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Investors doubt Naira float on new FX window

Motolani Oseni

ÏÏÏ As the Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN) intensifies efforts to address challenges associated with foreign exchange market by creating a new forex window to ease the dollar shortage choking the country, investors are skeptical over floating of the Naira on the new policy.

The CBN opened a foreign-exchange window for investors and exporters last Monday where the

naira traded between the interbank rate and the black market rate, which many Nigerians use to access dollars.

In the weeks before the opening, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was said to have told senior bankers that he would tolerate a weaker naira and allow the market to determine the rate within the new window.

While the initial market reacContinued on page 7

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 353

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GAINERS AS AT April 28, 2017

N150

LOSERS AS AT April 28, 2017

Osinbajo panel: Lawal, Oke know fate this week GUINNESS

60.00

60.01 0.02%

WAPCO

48.50

50.92

4.99%

JBERGER

41.95

39.86

-4.98%

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ETI

7.80

7.71

-1.15%

Tony Amokeodo Abuja and Peter Fowoyo, Lagos

ÏÏÏ Barring any unforeseen circumstances, President Muhammadu Buhari will this week determine the fate of the suspended Secretary to the GovContinued on page 6

May Day: RƑƏ ƐƏƑ ƋƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƏƆƗƑƅƆ Ɠ ƏƊƆƏ ô ƍ ƒƆƏƐƕ Ə ƐƆ - NLC, TUC 6 IGP’s refusal to compromise, reason for Wike’s blackmail é `ƈƒƆƏ ^ 12

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Yoruba community holds inter denominational prayers for PMB, others.

Saka Bolaji, Minna

ÏÏÏThe Yoruba Community Council in Niger state capital, Minna at the weekend held an inter denominational prayers for the quick recovery from the illness of President Muhammadu Buhari and for the peace of the country.

The Niger state president general of the tribal organization, Alhaji Rasheed Olawole Sanusi, in an interview with journalists after the joint faithful prayers said that the prayer became necessary due to the continuous illness of the President who have shown a clear indication to rid the country out of corruption and lost glory.

Sanusi hinted that is one among many equals with better reputation to get the nation out of the past mess hence had taken the rightful steps towards that deserved he prayers of Nigerians and encouragement from all.

He further charged that Yoruba race should remain one anywhere they find themselves especially in the northern Nigeria just as they are known for peaceful coexistence belonging to one indivisible entity.

The prayers which was held by both Christians and Muslims at same venue along Kuta road with recitation of various chapters of the Holy Quran and Bible was deliberately done to ensure peace and prosperity of the Niger state and the nation, urging God to give the present and Governor Abubakar Sani Bello the good health to lead the country to the next level of development.

Wike urges community leaders to contribute to devt ...Congratulates NGE president on election victory

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe Rivers state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has called on community leaders in the state to work in unity to develop their respective communities.

Speaking during the fund raising for the construction of an ultra modern civic Centre complex by the Rumuokwuta community at the weekend, Governor Wike said that community development efforts would complement the development programmes of his administration.

He noted that leaders should make sacrifices to advance communal interest through a united front and praised the Rumuokwuta community for supporting him during the 2015 general elections, pointing out that they would not regret their support

for him.

He said: “Because of the sacrifices the Rumuokwuta community made for me when I was in need, I will also support them.

When you are at war and you see a brother who supports you, when it is his turn, you have no choice but to support him. We must encourage and support ourselves.”

The governor explained that he embarked on the total rehabilitation and expansion of the Government Girls Secondary School in Rumuokwuta because the people deserved the best.

He said: “The Rumuokwuta community didn’t lobby for the rehabilitation of the Government Girls’ Secondary School. I took the decision to rehabilitate the School because the people deserve it,” Governor Wike said.

The Chairman of Rumuokwuta Community Development

Committee, Such Ama Chinda commended Governor Wike for the rehabilitation of the Government Girls’ Secondary School in the area.

Also, on Sunday, Governor Wike congratulated the Editorin-chief and Managing Director of New Telegraph, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, on her election as the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE. The governor also congratulated a director at the Tide Newspapers , Mrs. Juliet Njiowhor and others who emerged victorious during the 2017 edition of the NGE Biennial Convention.

Governor Wike urged the NGE President and the new executives to work towards promoting media professionalism, objectivity, and development of the country and wished the NGE President a fruitful term in office.

L-R: President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs. Funke Egbemode; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria/representative of Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Bayo Onanuga; and former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, during the NGE 2017 Biennial Convention with the theme: A Nation in Recession: Whither the Nigerian Media? in Lagos… at the weekend. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

Alleged libel: ASUU demands N2bn damages from police Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏThe Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter has demanded the sum of N2billion as damages from the police for alleged malicious and false statement by the force against its members.

In a demand notice through its lawyer, Chief A. B. Thomas, ASUU-AAU requested the commissioner of police, Edo State Command to within

seven days to retract, tender public apology and pay N2 billion as damages for what the union termed ‘libelous press briefing,” or face legal action.

The union, in the notice which was copied the Inspector General of Police and the Assistant Inspector General of Zone 5, demanded the Edo state police Command to within seven days, beginning from April 25, 2017, tender public apology which should be published in at least five national newspapers, and aired in three major television

stations in Edo state.

It added that a letter of apology should also be sent to AAUASUU through its chairman within the same seven days.

“We view your said press briefing as it relates to our clients as a campaign of calumny, libelous and a deliberate attempt to denigrate and ridicule the entire ‘world class credentials of our clients’ in a malicious manner.

It would be recalled that AAUASUU recently demanded immediate transfer of the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr.

Haliru Gwandu over what it called “undisguised cover-up of assault, illegal arrest and police brutality on AAU-Ekpoma.”

The university’s ASUU chairman had made the demand in reaction to a media report where the state police command was quoted to have alleged that three lecturers of AAU, including a professor were arrested for secret cult related activities, and a double barrel gun and one pump action gun were recover from them.

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Adamawa widows complain of rising death of their members Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏWidows in Adamawa state have complained the rising rate at which their members are dying describing the situation as “alarming.”

The secretary of the association, Mrs. Sarah Apagu, attributed the situation to the terrible living condition as a result of economic downturn in the country.

Speaking at the weekend Mrs. Apagu appealed to the federal and state governments and other relevant humanitarian agencies to halt the disaster facing the widows by coming to their rescue and their children in the state.

Apagu disclosed that at least 10 widows die every month in the state “because of their terrible living condition.’’

“We have about 25,000 registered widows in the state arising from the Boko Haram Insurgency.

“So far, we have been able to discover and register additional 2,000 widows whose husbands were killed by Boko Haram in the state.

“Our registered members have increased from 25,000 to 27,000 and we are still going round collecting data of the widows especially in some areas like Madagali, Michika among others,” Apagu said.

She said that from reliable statistics, a significant number of the members of the association suffered chronic and some unidentified sicknesses. ‘’The worst aspect is that, they have no access to medical facility.’’

Apagu, a retired civil servant, said that she lost her husband in 1993 and left to cater for her four children, while still waiting for her retirement gratuity benefit.

She also said that between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of members of the association members with their children lived in terrible condition.

She lamented that almost all the children of the affected widows were out of school because of the deteriorating living situation, adding that some of the orphan children indulged in drug abuse.

According to her, the teenage girls are also into prostitution to keep soul and body alive .

“We have gone to many places, seeking for assistance for our members, but nothing is forthcoming.”

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Osinbajo panel: Lawal, Oke know fate this week Continued from page 1 ernment of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal and the suspended Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke. A source close to the presidency disclosed the development to The Daily Times on Sunday night.

He added that Buhari is eagerly awaiting the report of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led panel on Wednesday to take a decisive action on the matter.

Buhari had set up Osinbajo-led panel to probe the involvement of Lawal over the propriety of awards of contract under the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and the Oke’s claim of ownership of about N13 billion cash recovered from a private home in Ikoyi, Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But the presidential source, who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issues, disclosed that the president is ready to wield the big stick and punish errant officials who soiled their hands on the contentious issues.

According to him, once Osinbajo submits his report on Wednesday, the president will make a pronouncement that will serve as deterrent to those who think it will be business as usual.

The source said: “The president is angry about the two issues. And that is why he directed the Vice President to head the panel. You will recall that members have been sitting in camera to demonstrate the seriousness of the issues.

“And for those who have been speculating and sponsoring media report that the President is aware of the N13 billion cash,

they should just wait for the outcome of the panel.

“It is amusing to read in certain media reports that the suspended NIA DG briefed the National Security Adviser (NSA) about the existence of the cash and the NSA reportedly informed the President.

“That claim does not make sense. Don’t forget that the NIA DG was quizzed for more than 10 hours on Monday and was subsequently grilled for another two hours on Tuesday. Relevant officials on the cash saga have also been quizzed and the panel is currently going through the documents and submission of concerned parties in order to take necessary action.

“All things being equal, the panel will submit its report to the President on Wednesday and he will take action before the week runs out.”

President, United Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero (l), with President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Igwe Achese, during the 2017 Pre- May Day Symposium in Lagos… at the weekend.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

Joy Ekeke, Lagos and Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have blamed various government policies aimed at favouring employers for causing the increasing poverty rate amongst the working class in the country, saying the struggle by for improved conditions will reduce poverty rate among workers.

This is even as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described Nigerian workers as the life’blood and driving force of the nation’s development in view of their invaluable contributions.

NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and TUC president, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, stated this at the 2017 Pre- May Day Lecture entitled “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: As Appraisal” jointly organised by both unions.

When reminded that certain privileged individuals are claiming that that the report on the cash should not be made public and NIA should not be unduly exposed because of its effect on the country’s intelligence gathering, the source debunked the claims.

He said: “We know those who are making the claims are not doing so for altruistic purpose. Oke and his officials know that they can’t keep such a huge government money in a private home without informing the president.

They know that the action is against the extant rules. Nobody can hide under technicality and make spurious claims. In any case, they are not part of the dramatis personae as what they are expressing are personal opinions.

On the fate of Babachir Lawal, the source said: “The suspended SGF was also quizzed for more than two hours when he appeared before the panel. Since the Senate will turn in its final report on Tuesday, the panel will have all the facts of the matter and decide accordingly.

“I can tell you that indicted government officials on the two issues will be severely dealt with as there is no hiding place for them”.

Meanwhile, four days to the court final ruling on the interim forfeiture order on the N13 billion cash by the Federal High Court in Lagos, the NIA and the Rivers State Government are yet to file applications against the court order.

Justice Muslim Hassan had fixed Friday, May 5 for his final pronouncement on the interim order, saying that if there is no application from any interested party on or before May 5, he would make a final pronouncement, forfeiting the said N13billion cash to the federal government.

The NIA DG and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike are laying claim to the humongous cash.

In a related development, a Lagos based-lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has asked the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos to stay proceedings in the suit seeking to forfeit the huge cash and foreign currencies found in F7B, Osborne Towers, 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi.

He is also asking the court to disclose ownership of the money before any further action.

Ogungbeje, is seeking an order directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to furnish the court with a report of its preliminary or final investigation on the source of the monies, the owner, and how the currencies got into the building.

He is also praying for an order compelling the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police to immediately begin a thorough investigation of the recovered monies.

Justice Hassan had ordered that the money be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government until the owner shows up.

The judge directed EFCC to advertise the forfeiture order in a newspaper so that anybody who owns the money can claim it within 14 days.

But Ogungbeje, in a motion on notice, is praying for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the investigation panel headed by Osinbajo.

According to him, the court should not order a permanent forfeiture of the monies since there are claims and counter claims as to ownership by the Rivers State government and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

He said the EFCC has not produced any report on the sources of the monies, owners of the building and how the monies got there.

He said: “This Honourable Continued on page 7

May Day: Our struggle will reduce workers’ poverty rate - NLC, TUC Ï z ƏƊƆƏ è ƋƈƇƆƄƋ Ɨ Ƈ ƑƏ Ɛƈ è ƕ d Ə Ɗƈ Comrade Wabba said: “Today is a day of reflection and a day that we must recognise that no employer of Labour will be so generous to award us what we are demanding for. We have to get it through struggle and this is what we need to reflect on.

“No politician seek office to actually better the lot of the people because they see politics as an investment. So is the issue of businesses around the world which is to make profit and so, we must continue as watchdog of the society continue to represent the interest of our members and the

larger people.

Furthermore, Wabba said: “No policy will be made that will serve our interest. That is why our duty has always been policy contestation. Policies must be made to address our developmental challenges and address issues of inequality which has continued to be on the increase despite the fact that in the last one decade, global wealth has continue to increase. We create the wealth of every society, but what has been our bargain.

“Poverty among working class has continued to increase. This year’s May Day calls for us to re-

dedicate ourselves both as members and leaders to our collective struggle and continue to agitate for what is right to our society.

There is no way the issue for insecurity will be addressed without addressing the twin issue from poverty and unemployment.”

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, in his remark, said during this year’s May Day (today), the organized labour intend to show the Nigerian government at all levels their displeasure, lamenting that in the midst of recession, devaluation of the naira

and the high cost of everything, the wage of the Nigerian worker is very constant.

Comrade Kaigama said: “We know that globally, countries go through tough times and that is when concerted efforts is made by the government to rejig the economy in such a way that workers are made the priority of the state.

But in this country, the reverse is the case. As creators of wealth, we are seen as slaves to our slave masters.

“We must remember that all the Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

7 News

Investors doubt Naira float on new FX window Continued from page 12 tion showed that investors are optimistic the platform will be successful in bringing hard currency into Nigeria - bank stocks rose and naira forward contracts priced in a weaker currency - policy makers still must demonstrate that they’ll allow free trading.

Last June, the CBN ended its 16-month currencypeg and promised to float the naira, but it has traded near N315 per dollar since August. That’s more than 20 percent stronger than its black market price of N388.

“If this is going to be market determined, that would be a great positive,” said Razia Khan, the chief Africa economist at Standard Chartered Plc in London. “Given the false start we had in June last year,

there’ll be a certain amount of caution initially,” she added.

Standard Bank Group Limited analysts expect a “sharp but unsustainable” decline in the naira as investors and companies try to clear their unmet demand for dollars of about $4 billion. If that happens, the Central Bank of Nigeria may start manipulating the rate again, which would discourage inflows.

“What is on paper may not actually be what is practised,” Standard Bank’s Lagos-based Ayomide Mejabi and Phumelele Mbiyo in Johannesburg, said in a note on Monday.

Unlike Egypt, which floated its pound in November when it was also desperate for hard currency, Nigeria’s central bank has introduced multiple

exchange rates and sold forward contracts to meet demand for dollars. But those measures haven’t diminished the need for a black market to buy the greenback.

The central bank said the separate window will help “deepen the foreign exchange market and accommodate all foreign-exchange obligations.” Those allowed to sell dollars include portfolio investors, exporters, banks and the regulator itself. Though trades are meant to be done on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, the central bank said it can intervene.

The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, a Lagosbased trading platform, will publish daily rates based on a poll of banks, with Monday’s closing rate set at N377.1 per dollar.

Nigeria has suffered from a dearth of foreign exchange since the price of oil, its main export, plunged in 2014. The CBN’s imposition of capital controls and a currency peg only worsened the crisis, according to investors, who have pulled money out of the country in the past two years. The government and central bank need them back to revive the economy, which shrank last year for the first time since 1991.

“There was acknowledgment from policy makers that greater flexibility in the FX regime was needed and that the existing system was hurting growth,” Khan said.

Traders would prefer Emefiele to free the existing interbank market rather than create a separate exchange rate. But JPMorgan

Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu (l), in a hand shake with Alhaji Ali Magashi, after declaring open the housing workshop in Benin… at the weekend.

Osinbajo panel: Lawal, Oke know fate this week

Continued from page 6

Court has the inherent jurisdiction under Section 6 (6)(b) of the Constitution to order and direct thorough investigation on the sources of the monies, their owners, the owners of the Osborne Towers where the monies were found and how they got into the building.

“A thorough and transparent investigation of the monies will strengthen the anti-corruption crusade.

“Nigerians are interested in the sources, owners of the monies, owners of the building and how the monies got into Osborne Residential apartment.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Ogungbeje, the lawyer said it would be prejudicial for the court to order permanent forfeiture of the monies to the Federal Government while investigation is ongoing.

“It will be in the interest of justice if the EFCC, ICPC and the police being agencies created by law are ordered by this honourable court to conduct a thorough investigation into the sources, ownership of the monies and residential apartment where the monies were found and the circumstances under which the monies got into the

building.

“The respondent will not be prejudiced by the grant of this application”, he added.

But a former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has said that the report of the probe panel on the NIA should not be made public for security reasons.

Akinyemi, who stated this in a statement made available on Sunday, listed what he considered as mistakes made by Buhari while setting up a panel to investigate the monies recovered by the EFCC According to Akinyemi, Buhari should have ap-

pointed someone with a history or experience in the operations of NIA as part of the panel.

The statement reads in part: “When Oke stepped forward to claim it on the part of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), alarm bells started to ring in my ears. It is one of the sacred traditions of the external intelligence trade to admit nothing and to deny nothing.

“A saving grace emerged when the president set up the Osinbajo panel to untangle the web over the millions of dollars. But the president inadvertently made a mistake.

Asset Management said investors may be enticed into the market if they’re confident there’s enough liquidity for them to exit.

“It’s early days to gauge how effective the new window will be,” Diana Kiluta, an emerging markets debt portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management in London, said in an emailed response to questions. “If indeed foreign investor flows can consistently clear in the window and there is some transparency around price determination, this could begin to restore some confidence.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and Emefiele have

consistently criticized those calling for a weaker naira, saying it would only accelerate inflation already at 17 percent and hurt the poor. That’s fueling investor skepticism that the CBN will allow a true float within the window.

Another danger is that it’s unclear whether oil companies, which generate the bulk of Nigeria’s export earnings, will be able to sell dollars in the window. Without them, the central bank may be left as the main supplier until foreign investors return. There are a number of things that need clarification,” Khan said.

NMA rejects planned harmonisation of health workers’ salaries ÏÏÏ The

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to shelve its planned harmonisation of salaries of health workers in the country.

The association’s position is contained in a communiqué issued by Dr. Mike Ogirima, President of NMA, on Sunday, at the end of the 57th Annual General Meeting and Delegate Conference of the association, held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, from April 24 to 29 .

It noted although health workers faced many hazards in the discharge of their duties, their output could not be compared to doctors who performed the bulk of the medical services.

“There is an attempt to harmonise the salaries

and the Federal Ministry of Health is at the lead of that attempt, which is currently causing a lot of disharmony in the health sector.

“Medical doctors are highly skilled and few in the country; the cut-off mark for medical students now is 280 and above. Everybody wants to accept that title of doctor in the medical set up; we are not against that.

“What we are against is the fact that everybody cannot be equated to be equal. In the animal kingdom, all animals are equal; but some are more equal than others,” it said.

The association said that it was not against moves to enhance the welfare of other health workers, but insisted that relativity should be maintained.

“He did not appoint anyone with a history of external intelligence experience into the panel. External Intelligence operations do not belong to the same security genre as domestic security forces such as the SSS, EFCC and the police.

“External intelligence officers, otherwise called spies, do not operate under the same operational penalties as domestic intelligence officers.

“Under no circumstances should the report of the panel in as far as it relates to the activities of the NIA be made public and no more leaks from the panel.”

He added that the expo-

sure of the agency to the public could pose a serious threat to officers of the agency, saying that, “normally, foreign intelligence activities are shrouded in secrecy, and not in the glare of publicity.”

He also faulted the decision of the House of Representatives to get involved on the matter, saying that the action is laced with security implications.

He said: “What has motivated me at this late stage to issue this release is the news that the House has now decided to institute its own inquiry to this peculiar mess. This is a dangerous move.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè L ƕ ơè ƾƠơƣ

No one after House of Reps deputy speaker’s life -APC FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU - ALIKE IKWO æRƇƇƈƅƆ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ `Ɔ ƈ ƐƏ ƏƃdƆƅƏƆƐ Əƕ Ɛ Ƒ ƅƈƋç ^êLê ơƠơƠè Ƅ Ɗ ƋƈƊƈ &Ƅ ƕƈ dƐ ƐƆéMƈ ƆƏƈ

INVITATION FOR SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AS EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO AUDIT THE ACCOUNTS OF THE UNIVERSITY 1.0 INTRODUCTION 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕè MƗƑƇƑé ƋƈƊƆè 9ƊƓ æ0nM 9çè &Ƅ ƕƈ dƐ ƐƆ Ɠƈ Ɔ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔ Ɛ Ɔ ƆƏƒƈƅƆ Ƈ ƇƈƏƌ Ƈ &ƔƐƆƏ Ƌ ƑƗƈƐ Ə Ɛ ƑƗƈƐ Ɛ Ɔ ƅƅ Ƒ Ɛ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ƒ ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƍ ƏƐ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ 9 ƐƆƏ ƋƋƕ 1Ɔ ƆƏ ƐƆƗ ƏƆƒƆ ƑƆ æ91`çê 9 ƅ ƌƍƋƈ ƅƆ Ɛ ƍƏ ƒƈ ƈ Ƈ dƆƅƐƈ ƤǀæƢçæ ç Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƐƈƐƑƐƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ `ƆƍƑƄƋƈƅ Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ è ơÖÖÖè Ɛ Ɔ ƏƆƋƆƒ Ɛ ƑƈƗƆƋƈ Ɔ ƇƏ ƌ Ɛ Ɔ RƇƇƈƅƆ Ƈ ƑƗƈƐ Ə 1Ɔ ƆƏ Ƌ Ƈ Ə Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ɛƈ Ɨ ƈ ƅ ƌƍƋƈ ƅƆ ƓƈƐ Ɛ Ɔ ^ƑƄƋƈƅ ^Ə ƅƑƏƆƌƆ Ɛ ƅƐ ƾƠƠƣè Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ ƈ ƒƈƐƆ ƈ ƐƆƏƆ ƐƆƗ ƑƗƈƐ ƇƈƏƌ ƓƈƐ ƏƆƋƆƒ Ɛ ƅ ƐƆ ƆƔƍƆƏƈƆ ƅƆ Ɨ Ɨ ƐƏ ƅƊ ƏƆƅ ƏƗ Ƈ ƍƆƏƇ Əƌ ƅƆ Ɛ ƑƄƌƈƐ ƍƏƆƎƑ ƋƈƇƈƅ Ɛƈ Ɨ ƅƑƌƆ Ɛ ê 2.0

PREQUALIFICATION CRITERIA

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PLEASE NOTE 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ MƗƑƇƑé ƋƈƊƆ 9ƊƓ ƈ ƆƈƐ ƆƏ ƅ ƌƌƈƐƐƆƗ Ə ƄƋƈ ƆƗ Ɛ ƏƐéƋƈ Ɛ ƕ ƇƈƏƌ Ƈ ƅ ƑƋƐ Ɛ ê j Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ ƏƆ ƆƏƒƆ Ɛ Ɔ Əƈ Ɛ Ɛ ƏƆƉƆƅƐ ƕ Ƈ ƋƋ Ɨ ƅƑƌƆ Ɛ ê j Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ə ƈƐ Ɔ Ɛ ƏƆ ƆƏƒƆ Ɛ Ɔ Əƈ Ɛ Ɛ ƒƆƏƈƇƕ ƕ ƑƄƌƈ ƈ Ə ƅƋ ƈƌ Ƅƕ Ɛ Ɔ ƇƈƏƌ Ɨ ƋƋ Ɛ ƆƏƆƇ ƏƆ Ƅƕ Ɛ ƆƈƏ ƏƆ ƍ Ɔ Ɛ Ɛ ƈ ƈ ƒƈƐ Ɛƈ è Ə Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ ƆƅƆ Əƕ ƑƐ ƏƈƐƕ Ɨ Ƒ Ə ƐƆƆ Ƈ Ə Ƒƅ ƒƆƏƈƇƈƅ Ɛƈ ê j Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ ƓƈƋƋ Ƌƕ ƏƆƅ ƈƖƆ Ɨ ƅ ƏƏƆ ƍ Ɨ ƓƈƐ Ƌƕ ƑƐ ƏƈƖƆƗ ƇƇƈƅƆƏ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƅ ƑƋƐƈ ƇƈƏƌ Ɨ MRj Ɛ Ə Ƒ ƈ ƗƈƒƈƗƑ Ƌ Ə Ɔ Ɛ ƅƐƈ Ɛ ƆƈƏ ƄƆ ƋƇê dƑƄƌƈ ƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ &R9 ƑƋƗ Ɛ ƄƆ ƅ ƐƏƑƆƗ Ɛ ƄƆ ƅ ƌƌƈƐƌƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƍ ƏƐ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ɛ ƋƋ ƈƐ Ɔ ƐƈƐƋƆ ƕ ƇƈƏƌ Ɛ ƌ ƊƆ ƕ ƅƋ ƈƌ Ɠ Ɛ ƆƒƆƏ Ə ƆƆƊ ƕ ƈ ƗƆƌ ƈƐƕ Ƈ Əƌ Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕè MƗƑƇƑé ƋƈƊƆè 9ƊƓ æ0nM 9çê ƋƋ ƅ Ɛ ƈ ƅƑƏƏƆƗ ƈ ƏƆ ƍ Ɨƈ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƗƒƆƏƐ ƋƋ ƄƆ Ƅ Ə Ɔ ƋƆƋƕ Ƅƕ Ɛ Ɔ ƄƈƗƗƆƏ ê

Signed Odisa C. Okeke (Mrs) REGISTRAR/SECRETARY TO COUNCIL

Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏ The leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun state has described the allegation of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Lasun Yusuff, that some members of the party are after his life as unfounded, baseless, and of no security concern.

Lasun Yusuff, had on Saturday, through his aides, alleged some members of the House of Representatives from Osun state, and the Osun APC Chairman, of threatening his life since the expression of his intention to run for Osun Governorship seat in 2018.

But in a press release signed by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, the party called Lasun Yusuff “a cheap opportunist.”

The party also denied the claim by Hon Yusuff that

himself and the late Isiaka Adeleke were singled out and warned not to contest in 2018 governorship election.

The statement read: “The attention of the leadership of the APC in the Osun state have been drawn to a release issued by one Dr. Aderemi Suleiman Ajala on behalf of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yussuf on the threat to his life, among all other allegations which are unfounded and baseless, they are of no security concern to say the least.

“We hereby state unequivocally that the Deputy Speaker and his band of delusional propagandists are mere opportunists clustering to the death of our late party leader and illustrious son of Ede, Senator Isiaka Adeleke to make smokescreen names and score undue political relevance for themselves.

“To all intent and purposes, the deputy speaker has

once again demonstrated to the teeming populace that he is a mischievous and a mere opportunist who lacks the deserving respect for the dead and cannot stand by the etiquette and traditional norms of our rich cultural heritage as Yoruba speaking people.

“Setting the records straight, the executive of the Osun State APC in line with the tenets of democratic principles entrenched in the ideology of our great party, and in order not to distract the business of developmental governance and fulfilment of our electioneering promises as contained in our manifesto issued an advisory notice to all intending governorship aspirants for the 2018 elections to wait until there are clear guidelines and directives by INEC. As such, the claim by Hon. Lasun Yussuff that himself and the late Adeleke were singled out and warned is a blatant lie and a template to deceit.

S/Kaduna: dj0 ƗƆƍƋ ƕ ƗƏ Ɔè ƅ ƑƐ Ƈ Ə 0ƑƋ ƈ Ƅ ƗƈƐ Chijioke Kingsley, Jos

ÏÏÏ

The Special Task Force, (STF), code named Operation Safe Heaven (OPSH), mandated to restore peace in the troubled parts of Plateau and Bauchi states and now Southern Kaduna, has deployed surveillance drone to trap those identified as Fulani bandits, who have hitherto been terrorizing the Southern Kaduna general area.

The drone was launched at the inaugural move of the ‘Internal Security Operational Exercise’ code named, “Operation Harbin Kunama 2”, strategically situated at Nimbia Forest in Kaduna state, near Jos.

Deployed to survey approximately 100 meters air space, the single high powered drone will also serve as cover for the Army as they set to advance to the bush where the alleged herdsmen have been uncovered to be hiding.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratia, said the drone was deployed for monitoring purposes, to aid the tactical and operational formation embarked to flush out those hoodlums responsible for the wanton killings in Kaduna State.

Represented by the Chief of Training and Operation, Major General David Ahmadu, Buratia said that the

Army will use the Operation to restore peace in the area in three weeks.

However, the flagging off of the Operation also witnessed free medical outreach, suggesting that the STF is consolidating on winning the heart and minds of the people, an act which has proven to have helped in warming the people towards the Nigerian Soldiers, says the Special Taskforce Commander, Major General Rogers Ibe Nicholas.

Gen. Nicholas said, OPSH has treated 960 adults and has dewormed, 400 children suffering from Malaria, typhoid, common cold and stomach pain, at the flagoff of the “Operation Harbin Kunama 2”.

G ƒƐ ƍƏ ƌƈ Ɔ Ɛ Ƅ Ɛ Ƈ Ɨ ƍƏ ƗƑƅƐƈ Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ The Lagos state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Isiaka Suarau, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to scale up its food sufficiency from the present 12 to 25 percent within the next three years as part of efforts towards ensuring food security in the state.

The commissioner made this disclosure in Alausa while presenting the achievements of the

Ministry of Agriculture in the last one year, during the 2017 Annual Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Press Centre, Alausa, to commemorate the second year anniversary of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

He said the state government is making additional arrangements for a rice milling plant that would produce 16 metric tonnes of rice per hour by December, adding that the state’s plan

is to go beyond production of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum.

Commenting on the distribution of LAKERICE, Suarau assured Lagosians that the current distribution plan by the state government, through designated outlets, is a temporary measure to regulate distribution of the rice and prevent the process from being hijacked by unscrupulous elements who would resell at exorbitant prices.

Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 26, 2017

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Party primaries: Option A4 most transparent method - Dogara For primaries of political parties to be transparent and truly democratic, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has called for the adoption of direct voting method where all card carrying members of parties are allowed to vote to choose candidates that will represent their parties in elections.

The Speaker said this while responding to a request from a delegation from the Conference of Female Parliamentarians of State Houses of Assembly, led by its chairperson, Hon Elizabeth Ativie, at the National Assembly, that Option A4 should be included in the Electoral Act. He argued that direct primaries is more effective in choosing the true candidate of the people because it takes away the option of manipulation of a few delegates by interested parties who have more financial or political influence.

Speaking on the merits of Option A4, he said, “it is there in most of the Constitution of our political parties where primaries are supposed to be by direct or indirect means. But in most cases, most political parties, if not all, have always opted for the indirect primaries. To be more candid, direct primaries can help even in general elections because once a candidate emerges under those conditions, you will know that he is generally accepted by the people.

“When it comes to the delegate, it has always been very easy for political actors to manipulate the process.

In some cases, someone will house the entire delegates. If he happens to have a lot of money, he will house them in hotels, prevents all other candidates from having access to them and is under that process that the candidate emerges.”

The Speaker maintained that in most cases, the people who have the capacity, “either the political will, the

....says delegates easily manipulated by contenders

Dogara

Ativie

financial muscle to do this, dictate who are the actual representatives from the people.”

“Unfortunately too, our laws do not help matters since we do not have independent candidacy. The only requirement is that you must have a political party platform before you are elected into any office. It therefore means that something has to be done in order to free the process. In order to ensure that this process is truly transparent and democratic and the only way is to let all card carrying members of a political party participate in the election of their candidate. So to this suggestion, you already have a convert in me.”

Assuring them that the House will pass the Gender Equality Bill, he urged the state legislators to engage with their federal counterparts to ensure that a consensus is reached on the issues raised.

“We are aware of the gender equality Bill. It is before the National Assembly and it is before the relevant committees of the House. I believe that this House that has the responsibility of representing men and women will do justice to the Bill. Something will come out of the Bill, it may not be 100 percent in line with our expectations, but it is going to be a compromise bill that will have the effect of balancing, not overpowering one gender against the other.

“We support equality but in a situation where one gender will be overloaded against the other, I think we are people of justice. And they say justice is indivisible, so justice to a woman must include justice to a man and justice to a man too, must include justice to a woman. So that it is the difficult part that we are seeking to achieve,” he added.

Dogara also informed them that other areas of concerns, including indigeneship for married women and citizenship for spouses of Nigerian women, will be addressed in the Constitution Amendment exercise whose report will soon be presented to the House.

The Speaker also noted that the House has been gender friendly, with every female member being either a chairperson or deputy chairperson of a committee of the House, except for one, Hon Talatu Yohanna who came in following a court verdict after all the leadership of the committees had been composed.

He also urged them to support local government autonomy, independence of state legislature and separation of powers in all tiers of government for transparency and accountability.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, who is also the deputy speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elizabeth Ativie, urged the Speaker to support women in politics by advocating for amendment of the Amendment Act to provide for use of Option A4 in party primaries, quota system in political parties and appointments for women (35 percent affirmative action), provide legislation for automatic citizenship for spouses of Nigerian woman and indigene status for women married to men from other states in Nigeria.

Lagos PDP: Factional leader seeks truce with opposition Patrick Okohue A factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Mr. Segun Adewale (Aeroland) has expressed the desire to reconcile with Hon. Adegoke Salvador with the sole aim of delivering victory to the PDP at the coming council poll, describing the crisis which has bedeviled the party as being responsible for the dwindling political fortunes recorded by the party in time past.

Adewale who made this disclosure at a supposed reconciliatory parley, held at the PDP secretariat in Lagos, unequivocally stated that, “we have fought since and have not moved forward and time is going, we are not ready to fight anybody again, tell the Makarfi group, there is no

…preaches reconciliation

need for them to run away, they should come back, let us sit down together and deliver victory to PDP. “From our own end we are here to work with Salvador, I plead with all of you gathered here, please we will need to reconvene this meeting, we can’t have a meeting properly without the Makarfi group, we have to carry them along and do it together.

“There is no Sheriff or Makarfi group, we are one in Lagos, we shall do the election together, let’s stop the internal wrangling, I already spoke with Salvador about this but I am surprised that between yesterday to this morning the meeting arrangement changed. They said they are not yet ready to meet with us, what happened?

“Please we only have this opportunity to

showcase our party choice, for the councillorship and chairmanship position in the local government. The suffering is too much in Lagos.

“All you supporters of Makarfi in Lagos, please we are begging you let’s come together to deliver Lagos from the captors and slave drivers, if Salvador so wish for the purpose of the election, I am ready to shift the ground for him to be the chairman while I take the vice chairman position, I am ready to allow him, for three months I don’t mind.”Aeroland asserts.

Adewale noted that liberating Lagosians from the shackles of the marauders fleecing the state is paramount to him.

He added that he would gladly relinquish that for Bode George, “we can’t fight him, but

please let them come so that we can work together, for we are the winning side, all those who won at the last polls were with Sheriff, aside Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu, who is with the Makarfi group, all those that have defected, we shall have to replace them and continue with our winning streak.

“Never, never, never again, would PDP fight PDP, now let’s move forward, also regarding this secretariat we shall not forcefully take possession, we however need to prayerfully break the jinx bedeviling victory here as we have not for once produced a governor from here unlike elsewhere in Nigeria,” Adewale said.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1 . 2017

Lack of moral value, bane of Nigeria’s development - Ukah “Values make a man and a nation. A country that has no strong values will not be attractive to investors, business men, tourists and holiday makers. Nigeria today is no longer the pride of everybody. Many countries have negative concept of our country.

From the stories they have heard about us, they feel that every Nigerian is a crook. In fact it is said in the Diaspora that the only Nigerian anyone can trust is a dead one, and this polarising information cannot be wiped away at the drop of a hat.”

A Cleric, Society Conflict Resolution Counselor and renowned human rights enthusiast, The Very Reverend Monsignor Livinus Ukah, is the Parish Priest of St. Alphonsus, Aboru, Lagos. He is unhappy with the political development in the country and has berated politicians for the moral state of the nation and lamented that Nigeria is swimming in the pool of crisis of values. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports. Visibly upset at the moral and intellectual chaos that have plagued the leadership of Africa’s most populous nation, Monsignor Livinus Ukah painted a picture of what makes a people and a nation. *****2015 election and cross carpeting Visiting the 2015 election in retrospect, the priest frowned at the fallouts of the exercise. “The 2015 election created a lot of political confusion where there was political cross carpeting. Politicians changed from one party to another in a twinkle of an eye and this is immoral!

More unnerving is that many polarised personalities are in government and there is a lot of posturing among the old politicians.

“Many PDP big wigs crossed carpeted to APC and some of those who crosscarpeted had their fingers stained! They sought asylum in APC to escape the sledge hammer of EFCC, but in the end, some of those who crossed over are being caught by the law because of Buhari’s integrity; he is a no nonsense man.”

Crisis of values “There is one general saying that “No one agrees that his mother’s food is not sweet”, but I will not agree to this narrative. Nigeria is swimming in the pool of crisis of diminishing values that has plundered the psyche of the Nigerian citizenry,” Ukah said and asked: “Has Nigeria now any résumé or dossiers of integrity? One of the philosophers said “that in the midst of moral crisis, those who maintain neutrality, the hottest place in hell is reserved for them”.

Still berating politicians, the Parish Priest of St. Alphonsus, Aboru, Lagos, said Nigeria is witnessing a wide spread of political scandal, corruption and social inequality and chronic economic crisis too. “The electorate now feels that they have been abandoned by the main stream politicians who came to power with their votes. What is happening now is a recipe for disunity, hopelessness, frustration; many Nigerians now lack the ability to start life again.

“Politics in Nigeria is altogether polarised with selfish interest dominating the corridors of power while the political flocks are neglected.”

Carpet crossing is immoral “Many break the rule of law and walk tall in the society and they do these things because the Divine is not in them; they are not conscious of Him in their lives. There is nothing we read from the national papers these days more than looting in stupendous degrees.”

Dicey situation “Imagine people burying millions and billions of dollars in the ground.

That is not all; a new discovery of 15 billion Naira in a luxury apartment in Osborne in Lagos was made. This is a dicey situation. The government should trust any investigation committee she appoints and maintain critical distance until investigation is over. We are in a pool of double standards.”

We need credibility “We need credibility for the nation.

Corruption cannot be wiped out if we cannot involve eminent Nigerians with proven dossiers and résumé to help the government in its mission. Although many Nigerians have expressed their views over this giant anti-graft war, EFCC has been there with Nuhu Ribadu as its first boss and they acquired a wealth of experience; they should not be a toothless bull dog.”

However, the Monsignor worries whether the anti-graft agency still has the energy to stamp out corruption.

“Although Ohanaeze and Arewa Youth

Monsgnor Ukah

pass a vote of confidence on the agency, but with all these happenings, one would ask if EFCC still has the energy to stamp out corruption. They should encourage Nigerians by making decisive moves, otherwise, what we see discourages us and scandalises the youths who have appetite for everything, especially at this jobless time.

“Whenever there is double standard, it means some people are above the law and when people who commit crime are not punished, one can ask many questions about the law of that country. When a law is passed, it must be enforced and obeyed

by all and there should be no sacred cows.

That is the meaning of equality before the law.”

Saddened by the trend whereby people break the laws but walk away free because they have some “big brother” in the system, the clergy man said, “These are the crisis of values we experience in a land where party affiliation should not exonerate anyone from receiving the same punishment.”

The criminal, he said, “is not the person who breaks into banks alone. Any citizen, no matter how highly placed that breaks the law of the land is a worst criminal.”

We need credibility for the nation. Corruption cannot be wiped out if we cannot involve eminent Nigerians with proven dossiers and résumé to help the government in its mission. Although many Nigerians have expressed their views over this giant anti-graft war, EFCC has been there with Nuhu Ribadu as its first boss and they acquired a wealth of experience; they should not be a toothless bull dog.

Corruption personified Defining corruption, the Canada trained psychologist defined corruption as a monster that feeds organised crime, “Therefore it is a social danger. It imperils opportunities, especially for women and girls and facilitates environmental degradation. Corruption essentially contributes to human trafficking and undermines whole communities and destroys future generations.

“Also, corruption is not only stealing.

It includes other moral pervasion, even doing the right thing in the wrong way.

When people are not cared for, they become desperate and get things through fowl means. People tend to do bad business and cheat others for personal gains.

The economy is so bad that many people cannot continue to do their legitimate businesses,” he mourned.

Injustices in the banking industry Indicting the banking industry, Ukah said there are injustices in many banks which employ young girls. “There is a crude dismissal of them. If they cannot meet set targets, they are dismissed.

Many have lost confidence in themselves as they have lost confidence in the economy.

“What would you say of a country where a young doctor would jump into the lagoon? People now head for the lagoon to “end it all”; a suicide tendency that was not common in Nigeria is now prevalent. ” Middle class is dying away.

Those who have ruled Nigeria before are still amassing wealth and they are central figures in deepening corruption.

They still parade themselves as people who have made it in life. The good people do not believe in the wealth of politicians today because their source of wealth is dubious. Wealth is not fashionable unless it is used for human development.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

11 Politics

Over 300, 000 PVCs yet uncollected in Ondo, says INEC ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that over Three Hundred Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) are yet to be collected in Ondo State.

Kabir Omosanya, the administrative secretary of the commission made the disclosure at the flag off event of the continuous voters registration exercise in Akure.

Mr. Omosanya said the pending PVCs have been sent to the local government area offices of the commission for collection by the owners who are eligible voters.

“The Commission has scanned the uncollected cards and messages will be sent to the owners from their respective LGA offices for pick up,” Omosanya said.

He said the electorates who registered in

the last exercise with the Temporary Voters Cards (TVC) in the state can visit now the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office and change them to the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).

“Those with the TVCs but could not find their names on the INEC register would also be recaptured to ensure all inclusive electoral process” he said.

He disclosed that the nationwide Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise is for the benefit of those who just attained the age of 18 years old and those who were unable to register previously.

“Is for those who just attained 18 years or could not register during the last registration exercise, and those who have Temporary Voters’ Cards but their names could not be found on the INEC Voters’ Register.

“These categories of people would be captured during the exercise in addition to those

who want to effect transfer and may be to where they work or reside,” Omosanya said the exercise would take place in all the 18 local government areas offices of the commission from Mondays to Fridays with the exemption of public holidays between the hours of 9am and 2pm.

According to him, the exercise would involve three major aspects including fresh registration, transfer of voters and distribution of Permanent Voters Cards.

He stressed that the systems of the commission have been configured and five categories of staff comprising registration officers 1-4 and distribution officers have also been recruited and trained to ensure successful exercise.

Omosanya, however, pleaded with the people of Ondo State to cooperate with Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure a successful exercise.

Gov. Akeredolu

INEC registration exercise records impressive turn-out in Owerri

OJokoro LCDA chairmanship aspirant bags award

Val Okara, Owerri.

Barely a month to the All Progressive Congress (APC), local government primary in Lagos State, a frontline politician and chairmanship aspirant in Ojokoro Local Council development Area, Hon (Dr) Babatunde Oladipo Okeyomi , has bagged an award as the Best Political Grassroot Mobilizer of the year from Nigeria NewsDirect.

The award, according to the organisers, was bestowed on Okeyomi in recognition of his immeasurable contributions, especially his philanthropic activities as a selling point to lift up the party.

According to a statement issued by his Media Aide, Mr Sunday Rotilefon and made available to journalists, the chairmanship aspirant assured that the award will propel him to do more for the party and his local government, saying that programme to extend his charity is under way.

“I’m well qualified for the award due to my contributions to the party. The award is to further promote grassroots politics and I can assure you that I will do more for my people.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continuous voter registration exercise which commenced on Thursday recorded an impressive turn out of people in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

When our correspondent visited INEC office in Owerri Municipal along Douglas road Owerri, scores of eligible persons for the registration came as early as 8.30am to be captured.

The Electoral Officer in-charge of INEC in Owerri Municipal Council, Mrs Chidinma Opara-Nestor said that the registration exercise was hitch-free in the area.

“The computers are functioning well, we have electric generating sets and other logistics,” Opara-Nestor said.

She said that five INEC staffers, and ten ad-hoc workers are involved in the exercise in her area, adding that the same number of personnel are equally working in each of the 27 INEC office across the state.

She said those eligible persons for

Prof. Yakubu

the registration are Nigerians who have turned 18 years since after the last registration exercise, and those who want to transfer their Permanent Voters’ Card registration unit.

She further explained that those whose PVCs were lost or burnt could equally come for the continuous voters registra-

tion exercise.

“The INEC Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise which commenced today April 27, 2017 is expected to last for 90 days and we are calling on all eligible persons to come now and not to wait till the last date.

“The registration exercise will take place from Monday to Friday beginning from 9am to 3pm weekly,” she said.

Opera-Nestor used the opportunity to appeal to the media to help in informing the public on the need for their participation in the exercise.

“Getting your Permanent Voters Card is the only instrument you need to effect a positive change in Nigerian’s democracy and everybody that has reached 18 years of age is encouraged to obtain his or her PCV.” Mrs Lovely Uzoma and Emeka Ibeawuchi who came for registration said they decided to come the first day of the exercise to avoid rush.

Ibeawuchi specifically said, “some Nigerians prefer to come when it is remaining one or two days to end the registration, for me I do not have the strength for this last minute rush that is why I came today.”

‘Lack of moral value, bane of Nigeria’s development’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

“In fact one should not be surprised to know that the rich can buy Nigeria when you hear of the amount of money discovered from the looters in government.”

We need a strong President “We need to have a strong government and a strong president like President Buhari without shackles of nepotism to make things work. It will take years to fix things. The miracle cannot come over night. Nigeria has many vulnerable people, people wounded in business and those dislocated by bad politics like people of the North-East, South-South and South-East, for example. Hunger is everywhere and people are dying because they do not have money to pay great bills in private hospitals.

“The values are eroded when money has become a yardstick for measuring social status. Money is seen as a social symbol in Nigeria and those who have money are above the law. It seems this is a social makeup in Nigeria and money bags will not enter where men of ideas are brain storming. Many Nigerians see politics as a game of numbers. But in

the Western world it is service. We will beg God to give us leaders for new Nigeria, to bring back the values that have gone, leaders who are trans-cultural to uplift Nigeria because where merit matters, money is not all.”

Assessing the progress of our democracy thus far, the priest said “Nigeria has been lingering at the door step of democracy, but has not really smelt democracy. They tell us that they are democratically elected but there is no veracity in that statement. Democracy helps to liberate people, but in Nigeria, the bad use of democracy dehumanises the people.”

World economy When the discourse focused on the economy, Ukah recalled that India is the fastest growing economy now.

“Nigeria could be like India, but in this country, what belongs to all is shared by the leaders, unfortunately.

“This is one of the things that kill our values and they breed corruption and bad politics. In fact, Nigeria is not politically free unless it cuts its political apron from Britain. Many politicians see Britain as their maternal home, where they deposit their loots. This way they see regionalism and parliamentary system as the best form of government even though, regionalism is nothing but

euphemism for tribalism.

“When the power brokers are out of power, they still exercise great influence on politics. That is the hemorrhage of Nigerian political situation. You hardly see a young man from Harvard University with a first class honors asking the daughter of a politician for marriage.

He cannot encroach because the society is stratified, so much that daughters of politicians marry the sons of politicians. The social stratification is so visible that you know where you fit in.

“Therefore there is no salvation in politics, because politics is allergic to morality.”

His prophecy on the Nigeria of tomorrow: “Time will come when people will work for the people and not for the party. At that time people will serve others to make good names instead of amassing wealth by dislocating our values.

“Time will come when the political equation will change and we will no longer have money bag politicians but men of compassion. People will be elected to office because they are worthy of being there; they are not there because they are given a covering note, but because they want to and are ready to serve.”

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè L ƕ ơè ƾƠơƣ

IGP’s refusal to compromise, reason for Wike’s blackmail - Rivers APC

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as a show of shame and disgrace the series of assassination plots levelled against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Idris Ibrahim, by the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike.

The party has also expressed dismay at the governor’s claim that the controversial $43 million recovered from an apartment on Osborne Road, Ikoyi-Lagos belonged to his state, saying that the utterances of the governor had brought embarrassment to the people of the state.

The party in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone, alleged that “Credible pieces of evidence at the disposal of Nigerians today confirm that Gov. Nyesom Wike had a stranglehold on the electoral umpire (INEC), the judiciary and security agencies until recently under the present Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim. Several INEC personnel are presently facing trial in court over alleged bribery by the governor involving N360m. Whereas his hold on INEC and the judiciary is as firm as ever, Gov. Wike has failed to compromise the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State or the SARS Commander.

“We make bold to ask: why is it

only under the present IGP that the Police is attempting to assassinate the governor as he claims?

Why did the previous IGP not plan to assassinate Gov. Wike?

Why was the State Police Commissioners under the previous IGP so helpless and often overruled by their boss in favour of Gov. Wike’s interest?

“The APC believes that the bitter war being unleashed on the present IGP by Gov. Wike is a desperate attempt to blackmail, coerce and subdue the IGP, the Commissioner of Police and other key officers to do the bidding of the governor in exchange for the tempting bait he always dangles which they have so far shunned.

The APC commends the IGP, the State Commissioner of Police and

other officers of the Force in Rivers State who have refused to go near Gov. Wike’s poisoned chalice,” the APC alleged.

The APC, therefore, called on the National Security Adviser, Minister of Interior and the IGP to view the actions and utterances of the governor beyond mere politics, but as grave threat to national security and do the needful to safeguard the security of the nation, adding that Governor Wike’s immunity only covered prosecution and not investigation.

On the claim on the recovered money, the APC said: “As soon as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, announced the discovery of $43m and other currencies at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Gov. Wike im-

mediately addressed the media laying claim to the money.

“In doing so, he issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to return the money to him or he would go to court. Two weeks after his bogus claim it has turned out that the governor made an empty threat as he is not in any position to carry it out for the reason that what appears like credible ownership of the said money is unravelling and it has nothing to do with the Rivers State Government.

“More so, despite the opportunity given by a federal high court sitting in Lagos for the owner of the money to come forward and claim it, Gov. Wike has made no move whatsoever in that direction.

Police arrest ex-Jigawa governor Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÏÏÏ The police in Kano on Sun-

day arrested Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State.

Lamido was alleged to have instructed his supporters to resort to violence during a live programme on one of the radio stations in Kano in case the local government election in the state scheduled for July 1 does not favour them and ensure that the opposition PDP wins the elections by all means.

Operatives of zonal investigative bureau unit of Zone 1 command of the Nigeria Police Force were said to have whisked him away from his Sharada Kano residence in the early hours of Sunday.

When our correspondent visited the headquarters of Zone 1 located along BUK road, the former governor was still being held by the police who are yet to make any official statement on the issue.

However, confirming the development to newsmen, DSP Sambo Sokoto, said that contrary to earlier speculations, Sule Lamido was invited to the command and not arrested as a result of a petition against him by the government of Jigawa State over what it described as inciting statements capable of disturbing the public peace.

When asked when the former governor would be released, Sokoto said “it’s too early for anyone to say as investigations are still ongoing”.

Additional armed mobile officers were deployed to the Zone 1 Command for security reinforcement as supporters and wellwishers of Lamido beseech the command.

R Ƒ #ƆƍƑƐƕ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè LƏ ê jƈƐƈƋ ƕ G ƕƆéj ƌ Əƈ æƾ Ɨ Əçì ƕ Ƒ ƆƏ ƄƏ Ɛ ƆƏ Ɛ Ƌ ƐƆ dƆ Ɛ Ə 9 ƈ Ɗ ƗƆƋƆƊƆè #Əê #ƆƉƈ ƗƆƋƆƊƆ æƏçì Ƈ ƏƌƆƏ R Ƒ ƌƌƈ ƈ ƆƏ Ƈ Ə CƑ ƐƈƅƆè ƏƏƈ ƐƆƏ z ƋƆ Ƈ Ƌ Ƅƈ æƋç Ɨ ƕ Ƒ ƆƏ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƗƆƅƆ ƆƗè LƏ ê L ƗƑƍƆ ƗƆƋƆƊƆ d ƈè ƗƑƏƈ ƅ Ɨ ƋƆ ƅƆ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ Ƈ ƌƈƋƕ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ƌ ƐƆ dƆ Ɛ Ə Ƅƕ Ɛ Ɔ dƐ ƐƆ &ƔƆƅƑƐƈƒƆ è Ɛ ƗƆƅƆ ƆƗô ƏƆ ƈƗƆ ƅƆè &ƗƆè R Ƒ dƐ ƐƆČ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƓƆƆƊƆ Ɨê

May Day: RƑƏ ƐƏƑ ƋƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƏƆƗƑƅƆ Ɠ ƏƊƆƏ ô ƍ ƒƆƏƐƕ Ə ƐƆ - NLC, TUC Continued from page 6 36 states of the federation, except for the first generation states, all other states that followed through memos made it as their number one guarantee that they can pay workers’ salaries from their internally generated revenue. But the same states are the one reneging in the payment of salaries.

“We will not stop calling on the governors that their states cannot pay workers’ salaries to resign because we strongly believe that no state in this country that cannot generate revenue internally to pay salaries except the governor is not serious. We are so lazy that we just sit down and wait for federal allocation while making our internally generated revenue our weekend fund.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has

described Nigerian workers as the life-’blood and driving force of the nation’s development in view of their invaluable contributions.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to mark the 2017 Workers’ Day celebration, Saraki lauded the resilience and commitment of workers in both the formal and informal sector, describing their contribution to the nation and the economy as priceless.

“From the SMEs that contribute over 47 percent to our GDP, to the civil servants who are the driving force behind our government, all the way to the unregistered business owners who work to make a living for themselves and their families, every Nigerian worker in both the formal and informal sectors makes a priceless contribution to the sustainability

of our nation,” the Senate President said.

“As we mark this year’s Workers’ Day, all Nigerian workers should be proud that their significant contributions keep this nation moving forward — as they are the lifeblood of our country, an integral part of the fabric that makes up our society,” he said.

Saraki also stated that the Senate will continue to work to establish and enhance all legislation that will guarantee the safety and well-being of Nigerian workers, while also emphasizing on the need for governments across all levels and participants in the private sector to work towards ensuring that our workers receive their salaries and pensions as at when due while necessary periodic training should be availed them to make workers competitive in a changing world.

“As a result of globalization, the Nigerian workforce is no longer competing with itself, we are now competing with our counterparts from both developing and developed nations,” the Senate President said, “With this in mind, it is necessary that all employers — those in the public and private sectors — work to continuously invest in the development of their employees.

“On our part, the Nigerian Senate will continue to partner with Nigerian workers to enact legislation that will guarantee that they get their dues at the appropriate time, that their safety and well-being in the workplace are reassured. All these are necessary because when our workers are well taken care of, our businesses thrive, our economy grows, and our nation continues to succeed,” he stated.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

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13

PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Production of illegal drugs in Nigeria

R

ecently, the United Nations (UN) lambasted Nigeria for the continued production of illicit narcotics and psychotropic drugs in the country. A report by International Narcotics Control Board, an agency of the UN, stated that three illegal laboratories manufacturing methamphetamine were dismantled in May 2015 bringing to 10 the total number of such laboratories closed in the country since 2011.

It further noted that in most of the methamphetamine laboratories seized, only traces of the key precursor, ephedrine, were found and the sources of the chemicals were generally not known. Lamenting the development, Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Nigeria, Cristina Albertin, called for concerted efforts to checkmate the illicit manufacturing of psychotropic substances.

As if to corroborate the claim, some officials of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), have admitted that they are aware of persistent and emerging challenges regarding drug problems in Nigeria, even as they are working with relevant stakeholders to address the problem. We are alarmed at this revelation and call on the relevant authorities to put all stringent measures in place to check such nefarious business in the country.

By their composition, psychotropic drugs are highly dangerous substance which production must be strictly regulated and supervised by experts. Moreover, their environmental and health consequences are endless. For example, gases that are released from the production of meth are deadly, if inhaled. For every pound of methamphetamine produced, five to six pounds of waste products are generated, even as they also cause skin cancer if exposed to

Publisher/Editor in Chief

the human skin.

With a huge population of some 170 million people, Nigeria is an awesome and thriving market for the consumption of illicit drugs. Indeed, more worrisome is the fact that foreigners have infiltrated the illegal drug manufacturing syndicate in the country.

Reports reveal that between 2013 and 2015, a total of 284.583kg of methamphetamine (meth) were seized by the NDLEA; the largest seizure being 50kg of Ephredine that was destined for Mozambique. Reason for involvement of foreigners is that very few Nigerians have the expertise to produce these illicit drugs.

There is the fear that if Nigerians should master the art of producing meth locally, the health and environment implications would be disastrous.

Investigations show that the preferred destination for meth traffickers in Nigeria is Asia and the reason is that it is the most profitable.

While a kilogramme of cocaine sells for N3m that of methamphetamine cost N12m/N15m per kilogramme. Medical report reveals that the drug gives users an intense rush, heightens attention and curbs appetite. It is highly addictive. Over time, addicts usually suffer anxiety, weight loss and tooth decay.

According to drugs experts, Nigeria dominates meth production in West Africa. Aside having the continent’s biggest population it has some of the region’s most established criminal gangs.

Given the enormous damage narcotics do to humanity, no effort should be spared by the government to curb its menace.

Drug abuse is a global phenomenon that has assumed increasing and alarming dimensions; there is the need for all stakeholders to take clear decisive and sustained actions to stem this menace.

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Muhammad Ali

Kanayo O Kanayo

Nelson Mandela

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

“You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.”

“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

All is set for Pst Adeboye visit to Yola/Taraba

ÏÏÏAs maintenance dredging of river Niger commences Idris Ahmed, Lokoja

ÏÏÏFollowing

the flag off of the maintenance dredging of river Niger, the federal government has again reiterated its assurance to complete the on-going construction of Lokoja and Idah River ports in Kogi state.

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, gave the assurance at the weekend while flagging-off the maintenance dredging along Ajaokuta-Onitsha Waterways Channel.

The minister stated that the commitment of the Buhari-led administration to complete all the on-going waterways projects across the country is aimed at boosting navigation industry in Nigeria.

Amaechi disclosed that the maintenance dredging of the AjaokutaOnitsha Water Channel will cost the federal government the sum of N44billion of which N38billion has been paid to mobilize contractor to site to ensure early completion of the project.

He however noted that the federal government has realised that the project could be executed through direct labour with the sum of N10bil-

lion only and advised the National Inland Waterways Authority to embrace direct labour approach in carrying out its projects to reduce cost.

The minister also re-stated the resolve of the present administration in Nigeria to continue to provide the people with enough democracy dividends in order to improve upon their living conditions “We are utilizing

the resources at our disposal to work and get results in lifting Nigeria to the next level” He commended the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority for making good use of its budgetary allocation to boost water transportation saying that the dredging of the River Niger will create employment and enhance economic

and business activities of riverine communities across the country.

Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in his goodwill message during the Flag-Off, lauded the federal government for the establishment of two river ports in the state and stressed that the dredging project will facilitate the smooth operations of the ports.

Singers, Jayfegs; Clarie Babie; Eloquest and Sammy West, at a singing competition at the Asaba edition of the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour … at the weekend.

Ebonyi renames Presco junction after Offia Nwali ÏÏÏAs

way of honouring one of the late founding fathers of Ebonyi state, Sen. Offia Nwali, the David Umahi-led government has named the popular PRESCO junction situated along the ever-busy Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway after him.

Engr. Umahi, who made the announcement on at the weekend during Nwali’s funeral at the Onueke Township Stadium, Ezza South local government area of the state, noted that it was a way of immortalizing him.

He added that a “beautiful statute of Nwali would be erected at the junction so that people coming from both ends of the junction would behold its magnificence.”

The governor noted that the moment called for sober reflection on man’s journey on earth as the date of his tragic and painful demise shall remain a historic reminder of the moment that not just Ebonyi or Nigeria and humanity was diminished by this colos-

sal loss.

“I praise Nwali’s courage, resilience and forthrightness while alive, as he was a huge blessing and figure of genuine distinction and pride to his family, Ezza clan, Ebonyi, Igbo race and Nigeria,” Umahi said.

He noted that nobody would believe that over two years ago, Nwali contested the state’s governorship position and was the first man to courageously confront the socalled anointed man of the past administration, who claimed to be called to lead the state.

Engr. Umahi urged his family, relatives and people of the state to be consoled by the legacies Nwali left behind and pledged that the state government would always identify with the family.

The Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, described Nwali as a seasoned politician, ardent scholar and erudite educationist who made significant contributions to the growth

and development of his people.

Saraki, represented by Chief Obinna Ogba, noted that Nwali displayed exceptional discipline, character and exemplary statesmanship worthy of emulation.

Ebonyi state Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, noted that Nwali represented many things to many people: while to some, he was an enigma, to others, a godfather and yet to others, an embodiment of perseverance with uncommon composure and comportment.

His family members, individuals and groups from all sectors of human endeavour from the state, national and across the globe, paid glowing tributes to the late statesman and icon.

Nwali was the first blackman to obtain a Doctorate degree in Computer and Analytical Studies from the prestigious Harvard University, United States. He represented Abakaliki Senatorial District in the old Anambra state at the National Assembly between 1979—1983.

Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏBarely

a week to the programme, all is now set for ‘Special Campus Holy Ghost Service,’ organised by Region 7 (comprising Adamawa and Taraba states) of the Redeemed Christian church of (RCCG) which is also to host the General Overseer of the ministry, Pastor Enoch Adejere Adeboye.

The one day visit of the international preacher is expected to be power-packed, making the people of the states to have much expectations of what God is going to do in their lives through the man of God. All the parishes of the RCCG have commenced pre-program prayers and fasting toward the coming of the expected August visitor which was scheduled to hold at Ribadu square, Jimeta in Yola Adamawa state on May 8, 2017.

During his Sunday sermon, the Pastor in charge of Royal parish, the headquarters of the region, Pastor Lawrence Obodo, charged the congregants on preparation to “receiving a Father’s blessings.”

Taking his text from the book of Genesis 27:4-29, he revealed that the blessings of the is father is the most coveted which any person must fight to get it.

Obodo called on the worshipers to do all that they can do to receive the blessings that Pst E A Adeboye will be bringing to the people of Adamawa and Taraba states.

He stated that there are “fathers and there are fathers,” and Pst Adeboye has paid his dues to be a father indeed not only in Nigeria but in the whole world and instructed that every good son of his father should do all that he can to get his blessings.

“As you key into the father’s blessings, I pronounce blessings on you that no one will take from you and may you be the most prefered one to receive the blessings of the father.

“As we wait the coming of our father in the Lord (Adeboye), may you begin to magnetize untold blessings any where you go in Jesus name,” he pronounced.

Minna

Man petition IGP over adoption, forceful marriage of teenage daughter

ÏÏÏA farmer in Shudna village in Shiroro local government of Niger state, Mr. Habila Gambo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, over the adoption and forceful marriage of his 16 year old daughter, Janet, by a tailor, Nasiru Yusuf, in Erena village of the state.

In the petition titled ‘Compliant of criminal breach of trust, kidnapping unlawful adoption, and forceful mar-

riage of a minor, Janet Habila by one Nasiru Yusuf of Erena village in shiroro local government of Niger state,’ Mr. Gambo said his teenage daughter was kidnapped and forced into marriage by the man who was entrusted to train her as a tailor.

The petition filed on behalf of Habila by Cosmic Chambers signed by Daniel Omakor Esq and dated April 24, 2017, copied to other agencies and made available to Daily Times in Min-

Saka Bolaji,

na, also accused a Sharia Court judge in Erana of conspiring with Yusuf to secretly order a marriage between Janet and Yusuf under unknown Islamic law without the consent of her Christian parents knowing very well that the girl is a minor and a Christian.

The petition read in part: “On March 15, 2017, our client got home and was showed a summons from the Sharia Court, Erena commanding

him to attend court the following day unfailingly.

Our client, accompanied by his cousin, one Pastor Ishaya Jagaba, without knowing the nefarious grand plan that awaited him, was shocked to hear from the Judge of the Sharia Court that his daughter Janet had converted and embraced Islam and her name has been changed to Zainab and she has been married to Nasiru Yusuf of Erena whom she has been

entrusted to learn the art of tailoring.”

Habila said that the judge ignored his vehement objection to the purported marriage on ground his daughter is a minor and incapable of giving consent for marriage without her parents.

He expressed shock that the judge ordered him out of the court saying he was only summoned to be informed of the marriage and nothing more.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Edo dep Gov gives marching order to heads of LG on mosquito treated nets ÏÏÏ Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, has urged Heads of Local Government Administrations (HOLGA) in the state to provide adequate storage facilities for the insecticide-treated mosquitoes nets being expected in their various councils. The state government in collaboration with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has started taken delivery of the 2.6 million treated net expected to be distributed in the 192 wards across the state.

At a meeting in Benin yesterday, the deputy governor told the state committee on rollback malaria and Heads of Local Government Administration, HOLGAs that the supply of the treated nets is being sponsored by the World Bank through the Federal Ministry of Health.

The deputy governor who is the chairman of the committee on roll back malaria further implored the HOLGAs to, as a matter of importance put their storage facilities in proper shape in readiness for the delivery of the mosquito nets,stressing that no single net will be allowed to be wasted or hidden without getting to its final destination.

He said that the state Governor has approved the immediate commencement of renovation work on the delapidated parts of the state medical stores facilities.

According to him, “the Governor has directed that work should start immediately and that if possible, let them work day and night to get the storage ready before the final delivery.

He insisted that the programme is targeted at the grassroots, especially the pregnant women and children who are vulnerable and susceptible to malaria infections.”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga, said that a maximum of four nets would be given to each family.

According to Ugbodaga,the most targeted groups are the pregnant women and children under five years of age who are most susceptible to malaria infection.

Also speaking at the meeting, the representative of Catholic Relief Service, Mr Okechukwu Onyi, urged the heads of local government administrations to ensure proper documentation of the exercise and ensure the availability of their storage facilities to house the nets

15 News

Lagos monarchs fingered in kidnapping will be dethrowned –Commissioner Benjamin Omoik

ÏÏÏThe Lagos state government has sounded a note of warning to monarchs in the state allegedly involved in kidnapping; stressing that it will not hesitate to employ the full weight of the law in dealing with any traditional leader found culpable in such unwholesome act.

The zero tolerance for criminality handed any monarch found to have compromised their exalted positions, says they will be derobed immediately.

The revelation was made on at the weekend in Ikeja by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami, while giving account of his ministry’s stewardship at the yearly ministerial

press briefing in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s second year in office.

“Kidnapping has become a major challenge in Lagos lately, and I must tell you that the state government is not relenting in its effort to ensure that it rids the state of this cankerworm. It’s a sad situation we find ourselves in and we need the collaboration of everybody to support the government.

“We have found out, investigation has revealed that some traditional leaders, especially in the IkoroduIshawo area are collaborating with kidnappers to kidnap innocent citizens. Yesterday, I held a meeting with them, about 500 of them were there and I told them to their faces, if you’re

caught to be involved in such criminality, you will be derobed,” he said.

The Commissioner said in the last one year, the state approved the appointment, upgrading and recognition of 142 Obas, Chiefs and Baales after due process.

According to the Commissioner, the process of appointment was very transparent.

“The appointment, upgrading and recognition of the 142 Obas, Chiefs and Baales followed due process.

The new approved Obas that were installed and presented with instrument of appointment and staff of office include; HRM Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, HRM Oba nofiu DaudaOduowoiya as Elete of Ete Land and

HRM Oba Tajudeen Alabi Fagboun as Alakesan of Akesan, among others.

In his remarks, Folami said there were some ongoing projects in the state, among which include notably, the upgrade of the LASU FM and LASPOTECH FM stations this year.

This he said, is expected to be completed by the end of this quarter.

Folami stressed that the LASU and LASPOTECH FM stations upgrade is the Community Radio Project launch pad for a much bigger vision of the state government. He said in the third quarter if this year, Lagos will witness the take-off of phase one of the Community Radio in five locations, namely: Oshodi-Isolo Radio, Epe Radio, Kosofe Radio, Badagry Radio and Alimosho Radio.

Saraki Congratulates NGE’s President, Egbemode

L-R: Okey Nwuke, Deputy Group Managing Director, Coscharis Limited; Cosmas Maduka, President/CEO, Coscharis Group; Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc; Obinna Nwosu, erstwhile Group DMD/COO of Access Bank; Aigboje AigImoukhuede, President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Oritsedere Otubu, Chairman, Stacoprime Capital Limited, during the Valedictory Luncheon for Nwosu at the Bank’s head o ffice in Lagos… recently.

Again, Ilaje leaders ask IGP to call prophet to order over religious extremism

Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏLeaders of

Ayetoro in Ilaje local government areas of Ondo state have called for the immediate arrest of a prophet in the community, identified as Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, for allegedly preaching strange doctrines that could lead to insurgency.

The leaders spoke on Sunday with journalists under the auspices of the Peace of Jerusalem while raising alarm over alleged untoward activities of prophet Ojagbohunmi.

The erstwhile Chairman of Ilaje LGA, Tola Alabere, who spoke on behalf of the leaders, said peace has evaded Ayetoro community since Ojagbohunmi started his prophetic business in 2006.

Hon. Alabere alleged that the prophet had also been running a parallel government with surrepti-

tious move to forcefully ascend the throne of the Oba who also doubles as the spiritual leader.

He revealed that Ayetoro, a coastal community with a theocratic form of government, has been under the control of Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo who was installed in 2015 as the 6th Ogeloyinbo.

According to him, several efforts had been made by the leaders, government, police and Olugbo-InCouncil under, Oba Fredrick Akinrutan to ensure peace rein in the coastal community to no avail.

The former council boss said that the ascension of Oba Micah Ajijo as the spiritual leader of the community followed established processes and ratification by the OgeloyinboIn-Council.

“The allegation that Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo was imposed on Aiyetoro Community and the church is

therefore false, malicious and a deliberate misinformation.

“The appointment painstakingly followed a due process in accordance with the age - long tradition of the church and the Constitution of the Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro.

“The hidden truth must be told that the entire opposition to the appointment of His Spiritual Majesty, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo which has been showcased in Aiyetoro Community till date has the undercurrent of the failed vaulting ambition of Mr. Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi to ascend the hallowed throne of the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro and Spiritual Health of the church”, Mr. Alabere said.

He threatened that the community would resist peacefully any attempts

by Ojagbohunmi and his group to usurp the Ogeloyinbo throne through “religious fanaticism”.

ÏÏÏSenate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Sunday, congratulated Mrs. Funke Egbemode, on her reelection as the president of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), during the guild’s Biennial Convention in Lagos.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, noted that the choice of Egbemode, who is the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph Newspapers, is a clear testimony that she has successfully justified the confidence reposed in her by her colleagues in the past year.

Saraki said: “I can only admonish her to work harder to extend the frontiers of her achievements as the President of the NGE. Her return unopposed is a fitting tribute to the fact that her contributions have been recognized. As they say: “the reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”

He also lauded the NGE for the peaceful and transparent elections while urging the body to collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other critical stakeholders to rid the journalism profession of quacks and impostors whose activities daily undermine the credibility of the true professionals.

Egbemode

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

TIMES AGAINST CORRUPTION EFCC Recovered N17bn through Whistle-blower policy – Magu Stories by Tony Amokeodo, Abuja

The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, disclosed that the introduction of the whistle-blower policy by the federal government has led to the recovery of about N17billion by the Commission.

Magu stated this while presenting a paper titled “Before Corruption Kills Nigeria”, at the 62nd Award Night of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.

In the paper, which was presented on his behalf by Dr. A. Bello, Magu said, “Apart from several other recoveries running into several billions of naira, the recent whistle-blower policy, has led to

the recovery of N521,815,000, $53,272,747, £122,890, and $547,730 by the EFCC.” Reiterating the EFCC’s commitment to combating corruption, Magu called on the media to support the ongoing fight against corruption as that was the only way the battle can be won.

He said, “The EFCC is committed to pursuing its statutory mandate and to rescue the Nigerian state and its people from being killed by corruption. We call on the Media and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in this crusade. With the government and people of Nigeria behind the EFCC, we shall surely be victorious”.

The EFCC boss further revealed that commission has recorded 62 convictions in the first quarter of the year.

In his remarks, the National President, NUJ, Abdulwaheed Odusile, pledged the

Union’s support for the EFCC and commended the Commission for its committed efforts in combating corruption of all manners in Nigeria.

He also urged the agency to continue carrying out its operation without fear or favour.

He said, “While we commend the EFCC for its efforts in fighting economic crimes and corruption, we urge it to be diligent and painstaking in its assignment, and continue to operate without fear or favour. The media will continue to support their efforts in this regard”.

The NUJ boss also faulted the rejection of Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC by the Senate and called for synergy between the legislature and the executive in the interest of the nation.

EFCC presents 3 additional witnesses against Azibaola, wife Three witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, testified in the ongoing trial of a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Robert, his wife, Stella and their firm, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Azibaola and his co-accused were alleged to have diverted $40million purportedly meant for supply of Tactical Communication kits for Special Forces which was transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, with the Central Bank of Nigeria to the domiciliary account of their company, One Plus Holdings.

The EFCC witnesses: Mohammed A. Bello, Confidence Onabu and Remigius Ugwu testified as PW6, PW7 and PW8 respectively and were led in evidence by the lawyer to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir.

Bello, while testifying told the court that sometime between October 2014 and April 2015, he met one Amobi Ogum through his account officer in Zenith Bank, Obinna Amaechi.

According to him, Ogum was the account relationship officer for One Plus.

Bello, who is the managing director of Karahyna Nigeria Limited, said that, he maintains both naira and dollar account. He told the court that his first encounter with One Plus was for transaction of $150,000, in which he gave the bank the dollars (in cash) for it to be transferred to his domiciliary account because the bank did not have dollars in cash to give to customers.

The witness added that, within the period under reference, there was a total transaction of $6,600,000 into his account from One Plus adding that, at times he used to pay naira into one Kamaludeen Dahiru’s account supplied

by Ogum.

s

EFCC arraigns Court official over N9.2m fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, arraigned a deputy chief registrar of the Ibadan Judicial Divison of Oyo State High Court, Mutiat Omobola Adio, before Justice S. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on a 2-count charge of N9.2million fraud.

Adio was said to have collected the said N9.2million as payment for a property located at Plot 10, Block XXIV, Bashorun Estate, Ibadan, sold to one Yekini Olonade, but failed to surrender the title documents of the property to him.

Efforts of the victim to either recover the money or have possession of the property proved abortive.

According to the EFCC, the offence is contrary to Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act. One of the counts reads: “That you, Ms Mutiat Omobola Adio on or about the 19th of December, 2016, at Ibadan within the Ibadan judicial Division of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Nine million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,200,000,00) only from one Alhaji Yekini Olonade through Kunle Abimbola by falsely pretending that it was part payment of the cost price of a building and land situate, lying and being at plot 10, Block XXLV, Bashorun Estate, Lagelu Local Government Area, Ibadan which you purported to have sold to him”.

Court fixes June 19 for judgment in Tompolo’s suit against I-G, EFCC

Cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Robert and his wife, Stella, arriving for their trial at the Federal High Court Abuja...on Friday.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday fixed June 19 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Chief Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, seeking the enforcement of his rights.

Tompolo, who had been declared wanted since Feb. 12, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is seeking court’s protection against prosecution over an alleged N45.9 billion fraud.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the EFCC, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.

On Thursday, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun reserved judgment in the suit after hearing arguments from counsel.

Adopting his originating processes, counsel to the first and second respondents, Mr T.A Mofolu, argued that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, provides for speedy criminal trials.

According to him, the law provides that an accused has a right of appeal where he is not at par with the decision of a court.

He said in this case the respondent was aware of an appeal filed by the applicant.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Times Against Corruption 19

The A-Z and 24 ‘Dos and ‘Don’ts of how to fight corruption (2) one in five surveyed find government actions positive, more than half indicate that the government is not doing a good job. Perhaps most worrying is the fact that a full 15 percent of the public worldwide believe that not only is government not effective in its anticorruption work, but that government is actually a source of the problem in that it encourages corruption.

10. Views on government efforts and public sector corruption do not always align

Corruption and its effects in our society have continued to dominate public discourse and conversations. MIKE OZEKHOME, in this piece, x-rays the phenomenon of corruption and proffers suggestions on how tackle the social evil .

By Mike Ozekhome CORRUPTION IS NOT A NIGERIAN CITIZEN:STOP GLAMOURARIZING IT. Corruption was not invented by, nor is it peculiar to Nigerians. On the contrary, the problem of corruption is both an endemic and a universal one which affects all world nations but in varying degrees and forms. To quote Alatas (1990: 11), the problem is “trans-systematic; that is, it inheres in all social systems - feudalism, capitalism, communism and socialism. Corruption manifests itself with significant similarities and differences in different societies, depending on the particular system of power c distribution and the legal and moral norms operating therein.

According to Amnesty International, (2015), Based on expert opinion, the Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide. Not one single country, anywhere in the world, is corruption-free. Sixty-eight per cent of countries worldwide have a serious corruption problem. Half of the G20 are among them.

Transparency International’s (TI) Global Corruption Barometer 2006 (the Barometer) provides an indication of both the form and extent of corruption, from the viewpoint of citizens from around the world. It explores experience of petty bribery in greater depth than ever before, presenting information on the institutions and public services most affected by bribery, the frequency of bribery, and how much people pay. Its conclusion was that corruption as a worldwide problem.

Overall, these results show that people everywhere see corruption as a major problem. While there are differences between countries in the extent to which people experience corruption in their everyday lives, there is a widespread perception that the authority vested in institutions that ought to represent the public interest is, in fact, being abused for private gain. Some of the important findings are summarized below: 1. Experience of bribery is much more widespread in rest of the world than Europe and North America; police are most often bribed.

Corruption in many sectors: NGOs,

Mike Ozekhome

religious bodies, police, civil service, military, education, the legal system/judiciary, media, parliament/legislature, health care and utilities is indicated. Although some improvements are shown but that cannot be taken as an indication that the problem of corruption has been solved.

2. Government performance in the fight against corruption is not felt adequate in most countries. People around the world tend to be very negative about their government’s attempt to fight corruption. Despite relatively good scores on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2006, nearly one in five respondents in the United States and the United Kingdom think that their government encourages corruption rather than fighting it.

3. The perception remains that political parties and parliament are most corrupt, followed by business and police 4. Political and business life are judged more affected by corruption than family life in most countries. Political life is viewed as being most affected by corruption, followed closely by the business environment.

5. Bribery of police worst the world over: According to the Global Corruption Barometer 2006, bribes are most commonly paid around the world to the police, and are substantially more frequent than to other services. This result presents enormous concerns regarding corruption in processes of law enforcement, particularly when viewed alongside the sector identified as the third most common recipient of bribes: the legal system and judiciary.

6. Bribery continues to plague people in poorer and transitional countries.

Bribery in poor and transitional countries represents a major impediment, one that holds back human development and economic growth. The poorest in so-

ciety are least able to afford to pay bribes and often must go without basic services as a result. And respondents in several African countries, such as Congo, Nigeria and Senegal, admitted to paying multiple bribes, indicating an even greater burden.

7. Bribery of Law Enforcers worst the world over More than half the respondents in Africa who have had contact with the police in the past 12 months paid a bribe. In Latin America approximately one in three respondents who have had contact with the police paid a bribe, and in the NIS, Asia-Pacific and South East Europe the figure varies between 15 and 20 percent.

Only a very small proportion of respondents from North America and the EU+ regional groupings have paid a bribe to the police, which is in line with the overall low rates of bribe-paying among the general public in these regions.

8. Registrations and permits require the biggest bribes In case of Albania, Cameroon, Gabon and Morocco over 40% respondents paid bribe. Incidence in Africa shows that the largest bribes are paid to the legal system and judiciary, followed by the police and education system. The average bribe to each of these organizations is greater than US $ 100. The amount paid to utilities organizations, which are the second most commonly bribed, is much lower.

For many people in these countries even such an amount is significant; for the poorest it would be prohibitive, with the result that they may be denied basic services due to an inability to pay bribes. Incidence in North America appears to be very small and in Asia quite appreciable.

9. Governments are underperforming in the fight against corruption The majority of people around the world have a poor opinion of their government’s anti-corruption efforts. While

There is no correlation between a good score in the CPI 2006 and the public endorsement of a government’s anti-corruption efforts. This may be because some governments will have been in power for only a short period of time when polling is done for the Barometer, while a country’s performance in the CPI also reflects the performance of past administrations, not just the present one. In addition, good performance by government in anti-corruption can only come about through sustained change that translates into better quality of life for ordinary citizens.

11. Political parties and parliament still viewed around the world as most corrupt The results of the TI Global Corruption Barometer 2006 show that political parties and parliament/legislature are perceived to be most affected by corruption. The police are also viewed rather poorly, a result which coincides with the findings presented earlier in this report that the police are the institution most likely to be bribed around the world. Identifying parties, parliaments and police as corrupt throws into question some of the most representative and authoritative institutions in a society, and puts at risk their capacity to perform credibly with any degree of transparency and integrity 3. HALT THE LOPSIDENESS OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR: GET NIGERIANS TO BUY INTO IT. Political analysts have described the anti-corruption fight as lopsided focusing only on members of the opposition, and any perceived threat, critical voice, or opposition to the Government. The clear message the Buhari Administration is passing across to Nigerians and indeed, the entire world is quite simple.

Once a person decamps to the APC, and no matter how corrupt he or she might have been perceived to be while in public office, or however weighty the corruption allegations on his neck, he or she automatically transforms into a saint. One can describe it as political “born again”, wherein all his past sins of corruption in public office notwithstanding, he is forgiven by the APC-led administration. He is like Naaman, the leper who became cleansed of his leprosy after being dipped in River Jordan 7 times.

For the avoidance of doubt, it has been widely reported in the media that some key public figures in the Buhari Administration have grave questions relating to corruption with regard to their stewardship as governors in their respective states, and their roles in their present positions.

Cont. Next week

20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

21 Public Notice

MRS VICTORIA ABOSEDE AYINDE

ORIYOMI OLAIDE OMOLOLU.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OYEGUN-OMOWUNMI FATIMAT.

ENUGHALU OGOCHUKWU

OBOT DANIEL UKO

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS VICTORIA ABOSEDE OYENIRAN NOW I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS VICTORIA ABOSEDE AYINDE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTEA.

Formerly known and addressed as SHORINOLA OLAIDE OMOLOLU, now wish to be known and addressed as ORIYOMI OLAIDE OMOLOLU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

This is to certify that ONWUKA EZINNE CHIMZURUM and ONWUKA EZINNE CHRISTABEL refers to one and same person, now wish to be known as ONWUKA EZINNE CHIMZURUM. All former documents remain valid. INSTITUTIONS and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MUIBI OMOWUNMI-FATIMAT, now wish to be known and addressed as OYEGUN-OMOWUNMI FATIMAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

.Formerly known and addressed as AHANONU OGONNA EDITH, now wish to be known and addressed as ENUGHALU OGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DIVINE DANIEL UKO, now wish to be known and addressed as OBOT DANIEL UKO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/CORRECTION OF BIRTH DATE Formerly known and addressed as UNACHUKWU SAMUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as AGWUNOBI SAMUEL CHINEDU. That my date of birth was wrongly written as 10 March 1970 on my BVN instead 10 October 1972. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

APAMPA ELIZABETH ADEBOUNPE

ABEL FAITH ANYA

Formerly known and addressed as ABEL FAITH IRENE, now wish to be known and addressed as ABEL FAITH ANYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ANDERSON JOY UMWENI Formerly known and addressed as UMWENI JOY GRACE, now wish to be known and addressed as now wish to be known and addressed as ANDERSON JOY UMWENI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SALAMI WASIU OLAWALE Formerly known and addressed as ABDUL SALAMI ABDUL WASIU OLAWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI WASIU OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

HASSAN KEHINDE HASSAN

ADEDAYO FESTUS OLUWAFEMI. Formerly known and addressed as ADEDAYO FESTUS AYANLEYE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDAYO FESTUS OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AGWU BENEDICTA OGONNA. Formerly known and addressed as ANOKE BENEDICTA NNENWOGO, now wish to be known and addressed as AGWU BENEDICTA OGONNA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

XZXZXZ .Formerly known and addressed as BENSON SAMUEL DARE, now wish to be known and addressed as BENSON SAMUEL ARIBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BALOGUN ADIJATTOYIN ALIMI

SARAH CHINYERE OGBUELI

Formerly known and addressed as SARAH CHINYERE ONYEGBULE, now wish to be known and addressed as SARAH CHINYERE OGBUELI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JEGEDE FAUSAT OLUWAKEMI.

ODOGWU OLUWASEYI MUSTAPHA

Formerly known and addressed as BASHIRU FAUSAT OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as JEGEDE FAUSAT OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ODOGWU AFAM OLUWASEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as ODOGWU OLUWASEYI MUSTAPHA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OSUNKILE DADA VICTOR

ESIAKA NKECHI ANABELLA

Formerly known and addressed as AWONIYI DADA VICTOR, now wish to be known and addressed as OSUNKILE DADA VICTOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL NKECHI ANABELLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ESIAKA NKECHI ANABELLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IBIRONKE ADEGBOYEGA ADEYEMO

CHRISTY GEORGE EDEWEDE

Formerly known and addressed as YEMISI ABOSEDE ADEBOUNPE, now wish to be known and addressed as APAMPA ELIZABETH ADEBOUNPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

My name was wrongly written as SOKOTO SAHABI instead of SAHABI SOKOTO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that ADEFEMI QUADRI ALLI BALOGUN is the same person bearing ALLI BALOGUN A and ADEFEMI QUADRI ALLI BALOGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NGOZI ESTHER EDWIN Formerly known and addressed as NGOZI OKPARA, now wish to be known and addressed as NGOZI ESTHER EDWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MISS OSEMENE PLEROMA EJIMKEONYE

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OSEMENE MARTHA, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS OSEMENE PLEROMA EJIMKEONYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

I, MOHAMMED UMAR wish to add my middle name ABBAS to my name which was omitted in my BVN. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMMED UMAR ABBAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

HARUNA SAMODU OLAWALE

Formerly known and addressed as ARUNO SAMODU OLAWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as HARUNA SAMODU OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UDU HAPPINESS JOY Formerly known and addressed as OKONTA JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as UDU HAPPINESS JOY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as HASSAN OLUMIDE HASSAN, now wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN KEHINDE HASSAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as POPOOLA OLUWATOYIN ADIJATKUBURAT, now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN ADIJATTOYIN ALIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ADEGBOYEGA GYKITS, now wish to be known and addressed as IBIRONKE ADEGBOYEGA ADEYEMO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as CHRISTY ANTHONY ABHULIMEN, now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTY GEORGE EDEWEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EBERE FLORENCE OLUCHI

EDOLO ADA GLORY

NNANNA JUDE CHIDUBEM

JOSEPH RISIKAT

ISHOLA OYINDAMOLA OPEYEMI

Formerly known and addressed as AGUWA FLORENCE OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as EBERE FLORENCE OLUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SHODEHINDE ELIZABETH TITILAYO

Formerly known and addressed as IREKE ADA GLORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as EDOLO ADA GLORY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as SHODEINDE PENNINAH, now wish to be known and addressed as SHODEHINDE ELIZABETH TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNDIPE RISIKAT, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH RISIKAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as FEYIJIN Oyindamola Opeyemi now wish to be known and add ISHOLA Oyindamola Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TAWAKALITU ARIKE RAUFU

OKORIE ABUCHI MOSES

I, formerly known and addressed as TAWAKALITU ARIKE ABOLANLE now wish to be known and addressed as TAWAKALITU ARIKE RAUFU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKORIE MADUABUCHI MOSES now wish to be known and addressed as OKORIE ABUCHI MOSES. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS KALU CHRISTIANA IJEOMA

ONAKOYA FUNMILAYO ESTHER

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mbonu Christiana Ijeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kalu Christiana Ijeoma. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Akinsiju Funmilayo Esther now wish to be known and addressed as Onakoya Funmilayo Esther. My correct date of birth is 7/10/1983. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DURU JUDE CHIDIEBERE and DURU JUDE CHIDUBEM, now wish to be known and addressed as NNANNA JUDE CHIDUBEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHRIST ILLUMINATION BELIEVERS RECONCILIATION EMBASSY INT’L. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE DANIEL-LIGHT OMOKHUDU OKOYOMOH. 2. PASTOR DANIEL-OKOYOMOH ECHIDI EVELYN. 3. PASTOR OJENU OGHENERO SIMON. 4. PASTOR OKHUMOYA MICHAEL-LOVE. 5. PASTOR FITZGERALD-TIBI AUGUSTA ONYEBUCHI. AIM: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL; CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

BRETHREN OF HIS COVENANT MINISTRY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION AS AN INCORPORATED TRUSTEE UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, CAP. C-20, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1).REV. AKPAN JUMBO ASIAN 2) IKPAETOK IME FRANCIS 3).ASIEN BLESSING JUMBO 4).SATURDAY JEREMIAH 5).CHIDI ENO OBONG NWACHUKWU

-

PRESIDENT SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES I).

TO TAKE THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION OF OUR LORD JESUS TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD AND TO BRING SOULS INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST II). TO DELIVER PEOPLE FROM DARKNESS AND THE BONDAGE OF SIN, SICKNESS, POVERTY AND EVERY SATANIC OPPRESSION AND MANIPULATION III). TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS HARMONY IV). THE PROMOTING OF HOLINESS AS A WAY OF CHRISTIAN LIVING V). THE QUEST FOR SALVATION AS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS IN DAILY LIFE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

THE PASTOR’S WIFE WELFARE ORGANISATION INT’L This is to notify the general public that the above-named Organization has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES; 1. Pastor Celestine C. Aneke (Chaiman).

3. Pst. (Mrs) Hart Dorothy Iwo (Member).

5. Pst. Progress Aghedo (Member)

2. Sister Catherine Agu (Secretary).

4. Mrs. Agatha C. Aneke (Member).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES; 1. To preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, establish and conduct prayer meetings, camp session, conferences, rallies, win and nourish souls.

2. To train and equip pastor’s wives and female ministers or workers for the work of the ministry.

3. To give hope, love, general welfare, care hospitality to pastor’s wives and female ministers/preachers, especially widows in rural areas.

4. To publish /print Christian Literature, including tracts, magazines, periodicals, books, journals, circulars, stickers and newsletters.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, PMB. 198, Garki Abuja, within 28 days of This Publication.

Signed ; Barr. Sunny Eghide Rehoboth Chambers, 130 Victoria Street, Port Harcourt

LIVING VICTORIOUS LIFE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. REV. SAMUEL IFEANYI DICKSON. 2. PASTOR OHA JOY CHIKAODINAKA. 3. MR. SAMUEL CHIJIOKE STANLEY. 4. PASTOR MAIGIDA MIKE AMEH. 5. PASTOR UKAEGBU EMMANUEL UKPABI. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

Public Notice22 CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OYEKAN HALIMAT OMOTOKE

This is to confirm that BANJO ABIMBOLA SAIDAT SARAH and ONASANYA ABIMBOLA SARAH refer to one and same person.

All documents bearing both names remain mine and valid general public take note

Formerly known and addressed as SHUAIB HALIMAT OMOTOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as OYEKAN HALIMAT OMOTOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OKEBUNOR VERONICA CHUKWUMUANYA Formerly known and addressed as Elikwu Priscilla Chukwumuanya, now wish to be known and addressed as Okebunor Veronica Chukwumuanya. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABOGUNLOKO: I formerly known and addressed as ABOGUNLOKO ABDULLATEEF R. now wish to be known and addressed as RUFAI ABDULLATEEF ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government General public take note.

RUFAI ABDULLATEEF ISHOLA

AYODELE ELETU TAIWO BASHIRU

AUGUSTINE OLUMESE

I, Formerly known and addressed as Taiwo Bashiru Eletu now wish to be known and addressed as Ayodele Eletu Taiwo Bashiru. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AUGUSTINE OKOSUN, Now wish to be known and addressed as AUGUSTINE OLUMESE. All former documents remain valid general public take note

LILIAN OLUMESE

MRS OGUNSAKIN TEMITAYO HELLEN

I, formerly known and addressed as LILIAN OSEREIME, Now wish to be known and addressed as LILIAN OLUMESE. All former documents remain valid general public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogunsakin Temitayo Hellen Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunsakin Temitayo Hellen. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SONIE CARE FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACTS, 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OGBE SUNDAY ABAH- CHAIRMAN 2. OBEKPA JUSTINA- SECRETARY 3. GODWIN OKAMA- TRUSTEE 4. NWIBO PATRICK NWOGBA- TRUSTEE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE 1. ENSURING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AT ALL LEVELS. 2. TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE ERADICATION/ PREVENTION OF AVOIDABLE HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH RURAL OUTREACH. 3. TO CARRY OUT HEALTH CARE PROJECT THAT CAN BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL NIGERIANS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. ANNOUNCER: S.T FAMAVE, ESQ.

THE LIKEMINDS INTERNATIONAL CLUB, ISVOCHI THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACTS, 1990.

TRUSTEES (1) NWOKE LINUS AYAJURU. _CHAIRMAN (2) ENWERE GODWIN EJIJE. _SECRETARY (3) MADU AUGUSTINE ONYEBUCHI _ TREASURER (4) EKEMERE CHINEDU (5) ONYEBUCHI OKPARA AUGUSTINE (6) ONYEKERE OBINNA (7) ONYEKABA ADIELE (8) ONYEBUEKE BENSON CHIDI (9) NNAEMEKA ODINAKACHI ONYEBUCHI (10) OGUESIE CHIKA IKEMEFUNA AIMS (A) TO BE OUR BROTHERS KEEPER (B) TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY (C) TO FOSTER PROGRESS AMONGST OUR PEOPLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

MRS. AMADU OMOTUNDE OYINKANSOLA

LAWRENCE CHINEDUM KELVIN

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. JOHNSON-AMODU ELFRIDA OMOTUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AMADU OMOTUNDE OYINKANSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OKORO BENJAMIN CHINEDU, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWRENCE CHINEDUM KELVIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINGBOGUN BANKE BIMPE

MRS. OFOZIE LOIS OGOCHUKWU

Formerly known and addressed as Adeogun Banke Bimpe. now wish to be known and addressed as Akingbogun Banke Bimpe. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss EMERIBE LOIS OGOCHUKWU Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. OFOZIE LOIS OGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS ISIBA ONYINYE CHINELO

Formerly Known As Miss Enechukwu Onyinye Chinelo Now Known As Mrs Isiba Onyinye Chinelo. All Former Document Remain Valid, General Public Take Note.

LAWAL-MUSBAU- OLALEKAN

Formerly known and addressed as MUH, AWAL MISBAUDEEN, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL-MUSBAU- OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JEGEDE MAIRO ABOSEDE

Formerly known and addressed as BARIKI MAIRO ABOSEDE, now wish to be known and addressed as JEGEDE MAIRO ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MOUGUIM BEN CHUKWUMA Formerly known and addressed as MUIGMIA BEN CHUKWUMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MOUGUIM BEN CHUKWUMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EMMANUEL EYABA FOUNDATION

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. IDUMANGE JOHN AGREEN (CHAIRMAN) 2. IDUMANGE KATE AGREEN (SECRETARY) 3. OPUAMA VIJAH ELFRED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHT. 2.TO ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHT AND SUSTAINABILITY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

OLD NAME - AZAIKI FOUNDATION & PUBLIC LIBRARY CAC/IT/RC/ N0.54378 NEW NAME - AZAIKI PUBLIC LIBRARY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF NAME UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PROF. STEPHEN AZAIKI 2.MRS. MIMI OTONBA AZAIKI 3.ENGR. EMMANUEL OKOCHA THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO HELP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND VALUE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF NAME SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) MR MADUAKO NNANNA AUGUSTINE OBINNA (2) MR RICHARD DAVIDSON MBONU (3) HON OKECHUKWU IBENEME (4) MR CHIBUZO STEVEN NWAOGU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO DEVELOP AND BUILD SPORTS FACILITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE URUALLA COMMUNITY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

ISIALA NGWA CONSULTATIVE FORUM

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

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EMMANUEL EYABA 2. PATIENCE EYABA 3. ANU GOSPEL FAME

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1). NWANKWO OKEY PAUL - PRESIDENT 2). UWAOMA CHIMA ELIJAH - SECRETARY 3). DR. AHURUEZENMA UHUABA EUGENE - P. R. O. 4). SIR ONYENDILEFU TEMPLE OBIOMA - TREASURER

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO CATER FOR INDIGENT CHILDREN AND THE VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE AND UNITE OUR PEOPLE. 2. TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: PRESIDENT

LEAGUE AGAINST CANCER IN NIGERIA

HOUSE OF ANGELS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

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

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. KIN ORJI-EWULU NNAMEMEKA EGWUCHIM. CHAIRMAN 2. DR. NWAMALUBIA NKOLIKA NZELU SECRETARY THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVES IN CANCER CARE. 2. TO GIVE ENLIGHTENMENT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ON ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CANCER ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED:- BARR NGOZI CHIEMENEM

HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ADVOCACY INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OGUATUEGWU GERTRUDE IFEYINWA 2. OGUATUEGWU KINGSLEY CHIMA 3. ANNABELLE OBIANUJU AMADI THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO TRAIN THE LESS PRIVILEGE AND THE YOUTH ON TRADE TO BE SELF RELIANCE 2. TO COLLABORATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG THE YOUTH AND THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY 3. TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND MORAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: IREGBEYEN A. JOHN

PUBLIC NOTICE GBARATU BARRY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

PUBLIC NOTICE REVELATIONS OF REDEMPTION GOSPEL MINISTRY

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.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY 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.SOLOMON KUJE ANGBA 2.ANYANWU CHIMA 3.VULALE HELEN GBARATU 4.DANIEL DUNEBARI GBARATU

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.TUNDE TAIWO - PRESIDENT 2.OLAJIDE TAIWO ADEBOWALE - SECRETARY 3.OGUEJIOFOR JOSEPHINE UZOAMAKA 4.OGUEJIOFOR VICTOR 5.ADAM OTAJI ADAKOLE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. 2.TO PROVIDE EMPOWERMENT, WELFARE AND OTHER SERVICES TO WOMEN, MEN, THE AGED, WIDOWS, YOUTH AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

AYOIFE OLUWAJIMI OLUDAYO

I formerly named and addressed as AYOIFE OLUWAJIMI SHODAYO now wishes to be named and addressed as AYOIFE OLUWAJIMI OLUDAYO. Former documents remain valid. General public, take note.

OKPE ERNEST IBE

23 Public Notice NONYE AKUDOLU

UGWU VIRGINUS EJIKE

MRS ODO THERESA CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

MRS IROJIOGU CHINENYE JULIET

ONYINYE SALLY OGBOLOGU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWUSULOR CHINENYE JULIET, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IROJIOGU CHINENYE JULIET. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYINYE SALLY AGU AGUARO, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYINYE SALLY OGBOLOGU. All former documents remain valid. Generalpublic should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as LYNDA NONYE UMEH,now wish to be known and addressed as NONYE AKUDOLU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS ODO THERESA MRSCHIDEBEM LINDA NKEMJIKA

OYOOKOOMETER ERNEST MARIAEPHILOTHEA

KALU CHINYERE LINDA

MRS ANIBUEZE CHIOMA PEACE

MRS NWAMBA FRANCISCA AKUOMA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDE CHIOMA PEACE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIBUEZE CHIOMA PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU FRANCISCA AKUOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWAMBA FRANCISCA AKUOMA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and General public should please take note.

I AGBOR OROCK SYDON hereby state that I was born on 21/01/93 and NOT 14/09/87 as erroneously stated in some of my documents. My correct date of birth is: 21st day of January, 1993. All documents bearing the said erroneous date still remain valid. Lagos State University and the general public kindly please note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKPE IBETO, now wish to be known and addressed as OKPE ERNEST IBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NTTIWUH, I formerly known and addressed as MISS NTTIWUH LINDA NKEMJIKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRSCHIDEBEM LINDA NKEMJIKA. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

CHUKWUEMEZIE OKAFOR BERNARD

MRS THERESA KANYAODO OBUMNWME CHRIS

I, formerly known and addressed as ISIRUE CHUKWUMA CHRISTOPHER, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU VIRGINUS EJIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank andGeneral public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EGBUONU ERNEST IFEANYICHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OYOOKOOMETER ERNEST MARIAEPHILOTHEA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as KALU CHINYERE VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as KALU CHINYERE LINDA. All former documents remain valid. Banks andGeneral public should please take note.

MRS OKOH EBERE MARYJANE

OGBONNA TIMOTHY CHIBUZOR

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NNAJI EBERE MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOH EBERE MARYJANE. All former documents remain valid. CSC, Nig Immigration authority, State and Federal Ministry of Health, Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as TIMOTHY OGBONNA CHIBUZOR, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBONNA TIMOTHY CHIBUZOR. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

EKOH NDUBUISI DANIEL

MRS OBI DIVINEANGEL IFEOMA

I, formerly known and addressed as EKOH NDUBUISI LAWRENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as EKOH NDUBUISI DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. Generalpublic should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYEIWU DIVINEANGEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBI DIVINEANGEL IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

MRS OTAIGBE RACHAEL

JANET KEITH MEAD

I formerly known called and addressed as MISS RACHAEL IDIERUKEVBE now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS OTAIGBE RACHAEL Former documents remain valid general public and authority concern please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JANET FRIDAY OTUEkONG, now wish to be known and addressed as JANET KEITH MEAD. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ISIAH ISRAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU CLEMENT MADUFORO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWACHUKWU UCHE STEPHEN

OREKOYA ADESOYE SAMUEL

ONOVO SAMUEL CHIDI

I, formerly known and addressed as DANIEL UCHE STEVEN, now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU UCHE STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OREKOYA CALEB SAMUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OREKOYA ADESOYE SAMUEL, due to family reasons.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UGWU GLORIA UKAMAKA

RACHAEL OGHENERIONA OKAFOR

I, formerly known and addressed as, OKWOR GLORIA UKAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as, UGWU GLORIA UKAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, RACHAEL OGHENERIONA UNAYE, now wish to be known and addressed as, RACHAEL OGHENERIONA OKAFOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

MRS ODOOHWOS THERESA MILLER

MRS. RITA EBIMOBOERE JUSTICE BENSON.

ADDITION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as, JACOB NENGI ALBERT, now wish to be known and addressed as, IKOBIRIMA ALBERT JACOB. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, OBO CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MILLER OHWOS. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. RITA EBIMOBOERE AKIGHA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. RITA EBIMOBOERE JUSTICE BENSON. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, UNEGBU CHINEDU THERESA, wish to add, UNEGBU, to my name which was formerly, CHINEDU THERESA. I now wish to be known and addressed as, UNEGBU CHINEDU THERESA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

IHEKAIHA LOVETH OGADINMA

MRS ODO THERESA IBRAHEEM AMENAGHAWON

OKE SEUN SAMUEL

MRS. EVIDENCE AMEZHINIM AMAELE

UDO NDIFREKE MICHAEL

MRS. OSUJI KODICHINMA JOSEPHINE

I, formerly known and addressed as, OKORIE LOVETH OGADINMA, now wish to be known and addressed as, IHEKAIHA LOVETH OGADINMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, AIMUENGHEUWA AMENAGHAWON, now wish to be known and addressed as, IBRAHEEM AMENAGHAWON. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, OKE OLUWASEUN SAMSON, now wish to be known and addressed as, OKE SEUN SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EVIDENCE AMEZHINIM AMAKIRI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. EVIDENCE AMEZHINIM AMAELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Formerly known as Nelson Moses Okon, now wish to be known as Udo Ndifreke Michael. That Udo Ndifreke Michael and Nelson Moses Okon are one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IGBOKWE KODICHINMA JOSEPHINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OSUJI KODICHINMA JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MR IDOWU ADEKUNLE FATAI

AKINTITAN ONYEBUCHI FLORENCE

MRS DAIRO ARAMIDE BUKOLA

I Formerly known and addressed as Mr Idowu Ganiyu Adekunle now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mr Idowu Adekunle Fatai All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as IYERE ONYEBUCHI FLORENCE now wish to be known, called and addressed as AKINTITAN ONYEBUCHI FLORENCE All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed asCHUKWUEMEZIE OGWUELE BERNARD, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUEMEZIE OKAFOR BERNARD. My correct date of birth is 03/07/1963. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ANIGBOGU OBUMNEME, now wish to be known and addressed as KANYA OBUMNWME CHRIS. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and General public should please take note.

MRS ANI CONSTANCE NJIDEKA

MRS ODOCHINWENDU THERESA EZE BENITA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NNAJI CONSTANCE NJIDEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANI CONSTANCE NJIDEKA. All former documents remain valid. PRODA ENUGU and General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name UGWU ANGELA CHEKWUBE was wrongly written during my BVN registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed as UGWOKE ANGELA CHEKWUBE. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS. OLAJIDE ELIZABETH IYABO OLABISI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ODUNSANYA ELIZABETH IYABO OLABISI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAJIDE ELIZABETH IYABO OLABISI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

WIKINA ROSE

I formerly called and addressed as OGBISE ROSE now wish to be known called and addressed as WIKINA ROSE. All former documents remains valid. The general public please take note.

IKOBIRIMA ALBERT JACOB

MRS. MBALEWE-EKE NWANNAYADI UCHENNA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MBALEWE NWANNAYADI UCHENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MBALEWE-EKE NWANNAYADI UCHENNA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UDE BENITA CHINWENDU, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE BENITA CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS ODO THERESA CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certify and confirm that EGEMASI ONYEMAOBI MBAMBA, EGEMASI ONYEMA and EGEMASI SIXTUS ONYEMA refer as one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed asEGEMASI SIXTUS ONYEMA. My correct date of birth is 03/08/1982.

All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

MRS ODO THERESA ANYANWU PRECIOUS EFE I, formerly known and addressed as THOMAS PRECIOUS EFE, now wish to be known and addressed as ANYANWU PRECIOUS EFE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS THERESA MRS.ODO YVONNE IKOKO

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EBINIM YVONNE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. YVONNE IKOKO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS ODO THERESA PAULINA ONYINYECHI DIKE I, formerly known and addressed as PAULINA EKWUTOSI OZOWARA, now wish to be known and addressed as PAULINA ONYINYECHI DIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

MRS ANEKE CHIDINMA RITA-NELLY

MRS EDE FRANCA NNENNA AKA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLO CHIDINMA RITANELLY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANEKE CHIDINMA RITA-NELLY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISSNWACHUKWU FRANCA NNENNA AKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EDE FRANCA NNENNA AKA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note

PAUL NNAMANI

MRS NNAJI PHILOMINA NWANNEKA

I, formerly known and addressed as MONDAY NNAMANI, now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL NNAMANI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS UKWUABA PHILOMINA NWANNEKA now wish to be known as MRS NNAJI PHILOMINA NWANNEKA. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWACHUKWU CLEMENT MADUFORO

I, formerly known and addressed as EJIKE SAMUEL CHINEDU , now wish to be known and addressed as ONOVO SAMUEL CHIDI . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. CHINYERE NNENNAYA ANI I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. CHINYERE NNENNAYA UGAMA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. CHINYERE NNENNAYA ANI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

This is to confirm that, IDAYAT BUNMI OGUNLEYE and IDAYAT GABRIEL OGUNLEYE is d same person, now wish to be known and addressed as IDAYAT BUNMI OGUNLEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PATIENCE SWEENNE WALISON

I formerly called and addressed as PATIENCE SWEENNE OVAKPORAYE now wish to be known called and addressed as PATIENCE SWEENNE WALISON. All former documents remains valid. The general public please take note.

SINCLAIR IPIRIALA ABBEY

I, formerly known and addressed as, SINCLAIR MIETAMUNO ABBEY, now wish to be known and addressed as, SINCLAIR IPIRIALA ABBEY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

MRS. IKPEAWUJO REJOICE CHINAZA

I, UKPAI .E. OBASI, wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as, UKPAI VALENTINE ONUS, instead of, UKPAI .E. OBASI. I now wish to be known and addressed as, UKPAI .E. OBASI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EMEKALAM REJOICE CHINAZA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. IKPEAWUJO REJOICE CHINAZA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as SOYEBO ARAMIDE BUKOLA now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS DAIRO ARAMIDE BUKOLA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

SHOLA EDEMA .E.

I formerly known and addressed as OMA SHOLA EDEMA . E . now wish to be known and addressed as SHOLA EDEMA .E. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

24 Public Notice ASSOCIATION OF RUBBER FOOTWEAR DEALERS OF OYO STATE This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of 199..

1. Alhaji Abdulwasiu Lawal 2. Mr Aderemi Adekunle 3. Chief Alaka Idowu 4. Chief Joseph Sola Olanipekun 5. Alhaji Abdulyekini Alarape 6. Mr Badmus Nurudeen Adekunle 7. Alhaji Oni Ismail Ishola 8. Mr Tope Adeleye 9. Mrs Adesina funmilayo 10. Alhaji Abidemi Ajagbe

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

DELIVERED SAINTS GO FORWARD MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR AKINYEMI ANIYIKAYE PRESIDENT 2. PASTOR BAMIKOLE OGUNTOYE SECRETARY 3. PASTOR SUNDAY EMMANUEL AWOWALE TREASURER 4. MRS. MOJISOLA REBECCA ADERELE MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Aim. To foster bond of unity among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE PROFESSIONALS OF NIGERIA

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) BABATUNDE YAYA BIODUN - CHAIRMAN (2) EHIMEN VINCENT INEGBENOSE - SECRETARY (3) IDAHOSAH ELIZABETH EVBU (4) AKINTOBI RICHARD BAMIDELE (5) JEGEDE OYEWOLE ABIODUN (6) EKWURIBE CONSTANCE CHINWE (7) EZINNE JOSEPH GOODNESS (8) OBIAKO ADAOBI (9) NWANKWO SAMUEL THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. TO PROVIDE / CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR POSITIVE ENLIGHTENMENT, LEARNING & EMPOWERMENT. 2. TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR, AS WELL AS MONITOR HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS IN NIGERIA. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed By: PRINCE ISAAC ESIYEDE - 08055819385

Signed : Trustees

Signed: Trustees

LEADING MINDS FORUM

DOMINION PROGRESSIVE MINDS’ CLUB

x

EVANGELICAL DOMINION AND SOLUTION MISSION

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. 1990

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. ADEEYO SAMUEL ADEBAYO 2. DUROGBITAN ADEGBOYEGA OLAKUNLE 3. ADEEYO EKAETE SHARON

NAMES OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IREKA LIVINUS CHUKWULEKE 2. IREKA UZONNA SEBASTINE 3. OKENU CHINEDU 4. AKPUDO BENEDICT CHUKWUDI 5. AKUKA CHINONSO EVARISTUS

NAMES OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AKINDUYITE SEGUN DANIEL 2. AKINDUYITE CHIDIEBERE JANE 3. EBUNOHA IFEANYI KYRIAN 4. OKONI SAMUEL ABENQ

- PRESIDENT. - SECRETARY. - MEMBER.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ; 1. To cater for the welfare of members.

2. To foster love and unity among members.

3. To develop the cognition and stimulate intellectual literacy by improving vocabulary and spelling skills .

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote unity among members.

Any objection(s) to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565, NDOLA SQUARE WUSE, ZONE 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection(s) to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565, NDOLA SQUARE WUSE, ZONE 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: PRESIDENT

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

TUESDAY JOLLY FRIENDS OF LAGOS

ANAMBRA PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE FORUM (ANAPIF)

OLAIYA SHORINOLA AMINAT BOLANLE

OKERE QUEENDALINE OGECHUKWU

This is to inform the general public that the above name has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990

This to inform the general public that the above namedORGANIZATION has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990

TRUSTEES 1 OYEKANMI M. ONAGBOLE 2 BAMIDELE OGUNDIJO 3 ADEDEJO AYINDE TAIWO

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Sandra Kings Okafor 2. Victoria Ngozi Anagbogu 3. Helen Uzoma Anyaegbu

I, formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN AMINAT BOLANLE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAIYA SHORINOLA AMINAT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as IGBOANUDE QUEENDALINE OGECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OKERE QUEENDALINE OGECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE To socialise and to assit each other

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.To promote the social, welfare, economic and good governance in the society

Any 0bjection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registra-General, corporate Affairs commission, plot 420,Tigris crescent off Against Irons Street, Mariana Abuja within 28 days of this publication

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporation Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: President

Signed secretary MRS. ELIZABETH FOLASADE ADEMUWAGUN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. RAFAT FOLASADE YUSUF, now wish to be known and Addressed as MRS. ELIZABETH FOLASADE ADEMUWAGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

BETHEL CHIOMA OLAOLUWA ESTHER

I, formerly known and addressed as EGBIGWE NGOZI OLAOLUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as BETHEL CHIOMA OLAOLUWA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

ALPHONS BAZIN CHRISTOPHER

MRS ODO THERESA RASHEEDAT OMOLOLA JIMOH

I, formerly known and addressed as RASHEEDAT OMOLOLA SALAAM, now wish to be known and addressed as RASHEEDAT OMOLOLA JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS ODO THERESA BAMIDELE FEMI

MRS. ABIOLA ABOSEDE ANNA AKPOSUBI

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ABIOLA ABOSEDE FADAIRO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ABIOLA ABOSEDE ANNA AKPOSUBI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

That my name was wrongly written on some of my documents as ABDAZEEZ ABDRAFIU LEKAN instead of ABDULAZEEZ ABDULRAFIU OLALEKAN. That my correct name is ABDULAZEEZ ABDULRAFIU OLALEKAN and my correct date of birth is 26th day of November, 1989. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

EDGAL FAITH OLUWASEUN

ALADENIKA RANTI BEAUTY

ALAKA TAWA MORENIKEJI

FOLORUNSHO OLUMIDE GBENGA

I, formerly known and addressed as OTUKOKO TAWA MORENIKEJI, now wish to be known and addressed as ALAKA TAWA MORENIKEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNMORIYELE OLUMIDE GBENGA, now wish to be known and Addressed as FOLORUNSHO OLUMIDE GBENGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AYODELE JOSHUA AYO -JOSHUA

MRS BLESSING CHIKE CHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as AYODELE JOSHUA AGBELEGE, now wish to be known and addressed as AYODELE JOSHUA AYO -JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UKPA BLESSING CHUKWUMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BLESSING CHIKE CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

MRS. SUCCEED AMARACHI OBIEH I formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYENACHIM LINDA AMARACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SUCCEED AMARACHI OBIEH. All former documents remain valid, NYSC and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BAMIDELE OLUWAFEMI ISHOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as BAMIDELE FEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addrerssed as AGHOMON FAITH EDGAL, now wish to be known and addressed as EDGAL FAITH OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addrerssed as OMOJOWO RANTI BEAUTY, now wish to be known and addressed as ALADENIKA RANTI BEAUTY. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

JEREMIAH ADEDAYO ADEOSUN MRS ODO THERE

VICTOR OLUWAFEMI BLAVO

TIAMIYU OLUWATOYIN ABDULGANIY

ANIAKOR EDITH AMAKA

I formerly known as VICTOR EPHOEGAN wish to be known and addressed as VICTOR OLUWAFEMI BLAVO .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

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SANUSI TOLULOPE BEATRICE

MISS TAIWO OLUBUKUNOLA MARGARET

I formerly known as ALPHONS BAZIN wish to be known and addressed as ALPHONS BAZIN CHRISTOPHER .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as ADEOSUN ADEDAYO wish to be known and addressed as JEREMIAH ADEDAYO ADEOSUN .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

GINIKANWA EMMANUEL CHIDIADI

MRS ODOOGECHUKWU THERE IKEMENOGO SYLVERLIN

I formerly known as GINIKANWA COLLINS IKENNA wish to be known and addressed as GINIKANWA EMMANUEL CHIDIADI. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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MRS OPARA MIRIAN UJU

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NYSC and general public take note BUKAYO CHRISTIANAH SOFOWORA

I formerly known as BUKAYO CHRISTIANA. wish to be known and addressed as BUKAYO CHRISTIANAH SOFOWORA .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

POPOOLA REMILEKUN STEPHEN

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Daily Times Nigeria Monay, May 1, 2017

Public Notice 25

APGA chieftain tasks Kanu to change tactics on Biafra actualization Alphonsus Nweze, Awka The Ogirisigbo and member, Board of Trustees (BoT), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has asked the leader of Indegenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to change his tactics for Biafran actulisation.

He said the director of Radio Biafra ought POPOOLA IBRAHIM YINKA

I formerly known and addressed as POPOOLA IBRAHIM now wish to be known and addressed as POPOOLA IBRAHIM YINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

not to have been arrested in the first instance by the Federal Government.

Chief Ezeonwuka who spoke weekend said the federal government’s failure to grant Kanu bail since he was arrested was an illegality since he did not commit any offence but only speaking against the maltreatment and marginalisation of his people by the Federal

Government of Nigeria. Ezeonwuka spoke at the heels of a call by the former PresidentGeneral of the defunct Onitsha Amalgamated Traders’ Association (OMATA), Chief Ozo Anakwe’s call for Justice Binta Nyako to disqualify herself from Kanu’s case s since she has shown obvious bias.

However,the proprietor of Rojenny Tourist Village Oba lauded

ADDITION OF NAME That I was formerly known and addressed as OKAH FABIAN. I now wish to add CHINONSO to my former name. I now wish to be known and addressed as OKAH FABIAN CHINONSO. All former documents remain valid.

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MRSDAINIOLUWA FUNMILAYOFOLASADE

AJAYI BIMPE YINKA

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AJAYI OLUWABUNMI TAIWO

HAMZAT SUKURAT ABIKE

PUBLIC NOTICE FORTUNE IN DUST INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE 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. EWUCHIE VICTOR EJIKE - PRESIDENT 2. EWUCHIE QUEEN AKUOMA 3. AMAUKWU PECULIAR CHINWENDU- SECRETARY. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO CREATE YOUTH MENTAL EMPOWERMENT AWARENESS. 2. TO PROMOTE SKILL ACQUISITION AMONG THE YOUTHS AND THE UNEMPLOYED 3. TO ORGANISE MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMMES /ENGAGEMENTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : BARR. EMMANUEL NNAEMEKA OKEAKPU

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

TRUSTEE 1. MRS FIDELIS OSUEKE CHAIRPERSON 2. MRS OGECHI OSUEKE-ONYEMEM 3. MS ONUWA OSUEKE 4. ELECHI OSUEKE 5. MR OLUTAYO AJAYI 6. BARR EMEKA NWANKWO SECRETARY AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. TO CATER, PROTECT, DEFEND UPHOLD AND PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF WIDOWS, ORPHANS, GIRLS CHILD, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, DESTITUTE, CHILDREN AND LESS PRIVILEGES AND VULNERABLE IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. NNENNA MARCELINA EZEIGWE 2. PROF. CHRISTIAN OTU ONYEBUCHI CHUKWU 3. BARRISTER IBRAHIM SANI MOHAMMED 4. MS. CHINYERE NZEDURU 5. DR. VICTOR IWUAGWU 6. BARRISTER OBIAGERI EMMANUELLA ARIGUZO

Formerly BABATUNDE OLUWABUNMI TAIWO NoW AJAYI OLUWABUNMI TAIWO . former documents remains valid. General public should please take note.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and others for their bold steps to sign bail bond for Kanu’s release.

He also commended the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose and Femi Fani-Kayode for their show of solidarity not only to Kanu, IPOB but the entire Igbo race.

“I have my personal stand on Biafra. We have got Biafra already.We should be like

Formerly AMZAT SUKURAT NoW HAMZAT SUKURAT ABIKE. Former documents remains valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OYEWALE.ADEOLA

THAT EGWUMAH CHRISTIAN U. IS ONE AND THE PERSON AS EGWUMAH CHRISTIAN UKWUENYA AND WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS EGWUMAH CHRISTIAN UKWUENYA; ALL DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS OKE ADEOLA HANNAH NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OYEWALE.ADEOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

KINGDOM CARPENTERS FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. RICHARD OSAGIE IYOHA- CHAIRMAN 2. ESIEN ITA KOOFFREH-SECRETARY 3. ANTE VICTOR OKON 4. BAKO LAWI 5. ALI AHMED DIFA 6. ISHAYA DANGANA 7. BEN OSAMUYI IGBINOSA 8. ADERONKE ADENIKE OGUNSUGBA 9. ELIZABETH ODI BROWN 10. AGBO OLUFEMI IFERE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : A. TO SUPPORT THE RESETTLEMENT OF VICTIMS OF WAR AND CRISIS THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. B. TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED. C.TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

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

TRUSTEES 1. EJIMGINI GRACE DANIEL 2. IHESIULO CLETUS CHIDI 3. OGU EUGENE EGWUATU 4. OKAFOR ELEAZAR IROBI 5. OKORIE GODFREY LUKE 6. ONWUBUARIRI ONYENEHO EDWIN OBIOMA 7. OKEKE IKECHUKWU THADDEUS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO CARTER FOR THE WELLBEING OF ITS MEMBERS. 2. TO COMPLEMENT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO UNITE ALL BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN IN OBOWO AND BEYOND IN THE LOVE OF GOD. 2, TO EVANGELIZE OBOWO AND BEYOND WITH THE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 3, TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE LIVING CHURCHES IN OBOWO AND BEYOND..

4. TO PROMOTE MISSIONS AND MISSIONARY WORK, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SIMILAR BODIES INVOLVED IN CHRISTIAN HUMANITARIAN WORK..

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_ GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR 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 OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

SIGNED : SECRETARY

SIGNED: EDWIN ONYENEHO ESQ. 08036686576

Taiwan,Dubai, producing our own things. We should bring our investments and intellect here in Igbo land. We must protect Biafra by developing Biafra” said APGA BoT member.

He charged Kanu to change his strategy for fighting for Biafran actualisation by uniting Ndigbo, saying that Radio Biafra should be used to unite Ndigbo not to abuse people.

AHMED DAUDA ENITAN I formerly known and addressed as AHMED DAUD ENITAN now wish to be known and addressed as AHMED DAUDA ENITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ESURUOSO KANYINSOLA ESTHER

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KANYINSOLA ESTHER TITUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ESURUOSO KANYINSOLA ESTHER. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

and warned Ndigbo to stop the Biafra of selfish interest.

But furious Anakwe said that although Kanu had met the bail conditions, necessitating his release, Justice Binta Nyako has shown her obvious bias in the case given the strigent bail conditions he gave to Kanu.

He said with that condition Kanu ‘s fundamental rights of movement and association has been taken away from him.

He also lauded those who rallied round to sign Kanu’s bail bond to ensure his release such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and others.

OBI MERCY EBERE I formerly known and addressed as HENRY EBERE MICKY now wish to be known and addressed as OBI MERCY EBERE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AYENI OLUWAFUNKE CHRISTIANA

MRS. MARY OLUCHI ALEX

Formerly Ojo Oluwafunke Christiana now Ayeni Oluwafunke Christiana. Former documents remains valid.

General public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED MISS. ODO MARY OLUCHI MADUABUCHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. MARY OLUCHI ALEX. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS ADEFUNMILAYO IYABO JIKIEMI

MUINAT BOLANLE OMOTOSHO-AKINDELE

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Formerly known as ADEGOKE AKINDELE BOLANLE MUINAT now wish to be known as MUINAT BOLANLE OMOTOSHO-AKINDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

IFEGWU ONYEKACHI STANLEY I formerly known and addressed as IFEGWU OGBONNA STANLEY now wish to be known and addressed as IFEGWU ONYEKACHI STANLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JIMOH AZEEZ I, formerly known and addressed as LAWAL ABDULAZEEZ AYO. Now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH AZEEZ. All former document remain valid.

General public to please take note.

AOLAT BOLA AJIBODE

Formerly known as OLASUPO AOLAT BOLA now wish to be known as AOLAT BOLA AJIBODE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

AKPOWEVWE OBERIHRI DESTINY

I, formerly known and addressed as AKPOWEUWE OBERIHRI FAITH, now wish to be known and addressed as AKPOWEVWE OBERIHRI DESTINY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

MRS YUSUF JUSTINA IKOSIMI

I formerly known and addressed as MRS JUSTINA QUEEN IKOSIMI now want to be known and addressed as MRS YUSUF JUSTINA IKOSIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LUCKY CHUKWUYEM

I formerly known, called and addressed as LUCKY OGUNGBE IFENEME now wish to be known, called and addressed as LUCKY CHUKWUYEM. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Features

s

MAY DAY: Nigerian workers still battling for survival Ladesope Ladelokun, Joy Anyim and Ismaila Oguntade Every year, May 1 presents opportunity for workers the world over to reflect on their plight, demand better deals from their employers and chart a new course for the New Year.

In Nigeria, for instance, several activities have been lined up to mark the day. From rallies to protests, to lectures; all, stakeholders agree, are regular features of May Day celebration.

But this year’s celebration, which is coming at a time Nigeria is reeling under the pangs of economic hardship occasioned by economic recession, many believe, has led to the reduction in salaries, sack of workers and eventual closure of businesses, leaving the economies of some states that are civil service-dependent, comatose.

Recently, a national newspaper published the list of twelve states in Nigeria that still owe salaries despite getting the double bailouts from the Federal Government.

For example, Kogi state topped the list with 15 months of unpaid salaries, closely followed by Osun state, with 12 months. Ondo, Oyo, Bayelsa, Kwara, etc, also made the list of defaulting states.

But, beyond the backlog of unpaid salaries now becoming a norm in different sectors of the Nigerian economy, terrible working environment, poor pay package and casualisation of workers as well as unpaid pensions are issues labour leaders have been vociferous about, The Daily Times has learnt.

As written in the Holy Book, God decreed that man shall live on the sweat of his face, consequence of breaking the law by the first human family.

And thousands of years down the line, humans have gotten used to living on what they get from their sweat streaming down their brows. The Creator also commanded that the labourer is worthy of his hire.

Save the Nigerian worker So how well is the sweat of the Nigeria worker appreciated? A teacher, Mrs. Adeola Kolapo, calls on labour leaders to save Nigerian workers from slavery, stating that there are employers who just feel workers are meant to be over used and paid peanuts; some are not even paid at all.

Her words: “I work in a school where I teach six subjects at a stretch. Ideally, I’m not supposed to teach more than one. And when it’s time to pay salaries, it is always ‘war’ before I get it some.

So, for me, I can’t say I’m a happy worker. There is nothing for me to celebrate this May Day.’’ In the same vein, a civil servant, Mr. Tope Ayannuga says Nigerian workers are some of the most cheated and underpaid workers in the world. “Nigerian Workers get all manner of intimidations and harassment from their employers. They don’t like what they do, yet, they don’t want to lose their jobs; how do you expect a worker that is owed 10, 12 months’ salary to be happy?

Can we say May Day is for these set of workers?’’ he asked.

But an accountant with a private

firm in Lagos, Ben Amadi, believes that making Nigerian workers enjoy the fruits of their labour starts with the government. “If the economy is broken, employers of labour will also be affected. Look, the cost of doing business in Nigeria is very high; my salary has been slashed because my employer does not want to lay off workers as a result the harsh business environment. I think the government can do more to help businesses thrive and make Nigerian workers happy.”

Speaking on May Day and the challenges of the Nigerian workers, the chairman Joint May Committee of the

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Peters Adeyemi, says there can’t be a better time to call for the review of the national Minimum wage than now, considering the current economic realities.

Adeyemi says the drop in the value of Naira and the current rate of inflation has rendered the current minimum wage valueless, hence the need to review it. Adeyemi added that workers would hold a rally at the Eagle Square, Abuja and in every state capital in Nigeria to mark the day. The theme of the 2017 May Day celebration is; “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal.”

Adeyemi, who is the Chairman of the Joint TUC/NLC May Day 2017 Organising Committee, alleged that the Federal Government has failed to constitute a tripartite committee to address new minimum wage issue, just as the Ogun State Chapter of the Association of Secondary Schools of Nigeria, has said it was displeased with government’s economic policy, which has reduced their capacity to meet their individual welfare and family needs.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

27

Features

Recession: German Government, Amosun, Chambers, make case for vocational training Biodun-Thomas Davids The German government has charged Nigeria to strengthen her campaign against the abating recession with vocational skills development, especially among youths.

The Head, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, Nigeria, Dr. Marc Lucassen, while making emphasis on this charge wanted the government to learn from the German Government who does not have crude oil and not that rich in agricultural resources but had been able to boost her GDP and reduce unemployment to the lowest through Dual vocational Training (DVT).

For the Government to achieve speed in integrating DVT in the fight against recession, he called for collaboration with the Federal Government by the private sector, stressing that DVT is better driven with public-private partnership initiative.

Lucassen spoke alongside other experts during the graduation ceremony of the first batch of apprentices in Office Administration Profession in Ogun State of the ongoing German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria (G-DVTPW-N).

According to the G-DVTPW-N programme Coordinator, Engr.

Kehinde Stephen Awoyele, GDVTPW-N is an initiative of Fed-

eral Republic of Germany and is geared towards rising the employability bar of Nigerian youths and reducing poverty in the country. It is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Coopera-

tion and Development (BMZ) and conducted by sequag GmbH. It’s steered by the CCI Giessen-Friedberg as the German project partner.

Speaking on the relevance of the DVT partnership to the ongoing Economic Re-

covery Plan and Growth of the Federal Government, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, was of the view that vocational training builds skills development necessary for efficiency and productivity in any given country and raises the bar of employment and entrepreneurship.

Amosun who was represented at the occasion by Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce, Otunba Bimbo Asiru, concluded that if well harnessed with all the necessary collaboration from the private sector, DVT would effectively check the rise of unemployment and contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Nigeria.

The Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson in her brief speech for the function, described DVT as a missing link in economy development in Nigeria.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Dep Gov’s wife of Kwara bags awards in Togo Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÏÏÏThe wife of deputy governor, Kwara state, Mrs. Felicia Kisira, has bagged an award of African Trinity University, on Leadership and Financial Management.

The Leaders and Financial Managers in Africa have been enjoined to im-

bibe the spirit of teamwork and collaboration with other sectors, in order to move the continent forward.

The statement was made by the African Regional Dean of American Trinity University California, U.S.A., Professor Busari Akande while delivering a lecture titled “Leadership Training,

Financial Managers, and Reporting,” in Lome, the Togolese capital.

The University don said the market in Africa is wide enough for financial managers to excel and the environment is conducive enough for the leaders in Africa to move the continent forward if the spirit of team work, judicious management of the re-

sources and collaboration with other private sector is imbibed.

During the program, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Kisira, opined that humility, dedication, focus, and judicious usage of resources are the instruments that the leaders can use to excel.Also one of the awardees Dr. Maruf Salam- the

Kwara State Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress said that the African continent is blessed with tourist centres and cultural artefact. He said if the two sectors are explored the African continent will be far better than the European continent.

The Daily Times correspondent, who was part of the trip, reports that

Senate Health Committee chair, Tejuosho bags NMA award

May Day: Glo charges workers to reinforce virtues of hard work ÏÏÏNational Telecommunica-

tions Company, Globacom, has encouraged Nigerian workers to continue to exhibit the noble virtues of diligence and excellence in their various assignments.

The company also enjoined them to be examples of loyalty, patriotism and integrity so that their labours will be engrained in the annals of the country’s development.

Globacom said this in its congratulatory message to Nigerian workers on the occasion of 2017 May Day. International Workers’ Day (also known as May Day) is a celebration of the international labour movement and left-wing movements.

It commonly sees organised peaceful street demonstrations and marches by workers and labour unions throughout most parts of the world.

The company commended the tough spirit of Nigerian workers in spite of challenging socio-economic terrain of the country. Globacom urged them to continue to uphold the dignity of labour, adding that they “remain the bedrock of the nation’s economic growth.”

“We salute Nigerian workers on this auspicious occasion and commend them for their hard work, commitment and resourcefulness which have continued to grow and sustain the nation’s economy over the years,” Globacom said.

The data grandmasters stated further that “the progress that Nigeria has made in different sectors of the economy over the years is mainly attributable to the contributions of the country’s workers,” adding that “they remain the pillar on which the nation’s economy Globacom urged them to “build a stronger work culture that will engender a more efficient and productive work force that can lead to the entrenchment of due process and world-class labour standards in the country.”

dignitaries across the African continent were conferred with honorary doctorates, among them is also the Kwara state Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), a former Presidential aspirant in Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Dam-Musa, Commissioner for Establishment Cross-Rivers state and Chief AchinekaIgwe Sunday.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, exchanging pleasantries with Rumuokwuta Chiefs at the Fund raising for the construction of the ultra-modern civic Centre of the community... at the weekend.

NSE to Govt.: Involve Engrs in legislation Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe president, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr.

Oliver Otis Anyaeji says engineers are ideally suited to advocate feasible solutions to problems faced by the society, if they are involved in legislation over relevant technological solutions.

Speaking at Abia Hotels Ltd, Umuahia, during the quarterly dinner, public lecture and induction of new corporate members of Umuahia branch NSE, Engr. Anyaeji said because engineers have an obligation to further the interests of mankind, the role of politician is a perfect fit for him.

Represented by Engr. Mrs. Ishidi Yohanna Edith, his Vice President, Anyaeji said, due to the engineers’ ethical standards, engineers can and will be held to higher standards than the stereotyped politicians, so as to elicit more trust from the public.

He said, “at the auspicious occasion of my investiture, I expressed the regret with regards to a system of public office selection and appointment pattern that has shown a deliberate and conscious scheme to keep engineers out of the public policy spaces in both the executive and legislative arms of government” The NSE boss however said that, as pacesetters, engineers must sustain and continually monitor policies and programmes affecting critical sectors of the nation’s economy, for the purpose of engineering input and liaising with relevant stakeholders from public and private sectors to ensure coordinated action for the country’s sustainable development.

Delivering a lecture titled: “Engineers In Governance The Panacea For Economic And Technological Development In Nigeria”, the NSE Vice President, Engr. Mrs. Ishidi Yohanna Edith says transformational leaders are urgently needed in

Nigeria for economic and technological advancement.

Engr. Ishidi advocated that Nigeria should start voting Engineers into public offices, “if we sincerely desire economic and technological development”.

She lamented that the Nigerian system lacks checks and balances and the people equally lack freedom to challenge the leadership, pointing out that major challenges of bad governance include unemployment, insecurity and poverty.

While listing reduced corruption, good infrastructure, standard education facilities, engineers in governance and constant electric power supply as significance of good governance, she regretted that in Nigeria, the problem of power supply has for decades being a constant.

The NSE VP said an overview of the nation Nigeria shows economic crisis as a result of the poor attention being given to technological develop-

ment, adding, “A nation cannot grow its economy without employing trained drivers to its technological wheels. The right people with the right character, integrity, dignity and the solution providers”.

Engr. Ishidi pointed out that when the strategic development plan contains drivers that are not certified for that purpose, the resultant effect is national economic failure.

She said, “In the Politburo Standing Committee in China, the last two standing committee membership were all engineers except one. I particularly chose to dwell on China for reference because they have seen both sides of the coin, abject poverty and wealth. When we considered Engineers for leadership, their story changed. I will therefore strongly suggest that economic, social and political problems be approached with an engineering problem solving mentality. This can only be found in Engineers”.

ÏÏÏThe Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Olanrewau Tejuosho, at the weekend, bagged the Distinguished service award of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The award was conferred on him at the 2017 Annual General Conference of the NMA which held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

In bestowing the award, the NMA said it had followed Dr. Tejuosho’s activities at the Senate and deemed it fit to honour him for service to the association, the National Assembly and Nigeria in general.

Senator Tejuoso, a medical doctor and a prince of the dynasty of His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. AdedapoTejuoso, CON, Karunwi III, Oranmiyan, Osile of Oke-OnaEgba and Olori Adetoun Tejuoso, represents Ogun Central Senatorial District which comprises of Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Obafemi/ Owode, Odeda, Ewekoro and Ifo Local Governments in the Upper Legislative chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sen Lanre Tejuosho

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

NGO decries neglect of mentally challenged persons Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏAn

NGO, Initiative for the Support, Care and Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill Destitute (INSCREMID), has decried the high neglect of mentally challenged in the society.

Founder of INSCREMID, Dr. George Eze, disclosed this on Sunday after donation of materials worth N500,000 to mentally challenged inmates of Enugu State Uni-

versity Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Neuropsychiatric Clinic, Emene near Enugu.

The materials included neuropsychiatric drugs, television set, dozens of clothing and foot-wears as well as free check-up for all the inmates. ``Thank God, they had been in this home (inmates’ home) protection; but it is not enough. ``That is why we set-up this NGO - INSCREMID. We want to give them an identity; take care of them. ``We urge Nigerians to support us

to do it, so that we can take care of their needs and medication,’’ he said.

Eze, who is a consultant to ESUTH, Neuropsychiatric Department, said that mental illness was curable with modern science. ``Mental illness is curable. What kills most mentally challenged people are not their immediate mental challenge but other health illness not treated due to the neglect of such people in the first instance,’’ he said.

He appealed to Nigerians to stop

stigmatizing and ridiculing the mentally challenged persons. ``Everyone have to contend with one or two medical challenges in life,’’ Eze, who was a former Enugu State Commissioner for Health, said.

Responding, Dr Godwin Onyebueke, Head of the ESUTH Neuropsychiatric Clinic, thanked INSCREMID for continuous care for the inmates. ``I will assure you that the materials would be put to judicious use,’’ Onyebueke said.

Court fixes May 23 for hearing on Imo pensioners suit against Govt Val Okara, Owerrii

ÏÏÏJustice

Olufunke Anuwe of the National Industrial Court Owerri division has fixed May 23, 2017 for commencement of hearing in the suit filed against the Imo State government by Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

The union is challenging the directive of the state government to compel its members to fill a form to forfeit 60 percent of their pensions and the state government to pay only 40 percent of the accumulated pension arrears to pensioners.

When the suit mark NICN/ OW/144/2017, pending before Justice Anuwe came up for mention on Friday, Mrs A.N.Eluwa, the counsel for all the defendants told the court that his clients have replied the process served to them by the claimants’ counsel., Mr.Wisdom Uche Durueke.

Eluwa who doubles as the state solicitor general and permanent secretary ministry of Justice told the court that they were ready for commencement of hearing if the claimant’s counsel is willing to progress.

But Mr Durueke, counsel to the claimants told the court that he received part of the reply on Thursday while the other part was served him in court today (Friday) April 28.

He however told the court that his clients have two weeks by law to file reply to their address.He also complained to the court that in spite the fact that the matter filed by his clients was in court the defendants went ahead to act in a manner that is capable of causing serious problem.

He said, “If we had their complete address yesterday, we would have done everything possible to file it and the matter would have progressed today. We therefore request for an extension of time to respond to the address.”

L-R: Director,Regulatory and Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme; global education advocate, Zuriel Oduwole; and Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, at the Etisalat Career Counselling Programme in Lagos… at the weekend.

29 News Tension in Kogi over arrest of administrator of Ijumu LGA ÏÏÏTraditional rulers, politicians demand immediate release of Taufiq Idris Ahmed, Lokoja

ÏÏÏTension

is hightening following the arrest and subsequent parade of persons, including Hon.Taufiq Isa, the administrator of Ijumu local government area over alleged attempt on the life of Senator Dino Melaye.

Traditional rulers from Okun land as well as political office holders met to find urgent solution to what they described as politics of “superiority complex” Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lokoja on behalf of the Okun people in Kogi state, the Majority Leader Kogi State House ofAssembly Hon Matthew Kolawole noted with dismay,the unnecessary political rivalry being played out by some politicians in the area .

Kolawole who demanded for the immediate release of the Administrator of Ijumu Local government urged the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to intervene in order to calm the already heightened tension in the western senatorial district .

The leaders assured the Inspector General of Police that the royal fathers are capable of resolving the differences between Senator Melaye and Taufiq and any other persons. as anything contrary would affect development and governance .

They stated that the recent show of sophiscated political rivalry is alien to the area and warned against its practice as the people were known to be very civil and loyal to constituted authority .

The royal fathers who appealed to their two sons that found themselves in the unfortunate saga to embrace peace. urged all people of good will both within and outside the state to intervene .

Afe Babalola pushes for a law limiting number of children to 2 Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏ Front-line legal icon and founder

of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, CON, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to enact a law regulating the number of children a family should have to two in Nigeria as it is currently the trend in China to curtail the negative impact the country’s ever increasing population is having on the provision of quality education.

Babalola, who spoke at the farewell Reception for the Immediate Past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, and the Welcome Reception for his successor, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday posited that the proposed legislation has become more imperative now than ever before in order for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the comity of providers of quality and functional education world-wide.

According to him, he played host to Okojie to appreciate him for the support he has consistently given to this

university, to welcome the Rasheed for his manifested love for ABUAD, to plead with Okojie to use his experience and words of advice to continue to support Rasheed in order to ensure continuity and to be able to identify problems afflicting education in Nigeria as well as offer constructive advice on how to overcome the university problems in this country.

Relying on his experience as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos for seven years and as the founder of ABUAD since 2009, Babalola identified the major problems afflicting the Nigerian educational landscape as funding, attitude of Nigerians to giving, University Autonomy in relation to the power of the University Council and Pro Chancellors, the quality of students to be admitted by the Senate of the Universities in the face of JAMB lowering the cut off mark for admission to 160, the place of good quality teachers and Curriculum development.

Others are the need for more private universities which have stable academic calendars because they don’t go on

strikes, Illegal Universities, TETFUND, strike actions and population regulation of the number of children by each family as well as the place of technology.

Babalola who has always maintained that education is too important and expensive business to be left to governments alone to fund in the face of innumerable and competing other needs to be met, decried a situation whereby the 2012 budget of North Carolina State University in the United States of America is far in excess of the pitiable and unpalatable N392,263,784,684 which Nigeria budgeted for over 150 universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education and the UBEC within the same time frame.

“With this scenario, the proponent and protagonist of quality education postulated that it would be impossible for Nigerian Universities to compete favourably with any of the top universities in the world let alone drive innovation and maintain qualitative levels of delivery without donations, endowments or gifts from sources other than government, adding that the lesson from the Stanford University is that

Nigerians, corporate bodies and Rotary must contribute generously to education in accordance with international best practices.

Babalola, who denounced the attitude of Nigerian to giving, lamented that“an average Nigerian does not believe in giving and that is what makes alot of difference in Europe and America where people willfully will their estates in support of university education.

“Today, it remains incontrovertible that the best universities abroad thrive on grants and donations. And so, funding of universities in Nigeria can be improved upon if Nigerians change their attitude about giving. The funding of education cannot and should not be left to government alone”.

He added: “The time to act is now, that we can through donations, gifts and endowments change the face of education in Nigeria. If universities have to rely on grants, endowments and other kinds of gifts, then the Societies in which they exist must imbibe the culture of Philanthropy. This culture of philanthropy is unfortunately insufficiently practiced in Nigeria.

30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Monday, May 1, 2017

EXTRATIME

31

Sand Eagles defeat Mexico

S

till smarting from the 12-6 loss to Italy in the opening game, the Nigerian side fought hard on Sunday morning to defeat Mexico 5-4 at the National Beach Soccer Arena, Nassau, the Bahamas.

Godspower Igudia, Victor Tale, and Emeka Ogbonna were the scorers for Nigeria.

Mexico drew first blood in the 8th minute of the first period through Villa.

The Mexican team doubled the lead in the 3rd minute of the second period before Emeka Ogbonna opened the scoring for Nigeria.

Maldonado of Mexico scored the third before Abu Azeez responded on behalf of the Sand Eagles in the 8th minute of the second period.

It was 3-2 to Mexico as the second period ended.

Nigeria started to claw back when Victor Tale got the equaliser in the 9th minute of the third period.

Paul Danjuma, the Sand Eagles goalkeeper, also put in a good shift by making a number of splendid saves. Godspower Igudia scored Nigeria’s fourth goal in the first minute of added time.

Mexico levelled up two minutes later, but with seconds to the end of the game, Abu Azeez smashed home the winner.

Nigeria now has two points from two matches and will need a win against Iran to sail through.

Super sand Eagles in action

Chelsea Offer Omeruoh To Napoli

O

Ikeme

Injured Ikeme, Bazee Called Up For Eagles

T

he Nigeria Football Federation are set to spark off another club versus country row, with Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and Hannover superkid Noah Bazee instructed to report for international duty next month in France.

Since both players returned to their respective clubs after the last international break where Nigeria faced off against Senegal, they have not been available for selection because of injuries.

Hannover’s Bazee has not been involved in his club’s last five games owing to a serious knee injury, and recently visited a specialist, Dr. Ulrich Boenisch, in the Augsburger HessingparkClinic.

On the other hand, Ikeme is struggling to overcome a troublesome hamstring problem and has been ruled out of action for the rest of this season, at least for his club.

If Fifa have to meditate in this brewing dispute, they will take sides with the Nigerian Federation as injured international players must be released to their Federations for further assessment by national team doctors.

n loan Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has been offered to Napoli by Chelsea as part of their bid to sign Kalidou Koulibaly, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelsea’s coach is a big fan of the Napoli defender, and tried signing him last summer when he took over as coach of the team, but Napoli were in no mood to sell.

However it appears Conte will get his man this summer, after Omeruo was added as a sweetener to the deal, aside the huge amount of money Chelsea are willing to pay as transfer fee for the tough tackling defender.

Omeruo a senior international with Nigeria, who was at the last World Cup with Nigeria has spent the last four seasons on loan away from Chelsea, but he has progressed a lot since moving to Turkish side Alanyaspor this summer.

Napoli reportedly accepted the Nigerian as part of the deal after positive reports from their scout who

watched the 23 year old on behalf of the club last month.

A deal is far from been reached between both parties, as talks over transfer fee and other conditions are yet to be agreed on according to Owngoalnigeria.com contacts in Italy.

Victor Moses

Moses Helps Chelsea To Crucial win

A

ntonio Conte’s Chelsea took a significant step towards winning the Premier League title following their 3-0 victory over Everton, with two former England youth internationals of Nigerian descent Victor Moses and Ross Barkley on parade at Goodison Park.

The first half started in glittering fashion with two moments in the box for the Toffees. Dominic CalvertLewin first hit the post, then Lukaku had a great chance to score but saw his effort cleared.

Chelsea were left off the hook in the 42nd minute.

Enner Valencia directed a ball squarely in the box, but Lukaku failed to benefit from it.

Chelsea’s best chance of the half fell to Diego Costa, but his volleyed effort failed to hit the target.

Five minutes after the restart, Victor Moses had a chance to break the deadlock, but his deflected shot strayed just wide of Stekelenburg’s far-post.

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Sand Eagles defeat P 31 Mexico

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Monday, May 1, 2017

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Mikel Out Of Bafana Clash N

Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi.

igerian midfielder John Obi Mikel’s agent has confirmed that the Super Eagles captain will not be fit for Nigeria’s AFCON 2019 Qualifiers against South Africa on the 10 June in Uyo. The player’s agent, John Ola Shittu has told Nigerian media that the former Chelsea star could not be available for for the crucial qualifier.

Shittu told Owngoalnigeria.com in a telephone chat that his client won’t make the tie against Bafana Bafana. ”It’s true, he will most likely not be fit for the game against South Africa. He told me after I called him to confirm, if it’s true that he has suffered a setback in his quest to be fit,” he told Owngoalnigeria.com. ”He is in London as we speak, and seeing doctors who are familiar with his health case. The initial news is not pleasant. These things happen, so we have to take it the way it is.”

The absence of the Tianjin Teda midfielder will no doubt worry coach Gernot Rohr, who has options in the middle regards the experience of the captain as invaluable.

Celtic Target Odey C

Odey

eltic have been linked with the Nigerian Premier League’s top scorer Stephen Odey. Reports in Africa say the 19-year-old Mountain of Fire striker has been invited to Glasgow for a trial as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad.

According to allNigeriaSoccer the Hoops - who have also been heavily linked with fellow Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru - lead the chase for Odey.The teen heads the Nigerian top tier goal charts with 14 strikes so far for the Lagos-based club this season and is also said to be interesting AIK Stockholm and FC Copenhagen.

Odey is expected to be called up for the Nigerian training camp ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

However, securing a work permit for the player could prove a problem should Celtic actually make a move as the player has yet to feature for his country.

Liverpool linked With Awaziem

J

urgen Klopp has decided to go beyond Europe to scout for new talent, as reports emerge of him eyeing Porto’s Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem According to a report by The Sun, Jurgen Klopp has his sights set on FC Porto’s 20-year-old central defender Chidozie Awaziem as the transfer window gets closer. The Merseyside club have been tracking the Nigerian player in recent weeks, as Klopp is looking to boost his defence. In the report, it is said that a Liverpool scout contacted Awaziem during Nigeria’s friendly match against Senegal at Barnet, where the defender was an unused sub as both sides drew the match 1-1.

Media reports from both

Chidozie Awaziem Nigeria and Portugal claim that a move to Anfield is likely to be on the cards for the youngster.

Although Awaziem’s agent has not confirmed the meet yet, he did mention that it could happen, given the 20-year-old’s potential.

Awaziem broke into the Primeira Liga club’s first team last season. He has made 33 league starts for FC Porto’s B team so far this season.

The Anambra Times

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

FRSC boss lauds Obiano as road casualties hit lowest in Anambra

AT 2

FG flags off maintenance dredging of Ajaokuta-Onitsha waterways AT 4 Onitsha market leader flays APC over failed promises ÏÏÏ The All Progressives Con-

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (first right) with Chairman, Elite International Investment Limited, Madam Huang Zhi Hui and at the far right, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, chairman, Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, during the ground breaking

ANSG committed to robust relationship with China- Obiano Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

Anambra

T E A M

ÏÏÏ Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has said that under his leadership, the state will continue to enjoy robust relationship with the Republic of China that will yield far-reaching economic benefits for the people of the state.

Governor Obiano was speaking when he received the Chinese Deputy Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr.

Guang Zhongqi, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia.

Mr. Zhongqi was in the state on behalf of the Chinese Consul General, Mr. Chao Xiao Liang, to attend a programme at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, recently.

Addressing newsmen after a late lunch with the Chinese Diplomat, Gov. Obiano revealed that their discussion centered on the possibility of setting up a

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondents: Alphonsus Nweze Philip Balepo John Chinenye

consular office in the state to ease the stress the Anambra business people encounter going to Lagos for visa processing.

He further said they deliberated on the high population of Ndi Anambra who have studied in China as well as those residing there with no means of livelihood and how cottage industries can be established in the state in partnership with the Chinese government to provide jobs for them.

The Governor remarked that the Anambra Airport City project which a Chinese firm is building in the state was targeted because of the numerous benefit and that it would open limitless

business opportunities for the people.

He expressed optimism that the visit will help ensure that the state’s relationship with China continues to blossom, assuring that his government was committed to exploring partnerships with both local and international investors for the benefit of Ndi Anambra.

The Chinese Deputy Consul General, Mr. Zhongqi, commended the partnership between the state and China under the Obiano administration, noting that the enabling environment which the government created and the hospitality of Ndi Anambra paved the way for the partnership.

gress (APC) has been told to strive to fulfill the electoral promises they made to Nigerians two years ago, during the Presidential campaign, instead of building their castle in the air to win Anambra State Governorship election in November 18 this year.

A member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of Millennium market, Onitsha, Obaeli Ekele, who stated this recently during an interview with newsmen, said that before APC contemplates reaping where they did not sow, they should first fulfill the promises they made to Nigerians of providing security, fixing the economy and combating corruption.

He said: “APC has failed at the Federal level and even in most states where they control. They cannot pay salaries; what are they coming to do in Anambra State? They cannot cope with the high demand of Anamrba people from their leaders. They made countless promises to the people of Nigeria during the presidential campaign, two years now, they have not fulfilled them”.

Ekele, who is the managing director of the Anokem Resources Limited, said the economy under APC has collapsed as recession has taken over, exchange rate gone as high as N500 per a dollar from about N200 under the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He also said that more Nigerians have been killed under President Muhammadu Buhari by Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army than all the former Nigerian leaders put together.

The business mogul asked Anambrarians and Ndigbo in general to throw their weight behind the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, in the forthcoming election to finish his second tenure.

“We don’t want half measure. The Governor has done a good job so far. I can see the initiatives he is making.

The Anambra Times 2

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Ugwuagba-Obosi protest high tariff, black-out Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏ Residents of Ugwuagba Obosi

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FRSC boss lauds Obiano as road casualties hit lowest in Anambra ÏÏÏ Sector commander of

the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in Anambra State Mr. Sunday Ajayi, has commended the state Gvernor, Chief Willie Obiano, for his unreserved support to the Corps in Anambra State which has translated into safer high ways for road users within the state.

Speaking in his Awka office, the FRSC boss expressed his delight with the governor’s effort which has brought safety on our roads. He recounted that after the Easter celebration, only three (3) road accidents occurred with just 12 casualties and no deaths were recorded

in all the 21 local government areas of the state; a fit, he said, has never been achieved before the administration of Obiano.

He however attributed this success to the joint efforts and effective collaboration of the state government, the FRSC and the officers of the Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA), Ajayi, in the same vein, advised road users to continue to obey road signs and traffic lights recently installed all over the major roads and cities of the state by the Obiano administration.

He added that the low rate of road casualties recorded in the state during the Easter period hinged directly

on the observance of road signs by road users and total adherence to traffic laws and respect for the directives of traffic officers notwithstanding the increase in the flow of traffic. The FRSC sector commander also reminded road users of the presence of mobile courts for the prosecution and sanction of offenders, stressing that anyone found guilty of contravening traffic laws would be punished.

He then admonished drivers to stay away from the intake of alcohol and other hard drugs before or while driving for the safety of all, so that Anambra roads would continue to be the safest in Nigeria.

Navy plans medical rhapsody for host communities in Onitsha ÏÏÏ The Naval Outpost in Onit-

sha, Anambra State said it would hold a two-day general health awareness outreach for communities in the area to promote healthy living.

Navy Capt. Mohammed Dahiru, Commander of the Outpost, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Onitsha on Friday.

He said that the programme scheduled to hold between May 5

and May 6, would feature general health awareness talks, eye test and provision of drugs to people living along the banks of the River in Onitsha. He said that free treated mosquito nets and lenses would also be distributed to beneficiaries of the outreach.

“This is in appreciation of their support, cooperation as well as to cement the existing civil- military relationship with the people over the years,’’ Dahiru said.

According to him, some doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians have been engaged for the programme.

Dahiru said that the outpost had concluded arrangement with benefiting community leaders to provide venues and sensitise the people for a large turnout.

The commander urged the communities to avail themselves of the opportunity by turning out en mass for the programme.

layout in Idemili North Local Government Area Anambra State have protested against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over what they described as “fraudulent, exorbitant bills and epileptic power supply. The President General of the layout, Chief Osita Oji, told newsmen during the protest which saw their numbers both young and old throng at the office of EEDC at Obodo-Ukwu, said they were tired of the exorbitant bills and epileptic power supply, saying that they need pre-paid meters.

Trouble started, according Oji, when the manager defiled their original agreement of three thousand naira (N3, 000) per meter every month and told them that they would be paying seven thousand naira (N7, 000) per meter every month which the community objected on the ground that it does not reflect their power consumption.

According to him, since they

found it difficult to pay, the officer in-charge of the station removed the fuse in the entire transformer in the area leaving only his own, which threw the community into darkness for the past two weeks now.

Chief Oji explained that out of 18 transformers in the community, only two came from EEDC, while others were bought by individuals and streets even as he disclosed that the maintenance of the transformers were shouldered by them.

He stated categorically that they don’t need anything outside prepaid meter or else they revert to old N3,000 per a meter every month and called on EEDC to come and remove his fuse, as according to him, they cannot bribe him with light while the entire members are in darkness.

“We have endured it enough, we have been paying without seeing light and now they are even demanding N7, 000 per meter every month without reading the meter, we don’t need it any longer, we need pre-paid meters,” he stated.

Monarch urges property developers to engage youths ÏÏÏ Igwe Benneth Izuchukwu

Emeka, the traditional ruler of Umuleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State has urged the property developers of President Goodluck City Estate Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, in the community, to always engage the youths of the community in manual labour instead of bringing outsiders to work for them whenever they want to develop their property.

Igwe Emeka, the Oke Ebo11 of Umuleri, who spoke when the developers paid him a courtesy call, thanked them for investing in Umuleri where he said is most loving and peaceful community in the state.

He said Umuleri was without a traditional ruler for the past 21 years but thanked God that at last they have got a traditional ruler, assuring them that the community will give them every necessary assistance.

The President-General of Umuleri, Chief Pius Okonkwo, expressed gratitude to God that his campaign promise has been achieved.

According to him, he promised to give this community a traditional ruler within six months in office which he has fulfilled even as he thanked the community for their support in making the promise a

reality.

He commended the Goodluck Estate developers for visiting their traditional ruler whom he described as a man full of wisdom and transparency, assuring them of his continued support and assistance.

Earlier, President of Goodlock Estate, Chief Ernest Ojimba, told the traditional ruler that the purpose of the visit was to pay homage to the new traditional ruler and also inform him that Goodluck Estate developers that bought land in Umuleri were set to develop the land.

According to the President, they were happy that the community has got an Igwe which has been a setback to them before now even as they commended the President-General of Umuleri, Chief Pius Okonkwo, for his assistance and support since they came to Umuleri.

They promised to give scholarship award to three youth from the community as they said they are already part of Umueri.

The youth president, Ambassador Chibuzor Ekwenye, thanked God for giving them traditional who is a role model, people’s choice and peace loving traditional ruler, assuring Goodluck Estates developers that the youth of Umuleri will cooperate with them at all times.

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The Anambra Times 3

FG flags off maintenance dredging of Ajaokuta-Onitsha waterways ÏÏÏ The dredging of

the River Niger from Ajaokuta to Onitsha was flagged off Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, at Ajaokuta in Friday.

The minister said that the maintenance dredging would enable the country reap the benefit of the N36 billion investment in the project.

He said that the dredging, apart from enhancing economic activities in the host communities, would also lead to increased social activities in the communities.

He said that the National Inland Water Ways (NIWA) would be empowered with qualified personnel to carry out the maintenance dredging of the 572-kilometre channel of the river.

“This is the best form of administration you can get that is being ingenious because we don’t have money to pay any contractor,” he said.

The minister directed the NIWA to include the cost of a bigger dredger in the organisation’s 2018 budget.

Amaechi described River

Niger as very important and strategic channel that links the Northern region to the Southern region of the country.

He said that special allowances would be made for the NIWA workers handling the job in next year’s budget.

“It would have cost us billions to carry out this dredging. So, if we are saving that money, we should set aside some money that will encourage them to continue to do the work.

“I will like to reiterate that this government under the lead-

ership of President Muhammadu Buhari seeks to fulfil its campaign promises to make Nigeria a great Nation that will cater for the needs of its citizenry.

“In this regard, it is our hope to see full concession of the Onitsha River Port before the end of year,” he said. The Minister also said that the completion of the Lokoja River port and supply of cargo handling equipment at Baro River Port were being given deserved attention.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Boss Mustapha, said

that the maintenance dredging on Ajaokuta-Onitsha channel had become necessary to enhance the conduct of businesses on the river.

He said that the NIWA possess the necessary manpower and technical knowhow to execute the project through direct labour.

Mustapha said that the decision would save the country from incurring huge expenses in the face of dwindling resources occasioned by economic recession.

Caution Ngige over utterances, Umeh asks Buhari ..Says No legal inhibition against Anambra Central election Storiess by Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÏÏÏ

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ƈ ƇƏ ë Kanu should change tactics - Ezeonwuka …As ex-OMATA leader calls on Justice Nyako to hands off case ÏÏÏ The Ogirisigbo and mem-

ber, Board of Trustees (BoT), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has asked the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to change his tactics for Biafra actulisation.

He said the director of Radio Biafra ought not to have been arrested in the first instance by the Federal Government.

Chief Ezeonwuka, who spoke at the weekend, said the Federal Government’s failure to grant Kanu bail since he was arrested was an illegality since he did not commit any offence but only speaking against the maltreatment and marginalisation of his people by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Ezeonwuka spoke at the

heels of a call by the former President-General of the defunct Onitsha Amalgamated Traders’ Association (OMATA), Chief Ozo Anakwe, for Justice Binta Nyako to disqualify herself from Kanu’s case s since she has shown obvious bias.

However, the proprietor of Rojenny Tourist Village Oba, lauded Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and others for their bold steps to sign bail bond for Kanu’s release.

He also commended the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode for their show of solidarity not only to Kanu, IPOB but the entire Igbo race.

“I have my personal stand on Biafra. We have got Biafra already. We should be like Taiwan, Dubai, producing our own things. We should bring our investments and intellect here in Igbo land. We must protect

Biafra by developing Biafra,” said the APGA BoT member.

He charged Kanu to change his strategy for fighting for Biafra actualisation by uniting Ndigbo, saying that Radio Biafra should be used to unite Ndigbo not to abuse people. He warned Ndigbo to stop the Biafra of selfish interest.

But furious Anakwe said that although Kanu had met the bail conditions, necessitating his release, Justice Binta Nyako, he said, has shown her obvious bias in the case given the stringent bail conditions he gave to Kanu.

He said with that condition, Kanu’s fundamental rights of movement and association has been taken away from him.

He also lauded those who rallied round to sign Kanu’s bail bond to ensure his release such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and others.

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call to order the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, over his recent hate speeches which are capable of breaching peace in the country.

Umeh said contrary to Ngige’s outbursts, Anambra State was not against the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the explanation had become imperative given the bad impression being fed the president by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Anambra State.

He said the APC should not allow Ngige to cause disaffection for it amongst the people of the state by his unguarded utterances and actions. .Ngige had during a South East APC meeting at Alor, his home town in Anambra State, said the conduct of the Anambra Central rerun election was not in sight because of litigation trailing it.

He said: “INEC had appealed the judgment of Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court, who ruled that PDP can present a new candidate. APC is also at the Court of Appeal against the ruling of Justice Chikere because the court cannot be speaking from both sides of its mouth.

“Unless these court processes are determined, no election will take place in Anambra Central”.

But Umeh said such comments could aggravate the anger of the people of the Senatorial zone who had been desirous to have a representative in the Senate for nearly two years.

“My reaction first is to state clearly that there is no legal impediment anymore against the conduct of this Anambra central election that has been pending.

“I’m surprised to read these audacious statements

by Dr. Chris Ngige, where he said the Anambra central rerun poll cannot hold. My surprise stems from the fact that I could not fathom under what capacity Ngige was saying categorically that the poll can never take place.

“The cases Ngige was citing in his outburst clearly cannot stop INEC from conducting that election. The issue of the eligible candidates who can take part in a court ordered fresh election or rerun election has been settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in its judgment in a case between Labour Party and INEC, which was delivered in 2009.

“Unfortunately, people like Ngige are pretending not to know this position of the law.

“The boast by Ngige is suggestive that the APC government is dictating to INEC on how to conduct its affairs,” Ume said.

The Anambra Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè L ƕ ơè ƾƠơƣ

Ex-NLC chairman canvasses sustained workers support for Obiano ÏÏÏ A former state chairman of the Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Godwin Ibekwe, has called on workers in the state to reciprocate Governor Willie Gé`ë j ƌ ƅ ƆƄƆì ƈƊƆ nƄ Ɗ Obiano’s kind disposition 9ƊƆƌƆƇƑ ì M#G& to them by sustaining their Ƒ ƆƋƋ Əè LƏ ê productivity level. ƈ ƓƆ j ƌƍ ì Comrade Ibekwe, who ƑƊƓƑ ƓƆƈƊƆ yƈƅƐ Ə spoke to newsmen in Onit& ƓƆƖ Əè 0 Ƒ ƗƆƏ Ƈ sha ahead of this today’s ƌƆ ƋƈƒƆ 9 ƈƐƈ ƐƈƒƆ Workers day celebration, æ 9çè Ɨ Ɛ ƆƏ ƅ ƋƋƆ ƑƆ Ɛ Ɔ M#G& stressed that there is every ƅ Ƒ ƆƋƋ Əè ƗƑƏƈ reason for all workers in the state to be grateful to God ƆƒƆ Ɛ ƈ R ƈƐ êêê ƏƆƅƆ ƐƋƕ for the gift of the governor who he said has maintained a steady payment of workers’ salaries notwithstanding the economic recession in the country.

The former NLC boss urged workers to vote massively for the governor at the election for a second term in office to sustain his good works. As the former state president of NULGE, he charged workers at the local government level to be part of the success story by re-electing the governor for a second term.

Ibekwe expressed delight the association, Chief Onyekachukwu Onyeka, had said that at the governor’s disposithe group would partner the tion towards enhancing state government to enlighten development at the Town indigenes travelling to South union level with his twenty Africa to guard against wrong million naira choose-yourprojects grant for all comdoiings.

In his contribution, a member munities in the state.

On her part, a woman acof the association’s board of trustees, Mr Jason Osuafor, ex- tivist, Lady Ngozi Ifebi compressed appreciation to the gov- mended Governor Obiano ernor on the way he had steered and his wife, Ebelechukwu, for their determined dispothe affairs of the state.

He said that the association sition towards the developwas looking forward to partner- ment of the state, urging the ing the state government and citizenry to vote massively other key stakeholders in hu- for the governor during the man capital and business devel- forthcoming governorship polls. opment.

ANSG is working to create stable, economically-viable environment- Obiano

Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏ Anambra State Governor,

Chief Willie Obiano, says his government is working to create a stable and economicallyviable environment to improve people’s lives and engender investments in the state.

Obiano stated this in a meeting with a delegation of Anambra State Association in South Africa at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, at the weekend.

He said that the step would help to discourage Anambra indigenes from traveling

abroad where they believed the pasture was greener.

“What is important for my administration is to make the state viable for its inhabitants to ensure that our people have less need to seek opportunities elsewhere in the increasing hostilities.’’ Condemning the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Obiano urged the Anambra community in that country to “think of home”, assuring that their investments would be well protected.

He also called on those preferring to remain in South Africa to shun drug trafficking and cultism.

The governor said that his government would support the association in its efforts to provide empowerment for Anambra youths.

On his part, Commissioner for Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Stella Onuorah, said that the state was in dire need of investments from its diaspora community.

“This meeting is in line with the efforts of the present administration through the ministry, to mobilise Anambra indigenes to support the ongoing transformation in the state,’’ Onuorah said.

Earlier, President-General of

Sincere S’East Govs, viable alternative for Biafra – Ezeemo ÏÏÏ Peoples

Progressive Alliance (PPA) Governorship aspirant for Anambra 2017 Governorship election imn Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has said sincere governors of the South East states are the viable option to the agitation for sovereign state of Biafra.

Ezeemo, who spoke in an interview with The Anambra Times said that the clamour for the Sovereign State of Biafra was due to the failure of Governors of South East to provide good governance to their people.

He said the political elite in the South East who failed to

provide credible leadership to their people employ agitation for the Biafra to deceive the youths of the zone.

He said installing sincere Governors who are ready to work for the people of the region is the best option for the agitation Biafra Republic.

The business man turned politician dismissed the claims by successive and present Governors of Anambra State who claimed they constructed roads, saying that road rehabilitation or construction by Governors should not be counted as an achievement.

Ezeemo said a serious Governor can complete all the roads

in the state within six months, advocating that a sincere governor should be able to bring a radical change that will positively impact the lives of entire citizens by providing power generation that revolutionise economic development in the state. He called for reduction of monumental corruption in governance, which he said, has been the bane of good governance.

The aspirant said his motivation to contest the Governorship of the state was born out of the fact that Anambra State is a state that should be the best but has not achieved its full potentials.

“We have not made the best step forward as a state. We make one step forward, couple of steps backward. If we continue this way, we cannot get to the promise land. I feel aggrieved.

I want to be part of developing the state. We cannot develop Anambra State or Igbo land by demonstration. We must all be part of the development by bringing our businesses home.

By bringing my investment to my community, Umuchu, I have satisfied my desire. Others can take cue from my example,” said Ezeemo.

He said that if the companies he set up in his community break even and provides jobs

for the teeming youths and reduce social ills, he would have satisfied his objective, saying after sometime he felt he has seen the best of the west and should return back to join hands in developing his country and state.

“I am interested in seeing black world develop but we can’t we get ourselves organised. Here, you will sponsor people into elective office, they cannot once a year organise town hall meeting to brief their constituents. And that’s why I decided to join politics to show how to offer leadership if given the opportunity,” he said.

Business Times Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria

Dangote’s pan African investments increase revenue by 74%

Page B2

FG to establish satellite industrial centres As part accelerating its plan on diversification, the Federal Government is set to establish Satellite Industrial Centres across the six geo-political zone of the country.

The establishment of these industrial centres, which will be anchor by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA ), is expected to commenced immediately after the passage of the 2017 budget.

Speaking with Journalists in Lagos at the weekend, the new Managing Director, NEPZA, Mr Emmanuel Jime said the establishment of these centres will serve as a catalyst toward the diversification of the economy and the promotion of backward integration.

“The present administration’s desire is for the economy to fully diversify and this is the reason why the president has ordered the creation of the Satellite Industrial Centre in the six geo-political zone across the country.

“And for this to happen, NEPZA has been given the directive to anchor this and this will take effect as soon as the budget is pass,” Jime said.

Jime who took over the affairs of NEPZA last week said the agency will do everything to put the country in the right direction with the diversification of the economy through manufacturing for domestic market and export.

“As we know that NEPZA is a creation of Act 63 of 1992, with mandate to license, regulate and monitor free zones in Nigeria.

“Our plan now is to focus on the generation of employment, technology transfer and skill acquisition. Also, we will do everything to attract more Foreign Direct Investment through aggressive marketing,” Jim said.

Jime said creating an attractive environment for manufacturers through measures such as tax breaks, export incentives and finances, is high on the government’s agenda in line its broader aim of increasing local production.

BUSINESS TIMES Head Business Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

CBN rallies support for local currency Page B3

I’m returning to Ladipo Auto Market to make peace – Okoli Page B8

Nigeria can’t sustain interest payment on debt – W’Bank Bonny Amadi Although Nigeria’s total current debt is relatively low compared to the Gross Domestic Product, the interest rate payment is not sustainable by current revenues, the World Bank has said.

Senior Economist at World Bank office in Nigeria, Yue Man Lee, said this in Abuja recently on the sideline of the release of

the 15th edition of Africa’s Pulse, an analysis of issues shaping the continent’s economic future.

For the interest payment to be sustainable, according to Lee, the country either has to increase its revenues or work towards balancing the debt profile to make way for more foreign debt rather than allow the continued dominance of local debt with high interest rates.

Yue Man Lee said, “Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio is relatively low. What is of concern is the

ratio of interest payment to revenue. That is what is concerning.

This reflects the fact that there has been a massive drop in revenues because of the drop in oil revenues.

“There are two main strategies to reduce this debt burden.

One is to increase the revenues.

Here, in order not to be vulnerable to the volatility of the oil sector, the critical thing is to increase the non-oil revenues like the VAT, the income taxes and the excises outside of oil. This is

something we have been discussing with the government about.”

Lee added, “The other area in terms of interest payment is to look at the debt profile. Right now, most of the debt is domestic debt – short term domestic debt – and so, the government has already expressed the strategy to move towards external longerterm debt. You have seen them issuing Eurobonds successfully as part of that strategy.

“The key thing for us in terms of sustainability of the debt profile is raising revenues. That is just the key thing.”

Lee also spoke on the nation’s continuing foreign exchange criCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

L-R: AGM, South Directorate, Mr Rowly Isioro; Group Head, Corporate Banking, Mrs. Nnenna Kayode-Lawal; AGM, Risk Management, Mr Simeon Okoduwa; Ag. Managing Director, Mr Hafiz Bakare, all of Keystone Bank with the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Mr Godwin Obaseki during a business meeting with the Edo State Governor…recently.

GenCos accuse DisCos of insincerity Simon Ugwu

The crisis in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) worsened as the electricity generation companies (GenCos) accused the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) of being insincere with their account records.

Whereas the DisCos had condemned the request from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to open up their books, the GenCos under

the auspices of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), described it “as not just a welcomed development, but also a wake-up call to all participants in the electricity market.”

The APGC Executive Secretary, Dr. Joy Ogaji, in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, recalled that a fortnight ago the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) likened the move to centralize their revenue accounts to nationalisation of the DisCos. Ogaji expressed surprise that

DisCos are churning out stories and “crying wolf” to gain consumers’ sympathy whereas the NERC enacted the tariff with their consent. “There is something that Discos are not telling the people.

What government is calling for is not just escrowing but visibility,” she said.

The executive secretary stated that the electricity sector is a value -chain that needs to be remunerated as applicable covering the cost of generation, transmission and distribution .

The GenCos, according to her, are entitled to “60 per cent of markets remittance as they not just generate power but also pay for gas supply and gas transportation.

Transmission charge cost 11 per cent, distribution gets 25 per cent while the remaining four per cent is meant for regulatory charges and NBET. “The revenue referred to by the distribution companies are not their personal revenue but market funds to which they were made trustees to collect and remit.”

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Siemens advocates investment for a digital grid

L-R: User Operations Manager, OLX Patrica Duru; Business Development Manager, OLX; Mayokun Fadeyibi; (far right) Marketing Manager, OLX Fife Aiyesimoju being presented the BOICT award for the Best Online Classifieds Advert Website of the year by Sunday Dare Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Nigerian Communications Commission in Lagos over the weekend.

Simon Ugwu The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited Nigeria, Mrs. Onyeche Tifase, has advocated for investments in the power sector to achieve digitalisation of the nation’s electricity grid.

She stated this in Lagos at the company’s Energy Management Solutions for Transmission and Distribution Customer Forum, adding that the power sector was fraught with challenges, especially in terms of transmission and distribution.

“Nigeria is at the phase where we are using a lot of mechanical solutions or basic automation solutions. When we are talking about smart grid, you really need to have a network that is fully enabled to send and receive information.

Some of the solutions we are presenting are from our digital portfolio,” she said.

The network in Nigeria according to her has not been fully enabled to allow for digital communication.

“Digitalisation is critical for any country but you have to progress towards it. There has to be a plan in place about how you are going to enable your network; there has to be investments made.”

The managing director further said that Siemens is poised to support the country in increasing the efficiency of the entire generation, transmission and distribution segments including metering and revenue collection by performing system studies and resolving issues where necessary.

The Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tunde Fowler, on Friday said the service was adopting technology to boost tax revenue in 2017, just as the agency reported generating N3.30trn revenue in the 2016 financial year.

Fowler disclosed at the closing ceremony of a three-day training on taxation for journalists in Lagos that the service collected N3.30 trillion in taxes in 2016, a drop (0.44trn) from the N3.74 trilThe FIRS boss, represented by Mrs Nneka Ifekwuna, the Deputy Director of Communications and Servicom, said the service was convinced that 2017 would be a better year in terms of tax collection.

Fowler said that apart from the use of technology, the agency

Dangote’s pan African investments increase revenue by 74% Sales recorded by Dangote Plants across Africa has significantly impacted the revenue of the company for the first quarter ended on March 31,

Dangote

2017 by 74 percent, to a whopping N208,2 billion.

Chief executive officer of Dangote Cement, Onne van der Weijde, who revealed this over the weekend while presenting the company’s first quarter results to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), also stated that the company’s earnings per share for the first quarter increased by 36.2 perAccording to him: “Dangote Cement produced record financial results in the first three months of 2017. Despite lower Group volumes, we delivered significantly higher revenues and EBITDA after realigning prices late in 2016.

Our new pricing strategy meant every tonne worked harder for us in Nigeria, delivering 78.4 per cent more EBITDA per tonne than the

FIRS adopts new technology to drive tax collection … Generates N3.30trn revenue

was also using persuasion and enforcement as well as partnership with the press to boost tax revenue.

He said that other efforts included ongoing nationwide registration of new taxpayers to expand the tax net in the country.

“The result is the registration of 814, 000 additional taxpayers

by December 2016 by FIRS and 3.4 million taxpayers by State Internal Revenue Services (SIRSs).

“By December last year, Nigeria had a national tax roll of 14 million,” Fowler said.

On the ease of tax payment, Fowler said taxpayers filing their

tax returns at the FIRS offices nearest to them had increased the compliance level.

He said that FIRS had embarked on some other initiatives to promote voluntary compliance.

The executive chairman said these included shielding taxpayers from the burden of carrying forward tax liabilities that rose from penalty and interest.

He said that collaboration with the Office of Accountant General of the Federation had forced all the ministries, departments and agencies to be remitting Withholding Tax (WHT), Value Added Tax (VAT) and others.

same quarter last year.

We have now begun sourcing a significant amount of coal from Nigerian mines owned by our parent, Dangote Industries, and this has not only helped us to improve margins but also reduced our need for imported coal and the foreign currency needed to buy it.

Our Pan-African operations performed strongly, increasing sales volumes by 21.0 per cent and revenues by 74.2 per cent. Pan-African operations now contribute nearly 28 per cent of Group revenues and we are pleased to report a good start for our new import facility in Sierra Leone. We will begin operations in Congo in the coming weeks, further consolidating our position as Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading supplier of cement.”

It would be recalled that the Federal Government (FG) recently lauded Dangote Cement for its efforts in making the country to be self-sufficient in cement production. FG confirmed that Nigeria has attained self-sufficiency in the production of cement and is now an exporter of the commodity, ascribing the feat to Dangote Cement which spearheaded the “backward integration policy” introduced by the government.

The Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, who led a government team to the Dangote Cement plants in Ibese, Ogun State, said the government was happy with the leadership role played by Dangote Cement in executing the backward integration policy in the cement industry.

Nigeria can’t sustain interest payment on debt – W’Bank CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

sis, saying that further liberalisation could lead to depreciation of the naira, but predicted recovery after a short while.

According to Lee, “Once it is liberalised, the market will determine the exchange rate. We don’t know exactly what the exchange rate will be. Possibly, it will depreciate further; but then, it may adjust back. These are the forces of demand and supply.

“If the exchange rate depreciates further than what it is at the interbank, there could be some inflationary impact. I think we should bear in mind that right now, a lot more of large scale

transactions are possibly done outside of the official interbank exchange rate.”

The World Bank official added, “If a number of transactions are being carried out using the parallel exchange rate, the prices have already been incorporated into the current selling prices.

So, it’s a question of how much of inflation impact.

“The second thing to note is that the government has chosen to manage the inflation impact, namely monetary policy. So, that is why the IMF recommended further flexibility in the exchange rate regime with tightening of the monetary policy.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

B3

Money Market

Ecobank shuts 74 branches, switches to digital channels Stories by Motolani Oseni

The economic crunch in Nigeria is taking its toll on Ecobank Nigeria Limited, and to tackle this challenge, the lender has decided to shut down 74 of its branches, reducing local outfits from 479 to 405, as it switches to digital channels.

In a related development, Sterling Bank debunked reports that it sacked 650 staff members, explaining that it only returned the affected workers to service providers that had earlier assigned them to work with the bank.

Commenting on the development at Ecobank, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Charles Kie, in an emailed document said the move was part of the bank’s trans-

formation agenda which is meant to create a fundamental shift of its banking activities to digital channels, as well as improve customers’ experience, while also reducing the cost of serving them.

He said that this is also to support the bank’s financial inclusion strategy and the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to him, “This strategy, the bank has enhanced its Retail Internet Banking platform with much speed and flexibility.

Also the Ecobank Mobile App that enables customers does instant payments; open accounts, as well as do instant transfers across 33 countries in Africa.

He added that the bank has therefore decided to merge some

of its branches across the country. With the merger Ecobank now boasts of 405 branches across the country supported with top of the range technology application.

“After a detailed analysis of the physical network of branches needed to serve our customers, the decision was made by the Ecobank Nigeria Board, and approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to optimize 74 out of its 479 branches”, he explained.

He stated that the impact on staff will be minimal, as most of the staff in the affected branches will be moved to other projects.

In his words “We are deploying staff and other resources from the merged branches to other ongoing projects, while

also strengthening the existing branches to make them more resourceful and up to speed in their daily activities.”

He reiterated that this is a well thought through decision expected to fundamentally shape Ecobank’s business for better performance.

The lender declared a N52.6 billion loss at then of 2016 financial year, following its decision to write-off its huge impairments, even though it returned to profitability at first three months of this year, posting a N18.7 billion profit after tax, which was 15 percent higher than the N16.2 billion it declared in Q1 2016.

Ecobank gross earnings was grew to N178.4 billion in Q1 2017, 36 per cent better than N131.39 bil-

lion it generated in Q1 2016.

The bank’s total assets rose by 36 per cent from N4.6 trillion in 2016 to NN6.26 trillion as at March 2017, driven by 28 per cent increase in loans and advances to customers to N2.8 trillion as at March 2017 from N2.2 trillion recorded in 2016 financial year results.

Ecobank balance sheet was buoyed by 32 per cent increase in deposits from customers to N4.15 trillion at the end of March 2017 and 12 per cent increase in total equity from N505.5 billion in 2016 to N565.7 billion in Q1 2017.

Mr Ade Ayeyemi, the bank’s Group Chief Executive Officer in a statement explained: “Our performance in the first quarter was encouraging despite continued macroeconomic headwinds.

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Services & Commercial, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Jonathan Tobin; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Deacon Titus Soetan, presenting an award to the Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, while Executive Director, Micro Enterprise/ Financial Inclusion Directorate (BoI), Mrs. Toyin Adeniji, looks on during the ICAN 2017 annual dinner and awards presentation in Lagos, at the weekend.

Experts bemoan DMBs ‘skirt marketing’ strategy

CBN rallies support for local currency … Naira steady at 390/$1 at parallel market The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) again on Friday supported the local currency through the sale of treasury bills amounting to a whopping N107.64 billion($353m), foreign exchange dealers believed this move was part of efforts to soak up excess liquidity from the banking system and curb pressure on the Naira.

Even at this, the Nigerian currency over the weekend steadied at 390 to a dollar, the same rate it traded a day before the official closure of the forex market on Friday.

Although, this was a slight depreciated rate of the Naira compare to 388

per dollar sold on Thursday at the parallel market but dealers optimistic that the currency will appreciate further in the week ahead.

However, the apex lender sold N54.42 billion in the 167-day open market operations (OMO) treasury bills at 18 percent and 55.22 billion naira paper at 18.5 percent, traders said.

But the effect of the sale was countered by additional liquidity from the repayment of matured bonds forcing overnight lending rate down to 5 percent on Friday from 30 percent at the start of the week.

Traders said banking system liquidity was N246

billion in credits on Friday, up from N206.96 billion in deficit a week ago. The money markets were also expecting the monthly government budget disbursement next week.

The naira, against the Pound Sterling at the weekend gained five points to settle at 485 compare to 490 it traded a day before the end of the long trading week but steady at 415 to the Euro at the unofficial forex segment.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the naira was sold at N362 to the Greenberg, while trading at the interbank window remained unchanged at N305.85 to the dollar. However, the naira, appreciated

marginally at the investment and export window, as it closed at N379.04, from the N379.89 it opened earlier on Thursday.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Meanwhile, reacting to the call from different quarters that the that multiple exchange rate in the forex market is not helping in addressing the forex crisis, the CBN has explained that multiple exchange rate has eliminated “frivolous demand” of foreign currency.

Traders at the market were hopeful that the naira would bounce back as the CBN sustained liquidity boost at the BDC subsector.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor, said the multiple exchange rates was aimed at improving dollar supply while allowing investors to trade their own dollars at a more market-determined rate.

Professionals and Stakeholders in the banking industry have cautioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) against the practice of sending spinsters, young and married women after net worth individuals and members of the public to source for deposits with outrageous targets.

The experts believe that such deposit mobilization strategy is bad because it exposes these women to various kinds of inducements.

Speaking at the just concluded 22nd World Conference of Banking Institutes, in Lagos, Nigeria, with the theme: ‘Rethinking the future of Banking and Finance and Life Long Learning’, Oba Riliwan Akiolu, said, “Your method and approach in sending single girls and married women, to go and look for deposits at all cost is very, very humiliating.”

He advised DMBs to use the opportunity of having bankers from all over the world to fashion out ideas on how to address youth unemployment; adding that government should equally work hand in hand with bankers to design a program that will enable graduates who have finished their oneyear Youth Service to access at least N1 million loan of a year’s tenure without stringent collateral.

Capital Market B4 Afolabi Adesola Nigeria’s Equities market recorded its highest gain in one week as lead market indicators rose by 2.26 percent for the week ended 28th April 2017.

Investors transacted 1.3 billion shares in 16,300 deals valued N 9.6 billion grew, volume rose by 49 percent, while value increased by 63 percent.

The increase was on the premise of demand across banking and industrial goods names following relatively impressive Q117 results released by highly capitalized companies across both financial services and manufacturing sectors.

The All Share Index closed on a positive note by 2.26 percent w/w to close at 25,758.51 points. Market capitalization also added 2.26 percent or N197 billion this week to

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Stock market records largest weekly 2017 growth so far settle at N8.913 trillion.

Price gainers increased from 24 In the preceding week to 38 last week. Stanbic IBTC Holdings led this week’s gainers with a growth of28.24 percent and closed the week at N26.25, while Losers for the week reduced equities from 31 last week to 25 this week. Diamond Bank was the highest loser with a decline of 12.22percent.

Its share price closed at 79 kobo.

114 equities remained unchanged lower 122 equities recorded last week.

Topping the activity chart by volume were Access Bank Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc.

They accounted for 489.178 million shares worth N1.731 billion in 1,665 deals, contributing 36.69 percent and 17.90 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively The Financial Services Industry maintained its lead position on the activity chart with 960.307million shares valued at N6.098 billion traded in 9,675 deals; thus contributing 72.03 percent and 63.06 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 154.404 million shares worth N330.132 million in 896 deals.

The third place was occupied

by Oil and Gas Industry with a turnover of 60.285 million shares worth N896.174 million in 1,379 deals.

Also traded during the week were a total of 533 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N32,204.30 executed in 15 deal compared with a total of 100 units valued at N6,799.00 transacted last week in 1 deal.

A total of 4,705 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N3.934 million were traded this week in 4 deals, compared with a total of 1,311 units valued at N1.346 million transacted last week in 7 deals.

Shareholders commend FCMB’s 2016 performance, approve dividend Afolabi Adesola Shareholders of FCMB Group Plc have applauded the financial institution for its resilience, dynamism and the enhanced performance recorded last year despite the challenging operating environment.

The shareholders, who gave the commendation at the 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Group in Lagos on April 28, also unanimously approved the payment of a cash dividend of 10 kobo per ordinary share, which translates to N1.98 billion, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

FCMB Group is the holding company of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, CSL Stockbrokers Limited and CSL Trustees Limited.

The audited accounts of the Group for last year showed a profit before tax (PBT) of N16.3 billion, an increase of 109% compared to the N7.8 billion for the same period in 2015. Profit after tax also rose to N14.3 billion as against N4.8 billion prior year.

Gross revenue as at the end of December 2016 was up by 16% to N176.35 billion from N152.51 billion in the previous year.

In his address at the AGM, the Chairman of FCMB Group, Dr. Jonathan Long, represented by a Director, Mr Bismarck Rewane, attributed the performance recorded last year to the professionalism and commitment the financial institution brought to bear in its business and operations.

He added that, ‘’the Group has shown itself, capable of weathering the storm and I am confident that the year ahead will prove to be no exception’’.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru (left) addressing participants at the just concluded Asset Management Partners (AMPs) feedback session with AMCON management and the AMPs at Stonhedge Hotel, Maitama, Abuja during the week. AMPs are firms that are working with AMCON to resolves debts of N100million and below

Diamond Bank sustains Q4 weak performance in Q1 Bonny Amadi Following the release of Diamond Bank’s first quarter result for the period ended 31 March 2017 which showed sustained surprises ostensibly below expectations, investors reacted by pitching the bank’s stocks supply against demand.

As news of the bank’s Q1 2017 performance reached the investing public and dealing members of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), reactions impacted negatively on the bank’s stocks leading to N0.11 or 12.22 per cent decline suffered by its equities.

The bank opened trading at N0.90 per share, prior to release of its Q1 result, but closed lower

at N0.79 per share, following reactions from the Q1 result. Experts predict that the reactions would be sustained in the new week, as only speculation may reverse price trajectory.

Meanwhile, Diamond bank’s first quarter result released by the NSE last Friday showed that though funding income rose by 25 per cent y/y, opex grew by 9 per cent y/y. Also PBT and PAT were down year on year.

PBT fell by 17 per cent year on year ; while PAT declined -3% y/y, drive by other comprehensive income of N827m.

Non-interest income declined by23 per cent y/y, loan loss provisions soared by 20 per cent y/y and 9 per cent y/y increase in opex, spurred the decline in

PBT. The changes on these lines more than offset a 25% y/y increase in funding income to N31.5bn. Meanwhile, sequentially, PBT improved remarkably from a depressed Q4 2016.

Both PBT and PAT grew Q/Q by 19 per cent and 44 per cent respectively. The bank’s positive surprise in earnings was driven by a better-than-expected performance by funding income line.

Daily Times recalls that Diamond Bank’s Q4 2016 result for the period ended 31 December 2016 showed that the bank made a loss after tax of N1bn largely driven by a negative result on the other comprehensive income line.

More Nigerians to benefit from N106bn Dangote Sugar new investment …As Dangote lauds CBN on cashless policy reversal Bonny Amadi Nigeria’s economy is consolidating for increased productivity, living standard through creation of more opportunities and new jobs to arise from new investment of N106 billion by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. Daily Times findings show that, the effort of Dangote sugar at injecting N106 billion new investments funds and the N100 billion so far invested in backward integration , is billed to impact the country positively as more Nigerians will be employed by new job openings to be created by the new investments.

Chairman, Dangote Sugar Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, disclosed in Lagos on Thursday during the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) that, though the company is committed to payment of enhanced dividend to shareholders, Dangote sugar is focused on its N106billion new investment in sugar refining, in the next four years, to further create value, earning opportunities for investors as well as more job opportunities for the unemployed.

“Despite the challenges, I am optimistic and look forward to a successful 2017 with more growth and continued value creation for shareholders and all stakeholders” Dangote said.

He assured that that the company would sustain payment of enhanced dividend to shareholders, adding that the 60 kobo dividend payment per share or N7.4 billion for the 2016 financial year, would have been tripled, but for the new investments which is funded through retained earnings, in addition to its backward integration targets, which he described as very challenging.

“To date about N100 billion has been committed to wards to actualization of these projects on equipment purchase, land studies and survey sensitization campaign for the local communities , rehabilitation and expansion of Savanah sugar company”

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

25,746.52

DEALS

2,405.00

VOLUME

107,935,873.00

VALUE

907,728,846.87

CAP

8,908,602,550,664.29

15-Feb 18-Feb 21-Feb 24-Feb 27-Feb 02-Mar 05-Mar 08-Mar 11-Mar 14-Mar 17-Mar 20-Mar 23-Mar 26-Mar 29-Mar 01-Apr 04-Apr 07-Apr 10-Apr 13-Apr 16-Apr 19-Apr 22-Apr 25-Apr 28-Apr

B5 Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 1, 2017

29,500 NSE All Share Index Naira Value (m)

27,000

22,000

`

99,000

79,000

59,000

24,500 39,000

19,000

(1,000)

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May, 2017

B6 CSR

Stories by Godwin Anyebe Over the years, Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) in Nigeria has been a contemporary and contextual issue to all followers of event including the government, brand handlers and the larger society. Analysts are of the view that the payment of taxes and the fulfillment of other civic rights are enough grounds to have the liberty to take back from the society in terms of CSR undertaken by other stakeholders.

Before now, the Nigerian society was filled by children who are constantly seen on the streets due to bad governance or poor parental control. While the children of those at the corridors of power attend schools abroad, the children of the under privileged are more often than not seen hawking on the streets.

To this end, investigations by the Daily Times shows that most corporate organizations that are supposed to bridge the gap between government and under privileged children are often concerned about what they can take out of the society, and de-emphasize the need to give back to the society (their host communities). This attitude often renders the entire community inhabitable. For example, the Boko Haram insurgency in the North and militancy in southern part of Nigeria have translated to negative integrity and reputation on the part of corporate identity as people perceived this as exploitation and greed for profitability and wealth maximization within a decaying economy. Nonetheless, the general belief is that both business and society gain when firms actively strive to be socially responsible;

L-R: Chef Tolu Eros; Chef Benedict Okuzu; Oyinade Adegite, assistant manager & group head, communications & external affairs, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Chef Raphael Dutoye, during a press conference on the GTBank Food & Drink fair recently in Lagos.

Nigerian Children and place of Corporate Social Responsibility that is, the business organizations gain in enhanced reputation, while society gains from the social projects executed by the business organization.

Though, it is believed in some quarters that if only the government can make an enabling environment for business to thrive, corporate organisations on their part will ensure they give back to the society which will have a positive effect on the children. Therefore, many companies are occupying responsibilities in Nigerian schools through CSR, because the country’s government has not improved upon the lapses in the country’s education.

Speaking on this issue, Toyin Olakanpo, a law-

yer and a passionate child rights advocate who also and sits on the Board of the Foundation for CSR & Children’s Rights as its President and Chief Executive Officer said; “the Convention on the Rights of the Child launched in 1989 was supposed to change the way children in the world were viewed and treated. It set out a pioneering set of principles that placed children as human beings with a distinct set of rights. It is important to take a close look at the Child Rights Act (Nigeria) passed into law at the Federal level in 2003 which encapsulated the Convention and its principles and see if life for the Nigerian child had indeed changed for the better.

The advocate pointed out that, “the Nigerian child’s right to survival and protection was clearly violated on November 10, 2014 when a suicide bomber, suspected to have been spurred on by the terrorist group Boko Haram, murdered 47 children as they gathered for the morning assembly at their school – the Federal Government Science School in Potiskum, Yobe State. This was not a singular incident.

On the 6th of July, 2013, Boko Haram attacked a secondary school in Mamudo, Yobe State, killing 42 children. On September 29, 2013 gun-men from Boko Haram entered the male dormitory of the Federal Government College of Agriculture in

Gujba, Yobe State, killing 44 boys. On February 25,2014 members of Boko Haram attacked the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, where they massacred 59 boys in their sleep.”

The Nigerian child has been subject to murderous attacks in schools as far back as July 2013 and no visible remedial action has been taken by the Nigerian government to provide adequate security to make schools safe in the North Eastern part of Nigeria where insurgency has reached a climatic stage of terrifying proportion.”

Daily Times learnt that, in other climes, where children are treated with dignity, corporate organisations,

through the activities of some none governmental organisations ensure that children are remembered after death. For example, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, where 26 children were killed by a deranged man in Newton, Conneticut, USA. On the CNN website there was a picture of each of the children who were killed and a short biography for each of them including personal details such as “her favorite stuffed animal was a lamb; pink and purple were her favorite colors.” On this note, the questions analysts are asking is that, where is the memorial wall for all the children killed by the insurgents?

100 small businesses to participate GTBank Food and Drink fair More than 100 small businesses in Nigeria’s Food Industry will be provided with free storefronts at the GTBank Food and Drink which holds during the Worker’s Day holiday, on Sunday the 30th of April and Monday the 1st of May, 2017. Organised by foremost African Financial Institution, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, the 2-day event offers small businesses in

the Nigerian Food Industry a free and vibrant platform to connect with a wider segment of their target markets as well as experts in their business fields.

According to the bank recently in Lagos, in a press briefing to herald the 2017 edition, the food and drink fair is a corporate social responsibility initiative of the banks in an attempt to provide platform and in-

frastructure for small businesses to grow in Nigeria.

The 2016 edition of the GTBank Food and Drink Fair had over 90 exhibitors from the food sector and attracted more than 25,000 guests.

The 2-day event, which is free to attend, will offer vibrant, exciting and enterprising small businesses in the food industry a free platform to create and exhibit some of the most fas-

cinating food experiences, ranging from fresh farm products to ready-to-eat meals. The fair will feature a Farmers’ Market, where SMEs involved in agriculture will showcase and sell fresh and organic farm products, and a Baking Masterclass for children kids. There will also be a diverse range of restaurants offering mouth-watering dishes, outdoor grills and

thrilling entertainment as well as savoury Wine tastings to enable attendees experience an exciting and eclectic mix of undiscovered brands and household names alike.

Another major feature of the event will be Masterclasses be led by internationally renowned chefs such as, Raphael Duntoye, chef patron of la petite maison, famous food and

fitness expert Kevin Curry, pop-up restaurateur - Lerato Umah-Shaylor and renowned food blogger, Jehan Powell. Other headliners include Ronke Edoho, founder of 9jafoodie.com, Nkesi Enyioha, owner of HSE Café, Abiola Akanji of Red Dish Chronicles and Benedict Okuzu, the West African Chef Ambassador for German home appliance brand, “Miele.”

Insurance B7 Axa Mansard Insurance boosts profitability in first quarter Axa Mansard Insurance for the first quarter 2017 has recorded growth in key performing indices as revenue and profit after tax records showed.

Released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the results showed that Axa Mansard grew revenue to N12. 87 billion, from N8.83 billion in 2016 corresponding period, indicating about 50 per cent

growth in revenue.

The performance report further reflected that Profit after Tax for the Q1 period stood at N737.946 million, from N700.107 million recorded in 2016 Q1.

Axa Mansard Q1 group profit before tax peaked at N911.8 million, against N751.0 million in 2016 Q1.

Also, Q1 group net premium income stood at N3.31 billion, compared with N2.76 billion in Q1 2016.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2 017

Cornerstone Insurance sustains loss position in Q1 2017 ... Posts 100 % Q1 loss after tax

Against expectations of growth due to new opportunities for the Nigerian Insurance industry, Cornerstone First quarter 2017 periodic result showed depressed performance in revenue and profit and loss lines.

The results released by the Nigerian bourse for the period ended 31 March 2017, last Friday showed that even as revenue declined, loss after tax soared as well.

Cornerstone Q1 result showed that revenue declined to N3.31 billion in

Q1 2017, against revenue of N3.94 billion recorded in 2016 Q1.

Loss after Tax in Q1 2017 recorded by Cornerstone was N278.151 million, against N140.556 million loss after tax recorded in the preceding period 2016.

Cornerstone Insurance PLC recently announced the resignation

of the Company’s board chairman, Mr. Adedotun Suleiman and also the appointment of Mr. Paul Kokoricha as the new Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Paul Kokoricha is an Executive Partner at African Capital Alliance and has several years of experience in all aspects of private equity investment management.

Sovereign Trust Insurance posts 1007% leap in Q1 2017 profit Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has posted a remarkable boost in profit and loss (P/L) lines the first quarter 2017, even as its total revenue for the period also dropped remarkably.

The company’s first quarter Q1 periodic result published by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that Profit before Tax (PBT) grew by 1,007 per cent or N444.352 million, closing the Q1 period at N488.474million, compared to N44, 122 million posted in Q4 2016.

The company’s total Revenue for the first quarter declined remarkably to N2.2 billion, from N7.42 billion reflecting N5.22 billion drop in revenue or 70 per cent decline.

However, claims expense in the period dropped to N562, 995million, from N1.44 billion in the last quarter, an N877.87 million or 61 per cent drop in claims paid.

Other Expenses recorded during the period amounted to N944.754 million, from N3.03 billion, indicating N2.09 billion or 69 per cent drop.

Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc commenced

business in January 1995 following the restructuring and recapitalization of the then Grand Union assurances Limited.

Currently the company’s authorized share capital is N5.25Billion divided into 10.5 billion units of 50 kobo per share and a fully paid-up capital and Shareholders’ funds of over N3.4 Billion.

Meanwhile, the company’s Q1 result further showed that Financial Assets as at the close of first quarter 2017 stood at N980,728, from N904,207 recorded in the last quarter ended December 31,2016, reflecting growth by N76,521 or 8 per cent.

Total Benefits, Claims and Other Expenses recorded by Sovereign Trust Insurance in Q1 2017 stood at N1.51 billion, from N4.48 billion in the last quarter of 2016, indicating N2.97 billion or 66 per cent change.

Profit For the Year N437.191million from N22.739 million posted in the last quarter 31 December 2016, reflecting N414.452 million or 1,823 per cent growth.

Director of the W. U. Global Tax Policy Centre, Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law, Mr Jeffrey Owens (left); and representative of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Custom Services, Mr Femi Oluruntoba, at the Conference and Capacity Building Workshop on the Use of Beneficial Ownership Information and the Recovery of Assets in Africa recently.

Continental Reinsurance assures of better performances ….Grows Q1 PAT to N515.656million Continental Reinsurance may have send indications that its 2017 financial year would be rewarding to shareholders , going by its recently released first quarter result which continues to generate positive reactions.

Continental reinsurance, one of the formidable re-insurance companies in Nigeria, first quarter 2017 periodic result for the period ended 31 March, indicated growth in key measuring insides.

Continental Reinsurance is a world-class panAfrican service reinsurer.

The company has been leading African reinsurance sector for the past 30 years, operating in 50 African countries, and has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 2007.

The continental Reinsurance periodic result, released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last Friday showed that the company grew its revenue to N6.57 billion, from N5.53 billion in the first quarter 2016.

The company’s result for 2017 first showed that Profit after Tax peaked at N515, 656million, from N499 mil-

lion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.

Daily Times recalls that Continental Reinsurance 2016 audited year -end results showed an increase of 60 per cent in profit before tax from N2.92 billion in 2015 to N4.65billion.

Gross premium income stood at N22.41billion, higher than N19.74 billion reported in 2015, reflecting 14 per cent boost However, group net investment and other income improved substantially from N1.85billion in 2015 to N4.87billion in 2016 , a 162% increase, un-

derpinned by a strong investment result bolstered by gains on hard currency assets .

Underwriting profit for 2016 was N414million, down from N2.05billion in 2015.

Dr. Femi Oyetunji, Group Managing Director / CEO said, “Despite varied developments and widely contrasting fortunes in individual business lines in our underwriting portfolio, our geographic diversity and varied asset mix cushioned us .We continued to see sturdy growth

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1 , 2017

What transpired that made you to leave the market all these years?

I am the former President of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market at Ladipo, Lagos. I am going back to the market because I am a businessman. Trade is my line of business. You know in the market, there are always market associations which traders belong. After elections in 2007, I won the elections as the President of the market. I inherited a problem because there were crises, ever before I became President. The crises really affected my line of business. In 2012, there were all kinds of attacks on the traders instigated by some powerful politicians in Lagos State. They were bent on taking away the leadership from the traders’ choice. There were court actions here and there and we were spending more as everyday was trouble. After almost six years of crises, I had an auto accident along ShagamuIjebu-Ode road which kept me away from the market for about four years. Since 2012, I have never stepped into the market. Now there is a new leadership in the market which is the choice of the Local Government Council. They imposed the leadership in the market against the will of the traders. I am going back to the market but I am not going to challenge them. I am going back to do my business and not to contest or fight anybody. I am going to my shop. In the market, I am one of the major stakeholders; I have a plaza with many shops at the Ladipo Market.

Which efforts did the market association put in place for your well-being throughout the time you were away from the market? Were they concerned?

The traders were concerned because they know I have been of help to most of them. But all of them are afraid of their lives; you wouldn’t understand.

When the powerful forces are against anything and you try to go against it, you are in trouble. Even sometimes, most of the traders don’t come close to me so that they will be free to do business in the market.

Now, they have tasted another leadership for four years and they are complaining. They are even calling me every day, asking me to come back and rescue them. They feel for me but they cannot openly express that they are for me. Even when we went to Abuja for the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, concerning police brutality

B8

Business Interview

I’m returning to Ladipo Auto Market to make peace – Okoli

Mr. Jonathan Chibuzor Okoli is the President of Aguiyi Ironsi Tarders Unit at Ladipo Auto Market located in Matori Area of Lagos State. In this interview with EBERE CHIBUZOR, he speaks on the crises rocking Ladipo Market, his ordeal with Mushin Local Government and why he has decided to return to the market, 4 years after stepping aside. Excerpts…

Okoli

to traders; those who went with me to Abuja were messed up. They beat them mercilessly and they even sent them out of the market. I have advised them not to support me until I come back to the market. We will still be friends but let them stay and do their business.

Do you have any regret now, after fighting for the traders?

As it is now, I cannot fight for the people anymore.

I used all my resources fighting for Ladipo traders which they are willing to pay me back. But the leadership said no, that they will not pay. However, I know they will pay because there are evidences. If I go to the court, I will get it back but I chose not to go to court because I want to make peace process. However, when they are doing something in the market, I will still say something but not as active as before. I will only advise. Even the new Local Government Chairman, after listening to me recently,

has asked me to work with them. He wants me to go back as the leader of the market but what I want is to go there as a godfather and whenever they need advice, I give them.

What is the relationship between the traders and the government?

I feel that the state government was misled by the former Local Government Chairman. They were misled by saying I was the cause of the crises. Why I stayed away for the 4 years is for Lagos State people to know that I am not the cause of the problem. They now know it because even after I left, the problem is still there. I inherited the problem. They only wanted to take the leadership by force.

That was why I looked at it and said, let me move away from the market. Now they have gotten what they want and there is still trouble in the market. Recently, I sent my manager to the market and when he came back, he told me that the market

is no, more what it used to be. Everywhere is now scattered as it is like a refugee camp. The co developers is renting out any available space to the traders. Whereas, the beauty of the market used to be the open spaces where people can park and make use of. Now, there is no way. There are giving attachment here and there and people are complaining. There is nothing we can do about it because they have the government and politicians on their sides.

Even the entire Ladipo environment is jam-packed. If you drive into Ladipo now, there is no space and they collect levies for Local Government. They are making money from the market without developing the market. That is the major problem we are having.

What is the way forward considering that Mushin now has a new Local Government Chairman?

One thing is this. The new Local Government

Chairman spoke wisely and excellently when we discussed recently. He gave me confidence that he is a man of peace. In my presence, he told the other party that they are wrong in what they are doing. He told them openly that this man is your leader and you must work with him. Though, I am not interested whether they work with me or not.

What I am interested in is let there be peace. This is important because that is where I have properties; it is also where I feed my family. If there is crises, it is not helping the traders. It is only somebody who has nothing in the market, that will say, let’s fight. A person like me will not encourage any violence or fight in the market because it will affect me. The Local Government is a man of peace and I believe he stands for peace. He made is clear to us that the governor does not want any problem in Lagos State.

He encouraged us to make peace, emphasizing that the state wants peace everywhere. The Local Government Chairman has a role to play in Ladipo auto market crises because he has the authority to stand on what he wants. Again, any decision he takes, I believe is the way forward.

From your experience what advice do you have for the traders?

On the side of the traders, if you are collecting money from a market, you must show some signs that the money is used for. I am a victim of conspiracy and instigation by the former Mushin Local Government Chairman. I am the only market leader in Ladipo that collects over N12million and give it to them. That is what I am facing at EFCC today.

They squandered the money and when some group petitioned the EFCC, they asked me to leave the country and run away, I refused because they issued receipts of all the money I gave to them. They then used me as scapegoat. And because they didn’t manage the money well, they recorded only N3million which they paid into the LG coffers. Because of the problems in the market, the Commissioner of Police went and arranged the EFCC officials and I

became a victim of what I don’t know about. The money we paid into account and they issued receipts.

Why then are they charging me to court? You can see, when politicians are after you, they will do anything, anywhere to get you.

I know I will win all of them in court, which I have won many. I am pleading with the Lagos State, Mushin LGA and all the authorities to look at Ladipo environs and do something for the traders because there is no road, drainage and it is very bad. If they do that, it will make the traders feel that they are part of them and have a sense of belonging.

They can do it because they collect huge sums from the traders.

Now that you are going back to the market. Do you have any worries?

I am not worried about any threat because I know I am a very clean person. I don’t have anything against any trader and I know they will welcome me back. If they will hear that I am coming I related with them like brothers and sisters.

When there is trouble, you see them trooping here, calling me to come and mediate.

Last year, they killed somebody. That shows Mr. Okoli is not the cause of crises in Ladipo market. Some are still in Ikoyi prisons. They need assistance from people that matters.

It looks as if such crisis is peculiar to Ladipo Market. Is it so in other markets?

It is so but there are differences. Alaba International market has crises in form of leadership tussle within themselves. But in Ladipo, some people will go and say that Local Government gave them authority to collect revenue from the market and they will come and start misbehaving, collecting tolls anyhow. Our stand was that we are Igbo traders and we don’t do our association like Babalojas and every day, you come and ask for money from all the 32 units. We told them that we don’t operate like that. All the 32 units have Presidents. So, for one to come and start collecting money anyhow, what is the President doing there.

Life&

TIMES Monday, May 1, 2017

Asa

How Asa shut down Lagos

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Daily Times Nigeria

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, May 1, 2017

Monday, May 1, 2017

L3

The making of DTN Awards winners Bonny Amadi -

As the date for the Daily Times of Nigeria Awards 2017 draws closer, facts have emerged on how distinguished Nigerians and Africans were elected, among myriads of others. The Awards winners as found by The Daily Times are not just great achievers, but great minds that relish in excellence. From the Woman of the Decade award winner, organisations, states, country and the world at large.

The award winners serve as eyes through which millions of others see the world. Here are the heroine and Heroes of the globe as seen by the DTN.

geria.

counselled.

Times Woman of the Decade Award

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Mrs. Ibikunle Awosika Mrs. Ibikunle Awosika, the Times Woman of the Decade Award winner, Awosika has remained a strong force and role model for all, and her conand Sub-Sahara Africa, has remained indelible.

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not notice their chains.

set which should not be allowed to lie waste but to be embraced.

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Times Life Impact Award winners

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has built bridges across hearts, communities, states and ethnic nationalities -

Interview L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 1, 2017

Again, Asa proved her worth in the industry, shut down Lagos By: Joey Akan

experienced Nigerian music.

understand.”

listen and connect to her music on an emotional level

In 2016, Asa rounded off her “Bed Of Stone” tour in

She said.

2014.

Bringing all the elements, sounds, lights, emotions She disappeared off stage, and returned afforded more movement and dance time. And

expanse of the venue as them. next, and then another

performed, and then the

experience that Asa holds.

on. And at the end, Asa launched into seeing her live.” The mother asked. something.” I responded.

guitarist. The dance is a great element of her performance. Asa dances like a music control her soul, and it manifests

let go. Asa had turned in another masterful performance, designed

since she last performed at this venue, she had

hall, magic happened.

improving on perfection.

Life&

T E A M

chosen to perform.

of life.