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‘728m people in Africa use firewood, charcoal for cooking’

I did not commit suicide, says owner of Ford SUV found

by Lagos lagoon

Like June 12, ranching will be accepted – Gov Ortom g 8

Trump lauds deal after historic talks with Jong-ung 27

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June 12 annulment

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 675

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Buhari heals wounds, apologises to Abiola Confers honours on Abiola, Kingibe, Fawehinmi g 5

L-R: Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; first son of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Kola; wife of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Ganiat, during the Special National Honours Investiture Ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja... on Tuesday

Another ex-Gov goes to jail as Dariye gets 14 years Corruption verdict: Dariye weeps in court

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja About two weeks after former Taraba State Governor Jolly Nyame was sentenced to prison without an option of fine, another former State Governor and a serving Senator of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Joshua Dariye (APC, Plateau Central) on Tuesday, bagged 14 years jail term.

After a judgment that lasted about eight hours, Justice Adebukola Banjoko found Dariye guilty on 13 count charge

of criminal breach of trust while the judge imposed 14 years sentence on each of the count. The court also found Dariye guilty on three count charge of misappropriation of public fund for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment on

each of the count.

Justice Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had on May 28, sentenced ex-Governor Nyame to 14 years imprisonment while on Tuesday, found Dariye Continued on page 4

Dariye at the dock... on Tuesday

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 11, 2018 Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

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Ho t els - L e i s u r e - Tours - R e s t a u r a n t s Cubana Suites

20 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja

Grand Cubana Hotel No. 6 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

3

Barcelona Hotels, Abuja

23 Blantyre Street, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II HOTEL INFORMATION Barcelona Hotels, Abuja is a 4-Star hotel. It is situated in the heart of town and enjoys proximity to a number of public and private owned institutions.

HOTEL INFORMATION Cubana Suites offers rooms with modern interior decor. The rooms are equipped with tile flooring, an air conditioner, work desk, telephone, flat screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, armchairs, balcony with a view of the pool and an en-suite bathroom with toilet paper, towels and linen provided free.

Interesting Places To Visit Near Cubana Suites Millennium Park (4.5 km)

Silverbird Cinemas (5.5 km) National Mosque Abuja (5.0 km) IBB Golf Course (7.5 km) Aso Rock (7.6 km) Terms and Conditions Check-In: From 09:00 am Check-Out: Until 12:00 pm Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Children: Children are permitted to stay for free.

Pets: Pets are not allowed.

Cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, and Cash Payments only.

Cubana Suites is a budget hotel in Jabi, Abuja

Kryxtal Suites

120, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2

HOTEL INFORMATION

Kryxtal Suites Wuse 2, is an exclusive boutique hotel located opposite GLOBACOM Headquarters in Abuja and a few seconds from KFC. This hotel is very well appointed and its one of the reference points in the Wuse area of Abuja for visitors and Abuja residents. It is situated at 120, Aminu Kano Crescent, Opposite Glo Office, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria.

Ecowas Court (0.7 km) City Park (0.6 km) Globacom Office KFC

Terms and Conditions Check In: From 12:00 PM (ID Required) Check Out: By 12:00 PM Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Children: All children not older than 12 are allowed to stay for free.

Interesting Places near Kryxtal Suites Wuse 2 Pets: Pets are not allowed.

Cameroon Embassy (2 km) Payment: Cash, Visa and MasterCard are Afro-Asia Garden (0.4 km) accepted here.

Kryxtal Suites is a budget hotel in Wuse 2, Abuja

House 14

14 Kudang Street, Off Moronvia Street, Wuse 2, Abuja

HOTEL INFORMATION House 14 has a total of 27 uniquely well-furnished and comfortable rooms which are of different categories.

Terms and Conditions Check-In: From 1:00 PM (ID Required) Check-Out: By 12:00 PM Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Interesting Places To Visit Near Children: All children are allowed House 14 (Max. Age: 18).

JD Leisure park (900m) Pets: Pets are not allowed with Federal High Court (1.6km) exception of service dogs.

4U Supermarket (3.6km) Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, IBB Golf Club (9.1km) and AMEX accepted here.

House 14 is a budget hotel in Wuse 2, Abuja

HOTEL INFORMATION Grand Cubana Hotel offers a budget friendly accommodation in a very scenic environment at No. 6 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria. It is appropriate for both business and leisure travellers.

O’neal Centre (1.1km) Rock of Ages Mall (2.6km)

Terms and Conditions Check In: From 3:00 PM Check Out: By 12:00 PM Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Children: All children are allowed to Interesting Places To Visit Near stay for free.

Grand Cubana Hotel Pets: Pets are not allowed.

Utako Motor Park (0.7km) Payment: Cash, Visa and MasterCard Patsy Plaza (0.35km) are accepted here.

Grand Cubana Hotel is a budget hotel in Jabi, Abuja

Kryxtal Lounge, Apo Beside AP Filling Station, Near Apo Legislative Quarters Apo.

HOTEL INFORMATION Kryxtal Suites and Lounge Apo is an exclusive hotel located near the popular Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja. The hotel is tastefully finished to create a home away from home for visitors and Abuja residents.

At Kryxtal Suites Apo we have 26 exclusive room types on 2 floors to cater for our guests.

Facilities Spacious suites and rooms

Uninterrupted power supply Banquet hall 24 hours internet service Numerous satellite TV channels Standby car hire service Laundry service Restaurant and bush bar, niteclub, sharwarma, barbeque and conference hall.

CHECK – IN is at Anytime CHECK – OUT is from 12.00 Noon.

Kryxtal Lounge is a budget hotel in Apo, Garki District, Abuja

Treasures Suites

Plot 66, 1st Avenue by Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District, Opp Federal High Court, Abuja

HOTEL INFORMATION

With facilities uniquely designed to cater to guests comfort at every level, Treasure Suites is located at Plot 66, 1st Avenue by Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District, Opposite Federal High Court, Abuja, Nigeria. It boasts business related amenities such as a business centre and 2 meeting rooms.

Turf Arena (1.5 km) Durban Neighbourhood Park (0.95 km) Silverbird Cinemas (2.0 km) DHL Express (1.8 km)

Terms and Conditions Check In: From 12:00 PM (ID Required) Check Out: By 12:00 PM Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Children: All children are allowed to Interesting Places to Visit near stay for free.

Pets: Pets are not allowed.

Treasure Suites Payment: Cash, Visa and MasterCard Federal High Court (1.1 km) are accepted here.

Harrow Park (1.8 km)

TREASURES SUITES is a budget hotel in CBD, Abuja

Barcelona Hotels, Abuja offers a number of spacious and tastefully designed rooms which come in the categories: Standard, Superior, Executive, Executive Twin, Diplomatic, Ambassadorial, Ministerial, Barcelona, Senatorial and a Presidential Suite. Each of these rooms comes with top quality facilities such as flat-screen television with a full cable subscription, sofas, luxurious bed, wireless internet connection, luggage storage and en-suite bathroom with shower facilities.

Barcelona Hotels Abuja also offers guests banquet, event and conference halls; a rooftop sit-out with a breathtaking view of the environs; a restaurant that offers a wide range of tasty dishes plus continental breakfast; an adequate parking space; a 24-hour power supply; gym facilities; a swimming pool and guaranteed security.

Barcelona Hotels is a budget hotel in Wuse 2, Abuja

Caledonian Suites, Abuja 21 Usuma Street, off Gana Street, Abuja

HOTEL INFORMATION Hotel size: This hotel has 34 rooms Arriving/leaving: Check-out time is noon Required at check in: Credit card or cash deposit required Government-issued photo ID required Minimum check-in age is 18 Travelling with others Children: No cribs (infant beds) Internet Free WiFi in public areas Free WiFi in rooms Transport

Parking Free self parking What’s around Caledonian Suites Landmarks Federal Secretariat Millennium Park Nigerian National Mosque National Assembly Aso Villa Ecowas Secretariat World Bank National Hospital Abuja

Caledonian Suites is a budget hotel in Maitama, Abuja

Kapino Suite

128 Aminu Kano Cres, Wuse, Abuja

HOTEL INFORMATION Kapino Suites is a hotel brand created with the client in mind. Our aim is to provide the most comfortable, memorable and delightful stay for our customers. Kapino Suites was established in 2014 and is located in the heart of Nigeria

O’neal Centre (1.1km) Rock of Ages Mall (2.6km)

Terms and Conditions Check In: From 3:00 PM Check Out: By 12:00 PM Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary according to room type.

Children: All children are allowed to Interesting Places To Visit Near stay for free.

Grand Cubana Hotel Pets: Pets are not allowed.

Utako Motor Park (0.7km) Payment: Cash, Visa and MasterCard Patsy Plaza (0.35km) are accepted here.

Kapino Suite is a budget hotel in Wuse, Abuja

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Another ex-Gov goes to jail as Dariye gets 14 years Continued from page 1 guilty on 15 counts out of 23 counts preferred against him.

Passing the sentences while delivering judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Dariye, Justice Banjoko held that the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Dariye will only spend 14 years behind the bar in Kuye prison.

Justice Banjoko further ordered that the amount stated in counts 2, 7,8,and 12 including N176,862,900million paid to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures from the Ecological fund and N204million, among other sums paid to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures from the account of the Accountant General Plateau State be returned to the state.

The judge further held that it was noteworthy that the N100million paid to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South West was promptly returned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo when the matter was brought to his notice.

Justice Banjoko said she would not pronounce on N100million paid to Marine Float, a company owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar due to claim by the EFCC that investigation on the payment is ongoing.

The judge said, “I can’t imagine such brazen act, is it the transfer of as much as about half a billion naira from the state’s Ecological Fund into a

personal venture account; there’s a litany and trail of woe, which also affects the people of Jos - the beautiful Tin City, where everybody wanted to be, and to find out that its Ecological Fund was misappropriated is the shocking aspect.

“There’s a deep sense of irresponsibility; the defendant was in fact richer than his state. This is a trauma of the trial; and there should be no compromise to corruption, by whatever shade or colour, or region, rich or poor; corruption will forever be corruption.

“Every case is different on its own, and I have no personal animosity, I’m just doing my job the way I know how to, and not only the Ecological Funds (were misappropriated), but funds from the Plateau State government.”

On the allocutus (plea for leniency) by the lawyer to Dariye, Paul Erokoro (SAN), the judge held that “everybody is a victim of corruption. There is devastating trend effects on victims. The perpetrators are adults capable of making decisions and they know the consequence of their actions.”

She noted that “the permanent secretary of Ecological Fund had not only lost his job but was declared wanted.

The All States Trust Bank’s certificate of incorporation withdrawn while Joy Oyebanjo who assisted Dariye in London with the transfers of the public fund was jailed three years in London.”

Dariye has been brought to court by the EFCC for N1.16bn misappropriation of Ecological Fund he collected for Plateau State government when he was the governor of state.

Dariye, who wept on Tuesday in the dock during the judgment, made the court to stand down the reading of the judgment twice to ease himself. Dariye personally interrupted the plea for leniency. saying that “Rotimi have not read my mind and he can not raise his hands that he is a saint.”

Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had described the crimes as “aggravating factors” and called for severe sentencing as deterrent to others”.

According Rotimi, “Dariye exploited his position as a public servant and took government money and misappropriated it.”

Indeed, Dariye, who was first arraigned before the Judge on July 13, 2007, had his application to quash the charges dismissed.

He proceeded to the Court of Appeal, but failed before proceeding to the Supreme Court, which on February 27, 2015 dismissed his application and reprimanded him, condemning his application as “a disservice to the criminal process” in Nigeria.

The Apex Court also ordered “accelerated hearing” of the fraud case against him, thus necessitating the continuation of his trial on January 25, 2016 before

Continued on page 6

Buhari renews appointments of FRSC boss, 5 other CEOs, announces new appointments Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of the tenure of six Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Federal Agencies.

The President has similarly approved the appointment of two new CEOs of Federal Agencies and one Senior Special Assistant.

The renewed appointments are: the Corps Marshal/ Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Dr. Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi - Second and final term of four years with effect, from 24th July, 2018; National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Jafaru Alunua Momoh Chief Medical Director - Second and final term of four years, with effect, from 5th July, 2018.

Others are: National

Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu State, Dr. Nwadinigwe Cajetan Uwatoronye, Medical Director - Second and final term of four years, with effect, from 30th May, 2018; Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, Director General - Second and final term of five years with effect from 6th May, 2018.

National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Mohammed Jibrin, Director General -Second and final term of four years with effect from 9th April, 2018 and Prof. Mohammed Haruna, Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure for a Second and final term of five years with effect from 3rd April, 2018.

Meanwhile, the new appointments are: Federal College of Education

(Technical), Gombe, Gombe State, Dr. Ali Adamu Provost Initial period of four years with effect from 25th May, 2018; and Dr. Yaya Baba Adamu was appointed Medical Director; Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarrawa State, - Initial period of four years with effect from 1st April, 2018.

The Presidency has also approved the appointment of Ambassador Yahaya Lawal as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.

The federal government said that the appointment was with effect from 1st April, 2018.

The appointees were enjoined to live up to the high expectations of the public for prompt, conscientious and self-less service at all times.

The President urged them to regard public offices as trust that should not be betrayed.

PHOTO TIMES

Scenes from the Special National Honours Investiture ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja... on Tuesday

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

5 News

Buhari heals old wounds, apologizes to Abiola’s family

Soyinka wants FG to name, shame enemy of democracy You’ve declared result of June 12 elections, Falana tells Presiden

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja and Patrick Okohue, Lagos In a move to finally bury the wounds of June 12 annulment of the 1993 general election won by a business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, President Muhammadu Buhari has offered unreserved apology on behalf of the Federal Government to the family of the late Abiola, over the cancellation of the historic election.

The President made the apology at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday during the Special National Honours Investiture and award presentation to heroes of June 12, 1993 poll, which was annulled by the regime of former Military President,Gen Ibrahim Babangida.

Buhari said that the decision to hold the event was not to open old wounds but to bury negative sides of June 12 and its ill-feelings, hatred, frustrations and agony.

He, therefore, called on all Nigerians across national divides to accept the annulment of the June 12, 1993 poll in good faith.

The President said, “I honestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divides to accept it in good faith. Our action today is to bury the negative sides of June 12, the side of ill-feelings, hates, frustration and agony.

“What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive sides of June 12.

“The June 12, which reinstated democracy and freedom, the June 12 that overcame our various divides and the June that produced unity and national cohesion.

“This is the June 12 we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation “Accordingly, on behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of late MKO Abiola who got the highest votes

Buhari

and to those that lost their loved ones in the course of June 12 struggle.”

President Buhari further asked for a minute silence in honour of late MKO Abiola and those that lost their lives in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12.

In his remarks, the Nobel laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, at the event, requested Buhari to institute an award to ‘‘name and shame’’ all those who truncated Nigeria’s democratic transition with the annulment of June 12, presidential election.

Speaking at the National Honours Investiture for heroes of democracy, Soyinka said: “Today perhaps is also a day to inaugurate our hall of shame so that as we have hall of heroes in one hand, we also have hall of shame as a lesson to future generations. ‘‘It is not possible to honour MKO Abiola in one breath and admire his tormentor in another breath. Loyalty is all very well but loyalty can become perverse if that loyalty is retained to an individual who if he were alive today will be before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity”.

Soyinka, who did not mention the name of the

Abiola

Nigerian, described the individual as one who ‘‘broke the laws of Nigeria, broke international law and committed crimes against humanity.’’

He added: “It is confusing if professional loyalty is carried so far as to be accorded to such an individual.”

The Nobel laureate recounted his private conversation with the President, where he had argued why a notorious corrupt ruler was honoured by the Federal Government while the martyrs of democracy and philanthropists were left unhonoured.

Soyinka commended the President for tendering an apology to Nigerians and the family of Chief MKO Abiola for the wrong done to democracy in 1993 by the annulment of the June 12 presidential election.

He said, “There are too many traumatised individuals walking the streets as a result of the policies and attitudes of one of the most brutal dictators that this nation has ever known. Closure will come by responding to those traumatised individuals, the victims of unspeakable tortures, some of whom were compelled to watch their beloved ones being tortured.”

Soyinka, therefore, appealed to the Federal

Government not to forget the ‘‘nameless and unsung heroes and heroines.

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has said that Buhari has announced the results of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Falana, who was one of the invited guests at the Special National Honours Investiture in Abuja, said this is due to the honour which President Buhari has bestowed the late Abiola.

He said, “Mr. President, we want to thank you very tremendously for recognising June 12. Some people are saying you should declare the results, you have declared the results.

“We now know the winner of that election officially, who is now being honoured with the order of GCFR reserved for Heads of Government in Nigeria.

“Before this regime, we have had seven governments that pretended that June 12 never existed. In the words of Abiola, we were clapping with one hand, today, we are clapping with two hands.”

Falana, however, called on Buhari to ensure Nigerians bid farewell to poverty, a mission which the late Abiola deeply desire.

“Mr. President, we want you to engage Nigerians

to wage a meaningful fight against poverty in this country. We have enormous resources to make every Nigerian happy,” he said.

He also urged President Buhari to direct security chiefs to restore the rights of all Nigerians, calling for an end to incessant killings in some regions of the country.

Meanwhile, Buhari has formally made the late Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election as the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

The conferment of the honour on the late Abiola comes 25 years after the election, which is recognised as the freest in the country’s history.

It comes almost 20 years after Abiola died in detention after being jailed by the late military dictator, Gen Sani Abacha, for trying to claim his mandate.

Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the award and designation of June 12 by the Federal Government as democracy day marked a new dawn in the nation’s political and democratic advancement, signaling the deepening of belief in the democratic principles of inclusiveness in governance and hope for a greater Nigeria.

He said, “The monumental election that took place on June 12, 1993 represented the first time in the history of our nation that Nigerians voted not for tribe or creed or region but for their convictions, affirming their common heritage and unity of purpose”.

Mustapha said that, nation building requires the sacrifice of all citizens.

He said, “We must therefore imbibe the moral rectitude to look into our past with pride and take lessons from our rich history to draw a roadmap for the present and future development of our great country. We must also recognise the effort of our heroes of democracy.”

“These efforts as we know, were emboldened by some key personalities and groups that included the personages that we celebrate posthumously today. Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the presumed winner of the election, while trying to actualise the mandate freely given to him, paid the supreme sacrifice.

Late Gani Fawehinmi fought his battles in the law courts, on the streets as an activist and deprivation of liberty in detention.

“It is therefore worthy of note, that June 12, which more than any other day, symbolises the varied struggles and sacrifices made by fellow citizens of this great nation, established democracy as our political system of governance, and opened a new chapter in the political history.

“It is in commemoration of this day, the spirit of which should be internalised in the consciousness of Nigerians of all ages and taught to our children and generations of Nigerians yet unborn, that this Administration has, in placing history in the right perspective, declared June 12 of every year as Democracy Day and as a national holiday,” the SGF added.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

National carrier: NCAA confirms December take-off Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has thrown its weight behind the proposed national carrier, confirming that the December target of starting operations is feasible.

Director General of NCAA, Capt Usman Mukhar who gave the confirmation in a chat with journalists today pointed out that, once an operator is properly guided and is willing to go by the guidelines and process of getting an Aircraft Operators Certificate (AOC), it takes just 90 days.

Usman therefore, assured that, with that timeline in mind, the possibility of national carrier scaling through is quite feasible within the timeframe.

The DG also stated that, the government has decided to involve the aviation agencies in the task force because they want the national carrier project done very, very well this time around.

He said “the presence of the agencies inside the task force is to ensure that the right things are done, they are not midwifing in the real sense of the national carrier but they are guiding the process

to ensure that it is done in line with the international standards and best practices in the area of safety, security and also comfort of the passengers.”

Usman said several airlines came and left, probably because they did not follow the guide given to them, especially now that the civil aviation authority is there first, to promote aviation activities in Nigeria to ensure safety, security and comfort.

Emphasising further on government readiness and the plans put in place, the NCAA boss added “this time around, government says we should go and ensure that even before take off that nothing is short circuited, process followed so that they can come to stay, start and stay. The same service we have rendered to every operator that came from the time the operator came at the first phase, coming with the intent that they want to start operating, it is one f the stages in the issuance of the Air Operators Certificate, to the time somebody want to do formal application”.

He equally informed that NCAA also guides operators when it comes

I did not commit suicide, says owner of Ford SUV found by lagoon The owner of a Ford Explorer SUV marked Lagos APP190CE seen on a viral video allegedly belonging to a woman who jumped into Lagos lagoon has denied the video clip.

In a telephone conversation with Daily Trust in Lagos, the woman said that her husband who drove the car on the said day (Sunday) didn’t jump into the Lagoon, stressing that he parked the Ford car by the Bridge to offer help.

The woman said she and her husband are living well and happily and have no cause to consider suicide.

She said her husband has reported what transpired at the Bridge to the appropriate government authorities.

However, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Tuesday dismissed trending video clip of a woman who allegedly parked her SUV Ford Explorer and jumped into the lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The agency also confirmed that the owner of the Jeep was just a good Samaritan who only stopped by to offer assistance.

LASEMA also dismissed all speculations over the incident, saying investigation still continues by relevant

agencies of government.

LASEMA General Manager, AdesinaTiamiyu in a statement today said, “The attention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has been drawn to a video clip on social media in respect of a woman who supposedly packed an SUV Ford Explorer and jumped into the Lagoon at the 3rd Mainland Bridge on Sunday 10th July, 2018.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Agency officials is in touch with the owner of the SUV whose registration is been circulated, who only stopped by to offer assistance.”

The agency strongly advised that the incident is a developing issue which is presently been investigated as search and rescue is still ongoing in the waterways to ascertain the veracity of the incident.

The agency however advised Lagosian to discard the information been circulated, as the Agency and its stakeholders are making frantic effort to get to the root of the matter, noting that “anybody with any reliable information on any missing person should call the emergency toll free line, 112/767 or contact the nearest police station”.

to documentation and preparations of the manual which they produce, stressing that if there are errors, corrections, NCAA works to see that everything comes out clean.

“All these we did with all of them to the time they come and demonstrate that they are able to do this and then finally we certify them, we have be doing this, so it is not unusual that you find us in that Task Force”, Usman noted.

He stated that they extend

these services e to all the operators because they came through the five stages of obtaining an AOC, adding that it is the same process, to all the operators and that there is no special treatment given to any operator.

He however, said that for the national carrier, the government wants to make sure that it is done properly, and also more active his time around.

The captain said as far as NCAA is the December target is feasible because

the process of obtaining the AOC, the permit and so can take a minimum of 90 days even average people do it is 6 months.

He pointed out that those who spend up to 6 months are the operations that have issue because before you move from one stage to another, you must satisfy all the necessary requirements.

“That is why sometimes the delay is not on the part of the Authority but on the part of the operators. If the operator everything is fine, fine from

the operator within 90 days we will be able to give them the certificate to operate. We don’t control other things but as far as we are concerned from our own side it is quite feasible”, Usman said.

He further added that, although government has put in place a transaction adviser which comprises a consortium of advisers, NCAA will continue to guide them just as the agency has guided other operators to ensure that these things are done properly.

SuperSport secures Toure, Okocha, for World Cup broadcast on DStv, GOtv Some of football’s biggest names have been secured by SuperSport to underpin this year’s broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on DStv and GOtv. Yaya Touré, one of the most celebrated African players of the past decade, will be joined by straighttalking Jay-Jay Okocha, Dwight Yorke (one half of the deadly duo which spearheaded Manchester United’s charge to a historical treble in 1999) plus

former Manchester United and Everton fullback Phil Neville and Italian maestro Gianfranco Zola, one of Chelsea’s greatest players.

Other African guests doing SuperSport duty include Samson Siasia, Shaun Bartlett, Gavin Hunt, Andre Arendse and Benni McCarthy.

The presenters will be made up of the experienced foursome of Robert Marawa, Carol Tshabalala, Neil Andrews and Andy Townsend.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 14 with the opening ceremony at 2 pm and the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at 4 pm.

DStv customers can catch the action live on SS3, SS13 and SS14, while GOtv customers on SS Select 1 and SS Select 4.

With a 24-hour World Cup channel already on air, the broadcast offering has been supplemented with another 24-hour High Definition World Cup

channel on DStv (SS3) that will run from June1 until July 15 that will include pre-World Cup friendlies.

There will be buildups for all matches with top analysis and insights from some of the sharpest minds in the game, plus world class graphics and technology to enhance coverage in the brand-new High Definition studio that launches in June.

Post-match wraps will also feature, guaranteeing the most in-depth coverage.

Another ex-Gov goes to jail as Dariye gets 14 years Continued from page 4 Justice Banjoko.

Dariye was accused by the EFCC to have diverted about N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for Plateau State, to his personal use, including transferring monies to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures (an unregistered company managed by him) and Pinnacle Communications Limited.

In proving its case against Dariye, the prosecution team led by Rotimi Jacobs

(SAN), called 10 witnesses, including Musa Sunday, the EFCC investigating officer, and Peter Clark, a detective constable with the UK Metropolitan Police in London, who investigated Dariye in the UK for money laundering offence.

Presenting several documents in court, including bank documents, the prosecution established that Ebenezer Retnan Ventures was not a registered company, and that its account opening

process with then All States Trust Bank, was riddled with irregularity indicating “dishonest intent” for opening the account.

The defence team, which was initially led by G.S. Pwul (SAN), before Kanu Agabi (SAN), later stepped in at the tail end of the trial, presented 16 witnesses in its defence.

In the allocution of the defence, which was made by Paul Erokoro, (SAN), who stood in for Agabi, he urged the court to temper justice

with mercy, arguing that the bank in question “misled the governor” into engaging in such practice of “private banking”.

Erokoro further said, “He is actually a victim; mistakes were made, but my lord should temper justice with mercy; the lawyer that represented him before did not do a particular good job; this man has suffered,” noting that “the prisons are congested and he is a serving Senator and he is serving his state”.

R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Rachid Benmessaoud; Country Manager, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nigeria Office, Eme Essien, during a meeting between the governor and the World Bank team, at Government House in Benin City... on Thursday

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

7 News

Pollution: NGO canvasses ban on plastic use Patrick Okohue

A Lagos based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) with focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Blossom Africa Initiative is canvassing for a complete ban on use of plastic in Lagos State as a solution to plastic pollution and its effect on the environment.

Blossom Africa Initiative, an NGO with focus of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, in line with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, took the campaign to reduce plastic waste to shopping malls in Lagos.

The organisation in their branded T-shirt stormed Ikeja Shopping Mall educating consumers about the need to reduce plastic waste which they said is harming the environment, distributing flyers to shoppers.

The NGO which last week joined the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to celebrate the world environment day, said it’s all out to create awareness about the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role everyone

has to play in its actualisation.

Speaking with journalists after the exercise, the President of the Organisation, Mr Temitope Musowo said the exercise was important to send signal to stakeholders that campaign about protection of the environment should not be a once- in- a -year affair.

“Every year, we come together to celebrate World Environment Day and after the usual noise about protection of the environment it all ends there, we go back to business as usual, people still continue polluting our environment, this should not be a one off campaign, it should be a continuous exercise until people get the message.

“Do you know how much harm plastic pollution is doing to our environment and marine life, if I have my way I will push for outright ban of plastic use in Lagos in particular, especially single use plastic, and this is why I said that, for instance, Lagos generate 16,000 metric tones of waste on daily basis, because findings have shown that 10% of waste we generate is plastic,” he said.

Mr Musowo further condemned what he described as single-use plastic which he said forms 50% of the plastic

in use, saying “it takes an average of 500 years for plastic to decompose, while we use our plastic bags for just an average of 12 minutes.”

According to him, “one of the reasons we experience perennial flooding in Lagos is because of metric tons of plastic waste that finds its ways into the sewage system and providing breeding space for mosquitoes, raising the risk of malaria transmission.

“Do you know that every year, the world uses 500 billion plastic bags, about 13 million

tones of plastic leak into the ocean, do you know every year, 17 million barrels of oil is used to produce plastic bottle for our water and if we continue like this by year 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s ocean,” he maintained.

He called on everyone to be part of the solution to plastic pollution by refusing what they cannot reuse, switching from single-use plastic to biodegradable products and improving waste collection through sorting, recycling and

reprocessing while making environmental friendly choices.

Speaking further about the vision of the organisation, the President said, “we observed that one of the reasons no African country was able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was because of the low level of awareness among the populace, now we have another opportunity with the SDGs again, if you sample the opinion of people on the street you will discover many people

are not even aware, meanwhile, we all have a role to play in the fulfillment.

“This need to champion this awareness campaign and advocacy gave birth to Blossom Africa Initiative, as you can see this is just one of our campaigns as it has to do with Goal 7,13,14 and 15, talking about our environment now, subsequently, we are taking the SDGs campaign to schools to get the children involved for sustainability sake,” he reiterated

I don’t have Obansanjo’s backing to run for presidency – Duke A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said that his ambition was not backed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Duke, a former governor of Cross River, who recently declared his intention to run for the exalted office, told newsmen in Lagos that though he remained close to Obasanjo, his decision to run was personal.

“I am not hypocritical. I am close to the former president but he is neither my sponsor nor backup. However, those who come up with this

propaganda also go to get the ex-president’s endorsement.

“I will not keep people aside because of what others think. I need everybody’s support but I am running as Duke and nobody’s stooge.

“I will be putting myself up to run. How it pans out is not what I can say,’’ he said.

On the zoning in the PDP, Duke said that it would not deter him from running as it remained his constitutional rights.

“Let the people decide.

Zoning is undemocratic. I am running as a Nigerian. Zoning has never brought out the best in us. It brings compromise,’’

he said.

He, however, said that his candidature and final platform would be determined on what unfolds in the party.

“There are talks going on with other platforms. When these talks are concluded, then Nigeria will know my final stand. I remain a bona fide member of the PDP,’’ he said.

Duke said that there was need for every Nigeria to get involved in governance in one form or another saying: “Things don’t just happen.

Folks make it happen.’’

On Tinapa Holiday Resort in Cross River which was his

pet project, Duke lamented that it was neglected by subsequent governments.

“Tinapa was completed.

It would have been making trillions of Naira for the state if successive governments had continued with the project.

“With continuity it would have been moving. Tinapa is just a metaphor for poor governance and problem of continuity in governance.

“We built Tinapa to drive development in Cross River.

Continuing with such a project would have made the state less dependent of subvention,’’ he said.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Like June 12, ranching will be accepted – Gov Ortom Terhemba Agee Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that no matter how long it takes, ranching will eventually be accepted nationwide as the best form of animal husbandry.

He spoke at the weekend in Naka, Gwer West Local

Boko Haram razed down Adamawa communities Tom Garba, Yola Over 13 Houses in Kaya, a village close to Gulak headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa state were Tuesday morning razed down by Boko Haram insurgents.

Confirming the incidence, the Deputy speaker of Adamawa state house of Assembly (ADHA), Hon. Emmanuel Tsandu who is also the lawmaker representing the area said the insurgents were repelled by the troops of the Nigerian army.

According to him, the soldiers killed one member of Boko Haram, one of the vigilante men was injured by the insurgents and rushed to the federal medical centre Yola.

“We thank God no life was lost.” He said Also confirming the attacks, the Chairman of Madagali Local Government, Hon Mohammed Yusuf told our Correspondent that the soldiers played a very good role in reppelling the Boko Haramist.

He commended their effort and called the attention of the federal government to beef up security in Madagali LGA and the surrounding LGAs as there are still pocket of attacks being recorded.

He lamented that more than half of the people who are farmers largely depends on farming activities to survive.

The incident which occurred at the early hours of Tuesday caused a serious chaos at the communities surrounding Gulak as people feared there could be another attacks.

All effort to reach the authority concern proved abortive at the time of filling in this report.

Government Area during the traditional marriage between his friend, Architect Asema Achado and Princess Freda Nguamo Damna.

Governor Ortom also noted that Benue’s position on the matter is being vindicated daily.

He cited resolutions of the Northern and Southern

Governor’s fora, National Economic Council as well as the most recent enactment of the law by the Abia State Government as indications that ranching was inevitable in the 21st century.

The Governor stated that just like the case of the June 12 presidential election, it took 25 years for the federal

government to officially acknowledge that Moshood Kashimawo Abiolo won the presidential election.

He commended President Buhari for the courage to acknowledge the truth and urged him to accept the same principle in the matter of ranching.

Governor Ortom stated

that his concern for now was for peace to return to Benue communities more than any other thing else.

He charged couples to be faithful to their marital vows even as he pledged to support people of the state to fulfil marital obligations.

In separate remarks, Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse,

represented by Tor Gwer, Chief Julius Aondoana, Ter Gwer, Chief Dominic Akpe and Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, representative of Senator George Akume as well as Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Akange Audu, described marriage as an institution of God and prayed God to grant the couple a successful union.

‘There is serious leadership defects in the country’ Dan Garba, Yola The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammed Buhari, is heightening tension in the country unnecessarily by delving too much in the past, and the situation as not healthy for the polity.

The Anglican Bishop of Yola, Bishop Marcus Ibrahim Anfani, who stated this on Monday in Yola, said that the continuous concentration in the past was a sign of leadership failure as a good leader should always be

forward looking.

He stated that the perceived attempts to clamp down on past leaders like President Obasanjo, Jonathan and others due to political differences has seriously raised alarm over the future of this country.

Buhari should desist from arrogating to himself a messianic toga, he is not. He had his own faults and an unsavoury past.”

He stated that Buhari is presiding over a country that has been seriously fractured over religious and ethnic cleavages, due to some poor

governance and instead of engaging in confidence building measures, he is compounding the situation by not tolerating constructive criticism, proffered by well meaning Nigerians.

“It is wrong of Buhari to think that he alone is the only Good Nigerian and therefore has God mandates him to tailor Nigeria to his vision. What Nigeria needs is a peaceful atmosphere to engender development.

“How long can he keep the blame game going; we elected him to do the right thing for us.

Let him just do it. We know the

past leaders had their own faults that is why we elected him. He should concentrate to deliver his promises”.

He appealed to the public to pick their voters card and ensure that they participate in the forthcoming general election.

Bishop Anfani condemned falling standard of livings of Nigerians, stressing that it has been gradually deteriorating since the 1970s due to poor leadership and ineptitude on the part of the leaders.

He said the recent spate of

killings across the country, especially in Adamawa, Benue, Nassarawa and Kaduna as well as Zamfara, was not a good sign for the country.

Anfani who said this to mark his 53rd birthday celebration, adjudged that his 30 years of priestly work have set him to be a watchman over the nation, praying for the people.

He further said that Buhari should focus on delivering justice to all, and fighting corruption should be all round not to target few of perceived enemies.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah retd, (centre) and Hon. Fred Agbedi (left) in a discussion during a meeting of PDP Stakeholders at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

Photo by Lucky Francis.

Abia APC declares ‘no victor, no vanquished’

By Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

The All Progressive Congress (APC), in Abia, has inaugurated its state working committee with the maxim “No victor, no vanquish”, but with a determination to sack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abia.

Addressing party faithful after the swearing in, Donatus Nwankpa said there is no victor, no vanquish, no quarrel but “agitation for power”.

“The quarrel did not undermine the objective of APC in Abia, but working towards taking over Abia State”, he said, and called for the understanding as his doors are open.

Nwankpa however apologised over the struggle for leadership in Abia APC. He said change must come to Abia as “the era of squandermenia is gone. We will bring a change in the psychological orientation of the Abia people”.

He called for conscious

criticism and not bitterness and rancour, pointing out that the agitation for power in Abia APC was between brothers.

Nwankpa said the party in Abia will support President Buhari and give him the vote he needed to win, stating that APC will produce Igbo Presidency, come 2013 as the President has shown commitment to the country, while the party has the best international conflict resolution mechanism.

“In the course of the struggle, whoever is bruised should forget and come for

reconciliation. The party will no longer tolerate the mistakes of the past, we want discipline”, Nwankpa said assuring that the SWC will not abuse the mandate given to them by the party.

Speaking with newsmen after, an APC stakeholder, Maduako Adighibe said the party in Abia is not factionalized, advising party agitators “to come and stand in one unity of change” Otherwise known as “Ijere”, Adighiobe advised Nwankpa that if the party fails or succeeds, it is in his hands as the arrowhead, stating “we will give

him every support he needs”.

According to the state Publicity Secretary o the party, Comrade Ben edict Godson, the party has been repositioned to capture Abia and will be leaving no stone unturned to make the party strong in the state.

The state SWC includes Barr Patrick Okorie, Secretary, Dr. Mrs. Ori Obasi, Woman Leader and Chibueze Apugo, Youth Leader, Comrade Benedict Godson is the state Publicity Secretary, while Donatus Nwankpa still remains the state chairman.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

9 News

World Agriculture Day: Nestlé helping Nigerian farmers grow healthier grains Nestlé Nigeria Plc says it is helping Nigerian farmers to improve their livelihoods by empowering smallholder farmers on sustainable farming practices.

Nestle made the assertion on Tuesday in Lagos as it joined the rest of the world to commemorate the annual World Agriculture Day which was celebrated on Monday.

The company said it was carrying out the objective in collaboration with International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC)/2Scale, under the initiative, Nestlé Nigeria & IFDC/2Scale Project Sorghum & Millet.

The partnership aims to improve grain quality and productivity.

“Nestlé, together with its implementing partners, has made significant impact in the past two years, training over

7,905 sorghum and 1,069 millet farmers on good agricultural pre-harvest and post-harvest practices.

“Twenty-two per cent of these farmers are women. The farmers testify to a significant increase in income. This change is due to an increase in productivity, improved crop quality and the availability of a ready market, which eliminates the negative influence of middlemen.

“Before Nestlé Nigeria & IFDC/2Scale Project Sorghum & Millet’s intervention, the yield per hectare was 0.9 tons,’’ it said in a statement by its Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Victoria Uwadoka.

“In the first year of the project in 2015, the yield doubled to 1.3 tons/hct, and reached 1.8 tons/ hct in 2017.

“The target is to reach

2.20 tons/hct in 2018 farming season, progressing towards the maximum yield capacity of 2.35 tons/hct of the crop varieties.’’

The company also said that another contributor to the increase in income was the improved negotiating skills of farmers, an outcome of the business training and coaching they had received.

“The coaching sessions have led to farmers becoming much more confident about their position and the quality of their products.

“For women producers, this has had an especially strong impact. One example of this can be found in Mrs Hanna Musa, one of the two women in the negotiations team.

“Prior to the coaching, she had been too shy to speak up, but the opportunity to participate in the negotiations

on Nestlé’s terms of delivery and payment, helped her grow into her leadership role,’’ the statement said.

On the drivers of the outcome of Nestlé Nigeria & IFDC/2Scale Project Sorghum & Millet, Mr Maxwell Olitsa, Project Manager, IFDC said: “We achieved the results in the field by empowering farmers to adopt best practices and new technology.

“Showing in addition to telling also made a lot of difference. 27 demo plots were established; six of them managed by women, where best farming practices are demonstrated.

“The demo plots are always accessible to the farming clusters to provide continuous technical support and coaching in the field.’’

It noted that to ensure crop integrity from farm to factory

gate, the project also trained aggregators, pesticide spray providers and input suppliers.

“This 360-degree approach has significantly reduced postharvest losses, while helping to improve the livelihoods of farmers within the project.

“Nestlé projects that the continued intervention with its partners will result in sustainable supplies of high quality grains required for its production sites,’’ it said.

The Managing Director, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr Mauricio Alarcon, said: “Today, we source about 80 per cent of our agricultural raw material in the country.

“As we work towards increasing this percentage, we remain committed to working alongside our partners to further improve the quality and quantity of grains and legumes,’’ Alarcon said

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Mudasiru Toogun; Mrs Modupe Ajayi and Dr (Mrs) Adeola Ogunrin, during the celebration of June 12 Silver Jubilee, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo . . .on Tuesday

NSCDC parades suspected fake army officer, 7 oil pipeline vandals Eight suspects, including a man who claimed to be an army officer, have been paraded by the Kogi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Everestus Obiyo who paraded the suspects in Lokoja on Tuesday, said that the alleged fake army officer was arrested on June 6.

Obiyo who identified the alleged fake soldier as Bartholomew Paul, said he was arrested at a military checkpoint at Ayere, Kabba/

Bunu Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, Paul was arrested by vigilant soldiers who stopped, searched his vehicle and discovered military uniforms, two military identity cards and other incriminating items.

He said that the army later handed over the suspect to the NSCDC, adding that investigation into the matter commenced immediately.

The commandant said that the suspect had been using the uniform, identity card and

other items to smuggle cars into the country through Seme border.

Obiyo listed other items recovered from him to include a black Lexus jeep; two military passports and a dependent military identity card.

He said further that the other seven suspects were arrested for vandalising oil pipelines, electric and telecommunication cables and being in illegal possession of firearms.

The commandant said that all the suspects had made useful statements to the NSCDC.

Meanwhile, the alleged fake army officer has said that he has in the business of buying vehicles from Benin Republic for his clients in Nigeria.

He said that the military items recovered from him were meant to evade security checks.

He, however, said that he ran out of luck on the fateful day when soldiers at the military checkpoint insisted on searching the car.

“When they searched the vehicle, they discovered where I kept the military uniform inside the booth with my fake

military identity cards.

“My friend advised me to do the fake military identity cards to prevent security men from stopping me whenever I leave Nigeria to smuggle cars into the country from Cotonou,” he said.

He disclosed that a sergeant attached to 323 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, facilitated for him, the procurement of the military items.

The NSCDC boss said that all the suspects would be charged to court very soon.

emphasizing the impact of the project on the livelihoods of farmers and on the company.

“The results we have achieved so far with Nestlé Nigeria & IFDC/2Scale Project Sorghum & Millet is an example of what is possible when we look at the agriculture value chain holistically from the farm to storage, to transportation, and right down to the factory gate and take definite measures to close the gaps,’’ he said.

Partnership is consistent with Nestlé’s business approach of Creating Shared Value (CSV) for the company and for society.

On one side, the project ensures that the local supply of grains and legumes meet the company’s high food safety and quality standards, while it helps increase the revenue of farmers who have higher yields by applying good agricultural practices.

One of the ways the company works towards achieving its purpose which is, “enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future’’, is by helping to reduce crop contamination and post-harvest losses.

These often result from poor farming practices, including sun drying, poor storage and logistics.

This is important because crop contaminants, like mycotoxins, threaten the health and lives of humans and animals.

For over 57 years, Nestle has been delighting consumers across Nigeria by consistently delivering high quality nutritious food.

With a staff strength of over 2,200 direct employees, 3 manufacturing sites, eight branch offices and a head office located in Lagos, the company produces and markets several iconic brands.

Boy, 17 arrested over fatal stabbing of teenage girl in Germany German Authorities have arrested a 17-year-old boy in relation to the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old girl in the Western German town of Viersen, Police saidon Tuesday.

Police said that the boy had turned himself in at a police station alongside his lawyer.

The girl was subjected to a stabbing attack in a park around midday on Monday by a man who subsequently fled the scene, police said in a statement.

She died later in hospital.

The lethal attack comes just days after another teenage girl, 14-year-old Susanna F, was killed by an Iraqi refugee who then fled to his home region of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The man named only as Ali B in compliance with privacy laws was returned to Germany on Saturday. (dpa/NAN)

News 10 Yobe Govt declares end to cholera outbreak

The Yobe Government on Tuesday officially declared over an end to cholera outbreak in the state.

Commisioner for Health, Dr Bello Kawuwa, told newsmen that there has not been any new case of suspected cholera in the state in the last 21 days, which qualifies for the outbreak to be declared over.

Kawiwa said the case of the outbreak was first reported on March 28, in Gashua town, Bade Local Government Area, with 16 deaths reported across the state.

“On March 28, in Gashua town, Bade Local Government Area, the state Ministry of Health got information that some 33 persons had symptoms suspected to be cholera with five associated deaths.

“The council Rapid Response Team responded immediately and thereafter, an already prepared Ministry of Health activated the state team to support the council in response efforts.”

“The outbreak first reported in Gashua town of Bade with subsequent spread to Karasuwa, Jakusko, Yusufari and Bursari Local Government Areas of the state, a total of 404 cases including 16 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio of 3.7 per cent was recorded.

“In Bade council, 379 cases were reported in six wards, 16 cases in Karasuwa, four in Jakusko, three in Yusufari and two in Bursari.”

The commissioner noted that by all standards, the response activities were a huge success being able to keep mortality very low.

He said a cholera vaccination exercise was conducted in the six most affected zones where over 125,000 people received the Oral Cholera Vaccine.

“As we speak now, it has been more than 21 days without report of any suspected case of cholera in Yobe State,” he said.

The commissioner commended other partners including the World Health Organisation, UN-OCHA, state and National Primary Health Care Management agencies in combating the scourge which also made Yobe to emerge stronger and better prepared against future occurrences.

Dr Kawuwa said a surveillance team was still on ground to monitor public health activities in the areas affected.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

NASS urged to tackle DISCOs irregular billings Yakubu Salisu, Kano Electricity consumers in Kano state have expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as irregular as well as over billing by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

The disgruntled Customers vehemently kicked against the outrageous billing system introduced by the discos in the Northern part of the country during an interactive session with the house of

representatives Ad-hoc committee on power to curb excessive electricity charges being levied on consumers in Kano, demanding the immediate revocation of the distribution companies in the country.

A consumer, who spoke at the session, Yunusa Murtala regretted the replacement of PHCN with DISCO’s also accused KEDCO of supplying faulty meters to electricity consumers which brought about unnecessarily accumulated billings. He

said the illegal act made it extremely difficult for consumers to comprehend the authentic billing system.

Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Israel Ajibola said the house decided to embark on the interactive session across the six geopolitical zones to ascertain allegations against DISCO’s.

According to him, those allegations includes excessive billing, Disco’s refusal to meter them/preference for crazy estimated billing, non-compliance with the

connection/ reconnection regulations, installation of manipulated pre-paid meters among others.

Israel who frowned at poor representation of Kaduna Electricity Company at the interactive session insisted that Kaduna will be considered as not represented at the forum.

Israel said “the choice of Kano for the North West interactive session was based on its flourishing commercial enterprising nature.

“As we all know that steady power supply is a

Ban on political campaign still in force– INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has warned politicians in Kwara to stop erecting campaign billboards and posters as ban on political campaign is still in force.

INEC Administrative Secretary in Kwara, Mr Paul Atser gave the warning in a statement on Tuesday in Ilorin.

“The attention of INEC has

been drawn to the emergence of campaign bill boards, posters and campaigns on the electronic media.

“The Commission wish to reiterate that campaign either through bill boards, posters and on electronic media by aspirants and political parties now is ill-timed,” Atser said.

According to the administrative secretary,

political campaigns cannot start until 90 days to the day of election.

“Campaign in any form at this point contravenes Section 99 (I) of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) which provides 90 days before polling day for the commencement of campaigns in public by every political party,” he added.

Atser said that there was

time slotted for each political activity for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

“It must be pointed out that with the release of the time table and schedule of activities for the 2019 General Elections, there is a time-line for every activity leading to the election and this should be strictly followed,” he said.

He advised political parties

prerequisite to overcoming poverty, economic growth, development and attaining reasonable standard of living.

“One of the major achievements of these interactive sessions across the nation, is forestalling the looming break down of law and order in the country.

According to him, the committee’s recommendation will determine the House’ position on the bill sponsored by the House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, to criminalise estimated billing.

and their aspirants to desist from pasting posters and erecting bill boards, adding that failure to comply with the guidelines would attract sanctions.

Atser appealed to eligible voters to register and ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to enable them vote in the forthcoming general elections.

L-R son of late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the anulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Abdul-Mumeen, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga and women’s rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, at the Gbagura family home of the Abiolas’, during the Democracy Walk, held in Abeokuta...yesterday

NHIS sensitises stakeholders, enrolls 65,000 in Katsina National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Katsina state office, has begun a two-day zonal sensitisation workshop for 100 stakeholders on Community Based Social Health Insurance programme (CBHIP).

The state’s NHIS Coordinator, Mr Ashiru Karaye, who made this known in Daura on Tuesday while declaring the workshop open, said that no fewer than 65, 000 people have been enrolled in

the scheme in the state.

He said the participants, who are traditional rulers, religious and community leaders were expected to sensitise their people on the lofty objectives of the scheme.

Karaye called for their more commitment among stakeholders to ensure wider coverage of remote rural communities.

“This workshop is organised in collaboration with the Maternal and Child Health

(MNCH2) programme in the state.

“We will simplify the mode of communication for easy comprehension and understanding at the workshop.

“The scheme has so far enrolled 10 registered associations in the state, who are presently reaping the benefits of the scheme.

“The procedure of accessing the scheme requires formation of a community maternal health association with a minimum of

1,000 registered members, who will monthly donate a minimum of N150.

“Other prerequisites include: opening of a bank account with a commercial bank in the name of the association, formation of the association’s board of trustee (BOT), identification of the facility to be used by the community.

“The association should also be formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),’’ he explained.

The coordinator added that the scheme provides cash subsidy to pregnant women and children under-five years, stressing that only those who were enrolled will benefit.

He said that the scheme has disbursed N14 million into individuals account as cash subsidy in the registered communities of Danja, Dabai, Kahutu, Chediya, Tsangamawa/ Dauraku, Mahuta, Funtua,Kurfi and Mashi Local Government Areas.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday June 13, 2018

Politics

11

June 12: Nigerians unite in commending Buhari, but demand restructuring Patrick Okohue Nigerians from all works of life yesterday reignited the June 12, 1993 spirit, when almost everyone voted with one purpose in mind, the building of a new Nigeria, as even yesterday they came out to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour done the winner of that election and some key participants at the election, but in unison they also demanded that the government needs to do more to fully assuage and put the spirit of June 12 to rest.

In Lagos, the mood was ecstatic, as pro-democracy activists, many of whom have been quiet over a long period of time found the June 12 as opportunity to once again speak out in search of a better Nigeria.

From the government quarters, to the Ikeja residence of the late Chief Moshood Abiola , to Excellence Hotel and even on the streets, there were events to mark the day.

At the government circle, the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode took time out to unveil a 46feet statue of the man they described as Nigeria’s symbol of democracy and adjudged winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), expressing optimism that the monument will forever crystallise what he stood for in his lifetime.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the unveiling of the statue at the MKO Abiola Garden in Alapere, Ketu said it was in the tradition of the state government to recognise and remember heroes and heroines who contributed to the greatness of the nation and the state in particular, adding that MKO Abiola deserves the best from the state as Lagos was his success story.

Alluding to the fact that a statue was previously sited at the location, the governor said that his administration decided to erect a bigger statue for MKO Abiola and late Rights Activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi to properly situate their immense contribution to nation building.

“There was a statue done by my predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, but in the divine world, some things are more glorious than what you think and so we decided at the end of 2016 that we should do bigger statues for Chief Gani Fawehinmi and MKO Abiola since almost everybody passing and entering Lagos go through this particular Ojota axis and so we started late in 2016 that we should build something bigger and so it took us about a year to do this.

“By the time we did the one for Gani to celebrate his posthumous birthday on April 22, we also agreed that we should unveil that of MKO Abiola today, June 12.

“But just as if God has a way of crowning all efforts to mark the 25th Anniversary of June 12, our President,

Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has deemed it fit to give our own MKO Abiola the highest honour in the land, GCFR and that is why we believe strongly that your presence here is not just for this statue, but it is also historic which we would always remember in the annals of the history and politics of this country that sooner than later, there would be one day we would mark as MKO Abiola Day. “We are very happy to gather here today at the MKO Abiola garden to unveil this statue, a monument that will forever crystallise his legacy, serves as a reminder to the greatness

“

MKO Abiola that Chief Abiola represents in our socio-political landscape,” the governor said.

He described MKO Abiola as a man who transcended race, tribe and religion, adding that the late philanthropist appealed to all Nigerians who voted massively for him during the 1993 Presidential election.

“Sadly, he lost his life trying to secure his mandate. Even though he was from another state, Lagos was his home. And we recognise his contribution to our state and our democracy,” Governor Ambode said.

Whether the Federal Government’s decision was more political than legal, as argued by some people, for me it is crystal clear that the journey to make June 12 our Democracy Day started several years ago. It was a struggle that was morphed into series of struggles and activities. We started the journey together. Even when I was detained in 2006, the annual commemorationof the June 12 annuleled election was held in my absence at this venue. Today, having made the sacrifices, I feel relieved to witness this day being recognized as our Democracy Day.

”

Responding on behalf of the family, MKO Abiola’s son, Abdul Mumuni Abiola thanked Governor Ambode and the Lagos State government for the honour done the Abiola family, saying the statue was indeed befitting to honour his late father.

“God is great. I heard about this statue six months ago and I was called to come and see it and when I got here, I saw a statue of three-storey building. This is indeed massive. The family of late MKO Abiola really appreciates this and we want to thank the governor,” Abdul Mumuni said.

He also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the posthumous award conferred on his father and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day, as well as the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for standing solidly behind the struggle.

“We thank the President for doing what he did. This statue was planned before the President did what he did and so we want to thank Governor Ambode for this,” he said.

Governor Ambode, who earlier spoke at a symposium held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television in Ikeja to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the June 12, 1993 election, paid glowing tributes to other comrades who led the struggle from the front including Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Ambassador Walter Carrington, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, Chief Frank Kokori, Rear

Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Mr. Wale Oshun, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and other Nigerians and Civil Society Organisations, Trade and Labour unions.

“We also pay glowing tribute to the beautiful memories of patriots such as Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Michael Enahoro, Chief Alfred Rewane, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti, General Adeyinka Adebayo and several others including innocent ordinary Nigerians, young and old who were murdered in cold blood on the streets of Lagos and in other major cities of Nigeria. Today, we declare that their sacrifice has not been in vain,” he said.

The governor commended Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being the pioneer governor to declare public holiday on June 12 throughout his tenure in office as well as Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) for his steadfastness in upholding the tradition, saying that the occasion attests to their visionary leadership.

Speaking on the theme: “Restructuring: Antidote For Efficient And Effective Polity,” guest lecturer, Dr. Dele Ashiru of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), called for the amendment of the Constitution to ensure removal of provisions which inhibit successful running of functional system, especially revenue sharing formula which he said must be by derivation, among others.

He also said considering the strategic importance of Lagos to the country, special attention must be given to the state, adding: “The Federal Government must wake up and pay Lagos adequately from the national resource so that the state can continue to play the role it had been playing in the country.”

He described Lagos as a model and mega city not only in Africa but the world, and as such all hands must be on deck to work for its sustenance.

Also, Chairman of June 12 Coalition, Comrade Linus Okoroji commended the Lagos State government for sustained commitment to the June 12 struggle which had yielded fruits with the recent declaration of the day as Democracy Day in Nigeria and recognition of MKO Abiola with the GCFR honour.

At the residence of Abiola family, it was a festival, as activists of different shades jostle to be recognized.

Chairman of the June 12 Coalition event at the residence, human rights activists and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba said that he will not praise President Buhari for doing what he did, because it is what should eb done, “Thank the government for doing what? If we praise what the government has done then we are missing, what Buhari did

Continue on page 12

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

...Nigerians unite in commending Buhari, but demand restructuring Continue from page 11 is what he should have done, I would not praise him at all. Nigerians Have been agitating for this for years. Its just like when you give your child food you said I should praise you.

“My advice is that the presidential candidates should not forget the reason why they are there when they are elected, often they forget, all you need to do is remember the people, if the politicians are honourable they would remember what Abiola died for. When Abiola died, only few politicians could enter this house, the students unions were tearing their cloths, as a politician you must remember to give the people good road, I mean keep your promises. The way forward for Nigerian is that we have to get a good man, for now we don’t have any.”

Agbakoba argued that by recognizing Abiola, President Buhari is saying that June 12 is valid, and therefore he should go a step further by recognising him as president, adding however, “but I think what Buhari did is illegal, but it is popular and people want it, the Abiola family deserves the honour, so I would not challenge it in court.”

Also speaking at the Abiola residence, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, commended President Buhari for the honour for Abiola, but called on him to extend the honour to other heroes of the struggle for the actualisation of the mandate.

Ikubese also called for the historic role of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in ushering the freest election in the country’s history to be recognised.

While calling on the President to extend the honour to all living and dead heroes of the June 12 struggle, he said that a monument that will contain all the names of those who played their part in the June 12 struggle should be erected in a befitting edifice to be named after MKO Abiola.

“MKO Abiola deserves the honour and what we should be thinking of right now is to name a huge national edifice after him. MKO was the man who personified democracy in Nigeria and the field Marshall of all democratic warriors.

“When he is honoured all the foot soldiers must also be recognised by engraving their names on a monument to be erected in a national edifice in memory of MKO. Those who contributed to the struggle for June 12 are indeed widespread.”

He also suggested that two major edifices still stand out that can be named after Abiola, adding that the National Stadium in Lagos and the National Stadium in Abuja are type of edifices that can be named after Abiola.

He said that the country should also not forget the chief umpire of the “undiluted election,” Professor Humphrey Nwosu, adding that he also deserves to be appreciated.

Also speaking the publisher

of Sahara reporter and also a presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore , said June 12 is also a day to remember journalists who either died or went through a terrible time at the time when newspapers had to be published in neighbouring countries.

He said the government’s conferment of the GCFR honour on Chief Moshood Abiola was not based on the ideological significance of June 12 but on the date and actions of the day.

In his words, “there is a thin line between June 12 as a date with history in Nigeria, June 12 as an action that took place and the June 12 ideology.

“What this government has done is to reckon with the date and action of June 12, they have not touched the ideology of June 12 and so in reckoning with the date and history of June 12, irrespective of what Abiola had done, you cannot forget June 12 to the presidential candidate,” he said.

Explaining what the June 12 ideology entails, he listed transparent democratic processes, eradication of poverty, fiscal federalism or creating a balance in the appointment unlike sectional appointments and creating a country where hope can thrive.

“For me what the government is pursuing is not the ideology of June 12 and so it is only when you’re pursuing these ideologies that you can say Babagana Kingibe should not be reckoned with. If we were to discuss the ideologies of June 12, so many people including those mouthing June 12 now would not be talking June 12. So many people that rode on the crest of June 12 to fame and power would not be discussing June 12,” he added.

Sowore said that the fact that Nigeria has come out of a 25 year long self-denial of realising the injustice done to Abiola and the Nigerian people was a consolation for him.

Still on the receiving of a national honour, sowore said, “whatever late Moshood Abiola is getting based on the June 12, 1993 election, the vice presidential candidate must also follow in line unless and until he voluntarily says he is no more interested, he is impeached by the National Assembly, or by chance if he dies, but even if he dies he would be honoured posthumously.”

President, African Youth Initiative for Good Leadership, Gbenga Adewale, said that “June 12 presidential exercise is dead? That is their own selfish and dreadful declaration. The haters and lovers of June 12 from every Nigeria local government, state government, national assembly and the Senate are benefiting from the democratic spirit of June 12 every day. “ Adewale disclosed that Nigerians shall be kicking the ball along with Abiola for overall success of the country.

He stated that MKO Abiola, the flagship of June 12 deserved the honour given to him. “Generation

Agbakoba yet unborn will live to appreciate the wonderful deeds of President Muhamadu Buhari,” he said.

At the Excellence Hotel, Ogba where the Oodua People’s Comgress (OPC) in conjunction with the Lagos State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held another June 12 commemoration event with the theme, “Nigeria Politics and Democratic Process MKO Abiola and the June 12, 1993 Cries and Beyond” the crowd was massive.

Speaking on why his group has continued to hold events in the last 18 years to commemorate the day, the Coordinator of OPC, Iba Gani Adams said, “whether the Federal Government’s decision was more political than legal, as argued by some people, for me it is crystal clear that the journey to make June 12 our Democracy Day started several years ago.

“It was a struggle that was morphed into series of struggles and activities.

We started the journey together. Even when I was detained in 2006, the annual commemorationof the June 12 annuleled election was held in my absence at this venue.

“Today, having made the

“

Gani Adams sacrifices, I feel relieved to witness this day being recognized as our Democracy Day. “The glory of this day is not for me alone, it is the glory of all members of OPC, and a few other civil society groups that share the same ideology with us. It is the triumph of victory over defeat,” he said.

Chairman of the occasion and the Senator representing Kaduna Central District, Shehu Sani, also expressed his joy at the turn of events.

According to him, “We must express appreciation to Buhari for the recognition given to June 12 as democracy day, he has done what his predecessors failed to do.

“June 12 represents four things; the election, annulment, struggle and the legacy, in terms of the election, SDP mobilised Nigerians to vote for SDP and Abiola, then annulment of the election by the military junta and without the struggle there would not have been June 12 being celebrated today.

“June 12 is about the people, who were actively involved in the struggle against the annulment of the election.

Many of the political class who are celebrating June 12 today, especially,

For me what the government is pursuing is not the ideology of June 12 and so it is only when you’re pursuing these ideologies that you can say Babagana Kingibe should not be reckoned with. If we were to discuss the ideologies of June 12, so many people including those mouthing June 12 now would not be talking June 12. So many people that rode on the crest of June 12 to fame and power would not be discussing June 12

”

the leaders of SDP, betrayed MKO Abiola during the struggle.

“In fact, SDP leaders contributed to the annulment of the election.

They were betrayers, traitors and Judas Iscariots. Without NADECO, CD, ASUU, NLC, NUJ, Fawehimi, Beko Ransom Kuti, Yinka Odumakin, Joe Odumakin, Chuma Ubani, Femi Falana and others, June 12 could have been buried.

“June 12 has now become an issue because President Buhari honoured MKO Abiola and declared it democracy day. We accept the gift, but we reject the political motive behind it,” he said.

Also speaking, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu noted that former presidents who failed to recognise June 12 made big mistakes, but added “today Buhari has done this for Nigerians, when I became governor of my state, Abia in 1919 I sent a bill to the state House of Assembly to make June 12 a public holiday, we were the first state in Nigeria to declare the day public holiday in 2000.

“We are the first state in Nigeria to declare June 12 as public holiday in Nigeria because we believe in it. I was a greater supporter of NADECO. I’m not a member of NADECO but I supported them. Those of them who were living in Washington and London know.

“The story of June 12 cannot be told today and the real story has not been told. Most Nigerians don’t knows those who stopped June 12.

Those who you think stopped June 12 are not the ones who stopped it.

In one or two years, I will give you concrete details about those who stopped June 12,” he said.

My brother if it is that I can assure you that Buhari would win the 2019 election he would win 65 percent of the vote cast in Nigeria and he would also win 75 percent of the total vote cast in Nigeria I can assure you that,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

13

Editorial Commentary OUR POSITION

T

Importance of June 12 and national unity

he declaration last Wednesday of June 12, every year as Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari, instead of the usual May 29, came as a surprise to many Nigerians.

And to the Yoruba, this is a long awaited dream, which people of the Southwest zone of the country never had an idea when it would come.

Coming from a President presumed by many as non-democrat, Buhari had announced pointblank that the annual celebration would now hold on June 12, arguing that June 12, 1993 — the date of the election popularly adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history — “was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even October 1”.

He also announced that the late MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled election, will be posthumously awarded the highest honour in the land, GCFR, on June 12, 2018. Similarly, Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe is to be invested with a GCON, while “the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12th elections and indeed for democracy in general”, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), is to be awarded posthumously a GCON. Abiola was arrested in 1994 in the course of the struggle to claim his mandate and later died in custody in July 1998.

We receive the news warmly, and like other Nigerians, praise Buhari for the move, but urge him to follow it up by adopting MKO’s Programme of Welfare to Poverty and respect for human rights.

Although, the announcement by the president

has been followed by diverse reactions as some are happy with the president while others like the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissed the move as borne out of hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of the 2019 presidential election, Buhari has actually demonstrated uncommon courage and shown, that he is a listening president by the decision to make June 12 Democracy Day as against May 29.

With this masterstroke, the President has beaten past governments on this singular move. His pronouncements are even more heartwarming because for 19 years, the political elite (save for those in the Southwest) carried on as though June 12 never happened.

We note that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the first beneficiary of the June 12 struggle, refused to mention Abiola or the date the nation’s mandate was heartlessly stolen. For eight years as civilian president, his administration never acknowledged the relevance of June 12 or the supreme price Abiola paid for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate.

And his erstwhile party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which governed Nigeria for 16 years, treated June 12 with silence.

But we must salute the effort of former President Goodluck Jonathan who made an attempt to immortalize Abiola by naming the University of Lagos after Abiola. But the action was resisted by the students and other stakeholders in the university.

For some members of the political class in the fourth republic, June 12 was a date they didn’t

Historical Times in Pictures

want to hear or acknowledge. They would rather bury their heads in the sand. Administration after administration passed up the opportunity to commemorate June 12 or drum up its significance.

The Federal Government’s honour of Abiola and recognition of June 12 may have been long in coming, but it’s better late than never.

MKO Abiola’s mandate wasn’t only mindlessly stolen from him and from millions of Nigerians, he died while refusing to renounce said mandate.

He was told to give it all up, at gun point. But he didn’t. He was traumatised in detention but he remained unbowed.

Finally, we want to categorically state that there are those who hold the view that Buhari’s declaration was politically motivated and aimed at currying favour from the South-West ahead of the 2019 vote. Whatever his motives, Mr. President got this one spot right.

At least, he has honoured a man and a watershed date past governments didn’t even want to be associated with. If anything, we should be hailing the president’s inner circle and political advisers for even thinking this one up. For once, they deserve some accolades. And if the South-West is appeased by this move and rewards Buhari with more votes in 2019, why should anyone blame them?

We are of the opinion that Nigeria’s democracy day shouldn’t be the one the military foisted on us (May 29), it should be the one where millions poured out to vote for one man, relegating their religious and ethnic inclinations to the background.

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S I G N AT U R E Publisher

Folio Communications Plc

1972 Police College Lagos (1972)

The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors.

Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Revolutionising Abia economy through automated shoe factory in Aba

I

Newman Ubani

f there is anything Abia State needs most, it is revolutionising the economy growth of the state.

This is very important because an independent economy brings development faster to the society than a dependent economy.

In his campaign promises, Abia Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, vowed to promote the ‘can-do-spirit’ and entrepreneurial instinct of Abia people, especially the youths. Of course, the essence of the promotion of the entrepreneurial instinct have been to revolutionise the economy growth of the state. To achieve this, the Governor made Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) one of the five pillars of development of his administration.

Recently in speech, Governor Ikpeazu stressed thus: “Our administration views job creation and skills development as necessary ingredients for our integrated economic development agenda as availability of relevant skill sets in our environment will naturally lead to more investment and further reduction in unemployment related criminal activities”.

So, one of the ways Governor Ikpeazu is revolutionising Abia economy is through establishment of Automated Shoe Factory in Aba, which would be housed in the Enyimba Industrial City, now under construction.

The decision to establish the factory necessitated by the brilliance performance of the first 30 Abia youths the Governor sent to China to learn automated shoemaking. These guys surprised even the Chinese supervisors with the way they learnt and manipulated the shoe making machines.

Abia economy has already started growing because of the promotion and publicity Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has given to the ‘Made-in-Aba’ products coupled with his resolve to train 100 youths in automated shoe making in China, which the first batch has gone and come back.

This shoe factory would certainly contribute greatly in the revolutionising of Abia economy.

Having been trained in the techniques of handling the machines in China and performed beyond expectations, the recently 30 China shoe-making trainees

would not only aid the transform from manual shoe-making to automated shoemaking, but will be very instrumental in training many other Abia youths in automated shoe-making.

Upon their return from China, the beneficiaries of the training testified that before now they didn’t have enough idea about shoemaking as they were doing everything including cutting of leather, applying of gum with their bare hands.

They added that with the automated shoemaking, there are different machines for doing all those things they do with their bare hands, from cutting of leather, mixing chemicals, landing the shoes to finishing stage.

In view of the rigorous shoe-making process, which involves chains of activities, thousands of youths would be employed in the automated shoe factory, especially as the trained shoemakers have vowed to train other artisans and get them empowered.

The Governor deserves to be commended for changing the mentality and psych of his people and artisans who produce shoes in Aba. This effort of the Governor would make Abia a centre of

attraction for all and sundry.

As the chief marketer of the ‘Madein-Aba’ and Abia campaign, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has ensured that the products have been showcased in many trade fairs even in New York. This of course has given great hope to the youths, who are now empowered for life. Indeed, Abia State government under the able leadership of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is gradually empowering its people and growing the economy of the state.

It has therefore become imperative for all hands to be on the pumps in supporting this genuine effort of the Governor in changing the narrative of entrepreneurship and empowerment in Abia, God’s own state.

Doubtless, the visionary Governor of the state has good intentions for the state, as other politicians are making political noise about 2019, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is busy empowering people and growing Abia economy. No wonder, it has been endorsements and adoptions galore in every nook and cranny of the state as Governor Ikpeazu’s giant strides in every sector of the economy are speaking...

So, let’s support a Govrnor at work.

Significance of June 12 and Democracy Day

T

Owei Lakemfa

u e s d a y ’ s commemoration of the annulled June 12 presidential election and its recognition as ‘Democracy Day’ in Nigeria remain a watershed in the history of Nigeria.

That quasi recognition of the injustice meted out to the people by a conscienceless, kleptocratic and brutal military dictatorship should not be just about the election, but the sustained, sometimes bloody, struggles to force an ahistorical and conservative state to recognise the electoral wish of the people and bring murders to book, even if it has to be done a quarter of a century later.

When coup plotters who had usurped power on December 31, 1983 changed guards in August, 1985, they embarked on a long journey of mass deception called the ‘Transition to Civil Rule.’ But some quite perspective patriots led by Alao Aka-Bashorun, former president, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), saw through the deception and warned that the generals were not soldiers, but mere power-hungry Abduls who did not want to work but wanted to become extremely rich. The NBA warned that the generals, led by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and with Sani Abacha as de facto number two man, had a ‘hidden agenda’ to perpetuate themselves in power. So it was not surprising to these patriots when the regime continuously shifted the hand over date – from 1990 to 1992, later, January 1993, then August 1993.

The Aka-Bashorun group, which transformed into the Pro-Democracy Movement, analysed quite correctly that the primaries and the June 12 election being held by the unprincipled generals, were a ruse and mere manoeuvre to perpetrate themselves in power. For this, many patriots, especially Beko Ransome-Kuti, the medical doctor who eventually led the anti-military campaign and progressive lawyer, Gani Fawehnmi, were detained without trial.

While politicians, including Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, winner

of the June 12 elections, continued to express belief in the regime’s fake Transition Programme, those who knew it was fake began to mobilise to throw the generals out of power.

In 1990, Aka-Bashorun, leading patriots like Alhaji Tanko Yakasi, Chief R.B.K Okafor, Prof. Adeoye Lambo, Drs. Kola Balogun and Fredrick Fasehun, under the National Consultative Forum (NCF), tried to stage a National Conference in Lagos, which the military aborted. Two years later, the NCF was expanded to bring in all anti-military groups and was renamed the Campaign for Democracy (CD).

The regime tried to scuttle the June 12, 1993 elections by using groups like the Arthur Nzeribe-led Association for a Better Nigeria (ABN), and a June 11, 1993 midnight ruling by Justice Bassey Ikpeme, but the election held and results started tumbling in. Early morning on June 14, my comrade, Kayode Komolafe, who served in Abiola’s Presidential Hope ’93 Office, woke me up with the results from the National Electoral Commission, which showed Abiola had won the election by 8,341,309 votes (58.36 per cent) to his rival, Bashir Tofa’s 5,952,087 votes or 41.64 per cent. All that was then required was the formal announcement of the full results. That was when the generals stepped in to stop further result announcements and later annulled the election.

The bulk of the politicians were stunned, petrified and immobilised.

But the pro-democracy movement under the CD, led by Ransome-Kuti, which had envisaged the scenario, was ready for battle. It announced July 5, 1993 as the commencement date for nationwide street protests to force the military to de-annul the election and hand-over power. Mass mobilisation followed, with campaign materials produced in their millions and distributed nationwide. That day, the country was in a lockdown. Almost all cities and most towns experienced tidal waves of Nigerians pouring into the streets. Lagos, the megacity and economic capital of the country, was

the epicentre of the mass eruption.

Apart from being a national coordinator of the protests and in charge of mobilising the OshodiMafoluku axis, my primary duty was to mobilise enough crowds to stop flights at the local and international airports.

But this turned out an easy one as the roads were devoid of human traffic; the protesters were fully in control.

Our plan was to shutdown Lagos, get the people into the streets, move them towards Ikeja Bus Stop, hold rallies and protests, and then direct the tidal human waves to Abiola’s house, off Toyin Street, in acknowledgement of his victory and status as presidentelect.

Femi Falana, now a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), led the teams and crowds in the Ikeja sector. Debo Adeniran, then a teacher, and now an anti-corruption advocate, was in charge of Ogba/Agege. Sylvester OdionAkhaine, now a senior lecturer in Lagos State University (LASU) liaised with the Lagos Island groups. Shina Loremikan, a quiet journalist, moved the crowds in the Shagari-Ipaja axis.

Funso Omogbehin, now an American citizen, led the crowds from Ajegunle/ Mile Two. One of the most ambitious plans was to move the Mushin, Isolo and Okota areas, as well as take over the 10-lane Apapa-Oshodi Express Way. These tasks fell on a group led by a quiet medical consultant and proprietor of the Best Hope Hospitals, Dr. Frederick Fasehun. He had a radical group of young men, including Abiodun Aremu, now secretary of the Joint Action Forum; Femi Obayori, a quiet poet; Bayo Ojo, a political activist now in Osun State; Opeyemi Bamidele, later of the House of Representatives and two comrades who unfortunately have passed away; Olaitan Oyerinde and Biodun Ogunade (Revo).

A grassroots mobiliser, Fasehun also had the market leaders in the area, Baba Oja and Iya ‘Jebu, articulate Kunle Adesokan and an artisan, Gani Adams, now the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland. This last group and the Ijaw internationalist, Tony Engurube,

were to found the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC). They executed their briefs brilliantly.

Another group that was pivotal to the success of the protests was the Militant Mainlanders led by radical lawyer, Osagie Obayuwana, later, Edo State attorney general and commissioner for justice. This group, with then young leaders like Wale Balogun and late Wale Salami, effectively took over the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and all the areas from Iddo to Sabo-Yaba.

When the Mainlanders moved, the streets shook under their pounding feet. When the crowds got to the St. Anne Barracks, a military truck filled with soldiers, which came from a side street, suddenly saw itself facing a sea of people. It drove through the crowds, killing four persons and injuring a number. The soldiers managed to flee the scene, their truck was burnt, the injured evacuated, and the march resumed.

There was a confluence of this human tidal wave with that from Surulere, flowing into the waiting Ikorodu Road protesters led by the late Chima Ubani.

With the ocean of people flowing to the Ikeja convergence point, it was my duty to get down the national leader of the protests, Dr. Ransome-Kuti. In preparing for his possible arrest, we planned that rather than stay in his Imaria Street, Antony Village residence, he would stay at his elder brother, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s music centre, The African Shrine on Pepple Street, which was a stone throw from Ikeja Bus Stop.

It was hectic leading him from the Shrine, as the crowds pressed. Soon, those from the Shrine who formed a ring round us, lost control and we were propelled forward.

After speeches, we began the very slow march towards Abiola’s house.

On the way, I had to break from the main march, and with the help of some of our protest marshals, prevent the burning of the FAN milk company.

Although it was an old name, some of the protesters had misinterpreted the name to be the acronym of the ABN leader, Francis Arthur Nzeribe, who had tried to scuttle the June 12 elections.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

15 Column

“Just do good”: A June 12 story Times Columnist reuben abati

‘

The only problem was that his Beetle had to be pushed before it would move.

Some of us who were his close friends knew this routine. Whenever Bashy wanted to leave, we would start moving away strategically to prevent being forced to jumpstart his notorious Beetle

,

I

used to have a friend we called Alhaji Bashy. He was not a Muslim. No. But he called himself Alhaji Bashy, even if that was not his real name. You want to know his real name? It was Theophilus. And his wife was named Ruth. His children? He was yet to have one. Even Ruth was called his wife by designation. We were all young in those days, and any woman to whom you wrote regular love letters and poems, and she gave you attention was your wife. In those days, you didn’t have to give a woman a N100 million worth of car to assure her that you were in love, you did not have to go as far as Offa to rob a bank so you could earn a living. Once you grabbed a woman and you could send her titillating love poems and she believed, you gained the right to press all buttons, and shake every table in her body. The Vice Chancellor of one university in those days became very notorious.

He said his students were among the brightest in the country but that he could not vouch for those students’ tendency and ability to explore the internal anatomy of the female homo sapiens! The laughter that greeted that announcement stretched from one part of the country to another.

And the women didn’t complain.

They were happy to have a man who loved them genuinely. You didn’t have to put a ring on their fingers. They would cook for you, wash your clothes, kneel down to greet your mother, your father, your siblings, pray for you, and even if you didn’t marry them at the end of the day, they would still not take offence. They would resolve that the will of God had been done. The moment they agreed to become your friend, they became automatically your wife and some of them even if they married other men later, would remain on pension in your life forever. Yes, in this country, women used to survive like that on such anticipatory approval that had life-long consequences. I confess that I am still paying pension but I won’t name the women.

As you can see, anticipatory approval started in Nigeria a long time ago. Not just with girlfriends who became bush meat or fiancées or eventually wives, or other people’s wives. In those days, even persons who had no bicycle, and were professional trekkers boasted about their leggedes-benz. They turned their legs into a brand of the Mercedes Benz! Those who could barely afford a pair of slippers insisted they would one day ride the Mercedez. Now come on, that was a popular luxury car in those days. Only important folks could afford it. So rugged, that car was

nick-named “the German mistake”.

Alhaji Bashy, even when we all smoked garri with groundnuts and watched the big boys who came from town to toast campus babes with ordinary suya, had big dreams. He believed he would also one day be able to buy his girlfriend the barbecued meat called “’suya” and a Mercedes. And Ruth was happy to hear that one day she too would ride a car. She was happy with Alhaji Bashy.

It was a different country we lived in. The men appreciated the women. Whatever went wrong, the women knelt down and begged their men and the men reciprocated by honouring the women. Nigeria was a community of happy people, anyone that behaved anyhow was ostrasized.

I recall even being referred to on many occasions as Mallam when my only connection with Mallam things was to wait for the eid-el-kabir season to eat the generous portions of ram meat that Muslims gave their Christian compatriots.

We all ate together and enjoyed together and married across religious and ethnic divides. Our country was then just one happy place. Oh, what a happy place.

Muslims and Christians played with one another and the festive season was the best time to show boundless amity. Cows didn’t pose a threat to farm produce. Every disagreement was resolved either in the bedroom or the beer parlour or at communal associations. Alhaji Bashy used to joke that Muslim girls were better than Christian girls and if we reminded him that his Ruth was Christian, he would laugh from one end of his mouth to the other, his 32 teeth in full display, and he would say: “It is good to be good, when you are good to a woman, or any person, he or she will be nice to you, Christian or Muslim. Love knows no religion. Nobody is a Mallam or pastor in the bedroom.”

“Alha-ji Bay- sheeey”, we would all scream “It is nice to be nice, because nice is nice, ” he responded.

Bashy was a good guy. He was incapable of hurting another fellow.

No matter how serious the situation was, he reduced it all to laughter.

The only thing that mattered to him was Ruth, the sugar in his tea, the puff-puff in his mouth, the woman he loved, the hope of his future.

Ruth. I remember Ruth. She was that type of woman God created in a relaxed mood. You know how it is: some women look like God created them in a busy and tired moment, and hence they come out looking anyhow. But Ruth: God took his time. Any time she walked

into a gathering of men, all the men had their instruments standing at attention in honour and in respect, and in anticipation. But she had eyes only for Bashy, and many used to wonder what he saw in the guy and his gross features. We all sulked and grumbled believing that God sometimes gives the best to the ugliest.

Then all of a sudden, June 12 happened. June 12, 1993 was the day our country held its freest and fairest election since 1922 when the first democratic elections were held.

After colonial rule and influence, a short period of civilian rule and a prolonged military rule, another democratic interregnum, Nigerians eventually became tired of military rule. The rest of the world was moving towards democracy. The Berlin wall had collapsed. Across the world, everyone wanted the people to be the owners of power and masters of their own destiny.

In our country, everyone wanted to escape the trap of authoritarianism.

On June 12, 1993, the military had asked the people to choose a President – one of their own. Bashy was one of those who supported Chief MKO Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). MKO promised Nigerians hope, progress and abundant welfare. One Baba Gana Kingibe was his running mate. The two of them were Muslims, but nobody raised any questions. Nigerians voted for their Muslim-Muslim ticket. It was a national unity ticket.

The Christians didn’t mind. The people wanted change and it didn’t matter to them whatever shape the revolution took.

But the military stood in the people’s way and the entire country went adrift. The military annulled the election and aborted the people’s hopes. Alhaji Bashy was one of MKO’s men. He worked for him. He followed him. He became his disciple. “MKO-o o-oooooo is our man oooo” became his national anthem.” He was one of those who believed Chief should stand up to the soldiers and claim his mandate. He reported at MKO’s home in the morning and left at night. He attended meetings he didn’t need to attend, but he did all the same because he believed in democracy. He told me once that if Chief was allowed to claim his mandate, Nigeria would become one of the best countries in the world. But the military hierarchy, after an overdose of peppersoup diet, obviously and in retrospect, refused to hand over Abiola’s mandate to him. People like Bashy insisted on a revolution. He was at Epetedo where MKO claimed his mandate in a historic statement.

History was made at that moment and MKO’s followers were proud of his courage and resolve. When Alhaji Bashy returned from that event and I saw him, I knew something had gone wrong. His eyes were blood-shot. ‘MKO or nobody”, he screamed throughout the night Those were sad days. Two days later, Ruth, the centre of Bashy’s life was attacked by a group of men.

They raped her. They slashed her throat. They dumped her in front of Bashy’s flat. Alhaji Bashy was detained for a month. They said he killed her. But he didn’t. I was one of the people who went to the police station to testify that Bashy was a lover-boy, not a killer and that Ruth, with her buttocks that rolled as if it was responding to unheard music was all that he lived for. Bashy was released. The revolution that he wanted did not happen, because shortly after, Chief MKO Abiola was arrested and detained by the military authorities. He never came back alive. They said he drank tea and he died.

Bashy was devastated. He took to the bottle. He drowned his sorrow in alcohol. He became a shadow of himself. He owned a rickety Beetle. The Beetle, a Volkswagen star brand in those days, was known for its ruggedness. Bashy managed to buy a used one for N22, 000 – a lot of money in those days. The only problem was that his Beetle had to be pushed before it would move. Some of us who were his close friends knew this routine. Whenever Bashy wanted to leave, we would start moving away strategically to prevent being forced to jump-start his notorious Beetle. It was really a tug of war, so difficult to know who was driving the other between Bashy and his wretched car. The only problem was that once you helped to push and the car jumped alive, a huge of volume of smoke escaping from the exhaust would suddenly emit onto your face. Pure carbon monoxide: Bashy would speed off, but you would be there struggling for oxygen and cursing that you’d never do it again. The more alcoholic Bashy became, the more unpredictable he also became. He was a shadow of his former self. It was as if the light that kept his life aglow had been switched off.

One day, on his way to his abode in Ajangbadi; armed robbers accosted him. Our country was extraordinarily lawless and ruthless and unsafe. Hadji Bashy told me the story himself, a day after. They stopped his car and asked him to come down. Come down! Come down! They pointed guns at him, each of his three assailants holding a gun. Bashy was dead drunk. He was dead to the world.

“Eyin boys, bawo ni. What is happening?”

“Are you crazy? You think we are joking with you?”

“Shut up” he said he told them. “I know you. You people are thieves.

Armed robbers. Idiots”.

“Since you know, oya give us everything you have”, one of them replied.

“What do I have? I am coming from a June 12 event. You people should join us to make Nigeria better. Join hands with us to create Hope for this country.”

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Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

17

News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

FG explores culture to strengthen economic ties with Denmark, others Esther Taiwo Federal Government has planned to strengthen economic and social ties with the Scandinavian countries which are group of countries in Northern Europe that includes Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Sweden through cultural heritage carnival slated for September 5th to 8th, 2018 in Denmark.

The event which is first of its kind according to one of the organizers, Mr Bolude Ibrahim has been approved by the federal government in collaboration with the federal ministry of Information and Culture and in partnership with African Chamber for Commerce Scandinavia.

Speaking about the event, Ibrahim said Nigerian cultural heritage carnival is a conceptualized cultural carnival aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the Western world adding that it will bring together all past cultural arts and heritage till date for the countries to experience the

power of arts, culture and heritage tourism to attain economic empowerment, global economic growth and fruitful bilateral and sociocultural relations as well as youth development.

“We have designed an international convention on economic in this event. The Nigeria cultural heritage carnival will take advantage of a blooming market opportunity in Scandinavia and America, additionally intend to help in the slow process integration and culture diversity in

Copenhagen by offering a unique platform for African decedents to share the positive aspect of their culture”, he said.

According to him, the carnival is organized and managed under three companies which are Afrowood Media, Senior Boyz Production and Mogaji Atanda International Promotion.

The brand ambassador, Nollywood Yoruba actor, Saheed Balogun also called on federal and state governments as well

as other well spirited Nigerians to support the carnival stressing that it has a lot of benefits to Nigerians especially in terms of image laundering abroad.

He also called on the federal government to make more strigent laws that will guide the Nollywood industry in the right path.

“There are laws but we need hard laws, the existing laws guiding Nollywood are too weak, we need a stronger structure, for instance if someone wants to come and shoots movies

from abroad there should be some laws guiding such person, what kind of movie does the person want to shoot, and this is because the people who know about the real business are not put in the committee. In the entertainment industry there should be strict laws”, he said.

Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Isiba also urged the federal government to support the programme saying it is a laudable one but government’s assistance is needed because the event

is about promoting our cultural heritage.

He said with this event there is possibility that many of the Scandinavian countries will invest in Nigeria and do things with Nigerian people stressing that the Scadinavia which has a booming market opportunity that can be useful to Nigeria would also be using such advantage to have much in common with Nigerians.

The main event according to the organizers will feature Nigerian dance, music, clothes, drama and films.

Ras Kimono: Obaseki commiserates with family, says artiste campaigned vigorously for better Nigeria The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condoled with the family of the late reggae musician, Ukeleke Onwubuya, popularly known as Ras Kimono, whose passing was announced last Sunday.

According to Obaseki, “Ras Kimono campaigned vigorously for a better Nigeria through his unique music genre, rooted in reggae, which earned him the sobriquet, the Rub a Dub Master.”

He added that “Ras Kimono’s philosophical bent which dominated the theme of his songs, will continue to reverberate in the minds of millions of his fans across the world.”

The governor noted that the artiste “will be greatly missed by the Nigerian entertainment industry and all lovers of good music,” and wished his family the strength to bear the irreparable loss occasioned by his demise.

According to reports, Ras Kimono, a native of Onicha Olona, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, slumped at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while waiting to board a flight to the United States of America, on Saturday night.

He was immediately rushed to a Lagos hospital where he died on Sunday morning.

L-R Human rights activist, Mr. Debo Adeniran, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, son of late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the anulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Abdul-Mumeen, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga and women’s rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, during the Democracy Walk, held in Abeokuta...yesterday

We’ve flushed out bad eggs in Bayelsa’s APC - Sylva

Akam James, Yenagoa

The leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), in Bayelsa State and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the party is doing everything to flush out those that betrayed the party’s chances of winning the last governorship election in the state, to pave way for purpose driven leadership in the party ahead of 2019 election.

Sylva, who was speaking yesterday during the formal inauguration of the state and local government chapter

executives of the party in Yenagoa, the state capital, accused the former leadership of the party in the state of running after money and not the victory of the party.

He said gone are the days when some person within our fold will pretend as working with us in the day time and going to the other side at night because of money, adding that today the mission to take over Bayelsa state has just begun with the inauguration of loyal members and not self centred leadership.

“Today we are inaugurating

a people driven leadership, people that will take over Bayelsa, from here we can stand on an Olympian height and look at the centre. From now you’ll see activities happening in the state, we’ll take over the state from the rats in power, whose several years of leadership and huge monies collected is wasted,” said.

While referring to the factional group led by former acting Governor of the state, Chief Nestor Ibinabo, Sylva jokingly said, “We have fumigated all the rats out of the house, and we now have

a brand new APC, people we don’t have to manage, people that will understand the mission of APC, people that will not take money and sell their conscience, people that will not come here and work with us in the day time and run to other side in the night to collect money.”

He described the newly inaugurated executive members as purpose driven, who will work assiduously for the victory of APC in 2019, saying the inauguration marked a new dawn in Bayelsa APC.

In his brief remark, the majority leader of the state house of Assembly and member representing Brass 1, Hon. Israel Sunny Igoli, advised the new leadership to ensure all party members are carried along in the scheme of things, adding that the takeover mission is truly begun.

He commended the huge crowd and major stakeholders for having faith in the party, adding that the hardship in the state under the current PDP administration will soon be over.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

19 News

June 12 celebration

Ambode unveils 46-feet statue of M.K.O Abiola Joseph Inokotong, Abuja Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday unveiled a 46-feet statue of Nigeria’s symbol of democracy and adjudged winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), expressing optimism that the monument will forever crystallize what he stood for in his lifetime.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the unveiling of the statue at the MKO Abiola Garden in Alapere, Ketu said it was in the tradition of the State Government to recognise and remember heroes and heroines who contributed to the greatness of the nation and the State in particular, adding that MKO Abiola deserves the best from the State as Lagos was his success story.

Alluding to the fact that a statue was previously sited at the location, the Governor said that his administration decided

l l

Says monument’ll forever preserve his legacy, greatness We’re eternally grateful, family tells Lagos Gov

to erect bigger statues for MKO Abiola and late Rights Activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi to properly situate their immense contribution to nation building.

A stated issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, quoted the governor as saying “There was a statue done by my predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola but in the divine world, some things are more glorious than what you think and so we decided at the end of 2016 that we should do bigger statues for Chief Gani Fawehinmi and MKO Abiola since almost everybody passing and entering Lagos go through this particular Ojota axis and so we started late in 2016 that we should build something bigger and so it took us about a year to do this. By the time we did the one for Gani to celebrate his posthumous birthday on April 22, we also agreed that

we should unveil that of MKO Abiola today, June 12.

“But just as if God has a way of crowning all efforts to mark the 25th Anniversary of June 12, our President, President Muhammadu Buhari has deemed it fit to give our own MKO Abiola the highest honour in the land, GCFR and that is why we believe strongly that your presence here is not just for this statue but it is also historic which we would always remember in the annals of the history and politics of this country that sooner than later, there would be one day we would mark as MKO Abiola Day. “We are very happy to gather here today at the MKO Abiola garden to unveil this statue, a monument that will forever crystallize his legacy, serves as a reminder to the greatness that Chief Abiola represents in our

socio-political landscape.”

According to the statement, he described MKO Abiola as a man who transcended race, tribe and religion, adding that the late philanthropist appealed to all Nigerians who voted massively for him during the 1993 Presidential election.

“Sadly, he lost his life trying to secure his mandate. Even though he was from another State, Lagos was his home. And we recognize his contribution to our State and our democracy,” Governor Ambode said.

Responding on behalf of the family, MKO Abiola’s son, Abdul Mumuni Abiola thanked Governor Ambode and the Lagos State Government for the honour done the Abiola family, saying the statue was indeed befitting to honour his late father.

“God is great. I heard about this statue six months ago and

I was called to come and see it and when I got here, I saw a statue of three-storey building.

This is indeed massive. The family of late MKO Abiola really appreciates this and we want to thank the Governor,” Abdul Mumuni said.

He also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the posthumous award conferred on his father and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day, as well as the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for standing solidly behind the struggle.

“We thank the President for doing what he did. This statue was planned before the President did what he did and so we want to thank Governor Ambode for this,” he added.

Governor Ambode, who earlier spoke at a symposium

PIX 0068/0067: The new Chief M.K.O Abiola Statue, unveiled by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Alapere, Ketu. . . on Tuesday

Gov Obaseki hails Abiola, CSOs, others Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has hailed the federal government’s decision to recognise the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, noting that the gesture restores hope in democratic ideals.

In a statement, the

governor said that the declaration is a turning point in Nigeria’s history as it recognises the yearnings of Nigerians for democratic society, which the struggle of Chief MKO Abiola and other civil society organisations symbolizes.

According to him, “On behalf of the good people of Edo State, I salute the

wisdom and courage of President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognising and declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day to honour Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential elections.

“The president’s declaration is a watershed in our political history, an answer to the yearnings

of millions of Nigerians and honour for the sacrifices of the actors, who fought tirelessly for the actualization of his mandate and the return of power to the people.

“I join millions of Nigerians to celebrate this day and wish all lovers of democracy a Happy Democracy Day.”

He expressed appreciation to the president for the step taken in recognising the import of the day and struggles of pro-democracy groups, noting, “the sacrifices made by actors in the polity to sustain the ideals of democracy are responsible for the growth and development we have today.”

held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television in Ikeja to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the June 12, 1993 election, paid glowing tributes to other comrades who led the struggle from the front including Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Ambassador Walter Carrington, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, Chief Frank Kokori, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Mr. Wale Oshun, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and other Nigerians and Civil Society Organisations, Trade and Labour unions.

“We also pay glowing tribute to the beautiful memories of patriots such as Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Michael Enahoro, Chief Alfred Rewane, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti, General Adeyinka Adebayo and several others including innocent ordinary Nigerians, young and old who were murdered in cold blood on the streets of Lagos and in other major cities of Nigeria.

Today, we declare that their sacrifice has not been in vain,” he said.

The Governor commended Asiwaju Tinubu for being the pioneer Governor to declare public holiday on June 12 throughout his tenure in office as well as Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) for his steadfastness in upholding the tradition, saying that the occasion attests to their visionary leadership.

Speaking on the theme: “Restructuring: Antidote For Efficient And Effective Polity,” guest lecturer, Dr. Dele Ashiru of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), called for the amendment of the Constitution to ensure removal of provisions which inhibit successful running of functional system, especially revenue sharing formula which he said must be by derivation, among others.

He also said considering the strategic importance of Lagos to the country, special attention must be given to the State, adding: “The Federal Government must wake up and pay Lagos adequately from the national resource so that the State can continue to play the role it had been playing in the country.”

He described Lagos as a model and mega city not only in Africa but the world, and as such all hands must be on deck to work for its sustenance.

Also, Chairman of June 12 Coalition, Comrade Linus Okoroji commended the Lagos State Government for sustained commitment to the June 12 struggle which had yielded fruits with the recent declaration of the day as Democracy Day in Nigeria and recognition of MKO Abiola as GCFR.

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Philanthropist renovates 17 police stations, donates 100 bags of cement Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki An Enugu-based philanthropist, Chief Ejikeme Odumegwu, yesterday, revealed that he has renovated 17 police stations across Enugu state in the past one year.

Odumegwu disclosed this to newsmen at the end of state’s Police-Community Relations Committee (PCRC) meeting, where he also donated 100 bags of cement for the PCRC UltraModern Building Project at the Police Headquarters in Enugu.

He promised to deploy resources to the renovation of 47 police stations in the state, noting that he wanted to leave a legacy in security sector of the country.

Odumegwu, a real estate merchant, emphasized that security should be every body’s business because without security, business and economic investments would not flourish.

He stressed that there should be a strong collaboration between members of the public and the security agencies especially the police.

On his motivation, he said all well-meaning Nigerians who appreciate the importance of

security, must assist the present Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to succeed `because to police a populous nation like Nigeria is not a tea party’.

“But it is very interesting that we join hands with the police, if we really know what security means in our lives; we must join hands with the police to give

them the enabling environment.

“And with that enabling environment, we can now challenge or question them when they go into misconduct.

So, I am still ready to do more, if God provides the resources,” Odumegwu said.

According to him, there are areas where he is building new police station or posts; like now,

I just finished building one police station in Ette in Igboeze North Local Government Area.

“My projects are still ongoing. My promise is to renovate the whole police stations we have in Enugu state.

“At present, I am handling the renovation of building at the police headquarters where the Commissioner of Police

stays; I have already chosen to do this type of work and that is my token contribution to the development of security in Enugu State and Nigeria,” he said.

Odumegwu, also Special Assistant to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state on Mobilisation, noted that “if the police is to go on strike for one

day, you and l cannot come out’’.

“If a councillor should be given a new brand car with functional air-conditioner, and earns about N100,000 per month, think about it yourself, how much does a police man earn and few facilities that are attached to his or her office,’’ he said.

Sales rep in court over alleged criminal breach of trust

The police on Tuesday docked a 20-year-old sales representative, Favour Eseigbe in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court over alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Eseigbe, who resides at Lugbe in Abuja, is facing a two-count charge.

The Prosecutor, Ifeoma Ukahga, told the court that the matter was reported

by Blessing Omoagbor of Utako in Abuja at Utako Police Station on April 30.

Ukagha said the defendant, who worked as sales representative in Omoagbor’s shop, could not give satisfactory account of the N158, 535 kept in her care.

The prosecutor added that N90,000 was found in the possession of the defendant during investigation.

She said the offence contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, denied committing the offences and the judge, Inuwa Maiwada, granted him bail in the sum of N70,000 with one surety in like sum.

Maiwada said the surety must produce valid identification card and adjourned the case until Aug. 18, for hearing.

Front Row: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (2nd R), flanked by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah Retd (2nd L), Fed. House of Reps. member for KolokumaOpokuma/Yenagoa Federal Constituency, Hon. Douye Diri (L), his counterpart representing Ogbia Federal Constituency, Sodaguo Festus-Omoni (behind the Governor), and the State Commissioner for Trade, Investment & Industry, Mrs Funkazi Koroye-Crooks (R), pose for a group photograph with members of the newly inaugurated Bayelsa Youth Entrepreneur Network, shortly after the inauguration ceremony, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

Photo by Michael Owi.

Ambassador calls for mutual devt from China-Congo cooperation Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, Ma Fulin, says China is ready to cooperate with the Republic of Congo and other African nations in efforts to achieve common development and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

“The lasting cooperation between China and the Republic of Congo primarily lies in mutual political trust.

“The two countries have been maintaining close highlevel exchanges since forging diplomatic ties and in 2016,

the two sides decided to upgrade the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

“The Republic of Congo has been exploring a development path befitting its national conditions and highly recognises China’s development path, which enables the two nations continue deepening their cooperation in various fields,’’ said Ma. According to him, China and the Republic of Congo enjoy strong economic

complementarities, and that both countries have a vision and needs for common development.

“The Republic of Congo has been cooperating closely with China and seen a number of projects completed in the country, such as China-Congo Friendship Hospital and No.1 National Road,’’ Ma said.

He also mentioned that the Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa (BSCA), a co-funded bank established by China and the Republic of Congo, is called “Congolese people’s

own commercial bank” locally.

Ma stressed that ChinaCongo cooperation, which sticked to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith in China’s African policy, was an important part of ChinaAfrica cooperation.

He added that the target of cooperation between China and Africa was to realise common development and build new patterns of international relationship,as well as a community with a

shared future for humanity.

“China does not interfere with other nation’s internal affairs and aims to achieve mutual respect in cooperation.

“Meanwhile, China also focuses on the need of African nations in their respective development agenda,’’ he said.

Ma also expressed his belief that the upcoming summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to be held in Beijing in September, will inject new impetus for future cooperation between China and Africa. (Xinhua/NAN)

Abia Assembly urges agency to intensify HIV/AIDS campaign in rural areas The Deputy Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Mr Cosmos Ndukwe, has called for massive sensitisation on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and infant mortality in rural areas.

Ndukwe made the call in Umuahia on Tuesday while receiving Dr Ajike Kalu, the Project Director, Abia State

Agency for the Control of HIV/ AIDS (ABSACA) in the assembly.

The deputy speaker said he had painstakingly observed the programmes of ABSACA and felt that the intervention of the agency would be much felt in the hinterland.

He said that the Bill on Stigmatization of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS was receiving

accelerated hearing in the assembly.

Ndukwe urged the populace not to be afraid of revealing their status assuring them that it was not a death sentence.

The deputy speaker said the virus was better handled if detected early and not when it had spread to AIDS and could no longer be managed.

Earlier, Kalu said the agency was tirelessly working towards ensuring that the HIV/AIDS prevalence was drastically reduced.

According to him, the last survey indicates that the level of prevalence in the state has dropped from 7 per cent to 3.9 per cent.

The project director however,

appealed to the assembly to expedite passage of the bill on stigmatisation of persons living with HIV/AIDS. He saluted the partnership between the agency and Vicar Hope Foundation, a nongovernmental organization that is impacting massively on the healthcare delivery system in the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

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I,I,formerly formerlyknown knownand andaddressed addressed as as mIss mIss nwatU nwatU modesta modesta nkechI, nkechI, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as mrs mrs nwobodo nwobodo modesta modesta nkechI. nkechI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote. note.

mrs mrsanyadIeGwU anyadIeGwUmaUreen maUreen

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressedas asmIss mIssaneke anekemaUreen maUreen onyInyechI, onyInyechI, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as mrs mrs anyadIeGwU anyadIeGwUmaUreen maUreenonyInyechI. onyInyechI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

mrs mrsakUnne akUnneolIVIa olIVIa

mesIoye mesIoyeayIsat ayIsat

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as abdUlateef abdUlateef ayIsat ayIsat omowUnmI omowUnmI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known called called and and addressed addressed as as mesIoye mesIoye ayIsat ayIsat omowUnmI. omowUnmI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

obI obIlynda lynda

formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as onUoha onUoha lynda lynda chIdImma, chIdImma, now now wIsh wIsh to tobe beknown knownand andaddressed addressed as as obI obI lynda lynda chIdImma. chIdImma. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc take take note. note.

chUkwU chUkwUnwamaka nwamaka

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as chUkwU chUkwU nwamaka nwamaka pp now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as chUkwU chUkwU nwamaka nwamaka patIence. patIence. former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId ValId General General pUblIc pUblIc take take note. note.

patrIck patrIckchIbUeZe-eVarIstUs chIbUeZe-eVarIstUs

I,I,formerly formerlyknown knownand andaddressed addressed as as patrIck patrIck eVarIstUs, eVarIstUs, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as patrIck patrIck chIbUeZe-eVarIstUs. chIbUeZe-eVarIstUs. my my correct correctdate dateof ofbIrth bIrthIsIs3rd 3rdJUly JUly 1992.

1992. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaInValId. ValId.banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIcshoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

mrs mrsoZechI oZechInGoZI nGoZI

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressedas asmIss mIssedeh edehnGoZI nGoZI marIa, marIa,now nowwIsh wIshto tobe beknown known and andaddressed addressedas asmrs mrsoZechI oZechI nGoZI nGoZI marIa. marIa. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIcshoUld shoUldplease please take takenote. note.

nGene nGenemodesta modesta

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as nGene nGene modesta modesta adanna, adanna,now nowwIsh wIshto tobe beknown known and and addressed addressed as as nGene nGene modesta modesta benedeth. benedeth. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please please take takenote. note.

confIrmatIon confIrmatIonof ofname name

21 Companies Registration

dIpeolU dIpeolUolUwatosIn olUwatosIn

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as chUkwUma chUkwUma olUwatosIn olUwatosIn Imoleayo Imoleayo now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known called called and and addressed addressed as as dIpeolU dIpeolU olUwatosIn olUwatosIn deborah. deborah. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId.General GeneralpUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

aIbUedefe aIbUedefemercy mercy

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as samson samson mercy mercy now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as aIbUedefe aIbUedefe mercy mercy Itohan.

Itohan. my my correct correct date date of of bIrth bIrth IsIs 9/9/1986.

9/9/1986. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

oGaleye oGaleye emmanUel emmanUel

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as oGaleye oGaleye emmanUel emmanUel bIdemI bIdemI ,, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as oGaleye oGaleye emmanUel emmanUeldImeJI. dImeJI. all allformer formerdocUment docUmentremaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote. note.

okwor okworchInelo chInelo

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as UZoUkwU UZoUkwU chInelo, chInelo, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as okwor okwor chInelo. chInelo. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIcshoUld shoUldplease please take takenote. note.

mrs mrsoJImba oJImbacordelIa cordelIa

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as mIss mIss mbadUGha mbadUGha cordelIa cordelIa nkIrU, nkIrU, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as mrs mrs oJImba oJImba cordelIa cordelIa nkIrU. nkIrU. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. anambra anambra state state UnIVersal UnIVersal basIc basIc edUcatIon, edUcatIon, board, board, asUbed asUbed awka, awka, banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIcshoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

oma omaonyebUchI onyebUchI

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as omah omah onyebUchI onyebUchI .o. .o. and and onyebUchI onyebUchI omah omah nwalI nwalI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as oma oma onyebUchI onyebUchI nwalI. nwalI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

addItIon addItIonof ofname name

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as mIss mIss anyaoGU anyaoGU olIVIa olIVIa chInonso, chInonso, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as mrs mrs akUnne akUnne olIVIa olIVIa chInonso. chInonso. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote. note.

thIs thIsIsIsto tocertIfy certIfyand andconfIrm confIrmthat that edeh edehIJeoma IJeomaflorence florence and andflorence florence IJeoma IJeomaodaGU odaGUrefers refersas asone oneand andthe the same sameperson personnow nowwIsh wIshto tobe beknown known and and addressed addressed as as florence florence IJeoma IJeoma odaGU. odaGU. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIcshoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

that that I I was was formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as alI alI patIence, patIence, that that I I now nowwIsh wIshto toadd addataye atayeto tomy myformer former name namethat thatI Inow nowwIsh wIshto tobe beknown known and andaddressed addressedas asalI alIpatIence patIenceataye. ataye. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenotes. notes.

eZeakacha eZeakachaemmanUela emmanUela

GanIyU GanIyU saIbU saIbU formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as GanIyU GanIyU yakUbU to be be yakUbU now now wIsh wIsh to known known and and addressed addressed as as GanIyU GanIyU saIbU. saIbU. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId, ValId, General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote. note.

formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as eZekIel eZekIel ImarhIaGbe ImarhIaGbeJUlIUs. JUlIUs.now nowwIsh wIshto to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as ImarhIaGbe ImarhIaGbe osemwenGIe osemwenGIe JUlIUs. JUlIUs. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId, ValId, General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote note

formerly formerlyknown knownand andaddressed addressed as as eZeakacha eZeakacha emmanUella, emmanUella, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as eZeakacha eZeakacha emmanUela emmanUela mmasIchUkwU. mmasIchUkwU. all all former formerdocUments docUmentsremaIn remaInValId ValId General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please please take takenote. note.

THE BIBLE STUDY INITIATIVE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004.

TRUSTEES ARE: (1) ALLI, ADUNGBO OLADAPO ----CHAIRMAN (2) BRANCO, JOSEPHINE S. --------MEMBER (3) OLA, GABRIEL GIBSON AKINKUNMI ----MEMBER (4) ALLI, OLUWATOBI ORITSEWEY --- MEMBER (5) IHEANACHO, MICHAEL UCHE ----- SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (1) PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF BIBLE STUDIES AND TEACHING OF SAME. (2) TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN NIGERIA AND BEYOND. (3) CONDUCT WEEKLY, MONTHLY AND ANNUAL SEMINARS, CONFERENCES AND BIBLE STUDY SUMMITS. (4) TO ESTABLISH BIBLE TRAINING CENTRES. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ABOVE INTENT TO REGISTER THIS ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION , PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, P.M.B 198, MAITAMA , ABUJA , F.C.T WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MICHAEL UCHE IHEANACHO, ESQ.

ImarhIaGbe ImarhIaGbeosemwenGIe osemwenGIe

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free space

free space

oladosU oladosUolaIde olaIde

correctIon correctIonof ofname name my my name name was was wronGly wronGly wrItten wrItten on on some some of of my my docUments docUments as as paUl paUl ekele ekele onyebUchI onyebUchI Instead Instead of of paUl paUl alVIn alVIn dUrU. dUrU. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as abah abah comfort comfort oJochenemI oJochenemI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known knowncalled calledand andaddressed addressed as as onyemachUkwU onyemachUkwU comfort comfort oJochenemI. oJochenemI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as ayansIJI ayansIJI olaIde olaIde ayokUnmI ayokUnmI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known knowncalled calledand andaddressed addressed as as oladosU oladosU olaIde olaIde ayokUnmI. ayokUnmI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc take takenote. note.

abdUlyekeen abdUlyekeenolatUnde olatUnde

II formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as olatUnde olatUnde yekInI yekInI and and abdUlyekeen abdUlyekeen olatUnde olatUnde now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known called called and andaddressed addressedas as abdUlyekeen abdUlyekeen olatUnde olatUnde abIodUn. abIodUn. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General GeneralpUblIc pUblIctake takenote note

mrs. mrs.adeJoJU adeJoJUoke oke

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as, as, mIss. mIss. erUfIotoVwe erUfIotoVweoke okerIta, rIta,now nowwIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as, as, mrs. mrs. adeJoJU adeJoJU oke oke rIta. rIta. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld take takenote. note.

mrs mrseUGenIa eUGenIaobIaGelI obIaGelI

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as mIss mIss eUGenIa eUGenIa obIaGelI obIaGelI nnaJI, nnaJI, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as mrs mrs eUGenIa eUGenIa obIaGelI obIaGelI orUrUo. orUrUo. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId.banks banksand andGeneral GeneralpUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUldplease pleasetake takenote. note.

okoh okohcynthIa cynthIa

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as okoh okoh cynthIa cynthIa obInaUJU, obInaUJU, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known and and addressed addressed as as okoh okoh cynthIa cynthIa nGoZI. nGoZI. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please please take take note. note.

ofoeZIe ofoeZIeJUlIet JUlIet

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and addressed addressed as as aGbo aGbo JUlIet JUlIet onyInye, onyInye,now nowwIsh wIshto tobe beknown known and and addressed addressed as as ofoeZIe ofoeZIe JUlIet JUlIet onyInye. onyInye. all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please please take takenote. note.

loss lossof ofdocUment docUment

thIs thIsIsIsto toInform Informthe theGeneral GeneralpUblIc pUblIcof of loss loss of of orIGInal orIGInal land land docUments. docUments. reG. reG. as as no. no. 36/36/958 36/36/958 atat the the land land reGIstry reGIstry enUGU, enUGU,belonGInG belonGInGto tobenedIct benedIct.n. .n.nnolIm. nnolIm. the theland landsItUated sItUatedatatno no77onyUIke onyUIkestreet, street, oGUI oGUIn/layoUt n/layoUtenUGU. enUGU.all alleffort effortof oftrace trace the thesaId saIddocUment docUmenthas hasproVed proVedabortIVe. abortIVe. IfIffoUnd foUndplease pleasecontact contactthe themInIstry mInIstryof of lands landsand andUrban UrbandeVelopment. deVelopment.

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) SAIBU ELIZABETH AYEGBEGIE .PRESIDENT (2) LEWIS SERAPHINA IKHUOGIA. (3) SAIBU THOMAS. SECRETARY AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGES 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. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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UkwUoma UkwUoma Joana Joana FATAI BASIRAT

onyemachUkwU onyemachUkwUcomfort comfort

mIss. mIss.adesanya adesanya olUwakemI olUwakemI OLAJIDE AFOLASHADE

formerly formerly known known and and IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS addressed addressed as as onyeUGo onyeUGo MY NAME WAS WRITTEN AS (ACCOUNT DETAILS) FATAI VIVIan, VIVIan, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be TOYIN (BVN). NOW WISH TO known known and and addressed addressed as as BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UkwUoma UkwUoma Joana Joana nGoZI. nGoZI. all all FATAI BASIRAT TOYIN. I AM THE ONE BEARING ALL THE NAMES. former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ALL DOCUMENTS BEARING THE ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc take take NAMES ARE VALID, pUblIc GENERAL note. note. TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE. PUBLIC

formerly formerly known known and and I FORMERLY KNOWN AND addressed addressed AS as as ARIYAYO mrs. mrs. alIo alIo ADDRESSED olUwakemI olUwakemIadepeJU, adepeJU, now nowwIsh wIsh FOLASHADE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED to to be be known known and and addressed addressed AS OLAJIDE AFOLASHADE as as mIss. mIss. adesanya adesanya olUwakemI olUwakemI OLUWATOYIN. ALL FORMER adepeJU. adepeJU. all all former former DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE. General General pUblIc pUblIctake takenote. note.

confIrmatIon confIrmatIonof ofname name DOUTIMARIYE BOMIAYE

mrs mrsalobo alobo Ukamaka Ukamaka TEMITOPE OMODARASIMI I,I, formerly formerly known known and and I FORMERLY KNOWN AND addressed addressed as as mIss mIss onyeka onyeka ADDRESSED AS DAUDA Ukamaka, Ukamaka, OMODARASIMI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be TEMITOPE known known and and addressed addressed as mrs mrs NOW WISH TO BE KNOWNas AND ADDRESSED AS OLABANJI alobo alobo Ukamaka.

Ukamaka. all all former former TEMITOPE OMODARASIMI. ALL docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN and and General General pUblIc shoUld VALID, GENERALpUblIc PUBLICshoUld TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE. please pleasetake take note. note.

I,I, amaechI amaechI odochI odochI nwadImkpa, nwadImkpa, UGwUmole UGwUmole IodochI FORMERLY KNOWN ANDodochI odochI nwadImkpa, nwadImkpa, amaechI amaechI odochI ADDRESSED BERNARD honshell, honshell, odochI odochIAS amaechI amaechI honshell, honshell, and and ELIZABETH ANTHONIA NOW honshell honshell odochI odochI nwadImkpa, nwadImkpa, refer refer to to WISH TO BE KNOWN AND one one and and same same person person bUt, bUt, now now wIsh wIsh to to ADDRESSED AS BENJAMES be be known known and and addressed addressed as, as, honshell honshell ELIZABETH ANTHONIA. ALL odochI odochInwadImkpa. nwadImkpa. all allformer formerREMAIN docUments docUments FORMER DOCUMENTS VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TOtake remaIn remaInValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld take PLEASE TAKE NOTE. note note

UdeInya UdeInyacha cha ADENIKE KATE

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and I FORMERLYas KNOWN AND addressed addressed as Ude Ude chIoma, chIoma, ADDRESSED AS AINA ADENIKE now now wIsh wIsh to to be be known known KATE NOW WISH TO BE and and addressed addressed as as UdeInya UdeInya KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS cha cha cha. cha.ADENIKE all all KATE. former former ADELODUN ALL docUments docUments remaIn remaInREMAIN ValId. ValId. FORMER DOCUMENTS General General pUblIc pUblIcPUBLIC shoUld shoUld VALID GENERAL TO PLEASEtake TAKEnote.

NOTE. please please take note.

JecInta JecInta chIkodI chIkodI ILORI FOLAKE

I,I, formerly formerly known known and and I FORMERLY KNOWN AND addressed addressed as asASeZe eZe JecInta JecInta ADDRESSED MISS chIkodI, chIkodI, now now wIsh wIsh BUKOLA to to be be GBAIYEGUN FOLAKE known known and and addressed addressed as as NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND JecInta JecInta chIkodI chIkodI onah. onah. ILORI all all ADDRESSED AS MRS FOLAKE BUKOLA. ALL FORMER former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General GENERAL PUBLIC please TO PLEASE pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please take take TAKE NOTE. note. note.

mrs mrs onwUbUalIlI onwUbUalIlI chIZoba chIZoba BAKARE FUNMILAYO

I,I,I FORMERLY formerly formerly known known and and KNOWN AND addressed addressed as mIss mIss nwaoGU nwaoGU ADDRESSEDas AS BAKARE FUNMILAYO NOW chIZoba chIZoba dorIs, dorIs,TOYOSI now now wIsh wIsh to to be be WISH and TO KNOWNas known known and BE addressed addressed asAND mrs mrs ADDRESSED AS onwUbUalIlI onwUbUalIlI chIZoba chIZobaBAKARE dorIs. dorIs. FUNMILAYO AYOMIDE . ALL all all former former docUments docUmentsREMAIN remaIn remaIn FORMER DOCUMENTS VALID,General GENERAL PUBLIC TO ValId. ValId. General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld PLEASE TAKE NOTE. please please take take note. note.

eJIde adeyInka adeyInka JOY eJIde DOUTIMARIYE

II formerly formerly known known and and I FORMERLY KNOWN AND addressed addressed as as ebUnolUwa ebUnolUwa ADDRESSED AS MISS ADONKIE adeyInka adeyInka keJI. keJI. E.now now wIsh wIsh to to DOUTIMARIYE JOY BOMIAYE NOW WISH and TO BEaddressed KNOWN AND be be known known and addressed as as ADDRESSED ASkeJI MRS PARYS JOY eJIde eJIde adeyInka adeyInka keJI . .all all former former DOUTIMARIYE BOMIAYE ALL docUments docUments remaIn remaInREMAIN ValId. ValId. FORMER DOCUMENTS General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld please VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC please SHOULD take take note notePLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ome omemmesomachUkwU mmesomachUkwU CHIOKWE BLESSING

I,I,formerly formerlyknown knownand andaddressed addressed I FORMERLY KNOWN AND as as alI-ome alI-ome AS mmesomachUkwU mmesomachUkwU ADDRESSED ONYEAKA theodora, theodora, now now wIsh wIsh to be be BLESSING IJEOMA NOW to WISH TO BE addressed KNOWN AND known known and and addressed as as ome ome ADDRESSED AS CHIOKWE mmesomachUkwU mmesomachUkwU theodora. theodora.

BLESSING IJEOMA. ALL all all former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN ValId. ValId. banks banks and and General General pUblIc pUblIc VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKEtake NOTE. shoUld shoUld please please take note. note.

mrs mrsIZUeke IZUekeloretta loretta BABATUNDE TAIWO

I,I,I FORMERLY formerly formerlyKNOWN known known and and AND addressed addressed as mIss asoGwa asoGwa ADDRESSEDas AS mIss TAIWO BISOLA IGBARA ,chInwe, NOW WISH TO BE to loretta loretta chInwe, now now wIsh wIsh to KNOWN AND ADDRESSED be be known known and and addressed addressed as as AS BABATUNDE TAIWO mrs mrs IZUeke IZUeke loretta loretta chInwe. chInwe.

TEMILOLUWA, ALL FORMJER all all former former docUments docUments DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc TAKE NOTE. shoUld shoUld please pleasetake takenote. note.

mrs mrsIGwe IGwe nGoZI nGoZI BOLAJI NIYI

I,I,I FORMERLY formerly formerlyKNOWN known known and and AND addressed addressed as mIss anakor anakor ADDRESSEDas AS mIss ADENIYI LATEEF BOLAJI NOW nGoZI nGoZI brIdGet, brIdGet, now now wIsh wIsh to to be be WISH TO BEaddressed KNOWN AND known known and and addressed as as mrs mrs ADDRESSED AS BOLAJI NIYI IGwe IGwe nGoZI nGoZIbrIdGet. brIdGet. all allformer former OWOLABI. ALL FORMER docUments docUments remaIn remaIn ValId. ValId. banks banks DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE and and General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld TAKE NOTE. please please take takenote. note.

sanya sanya olayIwola olayIwola AMUTA ABAH

formerly formerly known known and and THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT address address as as olayInka olayInka VIyInnU VIyInnU BENEDICT AMUTA, ABBA sanya. sanya. now now wIsh wIsh AND to to be be know know BENEDICT AMUTA BEN AMUTA ABAH REFER and and addressed addressed as asTO SAME sanya sanya PERSON, AND NOW WISH TOall BE olayIwola olayIwola bababUnmI. bababUnmI. all KNOWN AND ADDRESSED BEN former former docUments docUments remaIn remaIn AMUTA ABAH. ALL FORMER ValId. ValId. General General pUblIc pUblIc shoUld shoUld DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC please please take take note. note.TAKE NOTE.

SONS OF MARY MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP CONGREGATION 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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. MARTIN CHINEDU EZEOKORONKWO 2. CAJETAN CHIZOBA AGU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACROSS NATIONS. 2. TO PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER TO ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND DOWNTRODDEN IN SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SYNTEGRAL LP

Companies Registration 22 AGLOW FAITH CHURCH WORLD WIDE (CAC/IT/NO 20547) THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF NAME AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 CHANGE OF NAME AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION OLD NAME: AGLOW FAITH CHURCH WORLD WIDE TO: NEW: FAITH FIRE AGLOW INTERNATIONAL CHURCH TRUSTEES , AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO REFLECT THE NEW NAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE AND AMENDMENT SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

MAXWELL OPARA CHARITY FOUNDATION

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

THE WANDERING CHILD REFORM INITIATIVE

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. SHAIBU AHMED LAWAN 2. MUSTAPHA GREMA 3. USMAN AHMAD GEIDAM 4. IBRAHIM AAMIN KADI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROVIDE HOME FOR WANDERING CHILDREN AND LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY AND TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL 2 TO PROVIDE FREE VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC TRAINING TO THE WANDERING CHILDREN TO ENABLE THEM SUSTAIN THEMSELVES. 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

GRACELAND INT’L GOSPEL 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.

OPARA MAXWELL CHIBUIKE -CHAIRMAN 2.

MRS. OPARA-MAXWELL NNENNA BELINDA -SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY WORK AND CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY. 2. TO ASSIST THE NEEDY, ORPHANS AND THE DOWN TRODDEN IN THE SOCIETY. 3.

TO ORGANIZE CHARITY EVENTS, TALK SHOW, CONFERENCES, SEMINARS FOR THE ORPHANS, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUTHS IN THE SOCIETY. 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. AGUGOESI VICTOR 08035757908

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.

PASTOR ANTHONY CHUKWUDI OGARAKU -CHAIRMAN 2.

EVANG. FORTUNE ANTHONY CHUKWUDI -SECRETARY 3.

JOHN OSAGHOMHEN EHIKIOYA -CLERGY 4.

BRO CHIDI EKEZIE -MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS ALL MANKIND. 2.

TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY ACTIVITIES 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CS NOMINEES 08023246493

VOICE TO THE VOICELESS OUTREACH MINISTRY

UWABO OSEMWOTA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR SAMUEL IBHAFIDON CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR (MRS) MARIA IBHAFIDON SECRETARY 3. EVANGELIST UDABOR AKHERE LESLIE TREASURER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

WE THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF BANKOLE IS NOTIFYING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AGAIN THAT ACCORDING TO A COPY OF THE COURT JUDGEMENT DATED JANUARY 25TH, 2018 THAT OUR SON - MR OLUWAGBEMIGUN BANKOLE AND HIS PARTNER MR BABATUNDE AKINDE AKINLAGUN WERE SENTENCED FOR THE CRIME OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND HOMOSEXUALITY ACT. THE SENTENCE WAS IN ABSENTIA OF MR. BABATUNDE AKINDE AKINLAGUN AND OUR SON OLUWAGBEMIGUN HAS BEEN REMANDED IN CUSTODY. MR. AKINLAGUN IS STILL ABSCONDING AND WANTED TO BE TAKING TO PRISON WHILE A COURT WARRANT OF ARREST HAS BEEN ISSUED ON HIM. WE STILL NEED THE GENERAL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO HELP US APPREHEND MR. AKINLAGUN AND IF YOU HAVE ANY USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUT, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE HEAD OF BANKOLE’S FAMILY CHIEF AMROS OLAOLUWA BANKOLE ON THIS TELEPHONE NUMBER ( 07062633809) OR HAND HIM OVER TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION AS WE ARE OFFERING A BIG REWARD FOR HIS ARREST.

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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. ROMEN AVE MARIA CHAIRPERSON 2. ISAAC EKE OSAKPOLO SECRETARY 3. OSAGIE ANTHONY OSEMWOTA TREASURER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY 2. TO PROMOTE THE EDO LANGUAGE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

KEMI REMI-DAIRO HEARING FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. KEMI REMI-DAIRO - CHAIRMAN 2. REMI DAIRO - SECRETARY 3. DR. JOHN OJO 4. INNOCENT DANIELS 5. AMINAT ADEYEMI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY. 2. TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS. 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. SIGNED: VINCENT ODJE, ESQ 08092423133, 08031113411

EGS 81 EMINENT AMBASSADORS 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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. AJAYI ESEIWI EZEGAEGBE 2. ITULUA DAVID EWANE WOLO 3. OKOROR FRIDAY AGIMELEN 4. ERIAKHA MATTHEW IGBAEKEMEN 5. UDEGBE EDDIE IGHODALO 6. EIMUNJEZE PIUS EHIDIAMEN AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL CULTURAL INTERACTION OF FRIENDS AND OLD SCHOOL MATES ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : PIUS EIMUNJEZE 08023135547

SHARE A THOUGHT AND EMPOWER OTHERS INITIATIVE 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.

EIGBIREMONLEN PETER O ( CO - ORDINATOR) 2. ENGR GEORGE EIMUNJEZE 3. LADY PHILOMENA O EIGBIREMONLEN 4. BARR STANLEY EKI UGHE (SECRETARY) 5. EIGBIREMONLEN PETER (JNR) AGBONMHENRE. AIM AND OBJECTIVE TO ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER THE YOUTHS AND LESS PRIVILEGED IN OUR SOCIETY. 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PATRICK UZUM LUCAS SOLICITOR

APPLE OF HIS THRONE 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 TRSUTEES: 1. DANIEL ONORUOIZA ANAZA - CHAIRMAN/G.O 2. RUTH AUDU SAMUEL - SECRETARY 3. AKANDE EYIVADA JAMES - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS TO ALL MANKIND 2. TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY ACTIVITIES. 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CS NOMINEES 08023246493

THE ROYAL SEED INTERNATIONAL BIBLE CHURCH

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.

PASTOR (MRS) OKIKERE JULIA ERIC 2.

ELDER ERIC CROWTHER CHIMKATARAM 3.

PASTOR BETIANABESHI GEORGE ASHIPU 4.

IWOWARI BLESSING UGBANA AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.

TO PEACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS 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 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

CHRIST DIVINE ARMOURY AND MIRACLE CHURCH 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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR OLANREWAJU OLUMUYIWA SAMUEL 2. MRS OLARENWAJU DUPE KEHINDE. 3. ADELAJA OLUWASEUN ELIZABETH. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2 TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

SALVATION GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY 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, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. OYENUBI BABATUNDE SEGUN - CHAIRMAN 2. OYENUBI TUNRAYO IYABO - SECRETARY 3. ADESIYAN AJIBOLA JAMES - MEMBER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED. M. O. USMAN ESQ.

okoroIwU faVoUr

I formerly known and addressed as UrsUlla okoroIwU now wIsh to be known called and addressed as okoroIwU faVoUr amarachI. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

chUkwUma eJIofor

I formerly known and addressed as UGwU chIkwesIrI eJIofor. c. now wIsh to be known called and addressed as chUkwUma eJIofor. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

mesIoye ayIsat

obI lynda

formerly known and addressed as onUoha lynda chIdImma, now wIsh to be known and addressed as obI lynda chIdImma. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

FREE SPACE

mrs akIntUnde olUwafIsayo

I, formerly known and addressed as mIss adesetan olUwafIsayo olUbUnmI now wIsh to be known and addressed as mrs akIntUnde olUwafIsayo olUbUnmI. all former docUments remaIn ValId.General pUblIc take note

chUkwU nwamaka

I, formerly known and addressed as chUkwU nwamaka p now wIsh to be known and addressed as chUkwU nwamaka patIence. former docUments remaIn ValId General pUblIc take note.

MARIAN COHORT FOUNDATION

mrs oGbUchrIstIana

patrIck chIbUeZe-eVarIstUs

I, formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and addressed asTHEmIss okonkwo chrIstIana as patrIck eVarIstUs, now wIsh GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS chUkwUlotam, now wIsh to COMMISSION be toFORbeREGISTRATION known and addressed APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS UNDER PART “C” OF as THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 2004.patrIck chIbUeZe-eVarIstUs. my known and addressed as mrs oGbUchrIstIana chUkwUlotam. correct date of bIrth Is 3rd JUly TRUSTEES ARE: 1) MRS. CECILIA docUments IBEKWE (RE - APPOINTED) all former remaIn 1992. all former docUments 2) REV. DR. MSGN. GEOFFREY OGBUENE (RE-APPOINTED) ValId. andODIMEGWU General(RE-APPOINTED) pUblIc remaIn ValId. banks and General 3) REV.banks SR. SABINA 4) BARR.please UGWUMGBOR CHINEDU shoUld take EMMANUEL note. pUblIc shoUld please take note.

5) MRS. ILO NKECHI ELIZABETH 6) MRS. PATRICIA N. OKONKWO 7) MRS. ONYIA NNEKA GERALDINE

dIpeolU olUwatosIn

free free free 23 Companies Registration

I formerly known and I formerly known and addressed as abdUlateef Daily addressed as chUkwUma Times Nigeria ayIsat omowUnmI now wIsh olUwatosIn Imoleayo now Wednesday, June to be known called and wIsh to 13, be 2018 known called addressed as mesIoye ayIsat and addressed as dIpeolU omowUnmI. all former olUwatosIn deborah. all docUments remaIn ValId. former docUments remaIn General pUblIc take note.

ValId. General pUblIc take note.

mrs nwobodo modesta

mrs oZechI nGoZI

mrs anyadIeGwU maUreen

nGene modesta

I, formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and AIMS: TO PROMOTE THEmodesta WELLBEING OF THE POOR AND LESS PRIVILEGED. as1) mIss nwatU nkechI, addressed as mIss edeh nGoZI 2) TO PROVIDE ALLROUND EMPOWERMENT ( ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND now wIsh to) TObe and ESPECIALLY marIa, now wIsh to be known HUMANITERIAN THE known GENERAL PUBLIC YOUTHS AND WOMEN. 3) TO INCULCATE CULTURE OF VALUES AND MORALITY IN CHILDREN AND addressed asTHEmrs nwobodo and addressed as YOUTHS. mrs oZechI modesta nkechI. all former marIa. all former ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BEnGoZI FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIValId. IRONSI docUments remaInAFFAIRS ValId.COMMISSION, banks PLOTdocUments remaIn STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE and General pUblIc shoUld General pUblIc shoUld please DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. please take note. take note.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

YOUTHS RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed as mIss aneke maUreen addressed as nGene modesta THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED onyInyechI, now AFFAIRS wIsh to be adanna, now wIsh to be known TO THE CORPORATE COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART’ C’ OF known and addressed mrs ACT OF and as nGene THE COMPANY AND ALLIED as MATTERS 1990 addressed . anyadIeGwU maUreen onyInyechI. modesta benedeth. all former TRUSTEES ARE; allTHE former docUments remaIn docUments remaIn ValId. 1.IGBI JAHZHIM EJIKEME - PRESIDENT ValId. banksCHIKA and- General pUblIc General pUblIc shoUld please 2. NWEKE SECRETARY shoUld please take note. take note.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES; 1) SENSITIZING THE YOUTHS ON THE ORDEALS OF SOCIAL VICES 2) ENGAGING THE YOUTHS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES mrs akUnne olIVIaINTO ACADEMIC ANDconfIrmatIon of name FOSTER PEACE, LOVE, UNITY AMONG MEMBERS I, 3) TO formerly known andAND DEVELOPMENT thIs Is to certIfy and confIrm that 4). YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS OF AGRICULTURE AND SKILL ACQUISITION addressed as SOCIAL, mIss anyaoGU edeh IJeoma florence and florence 5). TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR olIVIa chInonso, now wIsh to IJeoma odaGU refers as one and the MEMBERS

be known and addressed as same person now wIsh to be known ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE mrs akUnne olIVIa chInonso. and addressed as florence IJeoma REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS all formerOFF docUments remaIn odaGU.ABUJA all WITHIN former docUments CRESCENT, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. ValId. General pUblIc shoUld remaIn ValId. banks and General please take note. pUblIc shoUld please take note.

SIGNED: PRESIDENT

eZeakacha emmanUela GanIyU saIbU OKOKO WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH FOUNDATION

formerly known and addressed formerly known and asTHEeZeakacha emmanUella, addressed as GanIyU GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORM THAT THE ABOVE now wIshHAS to APPLIED be known and yakUbU now wIshFOR to be NAMED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION addressed asUNDER eZeakacha REGISTRATION PART ‘C’ OF known and addressed as emmanUela mmasIchUkwU. allMATTERS GanIyU saIbU.NO. all former THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED ACT, DECREE 1 OF 1990. former docUments remaIn ValId docUments remaIn ValId, TRUSTEES: General pUblIc shoUld please General pUblIc shoUld 1. FAYEMI take note. KEHINDE ASANAT please take note.

2. JIMOH OLANREWAJU KAZEEM 3. WELLINGTON ELIZABETH

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: PROMOTION OF REPRODUCTIVE AND HEALTH AND POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIETY 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 SIGNED: TRUSTEES

THE JOHN ATANDA OLUBODE FOUNDATION

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

TRUSTEE. 1. ABIODUN OLUBODE - CHAIRMAN. 2. ELIZABETH TOLULOPE SODIPO - SECRETARY. 3. ATINUKE MORIRE IYUN. AIMS: TO CARRY OUT CHARITABLE WORKS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PILOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: FRANCIS GIGI ESQ

aIbUedefe mercy

I, formerly known and addressed as samson mercy now wIsh to be known and addressed as aIbUedefe mercy Itohan. my correct date of bIrth Is 9/9/1986. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

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oladosU olaIde

correctIon of name my name was wronGly wrItten on some of my docUments as paUl ekele onyebUchI Instead of paUl alVIn dUrU. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

I formerly known and addressed as abah comfort oJochenemI now wIsh to be known called and addressed as onyemachUkwU comfort oJochenemI. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ayansIJI olaIde ayokUnmI now wIsh to be known called and addressed as oladosU olaIde ayokUnmI. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

FREE SPACE

oGaleye emmanUel

I formerly known and addressed as oGaleye emmanUel bIdemI , now wIsh to be known and addressed as oGaleye emmanUel dImeJI. all former docUment remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

abdUlyekeen olatUnde

I formerly known and addressed as olatUnde yekInI and abdUlyekeen olatUnde now wIsh to be known called and addressed as abdUlyekeen olatUnde abIodUn. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note

okwor chInelo adeJoJU oke CHRIST PERFECTION CHURCH mrs.

LIBERTY LAND

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed as UZoUkwU addressed as, FOR mIss. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAME HAS APPLIED chInelo, wIsh to AFFAIRS be COMMISSION, erUfIotoVwe rIta, now wIsh REGISTRATIONnow WITH THE CORPORATE ABUJAoke UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND MATTERS ACTas 1990. known andALLIED addressed to be known and addressed TRUSTEES. chInelo. all former okwor as, mrs. adeJoJU oke rIta. all 1. ARCH. BISHOP DR. JOEL ADENIYI O. AJIBADE docUments remaIn AYODEJI ValId. docUments remaIn 2.PASTOR JOSEPH AYANFEJESU AJIBADE former General pUblIc shoUld please ORE-OFEJESU 3. PROPHETES AJIBADE EUNICE TEMITOPE ValId. General pUblIc shoUld 4. PASTOR ODUGBEMI AFEEZ ADISA take note. take note.

5. LADY/EVANG. DEBORAH FOLASHADE DUROJAIYE 6. ELDER SHOREMEKUN MOSES ALANI 7. ELDER OLUWAFEMI AYOOLA. mrsSAMSON oJImba cordelIa

mrs eUGenIa obIaGelI

oma onyebUchI

okoh cynthIa

I,AIMS formerly known and addressed I, formerly known and AND OBJECTIVES: as mIss MEN mbadUGha cordelIa 1. TO RAISE AND WOMEN FOR CHRIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOOSING THAT IN addressed as mIss eUGenIa nkIrU, now wIsh toSATAN. be known and BONDAGE OF SIN AND obIaGelI nnaJI, now wIsh to 2.TO PLANT CHURCHES AND ENGAGE IN CHRISTIANITY MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES addressed as mrs oJImba cordelIa be known and addressed as 3.TO TRAIN IN THE BIBLE-BASED CHRISTIAN LIFE. nkIrU. allBELIEVERS former docUments mrs eUGenIa obIaGelI orUrUo. remaIn ValId. anambra state ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR all420, former docUments remaIn UnIVersal basIc edUcatIon, board, PLOT GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI ValId. and General pUblIc asUbed awka, banksABUJA and WITHIN General IROSI STREET, MAITAMA 28 DAYS OF THIS banks PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES pUblIc shoUld please take note. shoUld please take note.

WHETSTONES & MENTORS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONALknown : CAC/IT/47943 I, IVORY formerly known and I, formerly and addressed as omah onyebUchI as TOokoh THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMEDaddressed FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED CORPORATE cynthIa AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR RESIGNATION OF A TRUSTEE, ELECTION OF NEW TRUSTEES, CHANGE OF NAME OF THE FOUNDATION AND .o.AMENDMENT and onyebUchI omah nwalI obInaUJU, now be OF THE CONSTITUTION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.wIsh 1 OF 1990. to now wIsh to be known and OLD NAME: known and addressed as IVORY WHETSTONES & MENTORS FOUNDATION okoh INTERNATIONAL cynthIa nGoZI. all addressed as oma onyebUchINEW NAME: LAWRETTA EMIAKPOR OGRIH FOUNDATION docUments former remaIn nwalI. all former docUments ValId. banks and General remaIn ValId. General pUblIc OLD TRUSTEES ARE pUblIc shoUld please take 1. LAWRETTA OGRIH - RETAINED shoUld please take note.

2. BEST SOWHO ONOMERIKE - RETAINED note.

3. SAM OGRIH - RETAINED 4. FORSTINA ADIGUN - 5. RICHARD NTAN - RETAINED 6. ANUOLUWAPO ARYEE - 7. ROLAND ONOMERIKE -

UkwUoma Joana

formerly known and addressed as onyeUGo VIVIan, now wIsh to be known and addressed as UkwUoma Joana nGoZI. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

confIrmatIon of name

I, amaechI odochI nwadImkpa, UGwUmole odochI nwadImkpa, amaechI odochI honshell, odochI amaechI honshell, and honshell odochI nwadImkpa, refer to one and same person bUt, now wIsh to be known and addressed as, honshell odochI nwadImkpa. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld take note

UdeInya cha

I, formerly known and addressed as Ude chIoma, now wIsh to be known and addressed as UdeInya cha cha. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

JecInta chIkodI

I, formerly known and addressed as eZe JecInta chIkodI, now wIsh to be known and addressed as JecInta chIkodI onah. all former docUments remaIn ValId. banks and General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

onyemachUkwU comfort

mIss. adesanya olUwakemI

formerly known and addressed as mrs. alIo olUwakemI adepeJU, now wIsh to be known and addressed as mIss. adesanya olUwakemI adepeJU. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc take note.

mrs alobo Ukamaka

I, formerly known and addressed as mIss onyeka Ukamaka, now wIsh to be known and addressed as mrs alobo Ukamaka. all former docUments remaIn ValId. banks and General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

ome mmesomachUkwU

I, formerly known and addressed as alI-ome mmesomachUkwU theodora, now wIsh to be known and addressed as ome mmesomachUkwU theodora. all former docUments remaIn ValId. banks and General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

mrs IZUeke loretta

I, formerly known and addressed as mIss asoGwa loretta chInwe, now wIsh to be known and addressed as mrs IZUeke loretta chInwe. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

RETAINED

RESIGNED addItIon of name RETAINED

ofoeZIe JUlIet

that I was formerly known and I, formerly known and NEW TRUSTEES ARE addressed as -alI patIence, that I 1. RUONA DAVID OGRIH NEWLY ELECTED addressed as aGbo JUlIet 2. OREVA DESMOND OGRIH - NEWLY ELECTED now wIsh to add ataye to my former now wIsh to be known ALTERATION/AMENDMENTonyInye, OF CONSTITUTION name I now wIsh toTHEbeATTENTION knownOF THE MEMBERS TO ALTER ON THISthat ISSUE THE CHAIRMAN CALLED AND AMEND ARTICLE (5) THE BOARD OF addressed as ofoeZIe TRUSTEE: (GOVERNING BOARD) IN CLAUSE 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION and TO NOW READ; and addressed as alI patIence ataye.

JUlIet onyInye. all “SUCH TRUSTEES (HEREINAFTER REFERRED) TO AS “THE TRUSTEES” SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN TWO (2) AND NOTformer MORE THAN FIFTEEN (15) IN NUMBER AND SHALL BE KNOWN AS “THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE FOUNDATION.” all former docUments remaIn docUments remaIn ValId. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAINS THE SAME ValId. banks and General pUblIc General pUblIc shoUld ANY OBJECTION THERETO SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION,please PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF take AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. shoUld please notes. take note.

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

ImarhIaGbe osemwenGIe

loss of docUment

SONGS OF PRAISE TABERNACLE INTERNATIONAL

formerly known and thIs Is to Inform the General pUblIc of loss of orIGInal land docUments. reG. addressed as IS HEREBY eZekIel THE GENERAL PUBLIC NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY as COMMISSION no. 36/36/958FOR at the land reGIstry ImarhIaGbe JUlIUs. wIsh toAFFAIRS HAS APPLIED TO THEnow CORPORATE REGISTRATION belonGInG toACT, benedIct .n. nnolIm. beUNDER known as ANDenUGU, PARTand “C” OFaddressed THE COMPANIES ALLIED MATTERS 2004. the land sItUated at no 7 onyUIke street, ImarhIaGbe osemwenGIe JUlIUs. oGUI n/layoUt enUGU. all effort of trace NEW TRUSTEETS: all former docUments remaIn the saId docUment has proVed abortIVe. 1. ISRAEL OKECHUKWU GOSPEL ValId, General pUblIc shoUld If foUnd please contact the mInIstry of 2. ISRAEL NGOZI please take note lands and Urban deVelopment.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES ARE: PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD. WINNING SOULS FOR CHRIST. REACHING THE WORLD WITH THE WHOLE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

FIREBRAND BIBLE MINISTRY

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

mrs onwUbUalIlI chIZoba

I, formerly known and addressed as mIss nwaoGU chIZoba dorIs, now wIsh to be known and addressed as mrs onwUbUalIlI chIZoba dorIs. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

eJIde adeyInka

I formerly known and addressed as ebUnolUwa adeyInka keJI. now wIsh to be known and addressed as eJIde adeyInka keJI . all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note

mrs IGwe nGoZI

I, formerly known and addressed as mIss anakor nGoZI brIdGet, now wIsh to be known and addressed as mrs IGwe nGoZI brIdGet. all former docUments remaIn ValId. banks and General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

sanya olayIwola

formerly known and address as olayInka VIyInnU sanya. now wIsh to be know and addressed as sanya olayIwola bababUnmI. all former docUments remaIn ValId. General pUblIc shoUld please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

FOLASADE ALADESUYI

THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL THAT AYO-LAWAL OWOLABI JOSEPH AND LAWAL OWOLABI JOSEPH IS THE SAME NAME AND SAME PERSON .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE .

MY NAME WAS WRONGLY ENTERED IN MY BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER AS DUROJAYE ADENIKE SADIAT, MY CORRECT NAME IS DUROJAYE ADENIKE ALIMAT, ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ACCESS BANK PLC, OTHER BANKS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PETER ADEBISI

PETER SAMUEL

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEGBESAN ADEBISI OLAWUNMI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PETER ADEBISI OLAWUNMI ADEGBESAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEGBESAN SAMUEL OLUWASEUN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PETER SAMUEL OLUWASEUN ADEGBESAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OLABISI NJOKANMA

UKACHUKWU AMARACHI

THE TRUSTEETS 1. PASTOR (DR.) OLASEHINDE MATTHEW JIDE - PRESIDENT 2. PASTOR SALAMI BABATUNDE PETER - V/ PRESIDENT 3. PASTOR (MRS.) OLASEHINDE FELICIA BUKOLA - SECRETARY 4. BARR. ADEBAYO SHOLA JACOB - TREASURER 5. INIH BENJAMIN UDOH - P.R.O.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED 2) TO ESTABLISH BRANCHES WHENEVER CONVERTS ARE MADE FOR THE AS MISS MARGARET OLABISI AKANBI, EXPANSION OF THE GOSPEL. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND

ADDRESSED AS MRS. MARGARET ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS OLABISI NJOKANMA. ALL FORMER CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SIGNED: THOMAS ILUMAH, ESQ. SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. (SOLICITOR)

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBIALOR PROMISE AMARACHI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UKACHUKWU AMARACHI ABIGAIL. THAT MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1990. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Change of Names 24 divine dYnamiTes minisTrY 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.

The TrusTees are:1. oWoKole TemiTope vicTor 2. oWoKole adebusola adeniKe 3. oYediran aYodele emmanuel 4. oGunleYe ausTine opeYemi 5. oJo rhoda folaKe The aim and obJecTive is:To preach The Gospel of Jesus chrisT anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General, corporaTe affairs commission, ploT 420, TiGris crescenT, off aGuiYi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama disTricT, abuJa WiThin 28 daYs from The daTe of This publicaTion. siGned bY: secreTarY

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

indian aYYappa bhaKTha mandal associaTion - niGeria 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. nair Kunchupillai ramachandran - chairman 2. nandaKumar cheloor - secreTarY 3. pulicKal subramanian anilen 4. sanThosh cheruvallY veedu 5. KunneTh Govindan devi prasad 6. nair unni Krishnan 7. KaiThaYil paramesWaran nair anil Kumar 8. udaYabhanu umesh The aims and obJecTives are:1. To Teach The docTrine of hindu culTure and spiriTual TruTh To devoTees in niGeria and To Guide Their spiriTual life.

2. To orGanize various devoTional service for hindus and conducT praYer in The Temple everYdaY for The beTTermenT amonG hindus for The spiriTual uplifT in Their lives To lead a peaceful life.

3. To orGanize various chariTY acTiviTies To The local niGerian communiTY and feedinG of The poor.

4. To esTablish beTTer conTacTs beTWeen The indian communiTY in niGeria. anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar-General, corporaTe affairs commission, ploT 420, TiGris crescenT, off aGuiYi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama abuJa WiThin 28 daYs from The daTe of This publicaTion.

siGned: barr. onYianTa chielozonam .o.

siGned: secreTarY

unWon ebi irin ebon-oKWan craYfish and allied Traders associaTion

This is To noTifY The General public ThaT The above named has applied for reGisTraTion To The corporaTe affairs commission under The parT “c” of companies and allied maTTers acT 1990.

The TrusTees are; 1. marcus oTuene roWland - presidenT. 2. oGWuafi fannY mondaY - secreTarY. 3. emmanuel Grace udunG - member.

4. chimaKara marY nKaKinaan - member.

5. oWu oKaGaKemi laWrence - member.

6. Grace clinTon J. - member. aims/obJecTives; 1. To harness resources ToGeTher To fosTer The promoTion and advancemenT of fish monGers and craYfish Traders WiThin The andoni WaTerWaYs. 2. implore GloballY and convenTional accepTed medium for measuremenT of craYfishes and oTher relaTed marin producTs for marKeTinG. alloWinG safe marKeT inTeracTions beTWeen fishermen and fish Traders on The uniformiTY of TradinG on craYfish and relaTed fishinG producTs WiTh a cellophane baGs called “32 * 16” craYfish Wrap measuremenT, Which is currenTlY in use WiThin The WaTer WaYs of The niGer delTa. anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar- General, corporaTe affairs commission, ploT 420, TiGris crescenT, off aGuiYi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuJa WiThin 28 daYs of This publicaTion. siGned; marcus oTuene roWland (presidenT)

inTernaTional praYer cenTre of The World

no 20,aWara road,irri ToWn,isoKo souTh l.G.delTa sTaTe

This is To inform The General public ThaT The above named has applied To The corporaTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under parT c of The companies and allied maTTers acT 1990.

TrusTees are 1,isaac oGbeTa-G.o 2,moses oGbeTa 3, oGbeTa o.ibru-secreTarY aims and obJecTives 1,To preach The Gospel of Jesus chrisT. anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General corporaTe affairs commission,ploT 420,TiGris crescenT,off aGuYi ironsi sTreeT,maiTama abuJa WiThin 28 daYs of This publicaTion. siGned bY: G.o

mounTain of revival minisTrY

The General public is herebY informed ThaT The above-named minisTrY has applied To The corporaTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under parT “c” of The companies and allied maTTers acT of 1990.

The TrusTees are: 1. nnadi nnamdi onYeWuchi 2. herberT KaTe onYiYechi 3. onuama maria vivian 4. uba ausTin chimezie 5. ezeKWe ernesT o.

6. osanG Williams rudil 7. herberT chrisTopher nzeribe aims & obJecTive 1. To carrY on General chrisTian reliGious acTiviTY and oTher maTTers incidenTal ThereTo. 2. To collaboraTe WiTh oTher chrisTian orGanizaTions in spreadinG The Word of God WiThin and ouT side niGeria.

3. To enGaGe in missionarY WorK boTh WiThin and ouTside niGeria.

4. To enGaGe in laWful acTiviTies ThaT Gears ToWards informinG and TransforminG YouThs WiThin and ouTside niGeria.

5. To carrY ouT discipleship proGrammes, bible school, evanGelism, crusades and oTher laWful proGrammes WiThin and ouTside niGeria.

The land of vicTorY and GlorY deliverance assemblY This is To inform The General public ThaT The above named has applied To The corporaTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under parT’ c’ of The companY and allied maTTers acT of 1990 .

The TrusTees are : 1) pasTor sundaY daniel inYanG 2) lilian ime effionG

hopeland Gospel church

no 2, accord avenue,off alohan sTreeT, dumex road,benin ciTY edo sTaTe. This is To inform The General public ThaT The above named has applied To The corporaTe affairs commission abuJa for reGisTraTion under parT c of The companies and allied maTTers acT 1990.

TrusTees are 1. pius minKedo anGaGha- General overseer 2. sTanleY aYeperema- secreTarY 3. marY K. enu-Treasurer 4. peTer ebimoWe- member

aims and obJecTives To preach The Word of God anY obJecTions To The reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General corporaTe affairs commission ploT 420 TiGris crescenT off aGuiYi ironsi sTreeT maiTama abuJa WiThin 28daYs of This publicaTion. siGned: don pedro

aims and obJecTives 1,To preach The Gospel of Jesus chrisT. anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General corporaTe affairs commission,ploT 420,TiGris crescenT off aGuYi ironsi sTreeT,maiTama abuJa WiThin 28 daYs of This publicaTion. siGned bY- G.o

dan sulaimon foundaTion

This is To inform The General public ThaT The above named has applied To The corporaTe affairs commission abuJa for reGisTraTion under parT c of The companies and allied maTTers acT 1990. names of TrusTees: 1. aroYeWun sulaimon olaWale - chairman 2. duroJaiYe adeKunle seGun (esq.) - secreTarY 3. alabi omolara KiKelomo - member of The board aims/ obJecTives: 1. To provide and promoTe financial and economic empoWermenT for persons WiTh viable business ideas and vision; especiallY Women, WidoWs and enTerprisinG persons in need of such assisTance.

2. To provide inTended beneficiaries WiTh The much needed business, financial, counsellinG and vocaTional sKills acquisiTion TraininG proGrams To Thrive and excel in Their chosen businesses in TodaY’s compeTiTive marKeT. anY obJecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General corporaTe affairs commission,ploT 420,TiGris crescenT,off aGuYi ironsi sTreeT,maiTama abuJa WiThin 28 daYs of This publicaTion. siGned bY- TrusTees

mrs. obareTin eTipouembele

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as miss oKhiria eTipouembele blessinG. noW mrs. obareTin eTipouembele blessinG. former documenTs remain valid. General public TaKe noTe.

mr. oGieKpolor osasenaGa

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as mr. oGieKpolor osasenaGa. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as mr.oGieKpolor eTinosasere. former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe.

oGunmola oluseGun

onuoha vivian

i formerlY KnoWn and addressed as oGunmola oluWaseGun olorunfemi noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as oGunmola oluseGun chris . all former documenTs remain valid.

General public please TaKe noTe.

i formerlY KnoWn and addressed as ucheGbu vivian chinWendu noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as onuoha vivian chinWendu. all former documenTs remain valid.

General public please TaKe noTe.

olaniYi olusola

KuTi Jumai

nWaoGu chinWe

oreoluWa ariKe

enenche vicTor

oparaJi esTher

i formerlY KnoWn and referred To as aKinWumi olusila adeniKe noW To be called olaniYi olusola. all former documenTs sTill remain valid, General public and oTher affecTed insTiTuTion KindlY TaKe noTe

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as suleiman-arab arab Jumal. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as KuTi Jumai eniola. former documenTs remain valid.General public TaKe noTe

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as ezelu chinWe puriTY. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as nWaoGu chinWe Goodness. former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as oluKanmi oluWaToYin. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as. oreoluWa ariKe oluWaToYin former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as oloTu enenche. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as enenche vicTor/daTe of birTh 7/7/1997. former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as chiKa esTher oparaJi. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as oparaJi esTher oGadinma. former documenTs remain valid.General public TaKe noTe

iKechuKWu John

chanGe of name and correcTion of daTe of birTh

mrs samaGbeYi Tinuola

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as miss aKinWinsolu Tinuola oYinKasola. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as mrs samaGbeYi Tinuola oYinKansola. former documenTs remain valid.General public TaKe noTe

mrs oGunbanJo oluWaToYin

i formerlY miss baloGun oluWaToYin habibaT noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as mrs oGunbanJo oluWaToYin habibaT. all former documenTs remain valid. General public TaKe noTe.

bamidele abosede

formerlY KnoWn and addressed as aJaKaYe abosede olamiTan, noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as bamidele abosede olamiTan. all former documenTs remain valid. General public TaKe noTe.

mrs precious alabi

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as miss precious oboh. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as mrs precious alabi. former documenTs remain valid.General public TaKe noTe

daniel-aKhere halima

formerlY KnoWn and addressed as musa-Yamah halima modupe noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as daniel-aKhere halima modupe. all former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe.

pius beaTrice

i formerlY KnoWn and addressed as beauTY pius noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as pius beaTrice ebi. all former documenTs remain valid. General public TaKe noTe.

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as ezeKiel fridaY. noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as iKechuKWu John paul oKolie. former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

YaKub Yunus

formerlY KnoWn and address as YaKubu Yunusa abdul noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as YaKub Yunus abdul. all former documenTs remain valid. General public TaKe noTe

mohammed amadu

i formerlY KnoWn and addressed as mohammed amadu babaKarami noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as mohammed amadu. all former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe.

i formerlY KnoWn called and addressed as arinola abari . noW Wish To be KnoWn called and addressed as arinola KaYode-fadare, WronG 01/02/1973 riGhT 04/02/1973. former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

mrs abeGunde sharon

formerl KnoWn and addressed as miss babarinde sharon oluWaseYe noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as mrs abeGunde sharon oluWaseYe. all former documenTs remain valid. General public please TaKe noTe.

adeniYi samiaT

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mohammed KafaYaT

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mrs smarT onYaWeYo

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faparusi olaWunmi

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mrs olaleYe oluWaToYosi

formerlY KnoWn and addressed as elemide oluWaToYosi oluWaYemisi noW Wish To be KnoWn and addressed as mrs olaleYe oluWaToYosi oluWaYemisi. all former documenTs remain valid.

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correcTion of name

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ThaT mY correcT name is eKeKenTa dicKson. all former documenTs remain valid.

General public TaKe noTe

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

1 killed, another injured as armed men invade Gen. Malu’s home Terhemba Agee, Makurdi The Commander of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corp, Maj. Gen. John Malu, on Monday narrowly escaped death after unknown armed men dressed in Military fatigue stormed his country home in Tse Adoor, Tiir Ward, Tongov in Katsina/ Ala local government area of Benue State.

It was gathered from a family source that Gen. Malu had gone home to visit his family over the weekend when the armed gang who rode on over 30 motorbikes stormed his residence at about 6:00am shooting sporadically.

The source said “the armed men attempted to gain entrance into Malu’s house but were resisted by military personnel on guard at the house.

According to the source “the armed men got hold of a young man in the house whom they shot on the arm and asked him to lead them to where General Malu’s was.

“After that they made attempt to gain entrance into the house of Gen, Malu but were resisted by the military personnel on guard in the house.

“The gunmen got hold of somebody in the house who they shot on the arm and asked him to take them to where Gen. Malu was”.

“It was at that point that a gun battle ensued between the armed gang and the military personnel in the house. It lasted for close to an hour.

“Though reinforcement was called from Katsina/Ala, it was like a war situation, there was pandemonium, people started fleeing from the village, but luckily the military personnel overpowered the armed gang.

“While the gun battle lasted, one of the armed men was shot but his group members bundled him onto one of the bikes and fled. They left behind a gun and one of their bikes.

“As we speak, Gen. Malu has returned to Makurdi but a search for the gang members is currently ongoing.”

Confirming the incident, Gen. Malu said he was safe.

According to him, “I was in my village when armed militia gang attacked my compound. I was there to see my family.

“I slept and woke up this morning (Monday morning) only to see that they had attacked my compound shooting everywhere. But luckily I had traveled with my escort, so the soldiers were able to repel them.

“The shooting lasted over 30 minutes before they were overpowered and they fled leaving behind a pistol and a motorcycle which we recovered.

25 News

First batch of winners unveiled in Glo Go Russia promo Total Telecoms Solutions provider, Globacom, has announced the first batch of winners in its on –going GO Russia promo.

Globacom in a press statement issued in Lagos, said seven Nigerians emerged from the first draw of the promo, adding that more winners will be unveiled from the next set of draws to be conducted soon.

The lucky winners are Orewa Edwin Ehi, Aghaegbunem Marvel Chukwufumnaya, Oladunjoye Joseph Babatunde, Kome Sunny Ikpeba, Agbede Temidayo Bayodele, Adeoye Adefisoye Simon and Olugbokiki Mukail Omolola.

Eventually, 22 lucky winners will emerge from the promo and they will be beneficiaries of an all-expenses-paid trip to Russia.

The promo which runs from May 16 to July 8, 2018, is open to all new and existing Prepaid/ Postpaid customers on the Glo network nationwide.

“The GO Russia promo was unveiled to reward our amazing subscribers who have stood solidly behind the brand over the years. Their patronage and support have been overwhelming, and this was

why we launched the promo to appreciate them”, Globacom explained.

Under the GO Russia promo, a subscriber who uses N3, 000 on Voice calls or a minimum of N5, 000 on Voice and Data will qualify for a draw. However, incremental usage of N500 over N3000 for Voice or N5, 000 for Voice and Data attracts an extra entry to the draw. The more the

airtime used by subscribers, the higher the chances of winning.

Globacom, therefore, urged Nigerians to make utmost use of the opportunity provided by the promo to be part of the trip.

Interested customers can participate in the promo by sending GO to 240 on the Glo network.

Winners will be contacted by Glo Customer Care.

President Muhammadu Buhari bends down to assist Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi pick an item that fell off her during the Special National Honours Investiture in celebration of June 12.

Privatise Transmission Company of Nigeria – Economist Joseph Inokotong, Abuja An Economist has called for the privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as privatisation is the answer for the country’s quest for economic development.

He stressed that the budget and expenditure of the federal government were shrinking as such, “you don’t get saved by cyclical swings but buffers”.

Dr. Ayo Teriba, a leading Economist and the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, who said this also canvassed for Nigeria to open its economy, contending privatisation stimulates foreign direct in-flow.

He stated this when he presented a paper titled: Macroeconomic Role of privatisation on the Nigerian Economy at a one-day orientation programme for members of the Stakeholders

Engagement Committee (SEC) of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) held in Abuja recently.

Teriba explained that illiquidity is the country’s main challenge, explaining that “Privatisation is the tool which most countries use to check their liquidity issue and beef up the economy and Nigeria can also do the same by privatising some of her key sectors”, adding that a macro-economic approach to privatisation is ideal.

“To solve Nigeria’s liquidity problem, she needs foreign exchange inflow. Nigeria’s annual export revenue has been halved. Nigeria’s problem is that other problems are symptoms of the (liquidity) problem.

Recession is reflecting liquidity shortage”, he said.

He pointed out that privatisation is now the trend the world over, and cited Saudi Arabia and India which plan to

privatise some of their critical sectors to raise funds to develop their countries.

Teriba said that Saudi Arabia for instance, plans to raise about $200 billion through the privatisation of 16 sectors ranging from healthcare, airports to education.

The renowned economist noted that the federal government ownership of vast amounts of idle but valuable land and buildings means vast asset-conversion headroom.

“There is huge headroom for unlocking liquidity from stateowned assets to meet shortfalls.

Nigeria’s massive non-financial assets are convertible into financial buffers. Saudi is exploiting this avenue to shore up its financial buffers with US$200 billion headroom.

Nigeria can do much more than that, as we have much more non-financial buffers than Saudi”, he said.

A statement signed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises’ (BPE), Head, Public Communications Amina Tukur Othman he gave the options for Nigeria unlocking resources in a post-boom economy to include the 238 aging and uneconomic prisons, and the aging and uneconomic barracks across the country which could be leased to individuals to develop for economic value, citing India which has taken advantage of such venture.

Teriba said the Nigerian economy has gone from boom to bust, thus, dealing with shortfalls in reserves and prices of oil which Nigeria needs to work out a methodology to deal with the shortfalls.

He maintained that privatisation places a huge role to deal with the shortfalls and noted that the shortfalls are not temporary but permanent and that “it is better to deal with

equity which is a permanent solution”, urging Nigeria to look at equity instead of going to other parties to borrow money.

“Nigeria has a huge head room to go for equity and should think of getting her own money and not relying on others” he stated.

He gave an example of how private investors are earning handsomely in the Nigeria Liquidified Natural Gas (NLNG) and paying the country well.

The statement further stated that “The Economist called for the privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as privatisation is the answer for the country’s economic development, stressing that the budget and expenditure of the Federal Government were shrinking and that “you don’t get saved by cyclical swings but buffers”.

News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Gov Wike tasks INEC on conduct of credible elections Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

The governor made this call when the new Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Obo Effanga paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

“Election can only be free and fair if INEC wants it free and fair, that is for INEC to only do the right thing required in the process,” he added.

He urged the new REC and INEC not to bow to pressure and ensure that they resist pressure from politicians in a

bid to ensure credible, free and fair electoral process.

Wike called on Effanga to guard against electoral anomalies that had previously plunged the state into crisis.

The governor said that his administration had decided to provide massive democratic dividends for the masses in order to win their confidence in the 2019 elections.

“We provide projects for the communities in order to get their support; we are winning the confidence of the people; we are working hard.

“We urge INEC to do the right thing in order to avert crisis,’’ the governor said.

“The peoples’ vote must

count and INEC should not give out result sheets; INEC should be transparent in the entire electoral process,” he said.

He pledged the government’s support for INEC to carry out its duties in the state.

Earlier, the new INEC commissioner, Effanga, assured the governor that INEC would conduct credible elections in Rivers.

He noted that the commission had decided to reach out to stakeholders in order to achieve success towards the conduct of free and fair elections.

Effanga stressed that out of the three million permanent voters cards in Rivers, more

than two million PVCs had been collected by voters.

The REC called on those who had not collected their PVCs to go and collect theirs to enable them exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

He called on the political class to play the game by the rule in order to ensure peace, credible, free and fair elections.

“I plead with the political class on behalf of INEC to play the game by the rule; all those qualified to vote should be given fair treatment, those not registered should do so, so that we can achieve success,’’ he said.

World Cup: Kogi floats 25 viewing centres The Kogi Government says it has concluded arrangements to establish 25 viewing centres where people can watch live World Cup matches in Russia.

The government said on Tuesday in Lokoja that the centres would Gov Bello be located at the headquarters of the each of the 21 local government areas in the state.

The Director-General, Media and Publicity to the state governor, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who made the disclosure, said that the centres would be located in areas that were easily accessible and secured.

According to him, all the centres will be equipped with cable TV subscription, projector, screen, standby generator and other accessories.

He added that the government had already taken delivery of all the items for onward delivery to the designated centres in all the localities.

“The government will also

ensure constant fuel supply and train attendants to man the centres.

“The Nigeria Police and other security agencies have been contacted on the need to provide security for viewers at the centres and forestall any form of violence,’’ he said in a statement.

He urged football fans to look forward to an uninterrupted entertainment throughout the Coupe de Mundial, courtesy of the government.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in Group D alongside the Albiceleste of Argentina, Iceland’s Strákarnir Okkar (Our Boys) and Vatreni of Croatia.

They play their opening game against Croatia on Saturday at 8.p.m.

PCC to sensitise public on right to seek justice

L-R: Director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr..Abdulhamid Umar; Adekunle Yusuf, Modupe Adeoyo and Oluwa nifesimi Odedina all of Digital Banking Unit, Sterling Bank Plc, receiving the 2018 Card Award for the card adjudged with most utility relevance to the card holder at the just concluded Digital PayExpo awards which held in Lagos…on Tuesday

Plateau Govt engages rural women in security, peace building As part of efforts to ensure inclusiveness and forestall conflict in various communities, the Plateau government has engaged women in the grassroots as critical stakeholders in its security and peace building processes.

Speaking at the launch of the Local Action Plan (LAP) for Jos North Local Government Area on Tuesday in Jos, Mrs Anna Izam, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the gesture would strengthen women’s role in conflict prevention.

The women in partnership with other key stakeholders have produced a peace

architecture LAP in line with the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which hinges on gender parity at all levels of decision making.

“The LAP would facilitate conducive environment for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 because we ensured that the vulnerabilities of people living with disabilities is mainstreamed.

“This was through the translation of this document in Braille for the blind, in audio for people with hearing impairment and also in Afizere and Anaguta, which are local dialects in Jos North LGA,’’ she said.

Izam said she was optimistic the implementation of

the LAP would shore up the number of women in leadership position, advance gender equality and improve the protection of women and children during conflicts.

In his remarks, Mr Philip Nyam, the Management Committee Chairman of Jos North LGA, said that peace was critical for freedom to practice religion and business.

The Chairman represented

by Mr Pius Daleng, Director of Social Services at the LGA, said that the local government had included women matters in their budgetary provisions to fast track their development in the area.

In his remarks, the District Head of Jenta Adamu, Da Bako Kabala, lauded the

efforts of UN in facilitating the engagement of 94 women in Plateau Traditional Council.

He said women were unique in their reasoning and would not only help in forestalling conflict but would contribute to the progress of their various communities.

The State Peace Architecture Action Plan launched earlier in the year was stepped down to four LGAs of Mangu, Wase, Riyom and Jos North.

The Plateau Peace architecture Action Plan is facilitated by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with the UN Women and funded by the European Union.

Women groups, NGOs and faith based organisations, attended the ceremony.

The Public Complaint Commission (PCC) on Tuesday said it would embark on a massive awareness campaign to sensitise the public on their right to seek justice.

The Kaduna State Commissioner, PCC, Musa Tugga-Karam, stated this in an interview with journalists in Kaduna.

Tugga-Karam said that the commission which was first established in Kaduna was to protect the citizens against administrative injustice.

He said, “It started as Public Complaints Bureau in Kaduna during the military administration in the defunct North-Central State headed by Brig-Gen. Abba Kyari in 1974.

“It was from the Bureau that the Federal Military Government in 1975 bought the idea and established the Public Complaints Commission at the national level.

“The vision of the commission is to restore the dignity of man through the enthronement of rule of law and protection of individuals and organisations against administrative injustice.”

The commissioner added that though the commission had successfully settled 285 cases of the 395 cases lodged with it in 2017, there was still room for improvement.

According to him, the commission which renders free services to the aggrieved will partner with the media to ensure massive awareness and sensitisation of the public on their right to seek justice.

“The public complaint commission had been a sleeping giant until recently when it was revived and moved from the executive to the legislative arm of government.

“That is why we need to sensitise the public about our activities, using the media to enlighten and educate them on where and how to get justice free,” he added.

Tugga-Karam noted that the commission had the backing of the law to investigate complainants lodged before it by any person aggrieved by administrative action taken by public and private outfits.

He added that the commission would collaborate with relevant bodies like the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others, to combat corruption and other crimes in society.

The state commissioner urged government, the media, NGOs and the general public to support the PCC in ensuring justice to humanity.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

27

Foreign Affairs

Trump lauds deal after historic talks with Jong-un US President Donald Trump says his historic talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended in a joint agreement were “tremendous”.

The signed document includes a pledge from Mr Kim to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.

But in an extraordinary media conference later, Mr Trump announced details not in the paper.

He said he would halt US military exercises in South Korea, something widely seen as a concession.

The meeting was the first time a sitting US president has met North Korea’s leader, and caps a remarkable turnaround for the two.

Last year saw the pair sling insults at each other, while North Korea conducted several ballistic missile tests in defiance of the international community.

For both men the meeting brought much to gain as well as considerable risk.

The meeting is seen by North Korea as a way of bringing legitimacy to a nation long regarded as a pariah.

Should Mr Trump resolve the North’s nuclear threat, he would have achieved something none of his predecessors came close to.

What did they agree?

The summit centred on nuclear disarmament and reducing tensions.

The agreement said the two countries would co-operate towards “new relations”, while the US would provide “security guarantees” to North

Korea.

On nuclear weapons, Mr Kim “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula”.

Observers say the document lacks substance, in particular on how denuclearisation would be achieved.

However, speaking to reporters after, Mr Trump said: • The US would suspend “provocative” war games it holds with South Korea. Mr Trump said he wanted to see US troops withdraw from the South. A spokesperson for the US forces said they had yet to receive any new guidance • On denuclearisation, he said that Mr Kim had agreed to it being “verified”, a key US demand ahead of the meeting • Mr Trump said Mr Kim had also agreed to destroy a “major missile engine testing site” • But he said sanctions would remain in place for now and argued “we haven’t given up anything”.

Several reporters asked whether Mr Trump had raised the issue of human rights with Mr Kim, who runs a totalitarian regime with extreme censorship and forced-labour camps.

The US president said he had, and did not retract his description of Mr Kim as “talented”.

“Well, he is very talented,” Mr Trump said. “Anybody that takes over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and is able to run it and run it tough. I

Kim and Trump duroing the meeting don’t say he was nice.”

What’s the reaction been?

Largely positive. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who held his own meeting with Mr Kim earlier this year, said the “two Koreas and US will write new history of peace and cooperation”.

A spokesman, though, also said the “exact meaning and intention” of what Mr Trump had said “needs to be assessed”.

China, North Korea’s only major diplomatic and economic ally, also said the meeting created a “new history”.

The foreign ministry said sanctions on North Korea could be eased if it stuck to UN resolutions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised President Trump’s “leadership and effort”, saying he supported North Korea’s pledge on denuclearisation as “a step towards the comprehensive resolution of issues around North Korea”.

But Russia warned that the “devil is in the detail” and Iran said North Korea should not trust the US. Mr Trump recently pulled the US out of a nuclear deal with Iran.

Grace Mugabe ‘will never be my deputy’ –Opposition leader Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has reportedly rubbished claims that the opposition coalition intends to rope in former first lady Grace Mugabe so that she can become its deputy president.

According to the privately-owned Standard newspaper, Chamisa said that it was “unthinkable for Grace to be his deputy”.

Last week a faction of the recentlyformed opposition, the National

Patriotic Front (NPF), claimed that Grace wanted to be vice president of the MDC Alliance.

The sensational claim was made

by Jim Kunaka of the NFP at a press conference on Friday.

The NPF was formed after the ageing former president Robert Mugabe was persuaded to step down in a military takeover in November last year.

Reports indicated that Mugabe, 94, was behind the party.

Chamisa said that the nonagenarian’s wife would never deputise him.

“Whoever wants to join us is welcome, our bus doesn’t get full but there is no way one can join a church and become a deacon the same day,” Chamisa was quoted as saying.

The NPF is wracked by divisions. Its founder-president Ambrose Mutinhiri was sacked on Friday (though he refused to accept this). On Thursday Welshman Ncube, the MDC Alliance’s spokesperson, said the alliance had “no desire whatsoever to be associated with the terrible rule of Robert Mugabe”.

NEWS24WIRE

Lords amendments would undermine Brexit -Secretary The House of Lords should not “undermine” the UK’s EU exit, Brexit Secretary David Davis has told MPs. Opening debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill, Mr Davis said a bid to give Parliament more control over Brexit would tie ministers’ hands and lead to a bad deal for the UK. Conservative MPs have been urged not to rebel against the government’s attempts to kill off Lords amendments.

But the government was hit by a resignation ahead of the votes.

Justice Minister Phillip Lee said Parliament was being sidelined and that he could not support “how our country’s exit from the EU looks set to be delivered”.

Starting two days of Commons debate, Mr Davis told MPs the bill’s “primary purpose” was to ensure a “functioning statute book” on the day the UK leaves the EU, 29 March 2019.

The most tightly-contested amendment is expected to be a call for Parliament to decide what happens next if it does not like the UK-EU Brexit deal.

The first votes are expected to happen from 16:15 BST. Other amendments being debated are on removing the precise day of Brexit from the wording of the bill, and scrutinising ministers’ powers to make changes to laws when they are repatriated from Brussels.

Phillip Lee has been a junior justice minister since July 2016, having first been elected as the Bracknell MP in 2010.

Explaining the reasons for his resignation, he cited the government’s opposition to the “meaningful vote” amendment, saying this position “breaches fundamental principles of human rights and Parliamentary sovereignty”.

He also raised concerns about the economic impact of leaving the EU, saying Brexit had turned out to be much more complicated than first thought.

The UK should “pause, extend or revoke” the Article 50 process which formally triggered its departure from the EU, he said, calling for another referendum once ministers’ chosen path becomes clear.

Pro-EU campaigners hailed his resignation as significant in their calls for a referendum on the UK and EU’s final Brexit deal.

Last night of Ramadan: Prophet’s Mosque prepares to receive worshippers in Madinah Saudi government authorities have intensified their preparations to provide services to the masses of worshipers due to visit the Prophet’s Mosque, or ‘Masjid Al-Nabawi’, in Madinah.

As the last nights of Ramadan 2018

approach, hundreds of thousands of worshipers flood to the Mosques of Madinah to finish reading the Qur’an, which is a tradition carried out by the faithful every Ramadan.

Various security and service agencies have started to implement their plans to keep pace with the

influx of worshipers to the Prophet’s Mosque. Those agencies deal mainly with crowd control, provision of water and mattresses, cooling public spaces for the worshippers, and sanitation around the clock.

The police of the Prophet’s Mosque, in coordination with the

mosque’s committee, will be on high alert till the end of Ramadan, ensuring all visitors complete their religious duties smoothly and efficiently. The holy month of Ramadan is expected to end on Friday.

Source: ARAB NEWS

Brexit Secretary David

28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Education

Underfunding, bane of university performance – LASU VC Stories: Esther Taiwo Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, on Monday, said that inadequate funding was responsible for underperformance by the country’s universities.

Fagbohun also said that it was making it impossible for them to contribute their quotas to national development.

He said this while delivering the 6th Memorial Lecture in honour of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), late Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

The lecture was titled: “Commodification of Education: What Imperatives for Transforming University Education in Nigeria”.

He said if the higher education system were to achieve its goals of contributing to national development, it should be adequately funded.

“There is a crisis of underfunding, which seriously threatens the provision of quality education in Nigeria and this is an issue that affects people’s lives with so much urgency.

“Not many will argue that higher education is currently at a crossroad in Nigeria. In order to mitigate the challenge, universities resort to increasing students’ fees. Antagonists of increase in tuition have christened this as ‘Education for sale.’

“While the protagonists stridently argue that any increase in tuition is a direct result of the fact that subsidy allocation to universities has been in decline with serious consequence on long term operations,” he said.

Fagbohun argued that the rot in tertiary institutions was largely

a result of the failure to recognise education as a national priority.

He said that the society had also refused to see it as a tool of socioeconomic development and a veritable weapon for social engineering.

“Our tertiary institutions, as a system and service provider, are not aligned to meet our domestic challenges or imperatives, including the needs of industry, labour and the private sector.

“Foreign experts are still imported to provide consultancies on subjects our institutions have several decades old departments and faculties.

“This is an indication of not just the problem of a misaligned curricula, but it is symptomatic of more fundamental dislocation,” he said.

According to him, rather than be a buffer, universities are serving as magnets for unwholesome social tendencies.

He stressed that tertiary education should not only be allowed to flourish unfettered and unhindered, it should also be provided with the resources, infrastructure and facilities.

Fagbohun, however, recommended that government at federal and state levels should separate recurring expenditure of staff emoluments from capital expenditure and ensure they gave weighted premium to both.

He added that research and physical expansion of tertiary institutions needed to be addressed in the light of Nigeria as a developing country.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, government should not make the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) take over its statutory obligation to fund tertiary institutions.

“Government should also give

Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun grant-in-aid to deserving institutions, both at federal and state levels, using set criteria including excellence and distinction in research and innovation.

It should also include: “Diversity, inclusiveness, scholarship, protection of rights of minorities and needs,” he said.

The Vice -Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, described the late Prof. Sofoluwe as a man who exhibited true love and honesty in his life time.

“We cannot but keep remembering Prof. Sofoluwe and the best we can do is to immortalise a scholar who died in active service,” he said.

Speaking on the lecture, Prof Ogundipe said both the government and the people of Nigeria will have to decide if they want proper university system because proper funding is not only about salary payments but proper funding.

“Tell me of a country that is doing

well economically then I will tell you of a country that is properly funding research. We should not depend only on government to fund research, it is the responsibility of government, companies and rich people in Nigeria to fund research”, he said.

The UNILAG VC, also said academic corruption is a global issue but added that UNILAG has a policy on ground to tackle issues of corruption among staff and students and anyone found culpable will be dealt with accordingly.

On the ongoing sex scandal allegation against one of the senior lecturers in the University, the VC said the accuser has to come out and testify in order for justice to prevail adding that judgment cannot be issued based on one sided story but assured the public that the panel set up by the University management to investigate the matter consists of Professors that cannot be intimidated.

Digital age, devt of artificial intelligence, challenge fresh graduates – Educationist For fresh graduates to succeed in the 21st century and engage in a world of tomorrow, a more dynamic skill set, knowledge base and level of understanding is required because the future world of work graduates are confronted with is changing beyond all recognition.

This was made known by principal, Atlantic Hall, in Poka, Epe, Lagos State, Mr. Andrew Jedras during the 26th valedictory and graduation ceremony of the school while addressing about 67 students graduating from the school.

According to him, many of the jobs and roles cherished and respected by many adults may inevitably become obsolete in the future as the advent of and rapid progress and development of artificial intelligence, digitalization is demanding a different educational experience and understanding on the part of young people in schools today.

He said educators have a duty to properly equip students with that which will serve them to meet and compete with their global peers and enjoy successful

future lives stressing that many of the roles and jobs the graduates will be engaged in have not yet been thought of, let alone created.

“This surely presents a picture of the pace our world is moving at and the pace of change our graduates will have to embrace in order to be competitive on a global scale. The world is demanding in particular Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM)literate products of education; those creative , entrepreneurial, critical thinkers who are the investigative, collaborative problem solvers”, he said.

The Principal also stated that there is still need for other complimentary qualities that will also be key components running along the more formal hard skills to reflect a person of holistic employable wealth in the future which are curiosity, initiative, persistence, adaptability and social awareness.

“Atlantic Hall Mission created by our Trustees and Founders nearly 30 years ago now emboldened for all to see in our Foyer anticipated in its articulation that

responsibility of educational advantage that comes with being an Atlantic Hall student which is to make a difference through leadership in a global world’, he said.

Jedras said if teachers are to deliver 21st century relevance in their classroom, fresh thinking, openness and risk-taking are essential.

Chairman of the Atlantic Hall Trust Council, Mrs I. Aboderin, said the graduates have been adequately prepared to turn future challenges into an opportunity saying no doubt they are going into a different world but they are advised to engage the spirit of personal development as she told them to rid themselves of all gesture that may keep them back.

“No matter the situation you find yourself you have to keep moving forward, develop your life with honesty and integrity, think positively no matter how much life takes”, she said.

In his sermon at the valedictory service titled The Transformed in Life, Venerable I.F Idowu urged the graduating students

to refrain from whatever can make them unworthy before God as they pass out from the school and urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the School by standing on their feet for the truth always.

“Be dedicated to your future heart desire, have it at the back of your mind that you are somebody not just anybody, always be resourceful and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly for transformation”, he said.

In her farewell speech, the valedictorian and outgoing head girl, Miss Awe Anne, urged the rest of the students to always remember where they come from and who they are, adding that they will meet with so many different people in the school but they should decide who they want to become and who will help them become that person.

She said the school has impacted virtues such as diligence, time management and a new sense of responsibility in her and has effectively prepared with a lot of skills to face future life challenges to be the best she can be and never perform below ability.

FUNAAB matriculates 3,807 students The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, has matriculated 3,807 students offered provisional admission with the ViceChancellor, Professor Kolawole Salako declaring that “our new students are among the best that can be admitted”.

The Matriculation ceremony which featured the University’s Sixth Commencement Lecture delivered by Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Psaltery International Limited, Ado-Awaye, Oyo State, was held at the University Ceremonial Building.

Addressing the matriculating students, their parents, guardians, well-wishers and members of the University Community, among several others, Professor Salako provided and articulated a statistical breakdown of the matriculating students, lending credence to his declaration that those admitted, are among the best that are eligible for admission.

According to the breakdown, total applicants to the University were 11,622; 8002 applicants scored 180 and above in UTME, while the number of candidates who attended the screening exercise was 8001.

Further breakdown revealed that the number of candidates offered provisional admission stood at 3,807.

2,510 and 1,290 of them were offered provisional admission into agriculture programmes, Science and Engineering programmes respectively.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the number of candidates found not qualified for provisional admission was 3,621; number of registered students 3,438 while the percentage of students registered to total number admitted is 90 percent.

Professor Salako who singled out some of the new students for their exceptional performance in UTME lauded them for their exemplary feat.

The highly impressed ViceChancellor disclosed that Alaka, Yusuf O. (Mechanical Engineering) with JAMB No. 757022971C emerged the University’s best admitted student with JAMB highest score of 340.

Professor Salako further revealed that OLADEWA, Victor O. (Electrical Electronic Engineering) with JAMB NO. 75885814AG had the highest Pre-Degree score of 71.98 percent while Adewale, Rihanat D. (Food Science and Technology) with JAMB No. 79231456FI had the highest Direct Entry Score of 78.72 percent.

Emphasizing the importance of accreditation to the matriculating students, the Vice-Chancellor gave a breakdown of the accreditation status of some courses offered by the university.

According to him, Entrepreneurial Studies (Full Accreditation); Home Science and Management (Full accreditation); Biochemistry (Full Accreditation); Microbiology (Full Accreditation) and Economics (Full Accreditation). He further informed that only Civil Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering have Interim Accreditation.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

29 Education Fidelity Bank’s BackTo-School train storms Egwuare Primary School, Uromi

Graduating students of The Atlantic Hall during their valedictory service in Poka, Epe, Lagos

LASTVEB restates commitment to revamp technical education Stories: Esther Taiwo

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) and former Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, has stressed the commitment of the Board to revamp Technical and Vocational education in the state.

Addressing journalists at the LASTVEB office in Ikeja, Erogbogbo said the economic progress of the nation greatly depends solely on its industrialisation, adding that Lagos State is no doubt the economic hub of the country gradually transiting

into a smart city.

She said achieving this vision is the provision of high quality technical skill to Nigerian youth in diverse areas of Lagos State economy.

“Lagos State is therefore placed in the front burner to provide the much needed competent and skilled youths. Embracing technical and vocational skills acquisition by young people of Lagos will address the skill gap in the economy as well as provide means for young people to be self relevant”, she said.

The Executive Secretary stressed further that then training offered through LASTVEB has ensured adequate skills training,

empowering of young people, preparing them for the world of work, providing job opportunities and keeping the youth of Lagos offthe-streets.

“We have chosen to champion Technical and Vocational Education as it focuses specifically on providing job related skills for students whilst also preparing them to be positioned to develop new enterprises. Also the Government is proposing additional Technical Colleges in the State. In this wise, there is need to put in an effective machinery to propagate and promote the vision of the Government and the Governor”, she said.

Erogbogbo also emphasised that technical education is not for push-over or drop-out, saying apart from the technical skills, the students are also required to learn Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English and Mathematics as a prerequisite for NABTEB final examination.

She therefore urged parents and guardians as well as Secondary School leavers to embrace Technical Education which is free to learn thereby allowing them to learn a trade and get skilled up for the future stressing that Technical Education is the bedrock of any developing economy like Lagos and Nigeria at large.

Awka union awards scholarship to 25 best students

Twenty five exceptional students from Awka town have emerged awardees for the 2018 Awka Students Achievers Day organised by the Awka Development Union Nigeria.

The awardees were selected from 15 public and mission secondary schools in Awka and its environs.

The Awka Students Achievers Day held in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has over 1,500 students of Awka origin in attendance and featured career canceling and motivational lectures on the causes and consequences of drug abuse and cultism among youths and considerations for career choice.

The President General of Awka Development Union Nigeria, Chief Amobi Nwokafor, in his address, noted that the Awka Students Achievers day was instituted by the union to encourage hard work among the students and as well, dissuade them from indulging in immoralities and other anti social vices in the society.

He however urged the students to always put in their best to distinguish themselves among their contemporaries, noting that the award was meant for only exceptional students who are academically good.

He further explained that ADUN is committed to grassroots development and investment in education, which according to him, is pivotal in emancipation and liberation of human mind.

“In this maiden edition, we are targeting about 1,200 students of post primary schools (JSS and SSS students). We intend to brainstorm on their development to ensure that they are prepared to play their roles as the future leaders of our town and by extension, Nigeria.

“We want to encourage and motivate our youths to work hard and read their books to excel in their academic journey and we hope to make it an annual ritual as a way of rewarding hard work based on performance. We are poised to developing our youths by catching

them young.

Our intention is to fight cultism through this exercise and refocus our children’s mind towards striving for excellence because if they understand the importance of education, they will not have time for cultism or indulge in frivolous activities.

Also speaking, the representative of the Anambra State Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC) Awka Education zone, Lady Carol Ikeaba commended the ADUN for the award of scholarship to best students and schools in Awka, which he described as the greatest investment.

He noted that the gesture will motivate and encourage the students achieve greatness even as he bemoans some town leadership who spend their resources in building markets, civic centers in the state to emulate ADUN. Lady Ikeaba charged the students to utilise the opportunity of the scholarship award in Awka to work harder by taking their studies seriously so as to win more awards.

Earlier in her lecture entitled, “Youths and drugs: causes and consequences of drug abuse among youths of today”, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chinwe Thomson, identified environmental circumstances, occurring conditions, peer group pressure and genetic predisposition as major causes of drug abuse among youths.

Thopson defined drug abuse as excessive or addictive use of drugs for non-medicinal purposes and urged the students to desist from its consumption.

She noted that drugs which she categorised as hard drugs, social drugs has dangerous effect on the body which she said includes organ damage and can lead to anti social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution, cultism and violence.

“And anybody found consuming, importing or exporting drugs will be jailed or punished according to the law,” she said.

It was indeed celebration galore for staff and pupils of Egwuare Primary School, Uromi in Edo State recently as Fidelity Bank Plc provided them with educational supplies, including computer systems, branded school bags, sandals, books and other writing materials to support learning.

The Bank’s decision to embark on this initiative was borne out of the need to make life easier for students. The project tagged ‘Back to School’, was initiated and implemented by staff of Uromi Branch under the auspices of the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).

The Bank’s intervention in the education sector particularly its Back-To-School project has received glowing commendations from various quarters. His Royal Highness, Solomon Izuware Ojeaga, The Onogie of Ujiogba Kingdom, in his remarks commended the Bank for implementing projects that enhance the quality and standard of education in the country.

“Our Back-to-School initiative has indeed touched the lives of Nigerian students across the country, particularly in the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) Camps in Benin, Yola and Maiduguri respectively”.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Regional Bank Head, (RBH) Midwest 1, Ovie Mukoro, who stressed the importance of education as a veritable tool for national development, stated that the Bank is a staunch advocate of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Receiving the materials, Head Teacher, Egwuare Primary School, Uromi, Philomena Okojie, expressed utmost happiness at the gesture while urging other private organisation to borrow a leaf from the Bank. Okojie noted that the initiative will bring some measure of relief to parents who cannot afford to purchase necessary educational materials for their wards.

TIMES SPORTS

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Deontay Wilder agrees to fight Anthony Joshua in UK

Super Falcons qualify for 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations

Nigeria’s senior national women’s team, the Super Falcons, have secured qualification for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations.

Nigeria crushed Gambia 6-0 in the return leg of their second round tie at Agege Stadium in Lagos on Monday, completing a 7-0 aggregate triumph.

Desire Oparanozie scored four goals, while Asisat Oshoala netted a brace of her own to see the Super Falcons cruise into the eight-team field for the women’s AFCON finals.

Nigeria join hosts Ghana, and fellow qualifiers Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, South Africa, Zambia and Mali in the tournament.

The Super Falcons have traditionally dominated the AFCON, winning it 10 times, including the last edition in 2016 when they went unbeaten through the tournament and defeated hosts Cameroon 1-0 in the final.

The 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations will be held in Ghana from 17 November to 1 December. The tournament also serves the qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup – the top three teams will book a ticket for the finals in France next year.

American Deontay Wilder has agreed terms to fight Anthony Joshua in Britain later this year, in a bout that would crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000, ESPN reported on Monday.

Briton Joshua (21-0) is the holder of the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles while Wilder (40-0) is the WBC world champion.

Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN they had agreed to the latest terms offered by Joshua’s

promoter Eddie Hearn.

“We have agreed to the terms that Eddie has put out to us for a fight in the U.K. Deontay has accepted his terms to fight in the U.K.,” Finkel said.

Wilder, in a message posted on his Twitter account, confirmed he had agreed to fight in Britain but said an offer to Joshua of $50 million to fight in the United States was still on the table.

“The $50M offer for him to fight

me next in the US is still available,” Wilder said on Monday.

“Today I even agreed to their offer to fight Joshua next in the UK. If he prefers the fight in the UK, the ball is in their court.”

The WBC title is the only one remaining on Joshua’s radar after he added the WBO championship to his collection, by defeating New Zealand’s previously unbeaten Joseph Parker in March by unanimous decision.

Mikel Obi: Super Eagles will prove critics wrong in Russia Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi is confident that the Nigerian team will prove critics wrong at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The Eagles have been written off by many following their unimpressive performances in their pre-World Cup friendlies, where they have lost to Serbia, England and Czech Republic.

Drawn in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, the Nigerians are the lowest ranked team by FIFA in the pool.

Argentina are ranked fifth, while Croatia who the Super Eagles will face in their opening 2018 FIFA World Cup game this Saturday, are 20th in the ranking.

World Cup debutants Iceland are 22nd while Nigeria are 48th.

“We like where we’ve been placed. We don’t want to be one of the favourites,” Mikel told Al Jazeera in a video interview.

“I think this will give the team enough motivation to prove critics wrong that we can actually do

better that they actually feel.”

Mikel is poised to attend his second World Cup. He has

Argentina’s Nestor Pitana to r ef World Cup opener

Argentina’s Nestor Pitana will referee the opening World Cup match on Thursday when hosts Russia play Saudi Arabia, FIFA has announced.

The 42-year-old, who officiated during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, will be in charge for the Group A match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

The Argentine will be assisted by compatriots Juan Pablo Belatti and Hernan Maidana, with Sandro Ricci from Brazil designated as the fourth official.

With the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system making its World Cup debut, Italy’s Massimiliano Irrati is the designated VAR official in Moscow.

VAR has been tested this season in both Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A but has been blighted by errors and confusing decisions.

“We are ready to give our best and show consistency but without the good attitude of players it will be very difficult for us,” said FIFA’s director of referees Massimo Busacca.

featured 83 times for the Super Eagles, scoring six goals.

Super Eagles’ World Cup travel outfit sets social media on fire

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have caught the attention of the football world again with their unique travel outfit to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The team’s World Cup jersey has been the most talked-about in the build-up to the Mundial, with many rating it as the best.

Football fans queued

outside stores to get their hands on the kits produced

by Nike on it the day it was officially released into the market.

The Super Eagles had flown out of their Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, to Russia on Monday for the 21st FIFA World Cup finals.

The players and officials

landed in their Essentuki base in the early hours of Tuesday.

Pictures of the players in the traditional wear flooded the social media on the day of the team’s departure for Russia.

“First, it was the announcement of their tournament kits that sent football supporters crazy.

Now it is their travel attire

that has got everybody talking,” the Daily Mail wrote.

“They nailed it with their kits, and have delivered the goods yet again as they boarded their plane to Russia, wearing traditional Nigerian clothes – Buba and Sokoto.

“From head to toe, the Nigerian squad indulged in their culture and clearly has no intentions of blending in with the crowd.

“While sticking to tradition, however, designers of their outfits have also kept faith with football by placing footballs on the collars of the white-and-green outfits.”

BBC Sports reporter and presenter, John Bennett, tweeted: “First the amazing shirts, now these outfits… The

Nigeria team is not only just getting on the plane to Russia but already winning.”

United Kingdom news outlet, The Sun, also wrote about Nigeria’s travel outfit.

“Nigeria once again won the fashion stakes at this year’s World Cup with their incredible travel outfit.

“Captain John Obi Mikel led his side to Russia in the head-turning green-and-white attire that featured footballs below the collars.

“The Nigeria squad looked every inch the dapper chaps as they arrived in Russia.

“This formal look has sent everyone into a frenzy all over again, with the immaculate design being complemented by matching shoes and hats.”

Mo Salah still a doubt for World Cup opener against Uruguay

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah remains a doubt to face Uruguay in their World Cup opener at Yekaterinburg on Friday, the country’s football association has said.

The Liverpool player, who sustained a shoulder injury in the Champions League final against Real Madrid last month, took part in light training on Monday.

But the Egyptian FA’s managing director Ehab Lehita said it was too early to say whether he would play against the South Americans.

“He is gradually getting better.

However, I cannot confirm today that he will play in the first match,” Lehita said of the 25-year-old, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool last season.

“All I can say is that we hope he will play in this match.”

Egypt also face Saudi Arabia and hosts Russia in Group A.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

31 Times Sports

D’Tigers coach names squad for FIBA World Cup qualifiers Real Madrid names Julen Lopetegui as new coach Spain national team coach Julen Lopetegui will take over as Real Madrid manager after the World Cup, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday, just two days before the tournament begins in Russia.

Madrid had been looking for a replacement since Zinedine Zidane stepped down from the position last month, just days after winning a third consecutive Champions League trophy.

After guiding Spain easily through qualification to the World Cup finals, Lopetegui had agreed on a new contract up until Euro 2022 just last May and was not among the more than 20 names which had been linked with the Bernabeu vacancy in the local media over the past two weeks.

But with three days before Spain’s World Cup opener against Portugal in Sochi, Madrid announced that the Basque tactician will leave that position after agreeing a three-year contract with the La Liga giants.

“Julen Lopetegui will be the Real Madrid coach after the celebration of the 2018 World Cup,” the club’s statement said.

“Real Madrid C. F. announce that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons.”

Lopetegui has never lost a match as Spain coach since taking the reins in July 2016 in the wake of the European Championship, earning 14 wins with six draws for the second-longest unbeaten start by a coach in Spain’s history.

As a player Lopetegui was a goalkeeper who spent spells as a backup at both Madrid and Barcelona, also playing for Rayo Vallecano and CD Logrones. He began his coaching career at Rayo in the second tier before moving to Madrid’s Castilla youth side.

He then coached Spain’s under19s, under-20s and under-21s His only other top-flight club experience came in 18 up-anddown months at Porto, where he failed to win a trophy but reached the Champions League quarterfinals. He then succeeded mentor Vicente Del Bosque in the Spain job following La Roja’s early exit at Euro 2016.

Lopetegui impressed in quickly blending together a new side which won nine of their 10 World Cup qualifiers and is among the favourites for this summer’s finals in Russia. Spain will face Iran and Morocco in Group B after the challenge of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their opener on Friday.

After the tournament, Spain will have to find a new boss ahead of the new UEFA Nations League, in which they will open against England and Croatia in September.

D’Tigers head coach Alex Nwora has called up Nanterre Basketball of France player, Aminu Alade, and Lawal Olaseni of Scandone AV of Italy to his squad for this month’s 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lagos.

Both players last featured for the D’Tigers at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

The D’Tigers will face Mali, Rwanda and Uganda in the third window of the qualifying series.

The pair are expected to strengthen the squad that already has captain Diogu Ikechukwu (Sichun Blue Whales, China) Uzoh Benjamin (CB Caballero De Culican, Mexico), Mbamalu Bryant (CD Vildivia, Chile), Zanna Talib (Ironi Nes-Zion’s, Italy), Emenago Obinna Clinton (Rouen Basket, France) and Mike Efevberha (Beirut Club, Lebanon).

Coach Nwora also handed invitations to nine new player to compete for places in the 12-man squad for the qualifiers.

The players include Omoerah Keith Sado (Baerum Basket,

Norway), Braxton Ogbueze Jai (Charlotte University, USA), Nwora Jordan (University of Louisville, USA) Agada Caleb Apochi (Prat, Spain) and Okosun Augustine Obehioye (Sameji, Dominican Republic).

Others are London-based Jesse Adekoya, Attah AbdulAziz (JeanD Brebeau, Canada), Mehinti Tosin Idowu (Lavrio, Greece) and Moses Kingsley (Antwerp Giants, Belgium).

Meanwhile, D’Tigers will play four friendlies – a double header against Côte d’Ivoire and games against Gabon and Benin Republic.

The first two games against Cote d’Ivoire are slated for Abidjan on 23rd and 24th June, 2018 while on the 26th and 27th, D’Tigers will face Gabon and Republic of Benin respectively at a venue to be announced later.

D’Tigers will start their campaign against Uganda on 29 June at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos before taking on Rwanda and Mali on the 30 June and 1 July.

World Cup: Super Eagles train in Essentuki, off to Kaliningrad Thursday The Super Eagles have settled down nicely at their Sanatorium Istochnik Hotel, Essentuki team base at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The team also had its first training (open session) on Tuesday starting from 5pm Russian time.

The team, in its sixth appearance at the World Cup in Russia, is in Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

The Eagles will play their first match on Saturday, June

16, 2018.

A statement by the Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, in Lagos revealed that the players and the technical crew departed Vienna to Russia on Monday. ”A delegation of 23 players and technical and administrative staff flew by executive jet from Vienna to Essentuki Airport in South West Russia on Monday, arriving at a few minutes after 10pm. ”Large gatherings of people showed excitement at seeing the

three–time African champions arrive in very Nigerian buba-and-sokoto uniform sown in Nigerian colours, complemented with white bowler hats. ”Essentuki is located in the Stavropol region of southern Russia. ”There was a brief airport reception coordinated by staff of the Local Organising Committee and the world football governing body, FIFA,” said Olajire.

He said a reception was organised for the team by the Governor of Essentuki. ”At the hotel, a welcome reception organised by the Governor of Essentuki, the Minister of Sports in the Stavropol region and the Manager of Sanatorium Istochnik also held. ”On Tuesday morning, FIFA and LOC conducted the team arrival meeting, ahead of the training session in the evening. ”The Super Eagles will train again on Wednesday evening, before flying to Kaliningrad on Thursday for their first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Croatia on Saturday at the 35,000–capacity Kaliningrad Arena. ”Departure from Kaliningrad is set for 4pm Russia time,” Olajire said in the statement.

Former world champion David Haye announces retirement Britain’s former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion David Haye announced his retirement on Tuesday following two successive defeats to fellow Englishman Tony Bellew.

The 37-year-old — who won 28 of his 32 bouts including 26 knock outs —

unified the cruiserweight world division then was crowned world heavyweight champion in defeating the ‘Beast from The East’ Russia’s Nikolay Valuev in 2009.

However, Ukrainian great Wladimir Klitschko took the WBA belt off him — after Haye had

successfully defended the title twice — in July 2011.

Haye implied he was retiring after that defeat and on several occasions prior to that had pledged to leave the sport before he was 31 declaring ‘That’ll be 20 years of getting punched in the face, which is a long enough time.’

Eddie Hearn calls Deontay Wilder’s bluff on Anthony Joshua title fight American Deontay Wilder will have a contract in front of him by the end of this week for a world heavyweight unification bout with Britain’s Anthony Joshua, the latter’s promoter Eddie Hearn said Tuesday.

Hearn told Sky Sports News it is the only way to find out if the WBC titleholder Wilder is serious about fighting Joshua even though reports out of the United States on Monday suggested he had accepted a two fight deal with the 2012 Olympic champion and now holder of the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

Complicating matters is that Joshua is already due to take on WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.

“We’ve got to get to the bottom of it today, but one thing I can tell you is that by the end of this week Deontay Wilder will have a contract in front of him and we’ll see if he’s real,” said Hearn.

“I think Wembley is where Anthony Joshua wants it to take place. He had a brilliant night there against Wladimir Klitschko and it seems a natural home.”

If the fight is confirmed, it will be the biggest bout seen in the division in years.

The winner of a Joshua-Wilder bout would be the first man to hold all four heavyweight titles — WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO — simultaneously.

“The fact that we’ve lost four weeks waiting for an answer from Deontay Wilder makes a fight happening in 11 or 12 weeks of this magnitude unlikely,” Hearn said.

“I think if it is before Povetkin then it runs on October/November. It’s all come as a bit of a shock that Deontay’s finally come back to us on the offer and seems to accept the terms. Now we have to find out if it’s bluster or if it’s real.”

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Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED. Operational Headquarters: Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos Corporate Office: 9 Osun Crescent, MaItama, Abuja Email: info@dailytimes.ng Managing Editor: BONAVENTURE MELAH, Tel: 08036062975, Email: bonamelah123@gmail.com

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Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Oil buffer to hit historic lows if OPEC, allies raise production

Nigeria clears $600m airlines’ trapped funds

Apple heads toward becoming first company to be valued $1trn

‘728m people in Africa use firewood, charcoal for cooking’ Average Mathew Dadiya, Abuja price of petrol dropped by N1.50k in May - NBS A renewable energy and social enterprise firm - Solar Sister has said that about 728 million people in Africa still depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking on daily basis.

Solar Sister Nigeria also canvassed for women inclusion in clean energy, decrying the poor state of electricity supply in most countries of the continent.

The Country Manager, Olasimbo Sojinrin said this on Tuesday at a media advocacy workshop tagged: “Advancing the Role of Women in Driving Sustainable Energy Access in Nigeria,” in Abuja.

Sojinrin said that Nigeria and Africa as a whole is also faced with energy poverty with 600 million people in the continent living without electricity.

She called on the need for women to play a crucial role in scaling up clean energy access especially in underserved communities across Nigeria and also make money from selling the product.

Sojinrin also said that 728 million people depend on fuels such as charcoal and firewood for cooking, while over 10 million businesses are affected by lack of power.

She said, “What we have in Nigeria is that one in three people is actually not connected to the national grid and so they are in perpetual darkness, half of population lives in rural areas in which 1 in 4 people have access to electricity, the huge majority of 70 percent people affected by energy poverty are women and girls.

Families spend 30-40 percent income on household energy compare to 5 percent in the USA.” According to her, over 2/3 of Nigerians are dependent on biomass for cooking and indoor air pollution is the 3rd highest killer in Nigeria.

“So what solar system does is to give them access to modern, clean energy which they can use to light their homes as well as cook, solar sister produces durable

and affordable lights, cook stoves, lamps and so on, so the beneficiaries of this organization have been able to impact the lives of the communities in which they stay, thereby people don’t have to be in darkness.

“If you go to these communities you find out that activities stop around ‪7pm but with the introduction of solar lamps, you find out that businesses are opened till longer, we have lot of economic activities which has been impacted just by simple solar lamp which the life changing effect of light in their communities,” she said.

Solar lamp provides our people with the opportunity to have clean access to energy, people have resulted to using kerosene lanterns, candles and so on which have so many adverse effects, if you look at what government is saying about how much it will cost to extend the grid to all these communities, you find out that just a small solution of a small solar panel and a lamp in the house can at least give the household light for them

to be able to do what they need to do, it might not replace the grid but it’s a good alternative for communities that have no electricity”.

With over one million people with improved access to clean energy and over 2,800 clean energy businesses kickstarted, Ms Sojinrin said that the vision of Solar Sister is to end energy poverty.

She however Ssaid, “we will become extinct when electricity gets to everyone in Nigeria.”

She said that currently, they operate in 23 states out of the 36 states in Nigeria and have made impact on sisterhood support, community safety, business growth, economic stability and health.

The country manager said that the organisation foresaw a world where women and girls are drivers of a sustainable energy movement in a rapidly growing clean energy sector to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable solutions to climate change that results in a prosperous society.

L-R: Oluseun Olatidoye, Head, Debt Capital Markets and Taiwo Okeowo, Deputy Managing Director of FBNQuest Merchant Bank; Patience Oniha, Director General, Debt Management Office; Lolade Sasore, Head, Communications & Knowledge Engagement and Afolabi Olorode, Deputy Head, Investment Banking of FBNQuest Merchant Bank receiving awards for Best Local Currency Bond

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that the average price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, (Petrol) decreased to N150.2 in May from N151.4 paid in April.

The NBS, in its “Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch’’ released on Tuesday, said that the price decreased by -0.3per cent year-on-year and -0.8per cent month-on-month.

According to the report, states with the highest average price of PMS are Borno (N166.08), Benue (N160.31) and Akwa Ibom (N159.44), while the states with the lowest average price are Katsina (N144.82), Kano (N144.87) and Bauchi (N144.93).

Meanwhile, in the bureau’s “National Household Kerosene Price Watch’’ the price of Kerosine per litre increased from N278.49 in April to N280.29 in May. Average price per litre paid by consumers for National Household Kerosene increased by 0.65 per cent month-on-month and decreased by -7.58per cent year-on-year to N280.29 in May from N278.49 in April.

The reports stated that states with the highest average price per litre of kerosene were Abuja (N327.50), Yobe (N313.33) and Cross River (N310.19), while those with the lowest average price per litre are Borno (N233.33), Abia (N235.53) and Kogi (N251.04),’’ the report said.

According to the report, the average price per gallon paid by consumers for National Household Kerosene increased by 0.80per cent month-on-month and decreased by -5.12per cent year-on-year. It noted that the price paid by consumers for a gallon for kerosene increased to N983.67 in May from N975.82 paid in April. States with the highest average price per gallon of kerosene were Jigawa (N1143.33), Yobe (N1130.00) and Adamawa (N1088.89).

CBN lifts forex market with $210m injection Motolani Oseni In its desire to meet customers’ needs in the various segments of the Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday injected total sum of $210million into the FX market.

The apex offered $100million to

authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segmentgot the sum of $55 million.

According to figures obtained from the Bank on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, customers needing foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated the sum of $55

million.

It will be recalled that last week, CBN approved an upward review of the trading margin available to operators of Bureau De Change (BDC) in the country, allowing BDC operators could buy the United States dollar from the CBN at the rate of N357/$1 and sell at N360, thereby leaving them with a positive margin of N3.00 per dollar sold.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director,

Corporate CommunicationsDepartment (CCD), Mr. Isaac Okorafor, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market, in line with its pledge to sustain liquidity in the market and maintain stability. Mr. Okorafor reiterated that the CBN would sustain its strategic management of forex, with a view to reducing the country’s import

bills and halting depletion of its foreign reserves.

The Bank last Monday, June 4, 2018, intervened to the tune of $210 million to cater for requests in the wholesale segment of the market.

Meanwhile, the naira continued its stability, exchanging at an average of N362/$1 in the BDC segment at the close of yesterday trading activities.

Money Market B2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Specta breaks credit record, lends N2bn in 4 months POS: Cashless Stories: Motolani Oseni Just four months after its historic market entry, Specta, the revolutionary lending platform powered by Sterling Bank, has advanced consumer loans worth N2bn to salaried workers who are members of the lending platform’s pre-approved community. The loans were accessed in less than five minutes without human intervention by most of the beneficiaries.

Commenting on Specta’s success, Dapo Martins, Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank, said “The market is responding positively to Specta because it is meeting the credit needs of the contemporary Nigerian salaried worker who wants an immediate loan without leaving the convenience of his/her office or home. As such, the record breaking Specta loan advances will continue in the second half of the year, especially because liquidity is a non-issue. There is over N8bn set aside to meet the pressing credit needs of salaried workers in the country for just six months.”

The Chief Marketing Officer added that

“Beyond 2018, we are certain that there will continue to be an upswing in the adoption of Specta in market because it takes advantage of technology to offer a refreshing and satisfactory experience to consumers.

Customer testimonials are received daily about how the platform has simplified the loan booking process and incredibly reduced disbursement timeline to just five minutes after an application. We will continue to meet the needs of consumers seeking bespoke financial solutions in the Nigerian market”.

Pre-approved communities are companies or organisations that have been profiled and enrolled on the Specta platform. Individuals who work for organisations that have not been profiled can apply to be enrolled as individuals on the Specta platform.

On her part, Benedicta Sadoh, Head Value Chain Banking, Sterling Bank said “Specta is creating and delivering value to individuals, families, real sector and the economy at large. It is boosting the access of salaried workers and their households to credit which stimulates the economy through sustained consumption leading to increased

production and job creation. We are proud that Specta is boosting consumer spending which is a key driver of growth and development in every economy.”

Sadoh affirmed Specta’s commitment to the growing credit needs of salaried workers across the country. “Sterling Bank is delighted with the rising number of corporations joining the Specta pre-approved community; same with individuals turning to the platform to finance their most pressing financial needs ranging from house rents to medical bills and wedding expenses. We will continue to meet these needs in a timely manner.”

Launched in February 2018, Specta has become the go-to platform for consumer loans by salaried workers in need of quick loans. The online lending platform offers consumer loans up to N5 million to salary earners who belong to pre-approved communities in less than five minutes without paper work and collateral. It automates, simplifies and personalizes the loan application, disbursement and receipt process eliminating the slow turnaround time and other inconveniences associated with the manual process.

L-R: Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David Borha; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Global Head of cash Equities ICBC Standard Bank, Ian Carton, during a meeting with the senior Management of Dangote Group in Lagos

Fidelity Bank, NGOs partner ahead 2018 World Sickle Cell Day Fidelity Bank Plc has partnered with Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs to commemorate the 2018 World Sickle Cell Day. This years’ celebration, according to a statement by the Bank, would be the 9th since the UN General Assembly declared June World Sickle Cell Day in 2008.

Speaking at the press briefing in Lagos, Head, Human Resources Recruitment/CSR and Sustainability, Fidelity Bank, Chris Nnakwe, explained that EBanking Division of the Bank worked with the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs in Nigeria to undertake its first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme. This initiative will be powered by Fidelity (QR) mVisa.

Nnakwe regretted that about 150,000 children that are born with sickle cell disorder annually in Nigeria, 75% of them do not live to see their 5th birthday, adding that the situation calls for more collaboration for awareness and enlightenment. He noted that the lender’s Helping Hands initiative, which is part of its corporate social responsibility goes beyond building structures but creating awareness to promote healthy living among Nigerians.

“We intend to be part this journey of reducing the number of people living with sickle cell through awareness and education. We want to make it an annual event and every year we will see how to get involved as part of our contribution for healthy living in the country”.

The Chairperson of the

Coalition, Toyin Adeola commended Fidelity Bank for the partnership and asked other corporate organisation to emulate the gesture of the bank.

Adeola noted that the Coalition of the NGO’s in Nigeria as a joint activity is organizing, the ‘Red Umbrella Walk’ scheduled to hold on June 16 in Lagos to create awareness about Sickle Cell Day at the community level.

“Our goal going forward is to improve the quality of life of people with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria and increase their average life expectancy from less than 20 years to what obtains among the affected persons in the US. which is 60 years and even surpass it. This can only happen if all hands are on deck, with governments working in concert alongside the private sector,

NGOs and communities across the country”.

The United Nations declared World Sickle Cell Day as a day set aside to create more awareness and advocacy for people living with the disorder and educate the public on the dangers of stigma associated with the disorder.

The Coalition has constantly advocated the need for better coordinated effort towards control of SCD by the government at all levels and other concerned stakeholders.

Fidelity Ebanking are adding their voice to the cause through the “Red Umbrella walk” which is a one-on-one street awareness walk around the Surulere area.

Fidelity mVisa is a new low cost payment solution that facilitates consumer- merchant payments and drives financial inclusion.

payment system excites airport users

•

As FAAN records high level of compliance Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The cashless payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN on the 14th of May, 2018 has recorded a huge success with concessionaires, passengers and other across the airports, embrace the cashless policy.

Investigations carried out at different airports within the country show that passengers and concessionaires have adjusted with the cashless payment at various pay points across the airports.

A visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar revealed that compliance was in full swing.

It was also gathered that Calabar commenced the cashless transactions before any other airport in the country and the policy it was learnt, was welcomed by passengers and concessionaires.

Revenues that were not remitted to the coffers of the agency before now are being captured by the cashless transactions.

A source told this reporter that a VIP lounge in the south east airports which used to generate and remit about N70, 000 before the implementation of the cashless transactions now remits about N280,000 monthly.

According to an official of commercial department of FAAN in one of the airports, “the cashless process is with ease, stress-free and nobody asks for change as its done by POS. We only do little work and it has increased our revenue generation” FAAN commenced the cashless transactions across airports in the country on the 14th June this year.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu the initiative was to foster ease of payment, create payment options and improve the speed and convenience of payment.

Mrs Yakubu had earlier predicted that the cashless transactions will reduce the carrying of cash as transactions will be made in different ways such as POS, money transfers.

She added that FAAN had equally strategically positioned Remita agents at various points across the airports.

She explained that the initiative was designed under the Presidential Enabling Environment Business Council PEBEC to ensure convenience and curb corruption, identifying car parks, cargo section, chartered /unscheduled flights among others will be affected by the the introduction.

“It will help FAAN to eliminate leakages and further increase revenue base of the organization. No government official will handle cash during transactions when the exercise takes off. We are soliciting the cooperation of all airport users, concessionaires and the general public to ensure a hitch free exercise” According Mrs. Yakubu , the decision to adopt digital payment was as a result of the success of the Executive Order of the Federal Government in a bid to create enabling business environment in the country especially within the airports as entry points into the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

B3 Business Int’l

Paris, Europe’s most favourite investment destination – Survey An Ernst & Young survey shows Paris has overtaken London as Europe’s most attractive destination for foreign investors for the first time since EY began such reports 15 years ago.

The change in the continent’s pecking order is a sign of the impact of both Brexit and the “Macron effect.”

The French capital was ranked No. 1 for foreign direct investment by 37 percent of businesses,

based on a survey of 502 companies and data from EY and IBM covering 2017.

Britain as a whole remained Europe’s top destination for foreign direct investment in 2017, with 1,205 of the 6,653 new FDI projects in Europe, ahead of Germany’s 1,124 projects and France’s 1,019 projects.

But France’s number was up 31 percent in one year, while the number of investment into Britain was 6 percent higher than in 2016, showing a

slowdown in growth.

This was the first time Paris has outdone London since the annual survey started in 2003.

Berlin came third and Frankfurt fourth. “The UK is feeling the effect of Brexit,” the report said.

“Investment slowed after the 2008 financial crisis, but France is now in catch-up mode, and a beneficiary of Brexit,” it added, citing President Emmanuel Macron’s reforms to make the labour market more flexible. REUTERS

Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN (middle), Permanent Secretary, Works & Housing, Mr Bukar Mohammed(4th right) and others in a group photograph shortly after the inauguration of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria(ARCON) at the Ministry of Power,Works & Housing Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja on Tuesday, 12th June 2018

Oil buffer to hit historic lows if OPEC, allies raise production The oil industry will face the biggest squeeze on its spare production capacity in more than three decades if OPEC and its allies agree next week to hike crude output, leaving the world more at risk of a price spike from any supply disruption.

Spare capacity is the extra production oil producing states can bring onstream and sustain at short notice, providing global markets with a cushion in the event of natural disaster, conflict or any other cause of an unplanned supply outage.

That buffer could shrink from more than 3 percent of global demand now to about 2 percent, its lowest since at least 1984, if the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers decide to increase output when they meet on June 22-23, US bank Jefferies said.

“You would essentially be taking 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of spare capacity down to approximately 2 million bpd,” Jefferies analyst Jason Gammel said, adding global demand was 100 million bpd.

Some analysts say spare capacity could even fall below 2 percent, after years of low oil prices drove down investment in new production across the industry.

Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s de facto leader which has indicated its support for hiking output at next week’s meeting in Vienna, has said it is alert to the potential squeeze on the market.

“We are concerned about tight spare capacity nowadays,” Saudi Energy Minister Khalid AlFalih said last month, although he also said the industry was in “better shape” than in 2016 when oil prices plunged below $30 a barrel.

OPEC and its allies have been curbing supply since January 2017 to boost oil prices and cut bloated global inventories. The price of crude

has since surged, climbing above $80 a barrel last month, while inventories have also fallen.

But falling inventories, which have now dropped back to around their five-year average in industrialized nations, adds to the conundrum facing OPEC. “Today we no longer have an inventory cushion or a large spare capacity,” Claudio Descalzi, chief executive of Italy’s Eni, said in January. “In this context, any geopolitical event can create a price spike.”

Oil prices have faced one jolt already this year.

A US decision to pull out from an international nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions helped prices climb to their highest since 2014.

Sliding Venezuelan output has added to supply concerns.

“The high level of inventory over the past few years has meant that the market did not need to react to rising political risk, because the inventory was effectively the same thing as spare capacity,” Gammel of Jefferies bank said.

Iran’s OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, said last week that the oil price could jump to $140 if US sanctions hurt his oil exports from this country, the third biggest producer in OPEC behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Benchmark Brent crude is now trading above $76.

Martijn Rats, Morgan Stanley’s global oil strategist, said oil prices would be supported “if supply and demand is in balance, if inventories have drawn significantly and spare capacity isn’t all that great.”

The precise level of spare capacity available depends in part on how it is defined.

The Paris-based International Energy Agency,

which bases its figures on oil production that can be brought onstream within 90 days and sustained for an extended period, estimates OPEC’s spare production capacity was 3.47 million bpd in April, with Saudi Arabia accounting for roughly 60 percent.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA), which defines it as production that can be brought online for 30 days and sustained for at least 90 days, put OPEC’s spare capacity at 1.91 million bpd in the first quarter.

Based on the EIA definition, Robert McNally at consultancy Rapidan Energy Group said Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates together had spare capacity of about 2.3 million bpd.

“So were they to raise by 1 million bpd, then 1.3 million bpd is left, scraping the low end of the range historically and uncomfortably tight given the high and rising geopolitical disruption risk,” McNally said. But OPEC, Russia and others have said any increase in output would be made gradually.

Consultancy Energy Aspects said Gulf OPEC members would likely add less than 1 million bpd immediately, rising to about 1.5 million bpd in three to six months.

Energy Aspects analyst Sam Alderson said he expected OPEC and Russia to add about 500,000 bpd of production in the second half of 2018, which would reduce spare capacity as a percentage of demand to about 1.75 percent by December 2018.

Saudi Arabia, with the bulk of the world’s spare capacity, has said it would need 90 days to move rigs to drill new wells and raise production to 12 million or 12.5 million bpd. The kingdom’s output in May was about 10 million bpd.

Porsche’s first electric car will be called Taycan Porsche’s first electric car, which has been known as the Mission E during its development, will be called the Taycan (pronounced tie-con), when it goes on sale late next year.

The name, which is derived from Turkish, according to Porsche, and translates as “lively young horse,” is a reference to the prancing steed at the center of Porsche’s shield-shaped logo.

The four-door car with a sports car shape was first unveiled to the public as the Mission E concept car at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. A crossover SUV version, called the Mission E Cross Turismo, was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

The Taycan will be Porsche’s first fully electric car. The company, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, currently offers several plug-in hybrid models and sold just over 900 of the Porsche 918 Spyder, a limited-edition plug-in hybrid supercar.

The Taycan will be able to go from a stop to 60 miles an hour in under 3.5 seconds, thanks to its two electric motors that produce more than 600 horsepower.

Tesla’s highest-performance cars and SUVs can get to 60 miles an hour even faster -- in less than three seconds.

But Porsche’s brand image is built on track performance not just straight line acceleration so, with the Taycan, Porsche promises a “level of continuous power that is unmatched by any other electric vehicle.” Other electric cars can’t handle repeated hard acceleration because their batteries will overheat. The car’s top speed will be 155 miles an hour.

Porsche makes different versions of all its cars, ranging from from fast to extremely fast, and it’s expected to do the same with the Taycan. There will likely be more extreme versions of this car in the future.

The Taycan will be able to go 300 miles on a single charge and, with fast charging, 240 miles with only a 15 minute charge, according to Porsche.

Porsche is working with partners to create 500 fast charging stations at highway locations and at Porsche dealers around the United States.

As part of the Volkswagen Group (VLKAY), Porsche is also working with other automakers, including BMW and Ford (F), to build thousands of charging points throughout Europe.

The car will go on sale at the end of 2019. Prices are expected to start around $80,000 to $90,000. Porsche executives have said that more electric cars will follow. CNN

Aviation B4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Nigeria clears $600m airlines’ trapped funds IATA, AFRAA sign MoU to advance aviation in Africa Stories: Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it was encouraged by the recent developments in Nigeria where the Federal Government succeeded in clearing $600million backlog of airline funds trapped in Nigeria.

The Director-General of IATA, Alexandre de Juniac at the 74th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the clearing house for over 280 global airlines confirmed that the country had indeed cleared the amount that led to crisis in the sector in 2016 which threatened the pull out of foreign airlines out of Nigeria.

De juniac, however called on governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate revenues from ticket sales and other activities.

According to IATA, the amount of airline funds blocked from repatriation totaled $4.9 billion at the end of 2017, which was down seven per cent compared to year-end 2016. He however noted that airline funds remained blocked in some 16 countries.

He listed the top five markets with blocked funds as Venezuela, where airlines have been unable to repatriate $3.78billion; Angola, where approximately $386 million remains blocked; Sudan where $170 million is blocked; Bangladesh, where $95 million is trapped and Zimbabwe, where $76 million remains unrecovered.

His words, “The connectivity provided by aviation

is vital to economic growth and development.

Aviation supports jobs and trade and helps people to lead better lives. But airlines need to have confidence that they will be able to repatriate their revenues in order to bring these benefits to markets.”

“We have has some recent success. The $600 million backlog in Nigeria has been cleared and we made $120million of progress from a peak of over $500 million in Angola. I encourage the government of Angola to work with airlines to help reduce this backlog further.”

He disclosed that given the deepening economic crisis in Venezuela, a resolution appears to be unlikely in the short term.

“We are encouraged by the recent developments in Nigeria and Angola and hope other states will also move quickly to address blocked funds”, he added.

At the height of the crisis in 2016, Spanish national airline, Iberia withdrew from Nigeria and is yet to return.

Followed in quick succession was United States carrier, United which stopped services between Houston and Lagos. Emirates scaled down its operations to daily flight into Lagos from the two daily flights it operated. The carrier stopped its Abuja operation.

Other carriers reduced capacity on the lucrative Nigerian route. Job losses in the aviation sector were unprecedented in the sector.

No fewer than 200 Nigerian employees of the foreign carriers lost their jobs within the period.

Seriously affected by the trapped funds were Emirates, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Airlines’ funds were released in tranches until the government cleared the entire backlog. That singular situation brought sanity to the sector.

The reason for the scaling back or pulling out of the market was because of the impact of the depreciation of local currencies and the drop in oil and commodity prices in those countries.

So, in Nigeria, for example, they were forced to sell in the local currency, but, unfortunately, foreign currency was not readily available then for them to exchange and take it out of the country.

The clearing of trapped funds by the government has buoyed revived activities in the airline industry with some of the airlines that left in the aftermath of the crisis returning while many other foreign carriers have their applications with the Ministry of Transportation indicating their readiness to begin flight services to the country.

One of such airlines is Air Namibia which begins air services to Lagos from Windhoek on June 29, 2018. RwandAir is connecting more Nigerian cities. New routes are opening up both for domestic and international airlines.

Many, including the IATA chief noted that this indicated that the nation’s economy was strong and had rebounded.

L-R: Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, Dana Air Chief Operating officer, receiving the IGOM certificate from Dr Samson Fatokun, Area Manager, (South West) International Air Transport Association(IATA), recently in Lagos

Dana Air gets IATA IGOM registry Dana Air has been announced as the latest African airline to be listed on the International Air Transport Association (IATA ) Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) registry.

The International Grounds Operations Manual (IGOM) registry is for companies and airlines who have demonstrated full compliance with internationally recognized standards for ground handling processes.

The IATA Ground Operational Manual concept which was initiated by IATA, defines ground handling standards for airlines and ground service providers to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent ground service activities.

According to AITA, ground operations are essential task for all airlines and ground service

providers to deliver smooth turnarounds and on time departures, with safety being the number one priority. The IATA Board of Governors has set a target (50% of member airlines in 2006) to start to implement the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) as their minimum standard for ground operations.

Commenting on the airline’s latest achievement, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, Dana Air’s Accountable Manager/ Chief Operating Officer, said Dana Air was listed after the international association confirmed its full adherence to global ground handling manual.

“We are happy about our most recent international recognition, as an airline that adheres to global best practices. We thank the

International Air Transport Association (IATA) for recognizing our ground handling safety standards and unwavering commitment to operational excellence.’’ ”We wish to also take the moment to reassure our ever-supportive and loyal guests of our strong desire to continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable air transport service in Nigeria.’’

Having flown over 2.7 million passengers in the last 9 years of its operations, Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with over 27 daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri.

The airline is reputed for its innovative online products, world-class in-flight service and unrivaled on-time departure.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and The African Airline Association (AFRAA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen their cooperation.

The MoU was signed by Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO and AFRAA’s Secretary General, Abderahmane Berthé on the sidelines of the 74th IATA Annual General Meeting in Sydney.

Under the MoU, IATA and AFRAA will exchange information, expertise and capabilities and work jointly to: Enhance safety by assisting airlines to successfully implement the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and IATA Ground Handling Manual (IGOM), Promote regional air connectivity by working jointly with governments to implement supporting the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), Encourage data exchange among aviation stakeholders to improve the passenger experience, Enhance security through capacity building, Liberate airline funds blocked by governments from repatriation by advising governments on best practices to clear backlogs, Achieve reasonable levels of taxes and charges by helping governments to focus on the social and economic benefits of aviation.

“Africa is full of potential. Unlocking the economic and social benefits of aviation is a critical element of the continent’s development. Achieving Africa’s potential, however, will not happen by chance. Continuous improvement in safety, an effective regulatory framework, and fit-forpurpose infrastructure are essential.

To achieve that; strong partnerships are key. This MoU will strengthen IATA’s already close relationship with AFRAA and help ensure that global standards and best practices form the backbone of Africa’s aviation growth,” said de Juniac.

The MoU paves the way for further development in African aviation. Air transport already supports 6.8 million jobs and generates $72.5 billion of economic activity on the continent.

“AFRAA and IATA share a common vision – the development of a safe, secure and sustainable aviation industry in Africa that facilitates business, trade and tourism and contributes positively to Africa’s economic growth and development.

This MoU with IATA will commit both our organizations to work together even closer on the main priorities for African aviation. In particular, we count on IATA to provide the requisite technical support across a number of areas such as improving aviation infrastructure and capacity building with national regulators,” said Abderahmane Berthé, AFRAA’s Secretary General.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

B 5 Business Feature

Why history drives China’s tough stance on global trade Cindy Sui, BBC Taiwan correspondent

The world’s two largest economies, the US and China, are in the midst of a trade spat that threatens to erupt into a full-scale trade war.

US President Donald Trump launched the trade dispute by threatening to impose tens of billions of dollars of new tariffs on Chinese imports unless China cuts its tariffs, imports more American products, and gives US companies easier access to the Chinese market.

Beijing has fired back with threats to impose billions of dollars of tariffs on US products.

The BBC Taipei correspondent Cindy Sui, who grew up in both China and the US, explores the Chinese psyche when it comes to trade, and how history has influenced this mindset. She offers clues as to how Washington and Beijing can learn to be better trade partners with each other: Since 1783 when the American Revolutionary War ended, freeing American trade from British control, Americans have been trying to make their fortune in the Chinese market.

Even back then, China hesitated to open its doors to outside trade, preferring to be self-sufficient instead.of the southern city of Guangzhou It put up restrictions, such as insisting on accepting only silver as payment, and confining China’s trade with the West to an area of Guangzhou city, near Hong Kong, called The Thirteen Factories.

And even back then, US traders struggled to find products that China wanted to buy.

They sold mostly ginseng and fur to the Chinese, and instead made more money selling China’s products to American consumers.

China has come a long way since then - it is now the world’s biggest trading nation.

It exports more than any country, and its imports are second only to the US. But the desire to be self-reliant remains very strong, which partly explains why it imposes high tariffs on foreign products, restricts foreign companies’ market access, tries to learn to make the products they sell by forcing them to transfer technology, and turns a blind eye on intellectual property rights violations by its companies.

History helps explain this mentality.

Still on Chinese people’s minds is the period when China was forced to open up to trading with Western countries.

In the 19th Century, European nations used military power to pry open China’s market.

To earn hard currency from China, the British and Americans even smuggled opium into China and basically drugged its people.

Up to foreign trade Japan meanwhile forced China to sign unequal treaties that allowed foreigners to establish autonomous economic bases in the country.

Previous centuries of being taken advantage of, and recent decades of being mired in communist economic standstill, have instilled in the Chinese the sense even to this day - that China is vulnerable, in need of protecting itself and catching up with stronger nations.

Given its history and its mindset, it is no wonder that to China and many Chinese people, trade was never about fair play. To

Xi Jinping

them, it is practically their right to have a huge trade surplus with the US. Also fuelling this is the traditional Chinese belief that the shrewdest business person deserves the best deal or outcome.

People who have visited China would have experienced a microcosm of this mentality while shopping. At many streetside markets, including the famous Silk Market in Beijing, prices are not posted.

Instead, shoppers and vendors play a game of each trying to get the best deal for himself or herself. The vendors pre-empt the shoppers by asking for a much higher price than their bottom line.

The shoppers, at least those who are experienced, ask for a much lower price than what they’re willing to pay.

A lot of back and forth haggling then takes place, which may include the vendor pretending to be upset at the shopper’s low asking price, and the shopper pretending to walk away to another stall.

But the vendor almost always calls back the shopper, albeit with feigned disapproval. It’s just an act, the vendor would never sell the product at a loss, and is simply making the customer think he or she is getting a good deal.

If all goes well, and it usually does, both sides laugh and behave like the best of friends because they’ve met each other halfway and both have gotten what they wanted.

I used to dislike shopping this way, considering it too laborious, and thinking I was being cheated. I even made the mistake of getting upset at the vendors asking for an

‘ ,

unreasonable price. But I later learned that I got better deals by smiling and playing along.

That’s something that has been missing in China-US trade over the years. In their eagerness to make money from each other, the Chinese and Americans have forgotten to make each other feel that they are getting a good deal.

China should remind the US that its companies have profited immensely by manufacturing their products cheaply in China, not to mention polluting its environment, and that when the US has what China wants - such as Boeing airliners, China buys a lot of them.

Beijing could do well by also reminding America that heavy spending American consumers have benefitted from the cheaper goods imported from China.

The US, at the same time, needs to remind China that it’s benefited tremendously from relatively low US tariffs, and a level playing field in the US. And that despite historical wrongs done by Western powers to the Middle Kingdom, China is no longer a victim, and it needs to practice fair play as a major trading nation.

But it will be an uphill battle. That’s because while the Americans may feel cheated, the Chinese feel much worse.

Many truly think, be it true or not, that America is out to contain China or even destroy it.

As the trade spat brewed, I received an opinion piece circulated on Wechat, the social media portal widely used in China.

It accused Trump and the US of acting out

That’s perhaps what has led Chinese President Xi, at the recent Boao Forum on economic development and on the 40th anniversary of the opening up of China’s economy

of fear of China’s rise, and trying to impose tariffs on China’s technology exports such as aircraft parts, to kill its high-tech development.

“This is really strange,” it said. “So China should only build houses, make clothes, and lend money to the United States? It cannot develop computers, aircraft, and weapons technology? What logic is that!”

Buys sizeable numbers of Boeing aircraft To Westerners, this might seem odd, but one must not forget history is still fresh on Chinese people’s minds, and such deep family- and country-destroying wounds do not heal easily.

The editorial even expressed the fear in the back of Chinese minds that the US wants to split up China into many small countries (like the former Soviet Union) to weaken it.

“Facts have once again educated the Chinese people that the US imperialists’ wishes of killing China still exist,” it said.

“We must not be in an illusion about this world-class evil empire.”

Needless to say, it will take a lot of time, effort and wisdom to bring the two sides closer to understanding and trusting each other.

But President Trump seems to understand how to negotiate with the Chinese. Just when the trade spat looked like it could turn ugly, after Trump called for imposing $100bn (£74bn) in new tariffs on Chinese products, he tweeted that he and President Xi will always be friends, no matter what happens with their dispute on trade.

Ahead of this week’s US-China trade talks in Beijing that was a wise move. It assures China that things won’t get ugly, and that it’s not personal.

One good that may come out of this trade dispute is that the world’s second-largest economy may finally realize it has risen up - it is no longer powerless and taken advantage of. It has benefited immensely from other countries’ openness towards trade and as its companies expand globally, China needs to play fair in order for its companies to get fair treatment abroad.

That’s perhaps what has led Chinese President Xi, at the recent Boao Forum on economic development and on the 40th anniversary of the opening up of China’s economy, to pledge that China will increase imports, lower import tariffs, increase market access and further protect intellectual property rights.

In his speech, President Xi said: “China will enter a new phase of opening up.”

It remains to be seen whether President Xi will carry out his promises.

But there’s no need for the US to be too anxious. Unlike during the Qing and earlier dynasties, when the Chinese found little need to trade with the outside world, it is now trading widely around the globe.

And with its emerging middle class and their growing income, it will have a growing appetite for Western products, especially those that are considered the best in their league.

So if the US continues to innovate great products and if the Trump administration bargains well with the Chinese, trade between the two sides will eventually become more balanced, and the two trading partners could even behave like the best of friends.

ICT B 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Revamping broadband penetration will curb unemployment, enhance capacity building – ATCON Stories: Ladesope Ladelokun President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria(ATCON), Mr Olusola Teniola, has expressed the need to revamp broadband penetration to create jobs and enhance capacity building.Teniola made this known when the National Executive Council

of ATCON recently visited the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja,Nigeria.

Teniola said the visit was necessary to show ATCON’s readiness to explore ways of collaborating with the NCC to revamp broadband penetration in Nigeria, adding that ATCON is desirous of partnering with the Commission to

organize the Broadband and Technology Investment Forum in all states of the federation.

For his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC,Prof Umar Danbatta, assured the ATCON delegation of the implicit support of the NCC. Speaking on the steps made by the Commission to achieve ubiquitous broadband penetration, Danbatta

said NCC had made a presentation to the Governors’ forum on the need to strictly adhere to the resolutions of the National Executive Council on Right of Way. He added that an initiative driven by the office of the Vice President will see broadband penetration balloon by 18 per cent and 18,000 kilometers of fibre will be deployed across the country.

T-Mobile, Nokia collaborate for 5G Data Transmission Test

The Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, with her predecessor and former Managing Director of World Bank Group, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the 53rd Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Board of Governors in Busan, South Korea

Apple heads toward becoming first company to be valued $1trn Apple is just a couple of pips away from becoming the first company ever to be valued at $1tn, a symbolic threshold that further shows just how much tech companies have come to dominate the US stock market.

Apple was last week valued at over $940bn – “just” $60bn short of a figure no other listed company has ever achieved.

It’s not the only tech company nearing $1tn – Amazon is currently valued at over $820bn.

It will be recalled that following the death Steve Jobs in 2011, some worried the company would struggle. But under his handpicked successor Tim Cook, Apple has more than trebled the $300bn the company was then valued at.

However, industry experts say Apple still may not be the first company to pass the $1tn mark, adding that the tech giant could be beaten by Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil producer that could be valued at $2tn when it finally goes public next year.

Adding the value of the “Fang” companies –Facebook , Apple, Amazon,

Netflix and Google – together and throw in Microsoft and the tech giants are worth close to $4tn. Just in the last six weeks more than $300 billion has been added to the value of the group. Tech currently makes 26% of the S&P 500.

For some, tech’s dominance of the stock markets might bring back memories if the dotcom crash of 2002. But that’s not a fear on Wall Street these days – where the Fangs are broadly regarded as fairly valued and perceptions of tech have changed.

Scott Kessler at CFRA Research says his firm has a buy opinion on almost all the tech giants, including the Fangs.

“People see the performance of the technology sector and focus on the largest and get concerned,” he said. “It’s harder at times to get comfortable with the valuation constructs for Amazon and Netflix. But the short answer is, we’re not concerned.

We see strong fundamentals, continuing growth, benefits related to tax reform and continuing out-performance.”

Despite slowing growth in smartphones, Cook said the first three months of 2018 was the “best quarter ever for services,

and momentum there continues to be incredibly strong”.Apple sales increased 16% in the first three months of 2018, and shares are up more than 13% this year – considerably better than the overall market. For Apple to hit a $1tn market valuation, the stock would need to go up just another 6% to $202.30 a share.

“We had all-time record revenue from the App Store, from Apple Music, from iCloud, from Apple Pay and more, all of which are a powerful illustration of the importance of our huge active installed base of devices and the loyalty and engagement of our customers,” Cook said.

“For several years we’ve been trading Apple as company that makes iPhones and some other stuff,” Eric Ross said at Cascend Securities.

“What’s happening is that Apple has an enormous install base of iPhone users and other Apple products so they are able to transform for an iPhone manufacturing company to an ecosystem company. We think they’re going to take their user base and sell products and services, including the iPhone, into it.”

T-Mobile (TMUS) and Nokia (NOK) have successfully completed a two-way over-the-air 5G data transmission test on 3GPP-compliant 5G NR System in order to prepare for commercial 5G deployment.

T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS and Nokia Corporation NOK jointly announced that they have successfully completed the nation’s first bi-directional 5G data transmission session, on a 5G New Radio (NR) system abiding by 3GPP standards. This accomplishment is a major step in paving the way for incorporating 5G technologies, which will be available on smartphones next year.

A user equipment simulator and Nokia’s 3GPP-compliant highcapacity 5G solution in the 28 GHz band were used to conduct the data transmission test in T-Mobile’s lab in Bellevue, WA. The 5G solution includes the Nokia AirScale baseband and radio, AirFrame server, and AirScale Cloud RAN running 5G NR 3GPP-compliant software, all of which have been validated by T-Mobile’s lab and field trials.

Driven by strategic branding efforts, attractive pricing and offerings, T-Mobile has been among the fastest growing companies in the U.S. wireless market in the past four years.

However, industry experts say strong competition is likely to slow down its growth in the coming months. . With Nokia aggressively taking up the mobile 5G deployment mission, this collaboration,according to observers, can propel the company forward in the wireless market.

In the past six months, T-Mobile has underperformed the industry’s decline of 7.3% with a loss of 8.3% on an average, whereas Nokia has impressively outperformed the industry’s growth of 5.5% with average return of 27.5% in the same period.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2016

For the Record

L7

Epetedo Declaration: Power belong to the people, enough of military rule in Nigeria Moshood Abiola People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected.

These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.

Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls. But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.

My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin.

All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community.

However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellowmen.

Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears.

Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. They arrest everyone who disagrees with them.

Even the 71-year old hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people.

There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no “setup” that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago.

It has been a long night. But the dawn is here.

Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!” We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of independence.

Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its history. Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.” Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because of its size and population.

The permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but lost. For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of their own people?

Enough of military rule. We are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to anyone.

MKO Abiola

Enough of square pegs in round holes. We are tired of then military repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”.

The next day, they say “Devaluation.” A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?” All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace.

Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want? We are plagued also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries.

A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance. Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favouritism and corruption becomes the order of the day.

Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE ’93. This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralised us all. I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained from the people.

Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent. To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the

winner should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.

I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: “What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president- elect who can lead a government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an end.

As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated.

The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.

I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time.

I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed by me, your only elected President.

My Government of National Unity is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now. People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind. Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr. Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.

Nelson Mandela fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We in Nigeria are also fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed forces. Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today, that is rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections.

The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out. I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.

The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest. In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever.

So, let it be with Nigeria. Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military. They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the repository of power in the land.

No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to. God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government of National Unity.

Being the speech of the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola to reclaim the annulled June 12 mandate on June 11, 1994.

Photo Times B8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

JUNE 12 CELEBRATION IN LAGOS

Photos: Olatunji Wale

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, (4TH-L), Convener, Olawale Okunniyi (3rd-L), Son of Tafawa Balewa, Abdul Tafawa Balewa(5th-L), MKO Abiola”s Son, Abdul Abiola(4th-r), former Local Government Chairman of Amuwo Odofin, Wale Adewale(3rd-r) Founder/President, Yoruba Council of Youth Worldwide, Aremo Oladotun(r) Hassan and others, during the Silver Jubilee of June 12 Democracy day celebration, Theme: Toward a formidable and cohesive Intervention for a New Nigeria, held in Lagos...on Tuesday

Convener, Olawale Okunniyi (5th-L), Son of Tafawa Balewa, Abdul Tafawa Balewa (6th-L), Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN (at the back of Abdul Tafawa Balewa), MKO Abiola”s Son, Abdul Abiola(4th-R), former Local Government Chairman of Amuwo Odofin, Wale Adewale (3rd-r), Founder/President, Yoruba Council of Youth Worldwide, Aremo Oladotun Hassan and others (r) during the Silver Jubilee of June 12 Democracy day celebration, Theme: Toward a formidable and cohesive Intervention for a New Nigeria, held in Lagos...on Tuesday

Chairman, Ojodu Local Government Development Area (LCDA) Babatunde Oke(m), Vice Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, Olubunmi Oluyode (L), and Vice Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, Dotun Olakanle, during the Silver Jubilee of June 12 Democracy day celebration, organized by Ojodu LCDA Chairman in Lagos...on Tuesday

Chairman, Ojodu Local Government Development Area (LCDA) Babatunde Oke (m), with other workers of Ojodu and Onigbongbo LCDA, during the Silver Jubilee of June 12 Democracy day celebration, organized by Ojodu LCDA Chairman in Lagos...on Tuesday

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); wife of late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left) and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello (left) during the 25th Anniversary lecture of the June 12 Presidential Election with the theme “Restructuting: Antidote for Ineffective and Inefficient Politics” at De Blue Roof, LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja...on Tuesday.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); his wife, Bolanle (3rd right); wife of late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola (2nd right); former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (3rd left); children of late Chief M.K.O Abiola, Mrs. Bola Abiola-Akande (2nd left) and Mr. Abdul Mumuni Abiola (left) during the unveiling of the new Chief M.K.O Abiola Statue at the MKO Abiola Garden, Alapere, ketu, Lagos... on Tuesday.

ABUJA

THE HEART OF NIGERIA

The Abuja Times Daily Times Nigeria

Karshi flood: Monarch, residents task FCTA on sensitisation of communities

AT 2

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

FCT minister canvasses adequate funding of transport AT 3 sector Vandalism: AEDC donates surveillance van to FCTA

L-R: FCT minister Mallam Mohammed Bello and the Secretary Agric and Rural Development Secretariate with the Hous of Reps member, Hon Zaphania Jisalo and the secretary FCT Area Councils Service Commission, Ibrahim Bappah and other farmers at the launch of 2018 kick off of farming season and provision of farm imputs to farmers.

FCT Agric Secretariat distributes assorted inputs to fish farmers Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja As part of continued efforts by the FCT Administration to boost food security and fight poverty, the Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration has distributed subsidised assorted fishery inputs to fish farmers in the FCT. In his address at the handing over ceremony of the inputs which took place at the FCT Fish farm Estate in Bwari, the Secretary for Agriculture Rural Development, Honourable Nzekwe Stanley Ifeanyichukwu, who was represented by the Head of Veterinary Services in the Secretariat, Dr. (Mrs.) Regina Adulugba, stated that the initiative was in line with the

Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) which aims at providing the enabling platform sustainable growth of the Agricultural sector.

According to him, the distribution of the inputs which is worth about N10 million is the first phase of the input support initiative to farmers, assuring that the Secretariat will unfold other support programmes to assist the farmers within the year.

His words: “Today, inputs worth Ten million Naira will be distributed in the first phase of the programme this year. It is our hope that before the end of the year, input worth N15 million will be distributed to farmers”.

He lamented that although the FCT is endowed with abundant water bodies, it has not been able to meet the fish demands of

the populace due to high cost of feeds, fishery inputs and poor cropping practices which is why the Secretariat has come up with the support to enable farmers access the inputs at affordable rates.

While acknowledging the support of the Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in fishery development in the FCT, he expressed the readiness of the Agric Secretariat to collaborate with other well meaning investors willing to in the Fisheries sector.

He commended the Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, for his untiring support to the sector, disclosing that contract for the construction of a model fish centre at Gwagwalada has been awarded that when completed, about 1 million assorted fish

fingerlings will be produced.

Earlier in his address, the Director, Admin and Finance, Dr. Lazarus Gaza, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Fisheries Division in the Secretariat, Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke, disclosed that in order to ensure transparency in the process, the beneficiaries were selected through a balloting system.

Items distributed at the occasion were deep freezers, scoop nets, culture tanks, fish feeds and smoking Kline.

The distribution of the subsidised inputs comes barely three weeks after the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, distributed critical farm inputs to FCT farmers to flag off the 2018 farming season in the nation’s capital.

In an effort to motivate security operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and in ensuring the securing of its properties against vandals, the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has presented a brand new Hilux Van to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to strengthen the security department to fight vandalism on public assets as well as maintenance purposes.

Making the presentation on behalf of AEDC CEO, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya, the Head of Accounts Management of AEDC, Hajia Hauwa Kulu Muhammad, said the gesture was in fulfillment of an earlier promise the company had made to FCTA in a recent visit to FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.

Hajia Muhammad, who was accompanied by AEDC’s Head Public Affairs, Mallam Ahmad Shekarau and other senior staff of the company, commended the FCT Minister for his diligence in the payment of the electricity bills of FCT establishments and facilities.

According to the AEDC Account Management Head, “despite its use for maintenance purposes, the vehicle will also serve as a means of rapid response to areas where the street lights are having problem, under vandalism or knocked down by careless road users.”

Responding, to the AEDC gesture, the representative of the FCT Minister, the Director, Department of Facility Maintenance and Management (FMM), Engr. Niyi Olaloye, thanked the AEDC Management for their show of support.

He described the donation as a potent demonstration of the partnership between the FCT Administration and stakeholders in the power sector aimed at ensuring adequate power supply in the FCT. In the interim, the FCT Administration, the FMM Director revealed, has mounted 22 Generator sets to assist in powering the street lights in because of the paucity of power supply to the FCT, pending when supply improves.

He indicated that some phone numbers have been dedicated to enable members of the public to reach the FCTA’s quick response team, in case of vandalism, crime or breakdown of the streetlight systems. They phone numbers are 08150181818, 08150191919, 08152151515, and 08152141414.

Engr. Niyi urged FCT residents to always call any of these numbers whenever they notice any of these breaches.

It would be recalled that some months ago, the Managing Director of AEDC and his management team paid a courtesy visit on the FCT Minister with a view to building strong working relationships with the Administration.

The Abuja Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

FCTA signs loan deed for vital projects Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has signed loan agreement with the Chinese Eximbank for two important projects.

The FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello, who led a high-powered delegation on a four-day working visit to China, signed on behalf ofFCTA. Speaking on the outcome of the visit to China, the Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who was part of the delegation, said the loan agreement was for

Abuja light rail mass transit system and the Greater Abuja water project.

The loan agreement for the light rail system has to do with the provision of rolling stocks, maintenance of the stocks and equipping of the depots. Also, the loan agreement on the Greater Abuja Water project will ensure the provision and reticulation of water beyond FCT Phase 1 to include Phases 2, 3 and possibly Phase 4.

The Transportation Secretary stated that with the completion

of engineering works on Lots 1A and 3 of the Abuja light rail project, emphasis has now shifted on how the system will be made operational.

Comrade Opeifa said: “Very soon we will increase the capacity of the about-to-becommissioned rail system from three coaches to a coach of six sets and what this means is that we will be able to move more people to jobs, farmers will be able to link the markets in the city with their products, we will be able to improve tourism

because people will be able to move from the airport straight down into the city in less than 30 minutes in an air- conditioned environment devoid of hustle and bustling and at a cheaper rate. ‘’It will improve our logistics and supply chain system, improve local and international trade and create a more conducive public transport for visitors into Abuja as well as the residents.’’

To ensure transfer of technical and operational knowledge to

Nigerians within a very short period, the Secretary stated that eight Transportation Secretariat staff have just completed their training in China on how to manage the rolling stock, manage the depot, the tracks and operations while another set of officers will be leaving soon to the country for similar training.

He was optimistic that by the time the operation commences, a good chunk of Nigerian engineers would have been trained.

The FCT Minister Mallam Mohammed Bello with the Secretary Transportatin Secretariate with the CCECC contractor during the final inspection of the Soon to be Commissioned FCT light rail project.

Karshi flood: Monarch, residents task FCTA on sensitisation of communities Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

As the FCT records yet another death through perennial flash flood, traditional ruler and residents of Karshi have called on the FCT Administration, to quickly find a lasting solution to the menace.

The Abuja Times recalls that the record of death orchestrated by flash flood has become a yearly ritual as government agencies saddled with the responsibility of emergency situation have failed to perform its duties.

A record of similar flash flood killed a man and two kids at Lokogoma in 2017 as well as that of dreaded Dei dei flood disaster, making it a yearly occurrence.

Eye witness at Karshi said that number of death exceeds that of three as many Okada riders where involved in the wash-away by the flash flood.

Mr. Jonathan Ede, a resident of Karshi, stated that the cause of the flood could be linked to the narrowness of the drainages, which always unable to contain the amount of flood flowing in it.

“When looking at the whole environment, you can see the hills, so the water runs the down the hills anytime it rains and covers the culvert and when unsuspecting residents try to cross, then, they will be flushes into the river,” he said.

On the need to stop the menace, Jonathan said that Government should try and ensure that the culvert is raised to a maximum height to prevent water from covering it when ever it rains. He said that about three dead bodies - two men and one female- have so far been recovered while search is still on as the flood has left about three vehicles and several Okadas debries with their owners

nowhere to be found yet.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, Chief of Karshi, has called on the relevant government agencies to intensify sensitisation of communities in flood prone areas.

The monarch said this was necessary to prevent the reoccurrence of flooding and other avoidable environmental disasters especially in rural communities in the FCT. He spoke while receiving Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) delegation led by the Council Vice Chairman, Lawrence Onuchukwu, on a condolence and assessment visit.

Recall that following a heavy downpour, a flash flood disaster occurred in the community recently, claiming the lives three persons, who were allegedly inside two vehicles and taken away due to the velocity of rain

water around a slope in the area.

Wen our correspondent visited the scene of the incident, information broke that another unidentified body of a man had been recovered from a river bank in Kurape community, near Karshi.

Addressing the AMAC entourage, the Karshi Chief said stakeholders should be able to learn from the flood incident, which is the most important thing to do.

He noted that the relevant authorities should double their efforts to sensitise the communities along flood prone areas.

“In the meantime, only two bodies have been recovered from the scene of the incident.

But so far, we are still searching for more missing persons.

“While we pray that God will prevent a repeat of the incident, we must also put precautionary measures in

place, to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.

“There is arrangement to close the road whenever it rains, to avert a repeat of the incident in the area, “the monarch stressed.

Earlier, AMAC Vice Chairman, Lawrence Onuchukwu, who described the incident as unfortunate, given that it was avoidable, saying that the delegation was there for condolence and assessment visit.

Onuchukwu assured that the Council through its local emergency Committee will work with youth to sensitize various communities along flood prone areas, to prevent a reoccurrence in AMAC. Our correspondent reports that AMAC entourage after inspecting the scene of the incident also visited the family of late Esther Peter, 16, one of the victims of the flood.

Corporate Social Responsibility: NIMASA donates to FCT IDPs As part of its corporate social responsibility projec, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, Durumi Abuja.

Hajiya Lami Tumaka, Chairman of NIMASA CSR committee, made the donation when she led a delegation of the management staff to the Durumi IDPs camp in Abuja.

In a statement made available to The Abuja Times, Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, inaugurated the CSR committee to visit various various IDPs camps across the country where assistance is needed and support them.

According to Tumaka, the committee has selected Abuja, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as the first set of states to be visited to give various forms of assistance.

“We look at the situation of those in the IDPs camps and decided it was time for NIMASA, which is a socially responsible agency, to come and make our contributions and a committee was set up for it.

“It is not the amount that is important, it’s the thought behind it. You cannot quantify our thinking of it and making it actionable.

That is more important than the monetary aspect that has gone into it,” she said.

Tumaka also commended the Federal Government for the effort put in place to assist those in the camps and also the security in those camps.

She called on wellmeaning Nigerians and other government agencies to reach out to the IDPs, stating that more needed to be done in terms of welfare.

Responding, Ibrahim Halilu, the Coordinator of Durumi IDPs Camp, commended the agency for reaching out to those in the camp.

He said that the agency came at a crucial period, the month of Ramadan, when food was needed in the camp.

Halilu, however, faulted the committee in-charge of the IDPs at the National Assembly for refusing to check on them and do the needful.

The statement further said that various items, including mattresses, cartons of noodles, bottle water, bags of garri, bags of rice, bags of sugar, diapers, amongst others were donated.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The Abuja Times 3

SDAs partner UN agencies on FCT 2018 work plan for sustainable devt It was a grand gathering of planners and development experts as top officials from the various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration recently held a three-day consultative meeting with representatives of the various United Nations Development Agencies in Abuja.

Their mission was to brainstorm and develop a strategic roadmap for the 2018 Annual Work Plan(UNSDPF 2018-2022) towards repositioning the FCT Administration for effective and efficient service delivery to FCT residents.

The forum carried out a painstaking review of the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) (2018-2022), with a view to developing an implementable UNSDPF Work Plan and Budget for the FCT in 2018.

In clear terms, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) (2018-2022) is a fiveyear master plan outlining a strategic direction and results expected from the existing cooperation and understanding between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the UN System in Nigeria.

Pursuant to the overall goal of overcoming the challenges of building an ideal, smart and sustainable Federal Capital City (FCC) in line with fast-changing global standards, the participants at the forum, initiated technical and methodological group discussions and presentations towards developing a comprehensive template for activity-focused strategic Work Plan for the FCTA. The UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDPF) provides three thematic result-areas of implementation and nine strategic outcomes.

The first result-area deals with Governance, Human Rights, Peace and Security; while the second result-area places emphasis on Equitable Quality Basic Services, with four basic outcomes, namely Health, Nutrition & HIV/AIDS, Learning & Skill Development, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Similarly, the third result area deals with sustainable, inclusive growth and development with three outcomes on Diversified Economic Growth, Population dynamics and Environmental Sustainability as well as Food Security Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, the Director EPRS, Abubakar Sani Pai, said the

objective of the UNSDPF Work Plan is to “serve as a collective support and response of the UN System to the National Development Initiatives of the Federal Government towards the attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and other internationally-agreed declarations”.

He noted that the framework will further promote and strengthen the existing partnership between the FCTA and the United Nations Agencies in Nigeria, while exiting from 2017 UNDAF III Project implementation programme.

The Director further explained that, in line with the modalities for the implementation of the NSDPF 2018-2022, states of the Federation and the FCT, were selected to organise review meetings to assess the progress made in the previous year(s), evaluate the results achieved, identify challenges and proffer possible solutions from the lessons learnt in order to develop the year’s Annual Work Plan (AWP) for the FCT Administration.

The Annual Work Plan is a comprehensive document that spells out detailed annual programmes and activities of the FCTA with specific

key performance indicators and responsibilities of the various partners involved in the development of the FCT in line with the Administration’s strategic vision and mission.

The final document is expected to indicate the various activities to be implemented during the year, their financial implications, while spelling out the amounts to be contributed by the various UN Agencies and the FCT as counterpart funds.

The Minister of the FCT, Mallam Musa Bello, and the UN Resident Co-ordinator are expected to sign the final document for subsequent implementation.

As part of the activities of the UN Annual Country Programme (UNACP), the implementation of the Annual Work Plan provides each of the UN Agencies – UNDP, UNICEF, UNIDO, WHO, FAO, UN-Population Fund, etc- with specific mandates and areas of engagement with the FCT. The Country Programme is a part of the UN development initiatives to assist Third World countries to improve the socioeconomic well-being of their citizens. Under this platform, the UN Nigeria, through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), works diligently to support Nigeria in achieving

her “national development priorities and other internationally agreed treaty obligations and development goals.

It would be recalled that the implementation of the 2017 Annual Work Plan and the development of the 2018 Plan are sequel to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, on behalf of the FCT Administration, and the Country Representative of the UN System in Nigeria. T he Department of Economic Planning Research & Statistics has consistently played major roles in co-ordinating all the UN donor-Agencies by carrying out annual review meetings to evaluate the partnership programmes and activities of the Agencies, especially in the areas of research, planning, and evaluation of strategic outcomes in line with the mandate of the FCT Administration.

The Department, through its Monitoring and Evaluation Division, has already commenced the co-ordination of the relevant SDAs with the UN Agencies towards the development of a template for data gathering in evaluating the success of the programme.

While describing the initiative as a huge success, the Director, EPRS, Abubakar

Pai, however, identified the delay in the release of counterpart funding on the part of FCT Administration as one of the major challenges faced by the Department in the implementation of the UNSDPF programme.

He attributed the problem to the differences in budgetary time-lines between the UN System and the FCT Administration.

On the issue of community apathy to development projects, the Director called on beneficiaries of community projects to demonstrate ownership by patronising FCTA-UN System projects.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the various Agencies of the United nations and relevant SDAs in the FCT, including, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), FCT Water Board, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), Health and Human Services Secretariat, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), FCT MDGs, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Education Secretariat, the SSA, Legal and Multilateral to the Minister, FCT and the Director, Economic Planning, Research and Statistics.

FCT minister canvasses adequate funding of transport sector

The Head, Fisheries Division in the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke presenting fish net to a beneficial of FCT Subsidized Agricultural Input Support Initiative in Abuja.

‘Beneficiaries of mass housing in FCT to get C of Os soon’ Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja Beneficiaries of mass housing programme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will soon heave a sigh of releif as FCT Administration (FCTA) will soon commence the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to them.

The FCT Director of Lands Administration, Adamu Jibrin Hussaini, disclosed this while receiving the management team of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) that paid him a working visit in his

office recently.

The Director remarked that arrangements are in top gear to collate names of beneficiaries from mass housing developers to enable such have bankable title documents to their properties and afford them opportunities to also access credit facilities from financial institutions.

Hussaini, however, expressed concern over the rate at which mass housing plots are illegally being sold to members of the public, a development he decried as being

at variance with government’s good intentions.

“Mass housing plots were not allocated to be sold but to be built, aimed at providing affordable housing to low income earners across the Territory,” he stressed.

Warning mass housing developers who run foul of the said objectives, he stated that they would definitely be sanctioned in consonance with the laws of the land.

He enjoined FMBN to key into the mass housing scheme and take advantage of

FCTA’s liberalisation policy of land allocation for mass housing in the Territory as the Administration is determined to deliver affordable houses to FCT residents.

Speaking earlier, Managing Director, FMBN, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, who was represented at the occasion by the General Manager (Risk Management), Sadiq Garba, said that the purpose of their visit was to seek ways of collaboration with FCTA in housing development in the Territory.

To ensure an improved economy through all sectors, an improved transportation system, must be adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through adequate funding.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, gave this advice while insisting that government has business in business, especially when it comes to transportation in the country for the economic revival.

Malam Bello, who stated this at a recent two-day National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo in Abuja, added: “Government must take responsibility for the development of the country’s transportation sector, but not wait for private sector investments.”

Bello, who was represented by the FCT Administration (FCTA) Transport Secretary, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, explained that the transport sector was not commercially viable enough to attract enough private sector investors, which was why the FCTA “has taken it upon itself to develop an efficient inter-modal transportation system in the nation’s capital.

He added: “I have heard a lot about PPP (Private-PublicPartnership), and I am going to say it here: I am in government and I have seen what is going on; we must not wait for PPP to develop our transportation sector, government must take responsibility to develop it.”

Further explaining why government must get involved in business in Nigeria, the Minister

said: “The return on investments in the transport sector is below the cost of borrowing. So, you may not see enough investors coming into that sector’’, noting that “it was for this reason that many airlines were struggling to survive around the world.”

He recalled that after terrorists hijacked two commercial planes to attack the World Trade Centre in the United States (U.S) on September 11, 2001, with that country’s aviation beginning to crashing, a development that caused the U.S government to intervene through nonrefundable grants which revived the sector.

The Minister therefore urged the Nigerian government to start thinking in that direction, saying: “The transportation sector must be seen as a security sector; it must also be seen as a social intervention tool. This is because when you invest in that sector, the ripple effect is that tourism will grow, production will grow, cost of manufacturing will go down, and people will have extra money in their pockets.

“When people have more money in their pockets, they will spend more money to buy more.

When they buy more, the GDP increases, and that is the message we are sending to the people in the tourism sector.’’

He also urged tourism stakeholders to join their counterparts in the transportation sector in preaching the message.

According to him, those saying “government has no business in business’’ must be told that that should not apply to the transport sector”.

The Abuja Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, June 7, 2018

US-based Echoes Magazine hosts diplomatic community in Abuja Echoes Media Projects, publishers of Echoes Africa magazine has called on Africans across the world to always tell their positive stories and live according to the cherished African values wherever they are.

Editor-in-Chief, Echoes Africa magazine, Ify Ezinwa who made this call during the recent hosting of diplomatic community to a dinner in Abuja, said it was imperative to focus the searchlight on the positive happenings on the and strategically position it on the global front for recognition and development.

“Our thinking is that, for every negative story coming out of Africa, there are several other positive ones that go untold. While the story of a very minimal percentage of Africans are making the headlines, the world also deserve to know about the real Africa and her people. Presenting balanced accounts of issues is the hallmark of professional journalism and, what Echoes

Africa magazine is about.”

Telling the African story, according to Ezinwa means, “projecting outstanding African countries, states, organizations, businesses and individuals, including political leaders within, and outside of Africa, for the benefit of the continent”. It also means “educating the world on the continent’s geography, history, cultures, traditions, victories and struggles”, as well as addressing salient issues that plague the continent and, suggesting ways in which they could borrow from best practices, in the articles they feature.”

She also explained that the event was meant to drum support “for Africans to tell the African stories by themselves and not as presented by the western media”, adding that “Africans should not leave their stories in the hands of others who mostly focus on negative news about the continent.”

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama who was

Special Guest of Honour at the occasion stated that “it was past time Africa had effective platforms through which the world would get to know the continent better,” adding that “there are countless success stories about the continent in all spheres of life, to be told and that the onus is on Africans to get the stories out there.”

The Minister therefore hailed the publishers for efforts, while expressing hope that more and more people would see the need to project the continent in its true form – a continent so blessed in human and natural resources and that despite all its challenges, is on the right path towards development.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Salladeen Abbas, equally praised the sentiment behind creation of Echoes Africa magazine and charged the Heads of Mission to take advantage and get the publishers to visit their various countries and tell the world the stories that don’t make the headlines.

Another speaker, Ambassador Joe Keshi, former Nigerian Consul-General to Atlanta and, retired Permanent Secretary of the Federal Cabinet commended Ify Ezinwa for the vision of Echoes Africa magazine and for her steadfastness and dedication in promoting Nigeria’s huge human resources across the globe.

Keshi commended Ezinwa for her contribution to getting the Nigerian Diaspora to key into the vision of projecting the African image, saying: “I don’t think I ever said it personally, but I’m saying it now; thank you for the tremendous role you played back then.”

The event, which also saw the public presentation of Echoes Africa latest edition of the publication had a former NTA Executive Director of Programmes and former Director General of National Lottery, Peter Igho as its reviewer.

Sharing his impression of the magazine with the

Front view of the completed terminal Airport station of the Abuja light rail

FCTA moves to tackle Berger junction construction problem Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

Arrangements have been concluded by Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, to immediately commence reconstruction of the moribund Berger Junction Park and restore it to its former beauty.

Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, made the disclosure late last week when he led members of the Ministerial Joint Taskforce, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Development Control, and others, at an exercise.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the exercise, Shuaibu recalled that the area was given to Julius Berger in 2008 to build

a recreation centre, which they did, but unlike the Millennium Park, which is properly maintained by another firm, Salini, the Berger Park was left to rot.

He explained that the area has been taken over by hoodlums and miscreants who peddle drugs and cause trouble to residents around, and also was prone to traffic congestion as well as environmental degradation, an unhealthy development which prompted the FCT Minister to invite Julius Berger to return to the park and deliver on their corporate social responsibility by reviving it.

“It is solely for community recreation and not for business.

There will be no sale of alcohol or drugs or whatever that will be inimical to the dictates of the Abuja Master Plan”, Shuaibu stated.

Addressing drivers and

passengers earlier, the Coordinator warned them to restrict their activities to only approved bus stops and motor parks, rather than continue operating indiscriminately parking, stopping and picking passengers on the streets.

Berating the attitude of many Nigerians, he said: “Government provides facilities for our convenience and usage, unfortunately we do not use them the way it should. ‘’Our people want bus stops located in front of their houses.

Our people do not like to walk, but walking is good for our health; it makes one fit and smart, and also makes one to live long. Henceforth, passengers, buses and taxi drivers, including private car owners, should only use bus stops; many places are provided for them across the city,” he said.

The Coordinator also

explained that dislodging the bad elements and putting a halt to illegal activities around the park was to pave the way for Julius Berger to return to the place and resume work to “restore the beauty of the area.”

The AEPB Director, Baba Shehu Lawan, on his part, warned: “We don’t want night markets around this area and we also do not want book sellers here; it is only newspaper vendors that are allowed to sell here on the road shoulders.

All the book sellers should have bookshops. We should sanitise our road shoulders and keep them clean and safe at all times.”

Chairman of drivers union at Berger Junction, Mr. Peter Ughamadu, who responded on behalf of drivers, promised that he would take care of the illegal activities by his members in the area.

diplomats and other guests, the legendary television producer and acclaimed story teller described it a colorful, engaging, inspiring, and easy-to-read publication of international standard that everyone can relate to. The articles in the magazine Mr. Igho stated, speak to the reader and inspire them to either take action or, embrace a different mindset.

High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, Dr. Peingeondjabi Titus Shipoh in commending the publication, shared how the team of Echoes Africa magazine had visited his country, Namibia and

subsequently published a special edition on the country.

The issue told the Namibian story like never before and as a result, the President of the country, Dr. Hage Geingob was present at the official launch of the magazine in Windhoek, Namibia in the summer of 2015 and subsequently ordered copies, some of which were distributed during the United Nations General Assembly of that year.

In a related development, the Editor-in-Chief, seized the opportunity to re-present the company’s new outfit, Echoes from the Valley, which was also premiered at the dinner.

Abuja Light rail will accelerate FCT economy, create jobs - Perm Sec An explosion of business opportunities is expected when the Abuja light rail project eventually takes off shortly. The upturn in business activities will in turn positively impact the lives of many residents in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as about 20,000 jobs will be created.

Permanent Secretary, FCT, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, expressed the optimism when he led directors and management staff of the Administration on inspection tour of the 78km project last week.

According to him, the rail would accelerate FCT’s economy by opening windows for investments and job creation. He reaffirmed FCT Administration (FCTA)’s commitment to ensuring that the mass transit service is commissioned in a matter of weeks, saying “already the Administration has written to the Presidency for a convenient date.

His words: “The benefits of the project include the potential for over 20,000 jobs, aside boosting the economic fortunes of the Territory.”

Sir Ohaa added that all the necessary infrastructure and human personnel have been put in place for a successful commissioning.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the project which started in 2009 would help to drastically curtail traffic congestion in the nation’s capital city. A tour of the project from the Metro Station, to its Airport Terminal station up to Kubwa station showed that about 98 per cent of the work has been completed.

The Permanent Secretary, who described the project as a new experience in Africa, added that he is impressed with the level of work done so far. He further revealed that the facility has enough escalators and lifts for the physically challenged and adequate security devices for protection of passengers.

Sir Ohaa remarked that both President Muhammadu Buhari and FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, have shown tremendous commitment to ensure the

Abuja rail comes on stream even as he called on residents to own the facility.

Meanwhile, last minute technical observations are being done on the project. In the latest instance, a sevenmember technical team from Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) was in Abuja on a fact finding mission to ascertain the project’s readiness for commercial operations.

On arrival, the NRC officials visited the FCTA Transportation Secretariat where they received briefings from Chief Resident Engineer of the project on the level of completion. The team later undertook an inspection tour of the rail stations and the rolling stock yard, boarding the newly acquired train coaches.

Speaking to Transportation Secretariat officials, team leader, Mr. Akin Osinowo, said the visit was a follow-up to a previous one to determine the readiness of the Abuja rail system (whose infrastructure had been certified good to go by the Ministry of Transport General Inspector of Rail) for passenger operations, especially as it relates to safety, engineering and repairs, operation, management and other issues in line with the Nigerian Railway Act of 1955 and in accordance with global best practices.

At every station visited, the team expressed satisfaction at the level of development and work completion. They also assured FCTA that the Abuja rail system would receive all technical and regulatory support from NRC at every level of its operation.

Though observations were made during the inspection, the NRC expressed readiness to issue a certificate of operation to FCTA as those issues were not serious enough to delay the project’s operations.

Responding on behalf of the Transportation Secretariat, the Director of BRT and Transport Regulation, Engineer Wilson Unogwu, assured the team that FCTA will constantly interact with NRC to ensure a seamless take-off of Abuja rail.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Life & Times

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I’m not a stereotyped actor - Chinedu Ikedieze (a.k.a Aki) With over a decade in the acting game, Chinedu Ikedieze is one of the popular faces on your TV who has featured in well over 100 movies and still counting. He is best known for playing alongside his screen twin, Osita Iheme, in most movies after their breakthrough in the movie “Aki na Ukwa” which earned them the popular names “Aki” and “Pawpaw”. With passion for his art, Chinedu has distinguished himself with not just playing his popular stereotyped roles but his appearing on bigger platforms. Cornered at the trailer screening of Lara and the Beat, Chinedu spoke with MUTIAT ALLI on playing Big Chi, an acclaimed record label CEO, why government needs to support the industry with the creation of more cinemas across the 36 states, and Hollywood plan amongst others. Enjoy...

From the moment when you were not an actor to when you began to act; how do you feel?

Off course I feel grateful and happy that I am living my dreams so to say; of course growing up everyone had one major thing he/she wants to become in the future. Growing up, I had always wanted to be in the limelight because I did not just want to make money; I equally wanted to be known as well. I can say it openly that I am living my life as renowned actor and I am making my cool money.

18years down the line; would you say the journey has been smooth?

I think I have paid my dues and also deserve some accolades for all that I have done since my journey into Nollywood.

What downside of been actor can you recall?

The only challenge I have which I would not know if it’s a challenge is that the kind of life I want to live, I can’t live it because of my celebrity status. I have always crave for a life where I can move freely and interact with people but been who I today; it’s difficult to go around alone so that you don’t get mobbed.

So what has been a celebrity taken away from you?

Honestly, it has ripped me off my privacy How has been married been with you?

We thank God, it’s everything as you can see me I am looking chubby and well-fed You played the role of Big Chi in the coming movie ‘Lara and the Beat’; how big are you in the movie?

Big Chi is larger than live character, when I first saw the script I was amazed and I told myself this is it because I have always looked forward to when I will get a script different from the usual character I am used to playing where we wear tattered clothes and running round the bush and bush path. Already you know I am a part of the popular sitcom ‘The Johnson’ a professionally made production.

When I got on set and discovered that all crew members are professionals, I was excited because you don’t need to do much as all you are required of is to bring live to character.

So who is Big Chi? Big Chi is a young man and the CEO of a popular record label, a talent manager and you can see through the trailer the kind of clients I have. Big Chi is the real deal. With playing the role, it will further open the eyes of my viewers that I can fit into any role rather than the ones I am used to.

A times working with a first-timer on set can be hectic; how was the process for you working with singer, Seyi Shay?

Seyi is a professional; she tried and put

whole lots of efforts in interpreting her character. Initially when we met for the first time on set, she was a little bit naïve but as time goes on she became the ‘Lara’ in the movie and I must say she nailed it.

Movie roles usually expose actors to other things; with playing Big Chi you have been exposed to the running of a music label; do you see Chinedu owning a record label soon?

Well I won’t write It off because I am an entrepreneur and a confirm Igbo man; so we will make sure we maximize profit because whatever that will bring more income, I invest in it. Don’t be surprised if the Big Chi in the movie translates to the real life in terms of owning a record label.

Have you also considered producing your own movies?

I have already started that as I have a short film and a feature film that was shot in Dallas connecting Nollywood to Hollywood.

There is still more coming from me in terms production but one fact is that I love to take my step one at a time.

Life & Times L2

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria

June 2, 2018 Wednesday,Saturday, June 13, 2018

L3 Life & Times

The cinema culture at the time you joined the industry was poor and now lots of improvement has emerged; with Lara and the Beat hitting the cinema soon, how do you feel?

I am happy that at the time of the growing transition process in the industry, I count myself lucky to have been a part of the train. From the Enugu/Asaba movies to doing a sitcom that have been running for over four years now. However, this is not my first cinema job, I did one of recent which I appeared in just one scene of the movie and others that includes Rita Dominic’s ‘ The Meeting’, Omoni Oboli’s Wives on strikes and a couple of others and now Lara and the Beats.

Do you sometimes miss those kinds of stereotyped roles you are used to playing?

The truth is those are the kind of movies people want because people want to laugh and have fun; a lot of my guys outside the country usually tell me that those are the kinds of movies they want to watch because they want a movie that will remind them of where they are coming from. When you begin to do contemporary movies, you want to become more American than the Americans they don’t like it but at the end of the day it still boils down to what the audience want.

While growing up, what was that ambition you had in mind?

It’s funny that while growing up I wanted to be so many things from Lawyer to Doctor and an Engineer because that was how hot the brain was because my uncle is a Medical Doctor and I have always wanted to be like him Are there other new sides of Chinedu that the world is yet to see?

As you know I am an actor, producer and successful business man; probably the new aspect of me the world is yet to see will be seeing me delving into directing because I want to be a total filmmaker because it’s my passion.

Any plan to go to Hollywood?

Definitely!! We have already started that as you can see in this production about three of the camera guys are from America and what that implies is that we have brought Hollywood to Nigeria What is your advice to the government in the area of imbibing the cinema culture to the populace?

For me I think the government needs to more by creating more cinemas and maintain it; for instance they can build this cinemas and allow private investors to manage it because with this the amount of money we pay to screen our movies in cinemas will be lower so that people in my village would be able to go the cinema. I want to charge the government of the need to put in place six cinemas at least in each state across the federation When was the last time you visited home?

Oh girl!!! I dey go home oo steady because I just came back to Lagos; my families live in Aba, most time when I am around I visit the village to have quality palm-wine, bush meat and most importantly to take care of my projects.

What is the most humbling reaction you’ve gotten from a fan?

We went to a hospice in Uganda where they keep children affected with HIV. There was this section where they keep people who have lost all hope, people who are just living by the minutes so we (Osita and I) went there and when one of the kids saw us, she stood up. The people told us that for months, the girl hadn’t stood up but she did when she saw us. Even my President, the day I received the National award in 2010, I could see that he was tired after standing to give so many people their awards but when they called my name, I saw the transition on his face. The way the smile came to his face was so clear. That is to tell you that we are created for a purpose.

‘I may be owning a record label soon’

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Empraiz embarks on US, Europe tour Stories by Mutiat Ali

Nigeria Afro-contemporary gospel artiste, Empraiz is a multitalented artiste known for his traditional uniqueness of singing and performing in different African and Local languages. The infusion of traditional folks instruments like Sakara, Goje (African xylophone) and Bata percussion, has carved a niche for his music in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

He is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, song writer, music promoter and concert coordinator.

His unique talent of singing and performing in different African language has earned him local and international awards. He was interviewed by our reporter who was present at the festival of art and culture programme held in Lagos Nigeria.

Recently nominated at the Africa gospel music award (AGGMA) held in London with his band for the Best Traditional Group (West Africa) Empraiz and his group (Empraiz gospel group) went on their first international tour in the United States in November, 2016. It was a time of African traditional display of heritages, songs and dance in different languages. This special talent and gift has granted him over 150 Radio and TV air play in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and other West Africa countries. He has also been given the invitation by different Africa communities in Europe and United States to represent Africa and Nigeria cultural heritage, A festival of Africa arts and culture. The tour is scheduled to take place this summer in Europe and US performing alongside his group (Empraiz gospel group).

He recently released a new afro centric song titled “OMIOMIO” in Urhobo/Isoko language which means sweetness and has attracted a global acceptance by all Urhobo/Isoko speaking race all over the world

Kimono will be remembered for elevation of reggae – Lai Mohammed The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the late globally acclaimed reggae star; Ras Kimono will be remembered for his contribution to the elevation of reggae.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister said Kimono’s contribution to that genre of music can never be forgotten. Mohammed expressed shock and sadness at the passing of the reggae star, adding that he would be remembered for his love of the masses, his life of discipline and his service to humanity.

“Kimono helped to blaze the trail for the phenomenal growth of the Nigerian music industry.

He was a worthy mentor to the younger generation of Nigerian musicians. His legacy will surely endure,” Mohammed said.

The minister extended his condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late artiste, and indeed to the entire Nigerian music industry.

He said the music industry had lost “a foremost proponent of reggae, a prominent campaigner for a better life for the people and a patriot”.

L3 Gist

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Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Society Gist Alali Hart’s latest interest

Business mogul, Don Ebubeogu’s ‘special love’ for Maybach Stories by Ajibade Alabi

As Nigeria’s industrial revolution gradually gets back its mojo, one man who is fast becoming a top player but remains ever unobtrusive and quiet in his giant strides is Don Ebubeogu. The unassuming seasoned industrialist is rooted in the Nigeria, particularly, Lagos and Onitsha industrial and business communities where he superintends a flourishing food and beverage conglomerate, Tiger foods Nigeria Limited.

The president of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA),

relishes creating wealth as well as good life. Unlike many of his business mogul colleagues, Ebubeogu is not a car freak, but has been blessed enough to be able to afford any of the top brands like Rolls Royee, Mercedes, Ford and Jaguar if he desires to have any. A visit to any of his modest mansions both in Lagos and Anambra will attest to his taste with nice modest pricey autos. As much as Ebubeogu doesn’t lust after those lascivious cars, those close to him say if he decides to change his mind on picking any of those classic authors made for ‘modus men’ , the foremost industrialist will definitely settle for

Sonnia Agu’s Nigerian dream for the youth

Mercedes Maybach, which name has been synonymous with luxury.

With the average cost of Maybach Sadan going for about $500,000 per piece, auto pundits have described Maybach as one of the best cars ever made by man and the fact that it is ‘Made In Germany’ has elevated the brand into a deity among celebrities. But in spite of his status, Ebubeogu is not cut out to throwing away hundreds of dollars to acquire such luxury piece of wheel. Rather, the amiable dude is ever thinking of expanding his business frontiers to get many Nigerian engaged and off below the poverty line.

For Alali Hart, socialite and brain behind the Montaigne place, the last time she was a staple for the gossip tabloids was when reports of her alleged break up with Lagos big boy, Solayemijeremi, swirled around.

The two alleged ex-lovers are back in the news but not together. While the sapele-born hunk’s name has been touted as the mystery man behind the controversial pregnancy of famous blogger, Linda Ikeji, the reverse is it for Alali.

This brilliant and top fashionista has stayed off controversies, building her brand and doing greatly. Her Montaigne place, the leading luxury fragrance, skincare, cosmetics and lifestyle company, has continued to thrive and become a major force in bringing luxury brands including world-renowned brands such as Creed, amouage, Black Up, Yves Rocher and Murad to the Nigerian public.

Montaigne place has even delved into the creative arts with extravagant and sublime perfume creations from some of the world’s greatest artists whose palettes are of active notes that transport the senses

into different dimensions.

But now, she has taken it further with the unveiling of her outfit’s art development project tagged the ‘Montaigne place Urban Art series’ with its maiden edition held at the Montaigne place store at the palms shopping Mall in Lekki, Lagos on Thursday May 31. The series was an exciting experience for curators, collectors, enthusiasts and lovers of art where an 8ft by 11ft oil painting has been installed on the side windows overlooking the common areas of the mall. The svelte lifestyle

mogul said the Urban Art series was conceived as a platform to bring to public view and enjoyment exciting modern and contemporary works of Nigerian artists by commissioning and installing art works in a variety of media by offering free access and viewing to the public. “Art creates a beautiful and Kinetic dimension to everyday life. It can educate, enlighten and uplift the mundane to the extraordinary”, she said. Alali has grown Montaigne place into a chain that boasts of 18 branches in Lagos alone.

Between Hon. David Lawrence and his constituents Unlike so many of his colleagues who are only concerned about themselves, their families and cronies, Hon. David Lawrence has shown time and again that he is not only about making laws that would favour the common man in his constituency but actually making meaningful contributions in their lives. In line with his campaign promise to encourage academic excellence, Lawrence, a member representing Eket state constituency in the Akwa

She is a well know inspirational speaker and one of the best of her generation, well-educated and always precise on point. Sonia Agu is a your kind of lady and a youth vibrant who believe in the youth, but that is not all she want also a vibrant youth She speaks more about her vision in this interaction with Daily Times recently “Till our orientation is changed from top to the grass level, we wait amiss, as leadership and wealth must first be seen as the amount of impacts you contribute and not merely your possession. We are the solution generation, but till we consciously have a deliberate national development template, differentiation strategy, objective, growth policy, direction and plan, we will continually wait in vain. – (NDOGDP) We have indeed come of age to define our national dreams in clear visionary, inclusive and sustainable vision. At least I have and before any screams it’s impossible, utopic

Ibom state House of Assembly, has begun bursary assistance scheme for students of Eket Local Government studying in various higher institutions across the country. The Daily Times learnt that the scheme is the first of its kind in Eket constituency.

Outside the 300 beneficiaries, amiable Lawrence is said to have been quietly supporting other students with their school fees, accommodation and other sundry assistance he has decided not to make known to the public.

and undoable again, I congratulate myself for thinking and daring.

We have the richest men and women in the world but we still don’t have solutions that have put us on the map for good, a lot of people living below the belt, I know it’s not an easy route to ply but a conscious and deliberate effort can work. For instance, a Philippine that lives in Nigeria, has made over 500 million naira if not more simply by investing in palm oil and catfish, in their country, palm oil is an elite and healthier choice when it comes to oil, meanwhile we are ignorant about this.

I know for certain that if Dangote where to produce and redefine palm oil, (one of our natural produce) and sells to other parts of the world, it would be the one of the things Nigeria would be known for, its as little as that. It could be organic palm oil, low cholesterol, vitamins etc. I wish I had the capacity needed to do this.

Norway till date is the home for stick fish, China for technology, Cuba for organic food, India health care, Dubai Tourism, South Africa Modern Africa, America supreme power (uncountable innovation), Maldives beautiful honey moon beach, Canada employment, France love, UK the best place to age and be etc., what are we known for asides oil?

I challenge us youths, even the so called rich and wealthy people, I dare us to produce something the world has not seen and put Nigeria on the map for greatness. Do you know we could get the cure for cancer if our research centers are good and finances made available, diabetes, hypertension, we could build cars, be number one in technology, have the best health surgeons etc. just like India is doing. We have people who are abroad, they are the best in what they do and would be more than willing to come back and set up if giving the chance and opportunity.