minute winner separated both teams over two legs, and the 2012 AFCON qualifier that ended 2-2 in Abuja in October 2011 with

Ibrahim Diallo’s last minute equalizer stopping Nigeria from reaching the finals.

The Syli Nationale are bound to throw everything into Wednesday’s game, as defeat would gravely abbreviate their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds. And they have a coach who has a reason to want to put a knife through Nigeria’s ambition.

Paul Put was head coach of Burkina Faso’s Etalons who lost the final of the 2013 AFCON tournament to the Super Eagles at Soccercity in Johannesburg, three weeks after both teams ended their opening match of the finals 1-1 in Nelspruit.

Samuel Chukwueze, Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa may start at the fore, against a very strong Guinea team and on a day Nigeria need the goals and points to ease into the knockout rounds with a match to spare.

Steadily, the Super Eagles has become a team reaching milestones with a match to spare, from qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to earning the ticket to AFCON 2019.

NFF confirms receiving AFCON money from Buhari

>>pg 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

p

Giannis Antetokounmpo named NBA’s most valuable player

Antetokounmpo received 78 of the 101 possible first-place votes

M

ilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the NBA’s most valuable player of the 2018-19 season.

The 24-year-old made an emotional acceptance speech after becoming the youngest MVP in eight years.

The 2019 All-Star team captain averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds over 72 games, guiding his side to the Eastern Conference finals.

Antetokounmpo beat last year’s winner James Harden to the award.

The ‘Greek Freak’ wept on stage as he paid a moving tribute to this late father Charles, who died in 2017.

“I want to thank my dad. Obviously, my dad is not here with me,” he told the crowd in California.

“Two years ago, I had a goal in my head that I was going to be the best player in the league and do whatever it takes to help my team win, and I’m going to win everything.

“Every day I step on the floor, I always think of my dad and that motivates me and pushes me to play harder and move forward.

r

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

CLASSIFIED

t

NFF confirms receiving AFCON money from Buhari

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed receiving part of the money approved by the Federal Government for participation of some National Teams in international competitions, including the Super Eagles’ participation at the ongoing 32nd Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

NFF’s Acting President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (in the absence of President Amaju Pinnick who is fully involved with organization as President of AFCON) said yesterday that the Federation received part of the money yesterday morning and had immediately launched the process to convert the sum to American Dollars to pay the players their only outstanding entitlement the win bonus for the match against Burundi in Alexandria on Saturday evening and for subsequent matches.

“We want to specially thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for his keen interest in resolving this matter quickly, which has enabled us to receive part of the money in record time.

We have immediately started the process of converting the money to American Dollars at the Central Bank in order to pay the players the bonus for the win over Burundi three days ago as well as plan for subsequent games.”

Akinwunmi added that on Monday, 24th June, the NFF had transferred to the players and their officials their camp allowances up to the last day of the group phase matches at the AFCON 2019, as

Eagles in happy mood well as the appearance fee for the friendly against Zimbabwe in Asaba on 8th June.

“We have paid these monies through our funds managers, Financial Derivatives Company on Monday, 24th June 2019.

The only issue we had was that some of the players did not send their bank accounts and instead authorized the bank to pay their monies to some other individuals. The bank requested clear authorization for this to happen.

“I was on a telephone discussion with the Captain of the team Mikel Obi this morning and can safely say that all clarifications have been made and the usual cordial

relationship and understanding between the players and we the administrators is still intact.

I have challenged them to go all out and win the trophy assuring them that their monies all the way to the final are guaranteed. It is now for the players to focus on the championship and deliver glory to the nation. I have no doubt of their ability to do that.”

Akinwunmi also specially commended the maturity of the team and its leaders, including skipper Mikel John Obi and for their unflinching focus on the job at hand which is winning the AFCON Trophy.

Falconets to tackle South Africa, Cameroon at All Africa Games

By Albert Akota

T

he draw for the football event of the 12th All-Africa Games has been conducted in Cairo, Egypt with host nation Morocco heading Group A that also has Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Algeria.

Nigeria head Group B and will trade tackles with Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia.

Organizers have reiterated that this year’s All-Africa Games women football event will be contested by players under the age of 20. This means Nigeria’s team will be composed of the U20 girls, also known as Falconets.

Some months ago, CAF announced that the teams that featured at the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana in November/December 2018 would be the same teams to contest the gold medal of the football event of the All-Africa Games.

The 12th All-Africa Games will hold between late August and early September this year.

Falconets

Konta beats Sakkari to reach Eastbourne third round

B

Johanna Konta reached the Eastbourne semi-finals in 2016 and 2017

ritain’s Johanna Konta beat Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to reach the third round of the Nature Valley International at Eastbourne.

The world number 19 was 5-3 down in the second set but fought back to secure victory in one hour and 37 minutes.

Konta, 28, will play Ons Jabeur in the third round after the Tunisian defeated Mandy Minella 2-6 6-2 6-1.

“There was so little in this match. I felt she was playing better than me for most of that match,” Konta said.

“I’m really pleased to have stayed tough and created as many opportunities as possible.”

Earlier, France’s Alize Cornet knocked out Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 7-5 6-2.

Cornet had led by a set and a break when the match was delayed by rain on Monday.

loss of document

ABDULLAHI

ISAH

This is to inform the general public of the lost of the Original Right of Occupancy (R of O) and fresh Application Acknowledgement of Plot No. 525, Cadastral Zone B19 of Katampe Extension District. File No. BO 20076. File name: KABIR MUHAMMAD, dated 09/11/2006 issued by Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). All efforts made to trace the missing documents prove abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station or return it to AGIS.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ABDUL AMIDU. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ABDULLAHI AMIDU ABDUL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known as ISAH SULEIMAN now wish to be known and addressed as ISAH SULEIMAN SHABANdA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and the general public should please take note.

ESDOM

MUNIRAT

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SANNI SALIHU FATIMA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS SANI AMINU OGBOLE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUNIRAT MUSA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MUNIRAT MUSA SAALIH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Obiora

PUBLIC NOTICE

Monumental Stars charity foundation

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE PROPS

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organisation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

I formerly known as Tony Nwaeze now wish to be known and addressed as Obiora Anthony Nwaeze. All former documents remain valid.

Authority concern general public should please take note.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organisation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1) JOHN BELO - PRESIDENT 2) THOMAS OCHIEMEN

- VICE PRESIDENT 3) IFEYINWA MAUREEN OKAFOR - EVECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 4) ANULIKA CHIOMA DIRU - EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 5) PATRICIA BELO

- EXECUTIVE OFFICER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Support of the education and relief of poverty of children, women and young adults in local communities.

2. To provide, training, materials, resource, networking and attendant support to individuals, organisations, government agencies where necessary involved in education and relief of poverty in society.

3. To develop relevant and appropriate curriculum in the advancement of education and relief of poverty in Nigeria.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Oguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

SIGN: EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

loss of document

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO 404 LOCATED AT cadastral zone CO2 GWARINPA 1, WITH File NO. kn 3266 AND new file no. Kn 10640 BELONGING TOBABA GARBA. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE, IF FOUND, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. Asmau I, formerly known as Asmau Habibu Labbo Now wish to be known and addressed as Asmau Umar Masama. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Halima Dahiru Mohammed - General Overseer 2.Nazeerah Dahiru - Secretary 3.Tahir Dahiru 4.Fatima Dahiru 5.Jamil Dahiru AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 To empower and support widows 2.To support the less privileged people.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Oguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

SIGN: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE African Poverty Alleviation Initiative (APAI) RC. 25848.

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Change Of Trustees and amendment of its constitution under part C of the company and allied matters act 1990.

1- PRINCESS NANA .H. YAKUBU Founder /CEO, 2- JOY OKPANACHI , 3- PRINCESS AISHA YAKUBU , 4 - MICHEAL CISSE , 5- ZAINAB DAGDOUG , 6- BADAMASI SHUAIBU BURJI .

7. BADAMASI SHUAIBU BURJI - removed.

8. PRINCE SAIDU .H . YAKUBU - Newly appointed.

Any objection to this Change should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street Maitama within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. Secretary.

Manu I, formerly known as NaAllah magawata now wish to be known and addressed as Manu magawata Shema. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE Hybrid Enterpreunial Initiative THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Rakiya Zakari, Chairman 2 Saadatu Hamma Andabone 3 Dr. Haruna Abubakar Haruna 4.Lamin Ahmad Usman 5.Imran Mohammed 6.Rabiu Abdullahi 7.Bello Mohammed Hadejia(Secretary) THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : It is a platform designed to encourage entrepreneurs in both rural and urban communities to start with small and home businesses through workshops and symposiums.

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 space is for sale

SPACE FOR SALE SPORTS Between Buhari govt and PDP (3) latest WEDNESDAY COLUMN Tagueu rules out A . . . putting the people first

wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

of Cameroon squad with heart problem

D

efending champions Cameroon have been dealt a big blow barely 24 hours before they start their title defence at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egpyt.

The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) announced that one of the 23 players selected for the 2019 Afcon tournament, Joel Tagueu, has been diagnosed with a heart problem and has been ruled out of the competition.

Expectedly, this news has been greeted with a lot of sadness in the camp of the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon has lodged an appeal with Confederation of African Football, CAF, on whether they would get a waiver to replace the affected player.

Chelsea given permission to hold talks Lampard

C

helsea has been given permission to speak to Derby boss Frank Lampard about their vacant manager’s job.

Lampard, 41, spent 13 years as a Chelsea player and would replace Maurizio Sarri, who has joined Juventus after one season at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues would have to pay the Rams about £4m if they appoint Lampard.

“With pre-season fast approaching for both clubs it is hoped this will allow Chelsea to swiftly conclude their discussions,” a Derby statement read.

Advert: business: news: lagos:

gain, Mr Secondus asked if we have a performing Commander-in-Chief in Nigeria? So I also ask, how much more competent can the president become before these people finally swallow their pride and acknowledge his achievements? Let’s take a look at the performances of the president that make a die-hard PDP bigwig like Governor Wike of Rivers State said, *“If it is infrastructural development give it to the president”*.

The president’s achievements cut across many segments of Nigeria’s economy and social strata; social investment development, infrastructural developments, school feeding programmes, winning the war against corruption, advances in the war against insurgencies, payment of pensions and gratuity to abandoned retirees and Biafran police officers, helping states to meet up salary payments and increment of labour minimum wage among so many positive achievements.

We are all aware of the economic realities as at the time the administration of President Buhari came on board in 2015. The country was at the low and still was a free fall as attested to by Dr Ngozi Iwealla, Charles Soludo, Emir Sanusi and several others. While the national foreign reserve was mostly depleted, the international price of crude oil fell below $35 per barrel.

While trying to navigate the realities and the imbalances in Dollar-Naira exchange rate caused by massive hawking of dollars and depilation of foreign reserves, the country, like several other nations, went into full recession. The government of President Buhari navigated the country out of the recession to the surprise of all in a record time and has performed like a government with unlimited access to resources when the opposite is the case.

One major achievement of the APC-led government is the success recorded in the fight against corruption. For the very first time in the history of Nigeria, past serving governors were convicted of crime against the state and sent to jail.

Today Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame are cooling off in jails. It’s the same administration that exposes the mammoth outright mismanagement of fund by the erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to the tune of $2.1billion and has traced the final destination of the money to several individual accounts and is currently still recovering them.

It’s in this same administration that Diezani’s looting and mismanagement were uncovered.

Under this same administration the wife of the former president Jonathan had been made to forfeit several stolen monies with the latest being a 1.04 trillion few weeks ago.

We are all aware of the successes of

0806 564 8620 0704 385 9705 0814 292 9046 08074420617

By

USSIJU MEDANER info@medaner.com, justme4justice@yahoo.com the whistleblower policy; the Ikoyi monies and several others.

The last few months were interesting with the uncovering of corruption in the judiciary and the suspension and eventual removal of the CJN Justice Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The president has also made considerable achievements in social investment and job creation. In the past when government wants to support small scale businesses, states end up submitting names of their family members, friends and cronies, and eventually, the direct target of the program get nothing, but in the case of this current government, Vice President Osinbajo has been travelling from market to market, directly handing cash over to these traders. The Marketmoni and Tradermoni has been a major boast to small businesses in states that have benefited so far.

The N-Power program is currently putting smile on the faces of over 500,000 youths across the country in the efforts to combat unemployment among the youth population, the first stage of N-Power has engaged over 500,000 youth beneficiary collecting N30,000 monthly stipends from the government while they are engaged in various productive ventures. The school feeding program ongoing in about 23 states feed school pupils once daily and the reach keep increasing till the entire 36 states and the FCT are covered.

Then we have the massive commitment to infrastructural development and the successes recorded. The great news coming from the railway development program has gladdened our hearts as a people. Today people working in Lagos could afford to live in Ibadan or Abeokuta and vice versa.

On road construction, the ongoing works are numerous to list but what hit us all most and confuse friends and foes alike are the magnitude of ongoing works in the Southeast, a region that expect to get nothing from the administration having giving the president only 6% of total votes cast in the region in 2015. Today the second Niger Bridge which the PDP promised throughout their stay without fulfilling is under construction, thanks to President Buhari. No wonder the governors from the region could not hide their respect and love for the president.

The administration of president

Buhari is also beating the drum of his massive impact in alleviating the plight of retirees of various government establishments. Staff of Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Railways Corporation, members of the Biafran police force and several others had a sigh of relief years after they were ingloriously laid off. When the president took over power in 2015, about 23 states in the country were insolvent and could not pay workers’ salaries. Today, the president repeatedly bailed them out until they were good. Today the same government has increase labour minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000.

Today, the war against the insurgents may not have been won completely but Boko Haram has been dislodged from the cities and villages of Nigeria and forced to make a retreat into the dense hiding enclaves mostly around neighbouring countries. The period in which Boko Haram controlled population centres, displaced federal government structures and effectively administered communities under them has ended.

Albeit there are measures in place currently to tackle the security challenges in the country, there is also the need to look at the trend in the events. After the elections have been concluded and results announced, the security situation around the country, especially in the north, has worsened. This raises pertinent questions to critical minds on this sort of coincidence: that when Atiku was declared loser in the concluded elections, insecurity heightened beyond limits, extending to places where such villainous acts as banditry, kidnapping, farmer/ herdsmen clashes and insurgency were not known or uncommon. The situation which was under control has suddenly degenerated. It makes it difficult to estrange the schemes of the desperate opposition in the affair.

Thank God, the security operatives have risen to the occasion by effectively effecting arrest in the volatile areas: https://www.sunnewsonline. com/police-kill-10-banditsarrest-48/ https://www.dailytrust.com. ng/police-arrest-93-suspectedkidnappers.html Military intelligence have also revealed that some unpatriotic

citizen tango with terrorist groups to worsen the security situation in the country and to create distrust and discord between the military and the citizens.

My candid point here is that if the allegation by the military is proven to be true, thus, these rebellious acts should be treated as what they are, treasonable offences: tempering with the peace and security of the country. From all indications , seems like some indicted politicians does not want Nigeria to attain the height which they could not get us to; this is evident in their outbursts on different occasions. Hence, no person found guilty in the investigations should be spared of the stick waved by the government.

President Buhari promised Nigerians change. Before he assumed office, there were no longer rules in this country; the leaders were running the country like their personal properties. There was neither financial accountability nor expression of social and moral accountability to the people. The country was making money but they were busy looting it and creating atmosphere for corruption in government offices and businesses.

The result was the damage to the economy. We were ‘technically taken into recession’ (in the words of former finance minister Okonjo Iweala).

Also the fear of the government to effect money changing policy as was done in 1984, forced those who had stolen and stockpiled Naira to engage in panic Dollar buying, converting the Naira to Dollar. These threatened the strength of Naira and weakened it against the Dollar. This happened also at a time when the price of crude oil was at its minimum in about 20 years.

So, when he came in, he met a collapsing economic and social system ravaged by an internal insurgency (Boko Haram) that became sophisticated because, Cont. on page 25

DAN GAYE

Ebonyi CJ frees 26 Prison inmates -News

-Hope they have repented!

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