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Aftermath of economic crunch: NOUN programmes under threat

Ï Candidates desert study centres Ï Number of enrollment declines nationwide Ï Law graduates’ denial of admission by Law School affecting prospective candidates Ï We’re not aware of development – Varsity spokesman Augustine Okezie, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Students

who hitherto got enrolled to study at the Nation-

al Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) are steadily discontinuing their programmes following the present economic crunch Continued on page 12

Senate seeks end to high interest regime

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 386

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Osinbajo to NASS: You lack power

to modify Appropriation Bill Ï Decries late passage of 2017 Budget Ï No, we have power of appropriation –Senators Ï Acting President meets northern elders, warns against hate speech Ï Orders Security chiefs to protect all Nigerians, property

Mathew Dadiya and Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Barely 24 hours after

signing the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Continued on page 6

APC will exist for 2006 years – Presidency

FIRS generates N778.19bn in Q1

Raid on The SUN premises: Call EFCC to order, NPAN tells FG 24

DHQ probes Navy, Police clash in Calabar 5

L-R: Director General, Department of State Security Services, Mr. Lawal Daura; Minister of Interior, Lt.-General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); Minister of Defence, Brig. General Mansur Dan Ali (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the security briefing at the National Assembly, Abuja... on Tuesday... PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

$1.1bn Malabu scam: FG moves to extradite Adoke, others B1

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

5 News

Quit Notice To Igbos: Most unpatriotic, dangerous statement ever made –N’Delta forum Isaac Olamikan, Warri The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the umbrella group of the Niger Delta Peoples, has described the quit notice some northern youths issued recently to the Igbo residents in their part of the country as “the most unpatriotic and dangerous.” The group said statement was the worst ever made by any group to threaten “the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria, since the end of the civil war, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the active collaboration of some eminent personalities.” In a statement made available to Daily Times in Warri on Tuesday, PANDEF stressed that it was disturbed that the tension generated by the recent statement by some Arewa Youth groups against the Igbos has not abated yet. “It is more disturbing that this unguided action is being actively supported by some Northern Elders. “This action coming only a few days after the Biafra sit-at-home call which reportedly recorded some compliance in the South East, is a clear indication that all is not well with our dear country. “It is rather appalling that no definite action has been carried out by the Federal Government till date.” The group said it considered the quit notice by the Arewa Youths as “tragic and more treasonable than the offence allegedly commit-

ted by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB), for which he was incarcerated for about a year.” PANDEF insisted that this call by Arewa youths must be “nipped in the bud, and timely too; and the Federal Government should, as in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, arrest, detain and prosecute these youths and their sponsors, for treasonable felony, with immediate effect, no matter how highly placed as, there must be no sacred cows. “Every law abiding Nigerian must be free to stay in any part of the country, without any form of molestation and discrimination; and must be each other’s brother’s keeper, in a Nigeria where no one is superior to the other; and where no one threatens to drive any other group of Nigerians away from any part of the country. “We have to restate here that the South- South which comprises the six Niger Delta States of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States do not form part of the said Biafra, as irresponsibly claimed by some Biafran agitators. “We take the view that this regrettably dangerous posture by the Northern Youths and their sponsor is unwittingly lending profound support to the demands of the Biafran agitators, which is totally unacceptable to any patriotic Nigerian, and a flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

DHQ probes Navy, Police clash Calabar Andrew Orolua Abuja

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Weeks after a vital clash between the personnel of the Nigerian Navy and police in Calabar, Cross Rivers state the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday constituted a high profile committee to probe the remote and immediate causes of the clash. The unfortunate clash which occurred on June 30, 2017 between personnel of the Navy and police in Calabar not only left several policemen dead but resulted in the destruction of properties, including the burning of Akim Divisional Police headquarters. A statement yesterday signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, said that the investigation committee comprises senior officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce and the Police. The committee has been mandated to investigate the incident and recommend appropriate sanction or sanctions against anyone or group of people that are found culpable in the avoidable incident. The Defence headquarters said the probe “is aimed at checkmating and subsequently

eliminating such incidents in the future, in order to enhance the relationship between the Military and other Security and Response Agencies in Nigeria.” However, the statement was silent on the fate of the probe panels earlier separately constituted by the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Police on the incident. The Defence Headquarters yesterday appealed to members of all Security and Response Agencies to embrace espirit de corps in the course of carrying out their duties and to have mutual respect and understanding for each other. Earlier media report on the incident had alleged that Navy officers stormed a police division in Calabar, on Tuesday night at about the hours of 8:30pm and 10:19pm sporadically shut and burnt the station. That the unrest was a continuation of an initial skirmish between a police traffic officer and a naval officer at a traffic light near the Calabar Stadium along the Airport Road on Tuesday afternoon after some naval officers ran the red light and police traffic officers intervened, but rather than listen, they descended on the policemen and beat them up,” a witness said.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (m), with senior officers, during the commissioning of residential accommodation at the Nigerian Air Force bases at Makurdi and Kainji respectively… on Tuesday.

Anti-graft War: Justice Nganjiwa knows fate on June 23 Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏ

Ruling in a preliminary objection brought by Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on Tuesday fixed by a Lagos High Court, Igbosere. Justice Adedayo Akintoye, yesterday fixed June 23 for ruling on whether or not Justice Nganjiwa can be arraigned by the anti-graft agency. The agency had filed a 14-count charge of unlawful enrichment to the tune of $260,000 and N8,650,000 against the Judge who is serving at the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division. Justice Nganjiwa, in the preliminary objection is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the charge. He was however not available for arraignment at yesterday’s proceedings. His lawyer, Robert Clarke (SAN), said the judge failed to catch a flight from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. Clarke also noted that the charge ‘improperly’ addressed Nganjiwa by not referring to him as a judge.

He said: “With the greatest respect, we apologise for the absence of the defendant who is a sitting judge of the Federal High Court in Bayelsa. He informed me yesterday that he could not get a flight from Bayelsa and he profusely apologises to your Lordship. He can assure your Lordship that at the next adjournment he will be in court. “Today’s absence is not a deliberate act but due to circumstances beyond his control.” Clarke then made a preliminary objection that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case. He anchored his objection on Section 6 (6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and argued that the due process requires that any misconduct by a sitting judicial officer should firstly be looked into by the National Judicial Commission (NJC). “The prosecutor instituted a criminal charge against the defendant while he occupies a judicial office. “The prosecutor is EFCC for Attorney-General of Lagos State, who are both members of the executive arms

of government. “The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended has ensured separation of powers within the arms of the government and provided for discipline of erring judicial officers. “The information filed offends the provisions of Section 158 (1) and Paragraph 21 of the third sechedule of the constitution which established judicial precedents and authorities. “This honourable court lacks the jusridiction to try the defendant on the basis of the offences contained in the information. “I’ll urge your Lordship to strike out the charge and follow due process,” Clarke said. But, the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, challenged the defendant’s non-appearance and urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection. He said: “We are extremely disappointed by the wilful refusal of the defendant to appear before my Lord. The defendant

Taraba: Herdsmen, butchers protest, threaten sitat home over anti-grazing bill Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

ÏÏÏ

Hundreds of herdsmen, butchers, and cattle and sheep dealers on Tuesday morning stormed the Taraba State Houses of Assembly in Jalingo, the state capital, to protest the anti-grazing bill before the lawmakers. The protesters also threatened to begin a sit-at-home. Earlier, the protesters had taken to major roads in Jalingo, the state capital, protesting the bill which they described as “antihuman” and targeted to subdue the herdsmen and also to undermine and restrict activities of the Fulani ethnic group in the state. They called on the lawmakers to strike out the bill, proposed by Governor Darius Isiaku, in the interest of peace, Speaking when he led the protesters to the Assembly complex, the state chairman of Miyetti Al-

lah, Taraba State, Sahabi Tukur, said the rights of Fulani nomads will be trampled upon if the bill is enacted into law. He expressed shock that some lawmakers have thrown their weight behind it. “It’s unfortunate that some of you lawmakers in the state assembly including the Rt. Hon Speaker are backers, and with this we begin to have second thought that legislative process is usurped. “We want to advise that as elective representatives and lawmakers, you should avoid enacting laws that could bring disunity, chaos or anarchy. “Though we are not preaching violence, but if care is not taken, some people may take laws into their hands by attacking our people and this will cause breakdown of law and order,” Tukur told the Speaker of the Assembly, Ho. Abel Diah, who received the

protesters. Also speaking during the protest, the North-east zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Umar Danburam, said: “From the initial stage, we were not involved in the process and it contravenes Nigerian constitution. So even if you (lawmakers) do your way to pass it; we will challenge it to Nigerian apex court.” In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Abel Diah, condemned the threat by the protesters, saying the protest was in ignorance as “the issues raised were accommodated within the proposed bill.” “The committee set up by the House of Assembly to handle the process of the bill had given three weeks within which to conduct public hearing on the bill before passage, where all issues that appear unclear will be addressed.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Osinbajo to NASS: You lack power to modify Appropriation Bill Continued from page 1 on Tuesday, lashed out at the National Assembly, saying that the lawmakers lack the power to introduce new projects or modify those contained in an appropriation bill. Osinbajo stated this while flagging off the 2018 budget preparation process based on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The acting president further challenged the propriety of the lawmakers to introduce new projects or modify the ones prepared by the executive, insisting that the

action is illegal and tantamount to usurping the power of the executives. He further decried the late passage of the budget, saying that it is regrettable that the document took a long time before it was passed. He said: “ I am sure that we understand not just how to do it right, but to get it done in good time. “This last budget, the president presented it last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed by February, it was not until May. “As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of

time before it was approved. “And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right. But the acting president also gave a hint of different understanding of the power of appropriation, suggesting that the executive may seek correct pronouncement from the Supreme Court over the legality of appropriation in the 2018 Budget. He said: “There are issues about who can do what. Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report is about who can do what. When you present budget to the National As-

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (m), with members of Implementation Committee for the Proposed Information Communication Technology (ICT) University to be cited in Enugu, during a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu… on Tuesday.

APC will exist for 200 years –Presidency Tom okpe Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Presidency has assured that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will exist for more than two hundred years contrary to insinuations by some Nigerians that the party in power may not survive long as a political party due to crises rocking the party at all level. The pinnacle of power also defended the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in invading the premises of the Sun Newspaper in Lagos on Monday, which has attracted condemnations in some quarters. Speaking at the national secretariat of the party on Tuesday in Abuja during the official presentation of his book titled “APC: the Making of the Change Agents” to the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, said he was

not aware of any crises rocking APC at any level. When asked in an interview to justify what he said earlier while presenting the book to Chief Oyegun on how many years he initially said APC will exist, Obla said: “I said in the next 200 years APC will be alive. Yes, why not? Because we have done very well and we are going to remain in power as long as we continue to do well, we believe Nigerian people will always vote for us”. While justifying the evasion of the Sun Newspapers in Lagos by the EFCC, the presidential aide said: “EFCC has not gone after the media. What happened is that The Sun Newspaper was under an order of interim forfeiture, so they went there to look at the property; it was not taken away and not deprecated, and nothing is wrong with that. “They didn’t go there because the Sun published a news story that is considered against EFCC or government. They went there to do their work as part of

their mandate to fight financial crimes, and you know that the media house is owned by a former governor who is under trial. As we are talking now, he is under trial and if you are under investigation, EFCC has the power to go to court and get an order of interim forfeiture pending the hearing of the case against you”. Also speaking, the APC National Chairman, who described the book as an insider account of the merger process that culminated in the formation of the APC, encouraged other stakeholders who “participated intimately” in the formation of the APC to document their record of events for posterity. He commended the contributions and sacrifices of chairmen of the legacy parties that merged to form the APC - former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; new PDP entrants amongst other stakeholders in the formation of the APC.

sembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill. “And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.” But responding, a ranking Senator, who pleaded not to be named, said the power of appropriation rests essentially with the legislative arm of government and not the executive, stressing that the Appropriation Bills from the executive arm of government has always been subjected to a thorough scrutiny by the legislature. The Senator alluded to section 81 of 1999 Constitution (as amended), which according to him, states: “The president shall cause to prepare and lay before each houses of National Assembly in each financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditures of the federation for the next following year”. “As far as budgeting was concerned, the power to appropriate resided with the National Assembly. The National Assembly has the right to either increase or reduce budget. It is there in the constitution. So, we are empowered by law to appropriate,” he added. Also reacting, some Senators disagreed with the acting president, stressing that the National Assembly is the only arm of government empowered by the Constitution to not only amend the appropriation bill but to also alter it as may be deemed necessary. In his own comment, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said the National Assembly has every right to either introduce new projects or modify the budget. He said: “It depends on the premise upon which the Acting President is coming from. Otherwise, if we don’t have the right, why do they send it to us? The National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to do that. It has the power to alter the Bill and its content”. In a quick reaction however, some Senators disagreed with the acting president, stressing that the National Assembly is the only arm of government empowered by the Constitution to not only amend the appropriation bill but to also alter it as may be deemed necessary. Although the Senate spokesman, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report, one of his aides hinted that he (Sabi) would prepare a comprehensive response to explain the part played by the Senate in delivering the 2017 Budget for assent by the Acting President. There have been reports that the executive arm was already

taking steps to seek a judicial interpretation of the constitution on the limitations of the lawmaking arm on budget and power of appropriation. The acting president had earlier on Tuesday kicked off the 2018 budget preparation process a day after he assented to the 2017 Appropriation Bill. However, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, will present the breakdown of the justsigned 2017 Budget to the general public on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja by 10.00am. In another development, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that no one will be allowed to get away with making hate speech that can cause sedition or violence, adding that the Federal Government will deal decisively with such a recalcitrant person. Osinbajo gave the warning on Tuesday after a closed door meeting with elders from the northern part of the country at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He noted that when people make divisive pronouncements and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property, they would not be in control of the aftermath, stressing that, “those who make those speeches are no longer in control.” According to him, the Federal Government will take very seriously any attempt to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. He said: “As a government, we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speech or divisive behaviour where it is illegal will be met with the full force of the law. That is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins. “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, and any stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets that are going to be deadly. So I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended. “As part of living together, I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal but we must be careful to recognise that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything if we are together in peace. “These days, wars do not end and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.” According to Osinbajo, this is Continued on page 7

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

News

Senate seeks end to high interest regime in banking sector Olufemi Samuel and Chris Emetoh Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Senate has called for a workable solution that will put a halt on the current rising interest rates regime in the Nigerian banking sector and return profitability viability to Nigerian enterprises. Also, the Senate has called for urgent intervention of the Federal Government in the violent crisis in Kogi State in order to ensure the security of lives and property in the state. Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, made the call for an end in high interest regime on Tuesday during stakeholders’ roundtable to address the increasing interest rate in Nigeria.

ÏÏÏ Decries violence in Kogi, urges FG to intervene ÏÏÏ As Melaye demands state of emergency in Kogi Saraki described such solution as only option if the country is to build a virile private sector that will meet its developmental needs, noting that a 25-30% interest rate regime is a yoke too hard to bear for any real sector business. He said:”Our businesses need a breather. I am a firm believer that unless we are ready to think outside of the box and task ourselves to make sacrifices and take hard decisions with a view to the future, we will not make much progress. “ Let’s give a chance to our poultry and cassava farmers, welders, builders, our fashion designers,

filmmakers, shoemakers, furniture companies and our other numerous small and medium sized industries a chance to stay alive and make a living for their families. These people; the SME’s are the reason we are gathered here. These entrepreneurs employ 88% of our work force. They have demanded and we should find a means to give them a new interest rate. If we don’t, we will all be poorer for it. If we are able to, we will all ultimately benefit.” The Senate President explained that the public hearing is an indication of the visions of the 8th Senate of a more sustainable

interest rate regime that enables people to do business, create wealth and be empowered to follow their dreams. He said that the National Assembly is creating a new overarching framework for the infrastructure market by expanding the opportunity for private sector in the market. Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, said that the current regime of interest rate has continued to be a major burden on businesses in the country and there-

Flooded Azikoro Ekeki Police Station, after downpour in Yenagoa, Bayelsa… on Tuesday.

fore requires very urgent solution. Meanwhile, the Upper Legislative chamber on Tuesday called for urgent intervention of the Federal Government in the violent crisis in Kogi State in order to ensure the security of lives and property in the state. The Senate also condemned Monday’s shootout incident which claimed about five lives, including an attempt on the life of the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye. Armed tugs were said to have come after the Senator who was in the state to visit a medical facility where it was gathered that he intended to offset the bills of some of the patients most of whom are civil servants. The reaction of the Senate followed a petition during plenary on Tuesday by Senator Melaye detailing the Senate about the incident. Citing section 14 (2) of the Nigeria Constitution, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, explained that the provision is explicitly clear on the security of lives of people and the responsibility of the Government. Ekweremadu warned that the Senate and indeed the Federal Government will no longer continue to fold their arms and watch while the lives of people are jeopardised. He however appealed for calm in the state while urging the warring factions to

do everything possible to end hostility. Melaye, who came through a point of order (order 42 of Senate rules), narrated his ordeal in the hands of armed thugs during the trip to the medical facility in his constituency, just as he fingered Governor Yahaya Bello for masterminding the ugly incident. Melaye also indicted some Local Government officials in the state who he said were seen together with the armed men. Calling for Senate intervention in the matter, Melaye, who also demanded that Governor Bello should be called to order, urged the Senate to implore Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Kogi, noting that the situation in the state under the Governor has gone out of hand. The Senator, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleged a high level of insecurity and state of anarchy in Kogi, as well as its militarisation. He further called on the Senate to investigate development as well as urge the Inspector General of Police to carry out an audit of armoury in the State Police Command, specifically the armoury in Government House Lokoja. He said recounted that his only offence against the governor is his constant demand for payment of 15 months’ salary owed workers in the state.

Osinbajo to NASS: You lack power to modify Appropriation Bill

Continued from page 6

not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines, adding that “moments like this are not for isolating ourselves. I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together. “I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property, we are no longer in control. Those who make those speeches are no longer in

control.” “So I want to emphasise that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins,” Osinbajo added. Those at the meeting include Senate President Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin; Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum and former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Comassie. Others in attendance include Prof. Ango Abdullahi; former Governor Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako; former Deputy Governor of

Plateau State, Pauline Tallen; Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam NdahIsaiah; Paul Unongo; AVM Murkar and Chairman, Liberty Radio/Television, Tijani Ramalan and the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust, Dan Ali, among others. Also, the Acting President has ordered the security chiefs to ensure that all lives of Nigerians and their property are fully protected at all times and always, anywhere in the country. Osinbajo gave the directives during a meeting with the security chiefs over the weekend. A statement by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said the acting President gave the directive in response to the recent ultimatum by a coalition of north-

ern youth groups to Ndigbo to leave the northern region before October 1, 2017. Meanwhile, the flagging off the 2018 budget preparation process on Tuesday was anchored by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning while the process is to ensure that the 2018 Budget aligns with the provisions of the ERGP and is ready for presentation to the National Assembly by early October this year. Both the Acting President and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who addressed Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and heads of government agencies spoke of the need to reinvigorate the budget preparation process and ensure that the 2018

and subsequent national budgets are ready for implementation by January of the budget year. The Acting President said “going forward, we have agreed with the National Assembly leadership on the necessity to get Nigeria back onto a predictable January to December fiscal year. To achieve this, the 2018 Budget needs to get to the National Assembly no later than early October so that the National Assembly can conclude work on it before the end of the year.” Osinbajo stressed the need for direct involvement of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and heads of government agencies in the preparation of their respective establishments’ budgets.

He said: “Ministers and Permanent Secretaries are to take responsibility to ensure that as much as possible of their 2017 Budget is implemented between now and December. They are also to be personally involved in the process for the preparation of the 2018 Budget to ensure that we meet the deadline of submitting it to the National Assembly by early October 2017”. According to Osinbajo, government officials must fast-track the implementation of the 2017 Budget to make up for the lost time and to deliver on expectations. It also means they have to work faster on procurement issues and effectively manage resources, which he said are very scarce.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Taraba Assembly ends 2nd year, passes 19 bills into law Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

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The leadership of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Jalingo has said that the lawmakers were able to pass about 19 bills into law during the second legislative year of the 8th Assembly. Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah, disclosed this while delivering a speech to mark the end of the second legislative year of the 8th Assembly held at the Assembly’s hallow chambers, Jalingo. Hon Diah, who appreciated the efforts of his colleagues for their display of rare zeal and dedication in carrying out their legislative duties during the period under review added

that such commitments were worthy of commendation. “Your support for the leadership of this House and your collective response to address the security threat to life and property following recent happenings in Taraba State is worthy of commendation”, he said. Mr. Speaker said as part of the legislative tradition, it is imperative to reflect on the score card of the lawmakers in order to put on record major activities they carried out during the period under review. He further stated that during the period of the second year of the eight Assembly, many resolutions that bordered on matters of urgent public importance were adopted which according to him were meant to aid the executive arm of

government in implementing some actions as a responsible democratic government. Some of the Bills passed into law according to Mr. Speaker were; the Taraba State Appropriation law No. 1 of 2015; Taraba State Retirement Age of Staff of Tertiary Education Institution Law No. 2 of 2015; Taraba State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Law No. 3of 2015. Abel Peter Diah said, the House received, deliberated and adopted many Motions bordering on happenings in the State that needed legislative actions, some of which are; the need for the Federal Government t o construct a Bailey Bridge across River Donga to link the people of Mbamnga Constituency, sponsored by

Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah of Mbamnga, Hon. (Bar) Bashir Mohammed of Nguroje and Hon. Dr. A.A. Jugulde of Gembu Constituencies; the need to investigate the causes of the recent killings of innocent villagers by herdsmen in Garbabi Ward of Gashaka Local Government Area of the State, sponsored by Hon. Hamman Adama Abdallah of Bali II Constituency. Daily Times gathered that the lawmakers also received and processed some Petitions like the Unlawful retirement of the State Auditor General for local government by the State Civil Service Commission, sponsored by Gambo Musa Tukura and signed by Hon. Habila Timothy Anderifun of Ussa Constituency.

L-R: Minister of Environment and Food for Denmark, Mr. Esben Lunde Larsen; Chief Executive Officer, Arla, Mr. Peder Tuborgh and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, during the opening of the Arla Global Innovation Centre in Aarhus, Denmark… recently.

HURIWA to NYSC: What happened to N520m from last year’s reduced orientation?

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Pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has challenged the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to say what happened to the whooping sum of N520 million it got last year from the reduction of the usual orientation days by four days. In a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the national media affairs director, Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA disclosed that some patriotic citizens approached the organisation to help Nigerian youth find out the whereabouts of that cash given that the participants in the two streams of the NYSC last year felt short-changed because of the inexplicable

reduction in the number of statutory days for orientation camp last year. “We have it on good authority that in the year 2016 batch A/B orientations, the management of the Nysc reduced the orientation days from 21 days which is what was approved and bankrolled by the Federal government by 4 days,” HURIWA said. The human rights body further stated that: “If you recalled that the management claimed that a total of 260,000 prospective participants were mobilized in the two streams last year and each corper collects a stipend of N500.So, if you remove four days, it means that N2000 should be the surplus from each participant for those four days meaning that if you compute the total by the number of corpers

mobilized which officially stood at 260,000, the federal government ought to have been refunded the sum of N520 million. “We were informed that there is likely to be no evidence of this refund and all efforts to verify this has been rebuffed. We have resolved to adopt the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT to officially approach the management of NYSC to furnish us with the evidence of refund or otherwise.” Speaking further, the human rights group noted that “Nigerians need to ask the relevant questions from the past and current management and the directorate of finance what they did with this whooping amount. As you know very well HURIWA has on numerous occasions rose to the defence of NYSC and as a group with

thousands of youth membership, we will follow the due process of the law to demand accountability. “There are several other claims and allegations brought to our attention but this aspect is critical because of the need to promote integrity in the administration of the NYSC scheme which is like a Leadership training platform for future Nigerian leaders.” HURIWA recalled that eight months ago, the spokesperson of NYSC was quoted in the media to have asserted that: “This year (2016) for instance, since the federal government does not want a situation where youths who are done with tertiary education to hang out longer than necessary before having their chance to serve, we were given 260, 000 corps members to mobilize.”

South African varsity to partner FUNAAB on medicinal plants Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

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The Walter Sisulu University (WSU), Eastern Cape, South Africa, has concluded arrangements to collaborate with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in the areas of agricultural business, medicinal plants, waste products and food security. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of WSU, Professor Rob Midgley, who was in FUNAAB, in the company of Professor Adebola Oyedeji and Dr. Vincent Nakin, sought to know how to turn farming in the rural area into an economy, how to turn a subsistent farmer into a small scale farmer, as well as how a small scale group of farmers can be turned into a commercial entity. He added, “how do I generate business around agriculture? WSU provides a gateway from poverty to some kind of economic improvement for families.” Describing agricultural engineering as the study of the provision of tools for food security, the scholar said that the section could provide benefits within same community, other than being taking into another community and benefiting from that community. Professor Midgley stated further that WSU team was in FUNAAB, partly to see what kind of opportunities there are to tap from, as well as assess the way which things, as regarding agriculture, were done. His words: “How can we ‘steal’ some of your ideas and

implement them there? How we can get projects that we collaborate and may be able to do a research work together?” He stressed that both universities share some similarities, noting that they are not different from each other as the problems were alike, as well as the opportunities. He further stated that both institutions could work on the same project and look for funding opportunities together. Responding, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin, said that the parley had set a template for both teams to work with, as the Deans and Directors were enjoined to articulate all the views mentioned and come up with a brief that would be examined by the University Management. Professor Enikuomehin, while making a slide presentation about FUNAAB, noted that the University was advancing towards a world-class status, a feat that could not be achieved in a day. He highlighted the worldclass agenda of the University to be: visionary leadership; commitment to quality, sustainable funding and fund management, research - relevance and quality. Others are: teaching skills and competences for meaningful learning, community engagement as well as collaboration, partnership and internationalization. He expressed satisfaction over the imported Kalahari goats from South Africa, saying that they were a pride to the University, which now possessed improved species named Kalahari Red Goats.

Encomiums on LAWMA boss on birthday Bonny Amadi Encomiums were poured on the executive chairman of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Chief Olumuyiwa Adejokun, as he celebrated his birthday. Cross section of personalities who have joined the train in wishing the LAWMA boss a befitting celebration, remarked that Adejokun’s human nature has endured him to many people that have crossed his path, as they recalled that his undying commitment to deliver on Governor Akinwumi Amode’s vision on cleaner, secured and hospitable Lagos, among others. The LAWMA chairman was described as bringing to bear his altruistic and constructive qualities on assuming office as the helmsman of the state waste management body, under the Ministry of Environment, which set in motion a new wave of commit-

ment and dedication to duty, as staff strive to clinch reward for excellence award instituted by him to drive excellence. ‘He has demonstrated some level of maturity in building a cordial relationship with the management and members of staff of the waste management authority. Bode Adeniji, stakeholder in cleaner Lagos initiative and LAWMA, described Chief Olumuyiwa Adejokun as a man of great character and deep conviction in advancing his chosen course. “He has greatly advanced the propagation of Lagos state’s commitment to enduring environment, in line with Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s commitment to good governance and beautification of the state, of which cleanliness is a major tool.” Adeniji said that Adejokun has evolved over the years as a phenomenon and towering figure at the national assembly, as a former director of special duties at the legislative arm of the government.

Politics Michael Jegede The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) penultimate week released a statement accusing the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of registering a second time in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, an action that violates the provisions of Nigeria’s electoral law. Section 12(2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulates that “A person shall not register in more than one registration center or register more than once in the same registration center.” Section 12(3) further provides that any person who acts contrary to subsection (2) “commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.” INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Voters Education Committee, Solomon Soyebi, in the statement he issued, said: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday May 23, at Government House in Lokoja. His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. The governor’s double registration, and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres, are both illegal.” Soyebi stated that the electoral body cannot prosecute Bello while in office due to the immunity granted him by the Constitution. He added that disciplinary action would be taken against the INEC staff involved in the perpetration of the illegal registration. The governor, however, denied INEC’s claim saying “I travelled on the 19th (May) to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback that I did double registration on 23rd (May). Probably it is my ghost that has done the double registration. I think INEC has earned itself a very high reputation and I think and I am very confident that the leadership of INEC will not allow some elements in the commission to drag its name through the mud. Surely that allegation was a falsehood. I did not do double registration of permanent voters card.” Between Governor Bello and INEC, who do we believe? Was the governor truly out of the country at the time the electoral body claimed he did double registration? If indeed he was in Dubai at the time the said second registration was done, then the governor may not be wrong to say probably his ghost did it? Because it is not possible for him to be in Dubai and at the same time carry out voter registration in Government House Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. What about the picture showing the governor registering in his office with the INEC official? Could it be a photoshoped picture? Are there certain elements in INEC being used by the political opponents of the governor to knock him off his pedestal as insinuated by some of his allies? Or, could it be that INEC quoted a wrong date on which the purported act of double registration was committed in its statement? How does one explain the fact that the governor’s rebuttal did not agree with the earlier defense shamelessly put up by some of his political appointees to justify the obviously indefensible act of illegality? Not even his media spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo mentioned that

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

INEC and Gov. Bello’s alleged double registration

BELLO

the governor was not in town on the day INEC claimed he did a second registration in his reactions. Were they not aware that their boss (the governor) was not in the country on the said date? That is a big minus for them. Because I think their defence for the governor should have been anchored on his absence in the country, as against the baseless and untenable argument that what their principal did was not wrong, because INEC was yet to effect the transfer of his voter’s card which he had since applied for. In his immediate reaction to INEC’s allegation, for instance, Fanwo, the Director General of Media and Publicity to the governor had said: “As a star witness during the tribunals, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Edward David Onoja told the panel of judges that the governor was a registered voter, but not in Kogi State. The governor’s efforts to transfer the card from Abuja to Kogi State has not been successful, hence the need to seize this golden opportunity to get registered in Kogi State. There was

PROF. YAKUBU

nothing wrong with registering in the governor’s office because it belongs to all Kogites. Government House is People’s House.” While reacting to the call for the governor’s resignation by some members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fanwo also said: “the issue was straightforward enough as the governor welcomes the decision of INEC to cancel the latter registration. “The governor will not resign. We have listened to INEC and we respect their decisions. Now is time for the Commission to fast-track the transfer of the PVC of the governor to Kogi State from Abuja.” What do these statements issued by the head of Bello’s media office suggest? And where was the governor when these releases were being dished out by his spokesman? Despite the denial, INEC stood by its earlier statement which indicted the governor. The Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said: “We have already issued a statement on the incident and there is nothing more to

I travelled on the 19th (May) to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback that I did double registration on 23rd (May). Probably it is my ghost that has done the double registration. I think INEC has earned itself a very high reputation and I think and I am very confident that the leadership of INEC will not allow some elements in the commission to drag its name through the mud. Surely that allegation was a falsehood. I did not do double registration.

add at the moment. Our Kogi office is investigating the role of our staff in the matter. The commission is awaiting the outcome of the investigation for further action.” Also, after Bello’s counter-statement against INEC’s claim, a report by a national newspaper quoted a source in the commission as disclosing that the governor’s name has been deleted from the list of those registered on May 23. According to the unnamed source, “It is however curious that the investigation has assumed a new dimension. The commission has the photograph of the registration of the governor but his name is not on the list of the CVR for that day in question. The name has disappeared.” Does INEC’s insistence of standing by its pronouncement that the said unlawful registration was carried out on May 23 not give some credence to Bello’s claim that he never engaged in such an act? Since the governor was not in the country on the date in question, he could not have registered on that day and the issue of his name disappearing from the list cannot arise. His name can never be on the list of those registered on May 23. Except, his ghost did the registration like he said. To my mind, for now it is not safe to conclude on who is saying the truth between the Kogi governor and INEC on this matter. However, the onus lies on the electoral body, as the accuser, to come up with adequately convincing proof of their allegation against the governor. The commission cannot continue to insist that Governor Yahaya Bello did double registration on a day he was not in the country.

Politics 10 The Senate just had its two years anniversary. What experience have you gathered as the spokesman? Let me say first and foremost that being the spokesman of the Senate, I will say that I see it as a very rare privilege and a very rare opportunity to serve. I say this, looking at the pedigree and caliber of people that constitute the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and given the fact that I am just coming into politics and contesting for the Senate for the first time. I feel very privileged and I am indeed grateful to the leadership of the Senate and the 108 Senators for finding me worthy to speak on their behalf at this level. In terms of doing my job, it has been a tough and complex one no doubt, but I have decided to simplify it for myself. In handling this task, I have tried as much as possible to be factual in what I say, never to distort and never to incite, but to choose my words and make statements that will help to promote the very essence of the Institution and I think to the best of my knowledge, that is what I have been doing so far. I will humbly add that quite a number of my colleagues have been very supportive. In any programme that I appear, they give me feedback, they tell me well done, we listened to you and you are doing very well and we are proud to have you as our spokesman. There’s split in the house. Both the majority APC Senators and the minority PDP Senators are working in harmony and I think that has strengthened me and added confidence to me as I do this job knowing that those who asked me to do this job are following whatever it is that I say and, they are magnanimous enough to even give me feedback which, in almost all cases have been positive. The Senate appears to be moving at a very fast pace lately with the passage of very strategic bills one of which is the Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters and other Foreign matters Bill. Can you elucidate on what the Bill sets to achieve for the public to pick the import? Like you rightly said, this is one of the AntiCorruption Bills. I recall last month I was asked by the media why the Senate is not supportive of the Anti-Corruption fight and I told them that the subject of Anti-Corruption is complex and interconnected. Any bill that is being sent on that subject is not a bill that you can close your eyes and pass in a hurry because it deals with criminal matters. And I am told by lawyers that it is worst and tragic to incarcerate one innocent person when compared to freeing a thousand criminals. If that maxim is correct and I believe it is, because in many instances one wrong incarceration has led to mayhem beyond imagination. So for us in the Senate we have a legislative agenda which had very clear objectives that we are going to reform the National Assembly by looking at things that ought to be done better. We are going to improve good governance, which is one of the cardinal things we want to do. We’re going to look at Constitutional amendment, Electoral reform, and a reform of the Anti-Corruption system, and on the basis of that we said we are going to have what we call a priority list. We are also going to look at our economy with the aim of diversification, shifting attention away from the unfortunate over dependence on oil. Within this context, we have tried to bring in all of these objectives which at any rate leads to the core mandates of the government which is security, economy and Anti-Corruption. So when these Bills were brought, they were read and debated a second time and then referred to the joint Committee on Judiciary and human rights, Foreign Affairs and Anti-Corruption. What this means is that every Committee has an angle from which to look at it. That bill went through the process of public hearing so that at the end of the day, we will also look at how offensive it is going to be to our constitution, because it is a bill for example that has to do with foreign countries. Our sovereignty is something we must never toy with. The committee has done their due diligence, and of course they also found out in the Bill that there

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

PIB will change narrative in Nigeria’s Oil Sector – Senator Sabi

The Senate last week rolled out the drums to celebrate its mid-term in the present democracy under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki. The spokesman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi , in this interview with Daily Times crew of TONY AMOKEODO, the Bureau Chief, OLUFEMI SAMUEL and CHRIS EMETOR examines the nuances of critical issues in the Senate, concluding that the 8th Senate has excelled more than the expectations of many.

Why did the PIGB take more than 10 years to get passed? This is one of our priority Bills. We had priority Bills and we came up with about 11. Two of the 11 Bills had just been signed by the Acting President. So, at the end of the day, by virtue of this bill, small and medium industries will be able to use their moveable assets (like car, fridge, camera etc) and register it in the moveable assets register and at the end of the day, you can use it to secure a loan for working capital. So these are some of the things the Senate has been able to achieve. It shows that from the beginning and with our courageous leaders, we have set a path for our own success. What happens now to the Bill after you have passed it, what’s the next step? It is important for Nigerians to understand how the legislature works. What we operate is a bicameral legislature. When a particular chamber goes through the mill to pass a Bill, it has reduced the workload for the other Chamber. The other Chamber will look at it and if there is any contentious issue detected, they will point that out and pass it with an amendment. The two chambers would then ask for a conference, which is usually a rare thing. Having gone through the mills the two Chambers will go for concurrence, and concurrence is always faster. We have over 40 bills from the House of Representatives that we have concurred to. So that is the way it works. Now, let me add that the Senate President all along has been more passionate about having this Bill passed. But before, many people tend to accuse him wrongly, thinking that he sat over the Bill. In what way do you think the PIGB will change the narrative in the petroleum sector in Nigeria? The passage has already changed the narrative.

SEN. SABI ABDULLAHI

You should know that the right thing has been done within the confines of those who will be affected by the Bill. On this note it is very clear that we have introduced a robust framework that will guarantee on very sustainable basis a transparent, innovative, operative, effective petroleum industry. All ambiguities have been removed. All cul -de -sacs have been opened. Where there were no pathways, pathways have been created is something called ‘coercive’ or so where in their wisdom, they felt that if that clause was left like that, it would mean that those who will be unfortunate to meet the full effect of that pro-

vision may find themselves tortured and, the Constitution is against torture. So the committee rejected that clause which by the way was the only clause that was rejected and at the end of the day, that bill was passed. The bill is saying we should facilitate the provision and obtaining by Nigeria of international mutual assistance in criminal matters. That is the overall goal and the key objective include the provision and obtaining of evidence and statement from persons, the making of arrangements for persons to give evidence or assist in criminal investigations and all other various provisions that are designed to get this mutual assistance. And the Mutual Assistance means that if Nigeria wants to get such evidence from other countries, they should be able to get it and vice versa. It’s to strengthen our Anti-Corruption laws with other countries. The import of the bill is that it will give investors more confidence and impetus to do business with Nigerians because they know that if anybody decides to be over smart, there is a law that he can depend on for justice to be meted out.

How? It is because of that the passage is being applauded in the industry and that is a positive sign. I will tell you that within the context of government business, the moment a positive development like this is thrown out and you see the entire industry smiling, praising it, then you should know that the right thing has been done within the confines of those who will be affected by the Bill. On this note it is very clear that we have introduced a robust framework that will guarantee on very sustainable basis a transparent, innovative, operative, effective petroleum industry. All ambiguities have been removed. All cul -de -sacs have been opened. Where there were no pathways, pathways have been created. This is what this Bill seeks to achieve so that at the end of the day operators of all forms across the spectrum of petroleum industry sector value chain will know that this is the Bill that they can depend on because it has guaranteed them certain things, and this is just a part of it. The other parts have already been introduced and the exact process we have used which includes; consultations, engagements, negotiations and understanding will also be done so that at the end of the day, everybody will have a win-win situation. I think that is what is important, it is not going to be a winner takes it all or a looser looses it all, no. It is a win-win situation because we believe there’s something in it for everybody and we have to guarantee that. If the Senate has started moving fast in passage of important Bills, why the foot drag on Constitution amendment initiative? We need to understand issues. If it is dragging as far as I am concerned, dragging is not a problem. You see, democracy is an interesting concept and it is guided by very fundamental principles. In everything we do in a democracy, there must be legitimacy; there must be legality and mandate. These three things are incontrovertible, without them you have something else not a democratic process. So the process of CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14 , 2017

11 Politics

Delta politicians remember June 12, describe Abiola as unsung hero Nosa Akenzua, Asaba.

LATE M.K.O. ABIOLA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Constitutional amendment is not something that happens like going to the market to go and shop, you negotiate, you pay and come out, no. There must be engagement with stakeholders. I must tell you that having realised how tedious the process could be, that explains why the Committee for the Constitutional amendment was set up. We need to respect the fact that whatever that was done in the past was done for and on behalf of all Nigerians, but are there one or two changes and that’s what we looked at. So far, we have had two retreats in Lagos and Abuja, and had several meetings in between, considering clause by clause on all the issues. So for us in the 8th Senate, we have reached our own level. But you see, the process of Constitutional amendment means that the National Assembly will now transmit a harmonised version of its own amendment to the 36 state Houses of Assemblies. It cannot be the Senate version or the House of Representatives version, so the Senate version is waiting for harmonization with the House of Representatives who are still in the process of doing their own. So that is what you call the foot dragging. The Senate has gone very far. If it was just the Senate process then I would have told you that we would have gone ahead to pass what we have, then transmit it to the 36 state Houses of Assemblies for their own concurrence and whatever comes back based on two-third majority becomes what will now receive final amendment. So, this is why you thought there is foot dragging. There is no foot dragging. There is work in progress and the beauty of it all is to get the best out of it. For the first time in the history of this country, the NASS was able to make public its budget especially after much noise by the civil society groups and NGOs, would you say that NASS was hounded to do so? Hounded by who?

Chieftains of various political parties in Delta State have harped on the importance of June 12, describing it as sacrosanct, saying that the winner of the election, Chief MKO Abiola remains an unsung hero. Although there was total peace in Asaba, Ibusa, Ughelli, and its environs, but the memory of late Abiola was clearly seen in every nook and cranny of the state capital with politicians in opposition to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) converging in drinking spots discussing the qualities of Abiola. Some of the politicians who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity particularly described the annulment of June 12 election as a tragedy orchestrated by a military General, while others said the election of June 12, 1993 remained the most credible

elections so far conducted in the democratic system. “Abiola is an unsung hero, he won the election convincingly, but it was annulled for the military’s selfish reasons, Abiola is a hero.” Noting that the events of June 12, 1993 were watershed in the history of the nation and that all Nigerians must work hard to ensure that the nation never again repeat such painful experiences, the state Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Mr. Oke Idawane recalled that June 12 traumatised Nigerians and made many people to question the unity and oneness of the country and whether true democracy can take its root. He described the Late M.K.O. Abiola, the leading personality in the June 12 struggle as a national hero and patriot who deserves the accolades and honour by Nigerians. An All Progressive Congress (APC), chieftain, Chief

Benjamin Okparo, called on the Federal Government to pay the necessary tribute to the late Abiola by naming a befitting national institution after him and commended Nigerians for moving beyond the challenges thrown up by June 12 and putting in place a democratic system of government that has lasted for 18 years. Various schools in Asaba and its environs were shut down over what officials of the state ministry of education described as midterm break. Well, as is evident, the military-then under General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida-pegged its decision on what it said was the submission that a critical section of the military did not like the outcome, and perhaps, the winner, as presumed Abiola, who flew the flag of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), after he trounced Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).

‘PIB will change narrative in Nigeria’s Oil Sector’ By the Nigerian public, through the Civil Society groups and others. Most of the people you talk about do not have the legitimacy, the legality and the mandate, so they couldn’t have hounded us. But they brought the issue to the front burner. That’s what they want you to believe, but let me tell you, as far as I am concerned the idea of looking at NASS budget and reforming negates whatever noise they are making. For the 8th Senate, immediately we came, the very first thing the Senate leadership did was to appoint a Committee to prepare our legislative agenda and in that agenda we said we are going to improve on whatever we are doing. We wanted to improve on our processes and how we do our things as well as improve on the budget reform, so it is a holistic thing. We set the idea and the target for ourselves and it is within that context that the Senate President when asked by the various Civil Society Organizations, said we already had taken a decision to do that but at the right time, we are going to make it public. If we were under pressure we would have settled it last year. You see, it was a process with due respect from the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh Senate. Nigerians have to understand that when this particular republic came, the National Assembly had nothing on the ground for them to work with after it boarded. They started from nothing. If there was no commitment on the part of lawmakers despite nothing to build on, we wouldn’t have achieved what we achieved today. So the various core centers of this NASS was determined by the activities of these past Assemblies that people want to vilify. When we came on board, we began to firm up and understand the core centers and the core drivers, because it is the core centers and the core drivers that determine what your core structures will look like. For me, I don’t see anything

wrong in that. . Nobody could have hounded us; if we were not interested in opening it up nobody will force us because they have nothing to do to us. So we are not under any pressure and as part of the process, many of us having now began to address and understand what these things are, if you ask me, the National Assembly is under funded. It is an arm of government for God’s sake. If you’re having three people to watch one another, you must not over power me and I must not overpower you. Then you can’t be stronger than me and expect there will be equity. If we want to face the reality, the kind of money the executive is getting is many times larger than what we are getting. Out of 100 percent, the executive gets 95 percent. For the purpose of argument take it that both the National Assembly and the judiciary are getting 2.5% each, but in reality it is not up to that. We need to be fair to ourselves. Whatever we are doing, let’s look at the process of institution building. For the 8th Senate, we have realised that all the experiences of the past, Senate must come to bear and we must give them credit for making whatever mistakes they had made and from which we have started learning because without those mistakes we will seem to be liable to making the same mistakes. So I think there’s nothing lost here. For me I think we are on the right track. What have you to say about the speculations on the fat salaries of Senators, allegedly running into about N49 million? How I wish it is true. You see, that is a very unfortunate perception issue. Ever since, I had concluded that no matter what you say, those who have chosen not to believe will not believe. The 8th Senate started on a rough note giving the impression that all may never be well between the Senate and the Executive arms. Today, we are seeing a kind of normalised relationship, how have the

two arms been able to handle it? The fundamental issue is simply that democracy said the three arms of government; the executive, the legislature, and the Judiciary must be independent of one another. In being independent of one another, you must exercise checks and balances, but at the same time, if you check the spirit, the advantage of the three arms lies more with the National Assembly because that is where the people are represented. Whatever it is that is the mood of the people is what we must reflect. So if something is wrong we must say it is wrong. Are we saying nobody can be wrong or does it mean that if something comes from the President, it may not be wrong? I will give you a classical example. For the NDDC, the rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee by the Senate came as a result of offending the Federal character and the provisions of the law, which says you, should nominate people from the oil producing areas. Can somebody who is not from oil producing area lay claim that he is from the oil producing area? That is just a clear thing. I think we must begin to appreciate things the way they are and value them the way they are. If we do, we will be making more progress. Nigerians must know that without the National Assembly, maybe by now we would have been in Obasanjo’s dictatorial regime because he wanted a third term. If he had gotten it, only God knows what would have happened. There are countries that have only one Parliament and when the President gets the Parliament to do what they want, it ends there and there’s nothing else anyone can do about it. So the wisdom behind our own democracy, those who crafted it did a wonderful job and I don’t think that anybody has a better option and solution. So if we can adjust, respect and tolerate ourselves, engage ourselves and listen to ourselves more, we will be better off.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Aftermath of economic crunch: NOUN programmes under threat Continued from page 1 which had occasioned job loss, poor financial standing that disabled them from financing their academic programmes as well as the increase in fees charged by the university. The Daily Times investigation further revealed that the development is happening at the 75 study centers across the country. A visit undertaken by our correspondent in select study centers located in Dutse junction, DeiDei, Utako, Wuse 2 and other mini study centers located in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory and other states, showed that students’ attendance had fallen sharply and study morals have steadily waned, in the study centers scattered all over the country. Also the student’s admission data obtained from the Media Re-

lations Department of the university showed that undergraduate students’ admission for the year 2017 which stood at 15,703 is a far cry of about 30, 000 and 35,000 candidates admitted in 2015 and 2016 respectively. When contacted, Mr. Ono Emmanuel, a 300 level student of Sociology of the university told our correspondent that he could not continue with his programme because he has been laid off in his work place and is presently in search of a new job. He said: “How can I continue with the programme since I am out of job, where do you expect me to get the money and pay my fees? Another 200 level student of the university who used to work at one of the outlets of popular eatery, Mr. Biggs, Emeka Sunday, said he has been out of job the

past one year now and he is barely managing to sustain himself and his family not to talk about having money to pay his fees and continue with his programme. Malay Kabiru Usman, who is a 300 level Law student of the same university, said that he has no hope of continuing with his studies since graduates before him are yet to be admitted into Law School and therefore could not practice the profession. He said: “What am I continuing school for and can I become a practicing lawyer when there is no any hope of recognition by the Nigerian Law School. It is better I pick JAMB form and choose another university”. Another threat to the open varsity programme is the continued denial of Law graduate students of the university from admission into the Law School, which not

only discourages further fresh enrolment through fresh candidates but demoralises those already admitted as having no hope of practicing their profession. The Daily Times recalls that recently, Law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) sent a 20-point petition to the Senate over their exclusion from the Nigerian Law School programme. Mr. Carl Umegboro, Chairman of the “Law Graduates Forum’’ said in a statement in Abuja that the in letter which was submitted to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the forum raised some issues that would help the Senate during the public hearing on the National Open University of Nigeria and Nigerian Law school crisis which the committee was determined to resolve.

Umegboro further recalled that the Council of Legal Education released its Public Notice in 2015 through various newspapers against the Open University’s Faculty of Law that admitted its first set in 2004 and graduated in 2013. ‘` When contacted on the above developments, the Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, Mr. Ibrahim Sheme, said the university is not aware about the massive withdrawal of students from the programme. He also stated the development will not threaten the varsity’s mandate to conduct distance learning programme which is specially designed for the working class by government. He further advised students who suffered retrenchment or job loss to embrace entrepreneurial skills that will enable them become self-reliant.

FIRS generates N778.19bn in Q1 ÏÏÏ The Federal Inland Revenue

Service (FIRS) says it generated N778.19 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2017. This is according to a progress report by the FIRS sent to the Federal Ministry of Finance, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. The report, which showed the revenue performance for the first quarter of 2017, gave a breakdown of money collected. According to the report, the FIRS collected N338.3 billion as Petroleum Profit Tax between January and March, as against the N176.7 billion collected in the period under review in 2016. Similarly, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue increased from N198.7 billion in first quarter of 2016, to N221.37 billion in first quarter of 2017. The report showed that the biggest improvement was from Education tax collection, which the FIRS surpassed in 2016 by 311.7 per cent. It said in first quarter of 2017, N33.9 billion was generated as Education tax revenue as against the N8.24 billion generated in the same period of 2016. Also, the service said it achieved 284.3 per cent improvement in Stamp Duty collections, as it generated N3 billion in first quarter of 2017, as against the N785 million generated in 2016. The report also showed that consolidated tax revenue for the first quarter of the year grew by 123 per cent, from N11.5 billion in 2016 to N25.7 billion in the same period of 2017. The service also recorded success in boosting its collection of National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEF) levy, which went up from N129

million in 2016 to N179.2 million in 2017. The report, however, showed that the FIRS did not record any improvement in Company Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax collections. The service collected N155.6 billion as Company Income Tax in first quarter of 2017, while it collected N166.85 billion in the same period of 2016. It said N110.9 million was generated from Capital Gains in 2017 as against the N859.1 billion generated in the same period of 2016. “The analysis shows that we have recorded an increase of N214 billion, representing an overall increase of 38 per cent in 2017, when compared with the collection performance of the corresponding period in 2016. “We attained this collection performance in spite of several challenges, as we have continued to vigorously pursue our strategies internally, while improving collaboration with relevant stakeholders to boost our collections. “The strategies put in place are still on course and progressively yielding,’’ the FIRS said. It would be recalled that the FIRS Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, pledged to improve tax collection by capturing more people and companies under the tax net. In April, he said that four million individuals have been included in the tax net, bringing the total to about 20 million individuals. This still leaves a gap of about 40 million taxable individuals and corporate organisations both in the formal and informal sectors.

Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Adamawa, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh (l), presenting a publication on security challenges in Adamawa State to the Acting Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig-Gen Rabeh Abubakar, during a courtesy visit to Sajoh in Adamawa State… recently.

Reps want June 12, Abiola Immortalised Henry Omunu, Emmanuel Iriogbe, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Members

of the House of Representatives on Tuesday joined Nigerians calling for more recognition to be given to the annulled June 12, 1993 election and its acclaimed winner, Chief MKO Abiola. The House also resolved that the late politician should be conferred with the highest national honour posthumously, and thereby directed its committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure enforcement of the resolution. Speaking on a motion of urgent national importance, member representing Gumel/Gagarawa/ Mai/Gatari/Sule Tankarta federal constituency of Jigawa State, Rep. Sanni Zorro, said that late MKO Abiola secured 8 million votes out of 14 million eligible voters in the annulled election. While eulogising Abiola, Zorro reiterated the vacuum created since the death of MKO on July 8, 1998, in the area of philanthropy, sports, publishing, corporate

leadership, national and global politics. “Remember him today and always as a true and great son of Nigeria, who touched lives more than any other person in his life time, who contributed to the achievement of religious harmony by building bridges between faith organisations like nobody else,” he stated. He said that aside winning the June 12, 1993 presidential poll by garnering eight million out the 14 million votes cast, Abiola also contributed to the political development of the country. He called on the Federal Government to bestow the prestigious honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on him as a precedence has been set when former President Shehu Shagari bestowed the same honour to late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1983, adding that “it is instructive to note that before then, the honour was reserved for past presidents of Heads of State. “I believe that we should immortalise MKO Abiola by conferring on him the highest honor.

Conferring the highest honour on an individual is not new. In 1983, Shagari conferred the honour on Awolowo,” he said. In his contribution, the member representing Awka North/ South of Anambra State, Hon. Anayo Nnebe, called for the declaration of June 12 of every year as Democracy Day in the country. He noted that it was a day the most credible election in the country was held. According to him, June 12 has more significance for the country’s democracy, compared to May 29, which is currently being celebrated as Democracy Day. “The annulment of June12 is an act of irresponsibility and executive recklessness. I want to add that June 12 should be declared National holiday in this country. It is a national issue. It is not a South West issue, “Nnebe stated. Also, the member representing Epe federal constituency, Hon. Wale Raji, urged the Federal Government to declare result of the annulled election and announce late Abiola as the posthumous President-elect.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

s PHOTO TIMES

Editorial

L-R: Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Acting President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi and Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, during the opening of the National Mining Summit (ConMin West Africa), at the International Conference Centre, Abuja…on Tuesday.

SON and substandard goods in Nigeria

ot long ago, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) announced additional measures to combat the influx of fake and substandard goods into the country by introducing a reference code on products in 2016. The agency said beginning this year, every SONCAP certificate issued on products must have reference code to ease traceability of substandard products in the country. Other additional measures include increased market surveillance; to make it harder for products without the code to be imported into the country, even as those caught selling such products would be held accountable until the agency traces the manufacturer. We definitely welcome these initiatives by SON, especially against the background that some international cartels now see Nigeria as dumping ground for illegal and substandard goods. Before the latest SON initiative, another outfit, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had been at the forefront of checking the influx of expired and counterfeits drugs into the country. The success so far achieved by NDLEA, especially in confronting powerful drug barons and their supporters has come at very great and bloody price. Even at that, no one will accuse SON of being soft in the fight against importation of fake and substandard products into the country. For example, the agency in 2016 claimed it had seized and destroyed substandard product worth billions of Naira. Such revelations underscore the urgent need to check the importation and local manufacturing of such products. A visit to any of our markets would reveal the clandestine and mind boggling volume of trade in counterfeit goods. This trade spans

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anything from paint, electric bulbs, wires and cables, tyres, cement, auto spare parts, steel products, mobile phones and telecommunication gadgets and drugs. There is no denying the fact that SON has made giant strides in the war against fake products. Incidentally, the recent upsurge in substandard products presents a fresh challenge. According to the agency’s Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, the importation of substandard goods into the country has risen several folds, especially given that its personnel charged with checking containers bringing products into the country have been withdrawn from all our nation’s seaports. We therefore call on the Federal Government to reconsider sending the agency’s personnel back to the ports, if the war on fake and substandard products is to be won. The fight needs all hands on deck. The danger of both imported and locally manufactured substandard goods on the citizens and country cannot be overemphasised. It is a fact that cheap, low quality imports are disincentive to manufacturing, just as local manufacturing of fake and substandard products are equally dangerous to peoples lives and the economy. However, it is not enough waging war against manufacture and importation of substandard goods into the country, without taking cognizance of the fact that poverty and low purchasing power are reasons for patronage of such items. It is therefore imperative that the government addresses the increasing poverty among Nigerians. Most importantly, the SON should liaise with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and exporting countries to ensure that only high quality goods are brought into Nigeria for interest of the citizens and economy.

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (m); Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo (2nd r); Chairman, House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on SPDC Relocation, Ibrahim Isiaka (l) and Chairman, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Committee, Jerry Alagbaosu, during the courtesy visit to the Governor in Port Harcourt… on Monday.

Nollywood actors, Odunlade Adekola (l); Bolaji Amusan (r) and Glo subscriber, Henrietta Duru, during Ibadan edition of the ongoing mega comedy tour, Glo Laffta Fest… recently.

Words On Marble :

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Muhammad Ali

Kanayo O Kanayo

Nelson Mandela

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

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

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

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Asking Igbos to leave the north is an insult, Abia royal father Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe

traditional ruler of Alaoma Autonomous Community in Omoba in IsialaNgwa South local government area of Abia state, and Alaoma II, Eze Godwin Nwakanma Nwankpa, has said that the country cannot afford to go through another civil war. Speaking against the backdrop of recent ultimatum given to the Igbo resident in the North to leave, the monarch stated that if they are to go, it should be peacefully. Eze Nwankpa who bared his mind to Daily Times in his Palace in Omoba, also called on the Sultan of Sokoto to stem the tide. He noted that the country needs peace now not crisis.“I

thereby call on the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the leader of all traditional rulers in the North to summon his subjects, teach them the right thing to do, inform them that Nigeria is still one and that what they are saying will not augur well for the country.” “Asking Igbos to go is an insult to a great nation. They should not insult Ndigbo now, as we are still one Nigeria.“They are holding the presidency slot and now turned back on the Igbos that voted for them and from where their power and what they eat derive from. He should call on them to respect God as anyone who respects God does not behave that way.” The President, the royal father said should talk about the matter and let Nigerians

know his opinion, but the fact that he is sick, stating “If he can, let him talk. We want to hear from the President on the threat from Arewa. Let him tell us if he likes it or not. But if he cannot talk, let the acting President talk on the issue”. The Coalition of Northern Youths, EzeNwankpa said does not know what they are saying. “If they mean it, we will go. We are not afraid and the God that created us loves us. We are capable of being on our own.“But for the fear of God and for unity, we want one Nigeria but they want crisis and this crisis they want to create, God will not allow them. According to him, the Igbos will love themselves when they go and will not quarrel within themselves as people

think, stating “we are a nation with blood relationship”.He assured Ndigbo with investments in the North that there should not be any worry over properties in the north as Igbos who have properties there can now have their passports to go and see them. Non-indigenes, he said still own properties outside their countries, even in Cameron that left Nigeria, pointing out that even Europeans have not claimed peoples properties in their land. “What happens is that we will have passports, they will be coming here and we will be going there with the passports.We will not die because of properties when we are told to go and live in our own land like Cameron and Ghana. If we leave, we will be a strong nation”, the royal father said.

Ambode presents N924.7m cheques to 1,438 beneficiaries of Employment Trust Fund scheme Benjamin Omoike

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday presented cheques totaling N924.7 million to 1, 438 beneficiaries of the Employment Trust Fund (ETF). The scheme was initiated by his administration to provide entrepreneurs, artisans, traders and others with capital to boost their businesses thereby reducing unemployment and increasing wealth among the people. So far, about 4, 000 businesses have benefited a total of N3.5billion from the scheme, while the target of the State Government is to support about 100,000 micro, small and medium enterprises and create at least 300, 000 direct and 600, 000 indirect jobs by 2019 through the initiative. Governor Ambode had in January, presented cheques totaling about N1billion to 705 beneficiaries who were selected after scaling through a transparent screening process. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at De Blue Roof, LTV 8 in Ikeja, Governor Ambode

expressed delight that the government was on course to meet the objectives of the initiative, adding that it was also encouraging that the previous beneficiaries had started repaying their loans, thereby expanding their businesses and creating jobs. Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, made particular reference to one of the earlier beneficiaries simply identified as Jand2Gidi, saying that it was a thing of joy that they had started contributing to the growth of Lagos economy. “One of the success stories of this programme which I am very proud of is the achievement of one of the first set of beneficiaries, a company called Jand2Gidi, run by two young women. Today, they have invested their loan in buying motorcycles for their delivery men, and hired people to operate those motorcycles. Not only are they repaying their loan, they have also created at least 10 direct jobs for Lagos residents, thereby increasing the economic activity across the State. We eagerly expect to celebrate many more success stories like this,” the Governor said.

Doctors, pharmacists raise c’mtte to boost healthcare delivery Angela Onwuzoo

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel (l), with the former Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during the State’s PDP Stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Uyo … on Tuesday.

Lagos State applauds Airtel’s role in supporting youth development

Tony Nwakaegho

ÏÏÏ

A leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has been commended by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development for its support to the just concluded Ibile Youth Academy, a weeklong capacity building workshop organized to empower youths across the state. Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf while commending the company said: “Airtel Nigeria has been instrumental towards inculcating values of citizenship, leadership, self-development

and volunteerism among youths in the state and by extension the nation.” Mrs. Akinbile-Yussuf further explained that “the fundamental idea behind the leadership training in the youth sector established in the state under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is based on a firm belief that returns from investing in the youth can never be quantified. This is because young people are the resources that must be trained and harnessed for the overall development of Lagos State and the Country Nigeria at large.” Ibile Youth Academy was

an intensive training exercise which offered over 500 youths in the state a rare privilege to hone their leadership skills, network, brainstorm, initiate and implement specific programmes to accelerate their personal development as well as personal effectiveness. At the grand finale, Lana Promise Elijah emerged winner among the top five finalists, to become the new Lagos State Ambassador for youths. Airtel Nigeria presented him with a brand new laptop while the other top four finalists were each rewarded with an Apple iPad also by the telco. The week-long activities

featured exciting games, life coaching session and skills acquisition trainings. Specifically, the leadership training programme was designed to equip participants with the core ingredients required for a promising bright future. Airtel Nigeria has consistently demonstrated its commitment to helping and empowering young Nigerians to achieve their dreams. Other youth empowerment initiatives which the telco has driven in recent times included Airtel One Mic, The Voice Nigeria, Airtel Rising Stars, Airtel Trace Music Star, Airtel Rising Stars and Aso Villa Demo Day, among many others.

As part of efforts to boost the nation’s healthcare delivery system, doctors and pharmacists in the country under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) respectively, have resolved to offer quality and effective healthcare services to patients through a harmonious relationship and teamwork. The leadership of the two professional bodies, said it had raised some committees on inter- professional collaboration to ensure the implementation of the decision and ensure a smooth working relationship among all the various professional groups in the health sector, including nurses, laboratory scientists, among others. Disclosing this during an interactive session in Lagos recently, President of NMA, Dr. Mike Ogirima and his PSN’s counterpart, Ahmed Yakasai, said the essence of the committees, was to instill collaboration, communication, cooperation and teamwork in the health sector in the interest of patients. Giving insight into the interactive session, Ogirima

explained: “We are here to tell the whole world that the pharmacists and doctors are one. We all receive the same lecture in pharmacology and the way the world is going, we should not have a dichotomy. “ According to him, “the welfare of the patient is our uppermost concern”, adding that they have resolved to work together as a team like their counterparts in the Diaspora. It would be recalled that over the years, the Nigerian health sector had witnessed unhealthy rivalries, including battle for supremacy among the various professional groups in the sector. Now, the groups are embracing better relationships to put an end to any rifts among them. The NMA President stated that the interactive session was a follow-up to the symposium on inter professional collaboration organised in Lagos recently by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm), in collaboration with PSN. In his remarks, the PSN president said: “abroad, doctors and pharmacists work in harmony. They orgnaise and share conferences together. We will be happy to have such a relationship here.”

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

News 15

Cancer Patient, Nurses union commend Tambuwal ÏÏÏ Association of

Head of Service, Kebbi State, Mallam Abubakar Idris (l); Commissioner for Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade and others, inspecting pupils’ s food at the Anthony Udofia Elementary School, Osogbo when United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, (UNICEF) and 16 other States in Nigeria came to understudy the state’s social protection programmes… recently.

Call on Igbos to leave north evil –Dr. Anozie ÏÏÏ The recent three month ulti-

matum issued by the Coalition of Northern Youths to Igbos living in the North to leave the region has generated a lot of reactions. In this interview with The Daily Times Correspondent, Bolaji Omosanya in Ibadan, Dr. Alex Anozie, the Eze Ndigbo of Oyo State added his own voice to the issue. Excerpts: The three month ultimatum issued by coalition of Northern Youths for Igbos to leave the Northern region, don’t you see it as a rehash of what happened pre-Biafran war? You are right. It brings to the fore as to what happened before the Biafran war. To me, these youths have goofed. They have forgotten that things have changed. What obtained then is no longer so. All ethnic groups are wiser now. All of us know how Igbos were killed in the North before the Civil War. What I believe is that we should all promote what unites us rather them what divides us. All thesereactions and provoking statements by the Northern youths was a reaction to the recent directive that our people should stay at home to remember those who died in the Northern pogrom and during the war.

The thing was voluntary. Nobody forced anybody neither were people attacked nor disturbed from carrying out their lawful business. Some Northern Governors and leaders have come out to condemn the move by the CNY. How do you see this? It is good that some Governors and leaders in the north have come out to voice their displeasure over the ultimatum given to the Igbos by some Northern youths that our people should leave. I hope they are sincere about their assurances that Igbos should stay. Why I said that was because this was the same kind of assurance that was given before Igbos were killed in the north in the sixties. Can you imagine the South Easterners and South Westerners doing what the CNY have done. I don’t think so. The Inspector General of Police has directed his men to arrest those behind the threat? Yes, he did. But has anyone been arrested so far. These people still roam the street freely. All of us are living witnesses to the atrocities being committed by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. These have been a long time matter. Some people

just believe that they are above the law.But constitutionally, every Nigerian has the right to reside and do business anywhere in the country. It is so. All Nigerians, irrespective of their nationality, religion or creed has the right to do so anywhere within the country. This is guaranteed by the constitution. Nigeria belongs to all of us, not to any one tribe. The northern youths by their action are flaunting the constitution and appropriate action has to be taken by the relevant authority on this. Do you think these youths have secret sponsors? I can’t say. I don’t have any fact concerning this. Nigeria is in the stranglehold of evil. But we must not allow it. We have to stem its onslaught. Those calling on Igbos to leave the North are evil. This brings to mind the plight of Nigerians in South Africa of recent as per xenophobic attack? This was condemned worldwide. But why this hatred between two brothers belonging in the same nation called Nigeria? I don’t and can’t see any reason for it. There should be a re-ordering of priorities.

Bill on hate speech, protection of holy sites underway Idu Jude, Abuja

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A peace coalition group, under the aegis of search for common ground and the association of building a consensus on the protection of Holy sites in Nigeria, said that effort are at an advanced stage to jettison the idea of hate speeches during political campaigns which always resulted to death of many Nigerians and lose of properties worth millions. The ugly trend, to some extent sees the burning of worship centers across Nigeria, which came in view of previous occurrences and experiences across Nigeria during

political dispensations and to ensure that offenders of this act faces wrath of the law and to find a lasting solution to the problems. According to the group leader, Sir, Elder Timothy Mushelia, JP. while briefing the media, said that the bill is targeted to solveing certain problems including promoting universal code of conduct . The coalition, further stated that part of the programme, sponsored by the Norwegian government, is geared towards creating a meeting ground and to help cub reoccurring issues of violent that led to destruction of holy sites in Nigeria and other parts of world.

The bill in their view, is also expected to adopt the use of Nigerian languages in communicating to the people to ensure proper comprehension of the massages as well as continued building of strategic ideas to see that the holy sites are protected in Nigeria. The group also resolved, that its plan in the bill, is to commit government at all levels to help educate the youths of different religious background to have a better understanding of one another. There is also the need to engage the youths who may have no opportunity of attending educational seminars and workshops but are involved in destroying buildings .

graduate nurses in Nigeria has commended Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for undertaking to foot the medical bill of one of their members, Maryam Abubakar, who is suffering from liver cancer and is due to undergo surgery in India. In a letter addressed to the Governor signed by Chief SEO Egwuenu and Nshi GI, chairman and secretary respectively, the University Graduates of Nursing Science Association of Nigeria (UGONSA), praised Tambuwal for his “timely and unquantifiable support and assistance to save the life” of Ms. Abubakar. “Although our association and some kindhearted Nigerians did their best within their limited capacity, the singular intervention of the Sokoto State Government, under your able and altruistic leadership earnestly made a

crucial difference. “Donating the money by the Sokoto State Government to assist her at a time when all was bleak is an indelible gesture we shall forever remain grateful for. This gesture has proven to us that the selfless work we nurses do in the care of humanity is highly appreciated. It also stands as a living motivator that shall propel us to do more,” the letter, added. The association described Tambuwal as a friend of the nurses, saying their members in the country are indebted to him for his consistent show of concern for their affairs and welfare. “Earnestly, our sense of gratitude is so overwhelmed with joy for what you did for our sister that we feel that ‘thank you’ is so inadequate to express the depth of our appreciation, but we will say it anyway! His Excellency, with humility and utmost joy we say thank you, and thank you,” the letter reads.

Abdulsalami at 75, described as a great ambassador of peace Saka Bolaji, Minna

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Niger State government has extolled the virtues of General Abdulsalami Alhaj Abubakar as he marks his 75th birthday maintaining that his rare show of patriotism laid the foundation for the present day democracy in Nigeria A statement from the Commissioner of Information Culture and Tourism Mr Jonathan Vatsa yesterday on the 75th birthday maintained that “ the country owes the uninterrupted democracy being enjoyed today to the solid foundation laid by short but memorable administration of our father General Abubakar.” Consequently he stated that General Abdulsalami Abubakar has made history and assumed the father of the new Nigeria for his contribution to the democratic development of the country which also gave birth to the current political dispensation in the country. According to him “His Excellency is a compatriot of immeasurable value, a man whose words are his honour. Though your reign was brief, Nigeria and Nigerians are the beneficiaries of the dem-

ocratic foundation you laid. Your singular bravery act saw to the enthronement of democracy and the re-positioning of Nigeria in the comity of nations.” The government statement described Abdulsalami as a a committed and loyal officer as exemplified by his towering credentials in the military and emerging as Head of state who midwives and brought lasting democracy to Nigeria. He stated that General Abdulsalmi based on his track records as a lover and agent of peace enjoyed international recognition hence his various appointments as ambassador of peace by agencies in the international community. According to Vatsa “Your strong conviction in peaceful resolution of conflicts has brought peace to Liberia, Niger Republic, Southern Sudan and Guinea where you have been called upon to mediate.” While praying Allah to continue to grant the elder statesman long live in good health, the statement stated that Government and the good people of Niger State are proud of him and join many of his well wishers to celebrate him at 75 years.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Education Times

Stories by Augustine Okezie Abuja

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has commended the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for its contributions to the development of Nigeria’s education system, particularly accounting education. This is even as he called on the institute to entrench the ethics of transparency and accountability in the profession in line with the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The Minister, who stated this in his office in Abuja while receiving the President of ICAN, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammadu Zakari and his delegates who paid him a courtesy visit, also enjoined the leadership of ICAN to address some challenges facing the institute so as attract more students to the profession and remain a role model in manpower development in the country. On the issue of budgetary allocation to the education sector, the Minister said that there has

been a steady budgetary increase to the sector within the 2 years of the present administration, adding that government will continue to do more. He further added that, besides the annual budget, government also uses intervention funds such as UBEC, TETFund and NEEDS Assessment, to complement infrastructural development in the Education sector. Speaking earlier, President of ICAN, Mallam Ismaila Mohammedu Zakari, said the visit was to consolidate and strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICAN over the years. Zakari also lamented the inadequate funding of the education system, saying that budgetary allocation to the sector has consistently fallen short of UNESCO’s recommendation to education. While enumerating ICAN’s contributions to the sector, Mallam Zakari stated that the institute has adopted a policy of building Lecture Theatre in accounting department and related facilities in tertiary institutions across the country.

...says MSP will revive Education sector Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has said that the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) developed by the Federal Ministry of Education will revive the Education system in the country and make it competitive globally when fully implemented. This is even as he said that the system has witnessed a steady stability, particularly at the tertiary level under the current administration. Adamu, who stated this while speaking with journalists in his office recently on the achievements in the sector within the 2 years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, noted that at the basic level of the education system, one of the major focuses in the MSP is not just to address the issue of the out-of-school children but to ensure that children in school are taught well. To achieve this, he said plans are underway to attract best brains to the teaching profession. According to him, one of the ways is to offer scholarship to those pursuing teacher education at the tertiary level and when employed into teaching, to

enjoy enhanced salary. The Minister, who described the inability of some states to access Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Intervention fund as ‘unfortunate,’ said that government is considering reducing percentage of counterpart fund paid by states to ease their accessing of the fund. However, he said that the Federal Government is taking steps to make states pay serious attention to the development of basic education. At the tertiary level, the Minister said that steps are being taken to ensure academic stability. Accordingly, the Governing Councils have been constituted, while visitation panels will soon be constituted as required by law, adding that a team to re-negotiate the 2009 Agreement between the Federal Government and the Unions in the institutions has been constituted. He maintained that besides steady budgetary increase to the institutions, the intervention funds from TETFund and NEEDS Assessment have greatly enhanced their development, thus increased access.

Education minister tasks ICAN on Standards, professionalism

L-R: Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group, Ladi Balogun; Actress, Kate Henshew; CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Bola Adesola; Author of the books, Segun Akande; Representative of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State/ DG, Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State, Mrs. Ronke Soyomoye, and Marketing Director of Izi & Larry Literature, Toyosi Olatunji, during the official launch of the books, Izi & Larry Literature in Lagos.

UNIABUJA to partner Chinese varsity for course on African Drumming As part of its international academic exchange agenda, University of Abuja will soon play host to a group of scholars from China for a programme on African drumming. Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Michael Adikwu, who made this known while delivering a paper during the fifth edition of the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja, said the university was also expanding its level of international exchange programmes at the post-graduate level. His words: “These exchanges can lead to collaborations that can bring further internationalisation of the local institutions. “At the University of Abuja,

some interns will be coming from China to learn African drumming. We are also working out a system to enlist post-doctoral fellows from overseas into our university.” Prof. Adikwu, who spoke on the topic, “Redefining the education ecosystem in the face of the fourth industrial revolution,” expressed worry over the failure of the Nigeria’s educational system to radically adapt to a fast-changing world. “Our educational system is still traditional. In the traditional system, people were trained to be office clerks and interpreters to native authorities and in the churches,” he said, adding that a situation where the West African Examination Coun-

cil (WAEC) questions of 1927 and 1960 were repeated in 2010 called for a serious concern. Speaking further, the Vice Chancellor decried the poor handling of most postgraduate students and thesis in the country by lecturers, which he said, has led to the dearth of many brilliant ideas. He said: “Having original ideas is always not easy among many academics even in the advanced countries. This has led to academic fraud whereby people copy PhD thesis with generational gaps or one carried out in a different institution. “In many Nigerian institutions, many higher degree students wait for a year or more for their supervisors to assign topic to them.”

Nigeria to support Egypt’s candidate for DG of UNESCO

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has assured Egyptian government that her candidate for the post of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Moushira Khattab, will get Nigeria’s support. The Minister, who stated this in his office in Abuja while receiving Khattab and delegates who paid him a courtesy

visit, said that Nigeria and Egypt have had a cordial bilateral relationship and cooperation, especially in the areas of education, noting that the support will strengthen the relationship. Adamu also commended the government of Egypt for the scholarships awarded to Nigerian students, saying that Nigeria will continue to collaborate with Egypt at international fora for the betterment of both countries.

Speaking earlier, Her Excellency, Moushira Khattab, a former Ambassador of Egypt to South Africa, stressed the need for Nigeria’s support as both countries have long standing cordial relationship. She said that her focus will be to promote human rights, world peace and empowerment of youths, noting that the world is facing so many challenges especially in the areas of terrorism and unemployment.

Also speaking, the Ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Assem Hanify, said that his country and Nigeria have friendly relationship, and are co-members of the E9 countries. He said that many Nigerians are studying in Egypt either on scholarship or selfsponsorship. In 2011, he noted, Egyptian Cultural Centre awarded nine (9) scholarship offers to Nigerian students from Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and Bauchi states.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

19 Education Times

Educationists stress importance of quality teachers in education system Esther Taiwo Educationistsacrossthecountry have stressed the need for Nigeria to ensure that only those who are qualified to teach are found in the classroom in order to ensure a better futureforthecountry. These suggestions were part of the discourse at the two day programme of the 9th Total School Support Seminar/ Exhibition (TOSSE) organised by EDUMARKrecently. A former Special Adviser on Education to Ogun State Governor and Principal, Day Waterman College, Dr. Tunji Abimbola, said Nigerians haven’t set themselves at vision, and the vision determines direction of travel, adding that if there is no vision, then we won’t get it right. Hesaidthereisneedtochangethecurriculum that produces teachers, as well as the need to train teachers to attain the right standard especially in areas of technology. “Let us sit down to know what exactly will work for our education system. We have done various things but we must

answer these questions: What kind of teachers or principals do we want, what shouldtheybedoing,whatkindof school structure do we want, and what kind of outcomes do we expect from our children? Do we want them to compete and flourishintheglobalworld? When we define all these, we will be abletosaywhatkindof educationsystem wewanttohave”,hesaid. Abimbola decried the quality of teachers, saying this needs to be looked at as no education system in the world can be betterthanthequalityof itsteachers. “Presently I do not think the current teachers we have are preparing our students for that future we are talking about because they themselves have not been properly prepared. We need to go back to the drawing board. Are the right people the ones teaching our children? Are they being paid enough? A lot of countries are turningteachingintorealprofessions,but here, teachers have lost their rights and many people go into teaching for lack of jobs,”hesaid. Addressing participants comprising of school owners, management of schools, Director of Study and Chief Executiveof HeritageSchools,Mrs.Adebola

Atoyebi,saidmanyteachersarenotcertified and do not have the authentic knowledgetobeabletolookattheadministrator in the eye and tell him/her what they knowisrighttoteachpre-schoolchildren. “If teachers are convinced about what they do, they go to a place where they can be celebrated and make impact in the lives of the children they are teaching”, shesaid. Managing Director of EDUMARK, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde, said TOSSE has become something that has grown outside the world and all the educational associationsaredrummingsupportforit. On how to develop Nigeria’s education system, she said: “When it comes to Nigeria, it’s about harnessing the resources we have. This country is blessed with enormous resources just that there is a huge gap between those at the top and the reality on ground. We need those with disruptive element that can get things done”. She said the country needs leaders who understand what to do and how to do it, leaders with vision and passion to drive the country forward, and the right people who can picture Nigeria in the right perspective

LASG recommends new children book series to schools

Esther Taiwo

Lagos State Government has recommended a new children book series, the ‘Amazing Adventures of Izi and Larry The Dinosaur’ written by Olusegun Akande, to the general public. At the official launch of the new children’s book series held in Lagos, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule, commended the author, Mr. Olusegun Akande, for his contribution towards children’s educational development as well as the way he is affecting lives with his knowledge, talent and service to humanity. The launch of the new book series titled the ‘Amazing Adventures of Izi and Larry The Dinosaur’ published by Quramo Publishing under its Mango Books imprint took place at the Quintessence, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi. The Deputy Governor, who was represented by a Director General at the office of Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, in her recommendation to parents and general public, said “the book will serve as a good resource for children, parents, guardians, professionals, teachers, principals, students, Librarians and school authorities”. She further encouraged parents and guardians to get copies for their children.

She said further that “the launch of these books has also confirmed the unrelenting efforts and contribution of the author towards the educational development of the African child and in deed our nation, Nigeria”. Also speaking at the book launch, Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola, said: “This is an encouragement to children and a welcome development, because many Nigerian children are being taken abroad at early stages without the knowledge about their country”. Mrs. Adesola said further that “schools no longer teach history, but books like these help to teach Nigerian culture, as it is easy to read , fun to understand, and helps children to connect with their culture”. The author, Olusegun Akande said “the Amazing Adventures of Izi and Larry The Dinosaur, tells the story of two very good friends, eight-year-old Izi and magical, flying dinosaur, Larry - who lives in a zoo”. “Together, they go on wonderful adventures in which Larry teaches Izi about different ethnic groups and cultures; they see the world as a kaleidoscope of many customs and practices held together by tolerance, kindness, and understanding. This unique series comes in a box set of five intriguing stories,” he added.

AOCOED students roll out new movie Esther Taiwo

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh (middle); Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (3rd right) being flanked by other management staff of the university at the 2017 Ready Set Work Initiative of the Office of the Special Adviser to reduce youth unemployment, held on Monday at the Main Auditorium of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

Lagos urges undergraduates to invest in their future As a way of preventing joblessness after graduation, the Lagos State Government has urged the final year students in all the tertiary institutions in the state to key into its entrepreneurship skills development programme, tagged: “Ready Set Work”(RSW) initiative. The advice was given on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh during the ongoing “Ready Set Work” sensitisation programme at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka and the Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba. The sensitisation programme which commenced on Monday at LASU, Ojo and AOCOED, Ijanikin would be rounded off weekend at MOCPED, Epe and LASPOTECH, Ikorodu. Bank-Olemoh disclosed that three centres - UNILAG, LASU and LASPOTECH had been dedicated for the 13-week training programme

for interested graduating students in all the six tertiary schools based in the state. He urged the students to use the training programme irrespective of their courses of study to invest hugely in their future and become agents of social change in their economic active age. He said only 2,000 students would be picked across the six schools and about 700 of them who are outstanding would be placed on internship programmes with partnering companies spanning across the sectors of the economy or win funds to start-up businesses. In his remark, Deputy ViceChancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Ben Oghojafor, commended the Lagos State government for the initiative and asked the students to take the programme very seriously.

Management, staff and students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education(AOCOED), Otto Ijanikin-Lagos took time out recently to entertain themselves with a movie produced by the final year students of Theatre Arts Department, titled, Maze. According to the Deputy Provost, Dr. Femi Adeshina, who is also the foundation Head of Department of Theater Arts, the film was produced based on the regulation of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Adeshina, who also doubles as the course lecturer and director of the film, said students are required to do film study as one of the courses at

their final year, adding that instead

of just teaching them theory, they should also learn the practical so as to know all it takes to produce a film. Popular Actor and comedian, Hafiz Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka, said as a school of drama of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, the aim is to introduce students into the field of entertainment industry, for them to know that it is good to be sound academically also practically competent because it is the combination of both theory and practical that makes one a complete and total theatre practitioner. He advised the Federal Government to look towards the entertainment industry in its diversification plan, saying the industry is offering a lot in terms of economic, social and

cultural harmony promotion.

Olashore Alumna wins Cambridge award

Esther Taiwo

An alumna of Olashore International School, Miss Okupe Mofiyinfoluwa Ademidun, has been awarded the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award at the inaugural edition of the British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards. The awards ceremony which held at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos recently was designed to recognise outstanding Cambridge Learners in 2015/2016 examinations and the partner schools that have exemplified Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Child Protection policies. Commenting, principal of the school, Mr. Derek Smith, said Mofiyinfoluwa joined Olashore

International School in the year 2010 and graduated in 2016, adding that during her study in the school, she was hard working and consistently maintained the top position in her year group and that her excellent performance in the school placed her under academic scholarship throughout her years in the school. Derek said Fiyin, as her friends popularly call her, served as the school’s media prefect in 2015/2016, adding that during her tenure as media prefect, she was responsible for interviewing the many dignitaries that visited the school for Oasis, the Olashore International School termly magazine. “Fiyin participated in debate and public speaking competitions both in and out of school, coming out tops and winning numerous awards and prizes.

She also served as the Master of Ceremony in school events. Upon graduation, she was the best performing student in practically all her subjects including Biology, Civic Education, Christian Religious Studies, Economics, English Language, Government, ICT, Literature in English and Photography. This placed her as the overall best graduating student in 2016 graduating set,”the principal said. In her remark, Fiyin Okupe expressed gratitude to all that supported her on the journey, saying: “I am extremely honoured to be receiving this award. Coming from Olashore International School where there is a great emphasis on academic excellence, I can truly say I am a product of my environment. “

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

GOLDEN CROWN PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

WORLD SPIRIT MEDICAL AND HEALTH INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR ECHERENWA EMMANUEL 2. PASTOR MRS. NKECHI ECHERENWA 3. PASTOR NWANKWO GODWIN

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. JOSEPHINE CHINYERE IGNIS 2. MARGARETT CECELIA CHUKWU 3. PRINCEWELL KODILI UKEEKWE 4. ILO ONYEKA RAYMOND

AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1. To preach the Gospel 2. To rise end time Gospel Bearers Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigri Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1. To promote Education through fitness and health programmes. 2. To promote programs that combat teenage pregnancy. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigri Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

THERE WILL BE AN AUCTION SALES OF SCRAP MOTORS, SCRAP MOTORCYCLES AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT THE NIGERIA POLICE, DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS, ANTI-KIDNAPPING UNIT (AKU) DIVISION OF THE RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND. AFTER 21 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. 1. ONE SCRAP VANAGON BUS REG. NO. AB 546 DBB 2. ONE SCRAP PASSAT WAGON REG. NO. AHD 212 CB 3. ONE SCRAP MAZDA CAR REG. NO. DB 706 PH 4. ONE SCRAP GOLF CAR WITHOUT REG. NO. 5. ONE SCRAP BLACK LEXUS JEEP RX300 WITHOUT REG. NO. 6. ONE SCRAP DAMAGED TOYOTA CAMRY CAR WITHOUT REG. NO. 7. ONE SCRAP MAZDA 323 REG. NO. GU 285 RZ 8. ONE SCRAP BENTOL CAR WITHOUT REG. NO. 9. ONE SCRAP QLINK MOTORCYCLE REG. NO. RV 684 GB 10. ONE ALCATE TELEVISION 11. ONE VITA FOAM AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. SIGNED: ALH. UBALLO DANU AUCTIONEER

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) ARUWAYO - OBE GBANJU PATT (2) ARUWAYO - OBE OLUGBEMISOLA KEMI (3) ODALONU FELIX JUNIOR OGHENEOVO (4) OGUNGBAMILA AGNES - JOY (5) OKPARA FRANCA IFUNANYA

- CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE NEEDS OF THE YOUTHS AND EMPOWER THEM THROUGH SMALL SCALE BUSINESS AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS (2) TO EMPOWER THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROMOTE THE BOND OF CHARITY AMONG THE PEOPLE (3) TO PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF MORAL ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO ECONOMIC SUPPORT (4) TO PROMOTE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, EMPOWERMENT SERVICES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTORS NETWORK

The following people have been selected as the first set of Trustees:1. Engr. Muhaemin Adisa kotun 2. Alhaji Shamsideen Olakunle Kotun

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.NWACHUKWU TINA 2.SOPHIA COOKEY 3.PRINCE EMEKA MADU 4.NWACHUKWU GEORGE 5.TASIE VICTORIA EKE 6.MARVELOUS GILBERT 7.SOLOMON JACOB

Signed by: Chief Bolakale kotun. Olori -ebi , head of the Braimah Kotun family dynasty of lagos WONDERFUL SALVATION IN CHRIST DELIVERANCE MINISTRY EGANMIDOGO This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of 1990 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1 LADY EVANG. EGBEDINNI OYEYEMI 2 PASTOR OJELADE ISAAC 3 MR. AJAYI OKIKIJESU JOSHUA 4 DR. DARAMOLA RUFUS AYODELE

- CHAIRPERSON /SPIRITUAL HEAD - SPECIAL ADVISER - TREASURER - SECRETARY.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1 To propagate the Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ 2 To create spiritual atmosphere where people get their problems solved, burden lifted and deliverance assured 3 To prepare an array of end-time Christian solders who will be ambassadors of Christ worldwide. 4 To assist the less priviledge in making a living and having a fulfilled life. 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: BY SECRETARY

MRS. BISIRIYU LATIFAT ADEYEMI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS HASSAN LATIFAT ADEYEMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. BISIRIYU LATIFAT ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

EMMANUEL MATHEW WUYA I, formerly known and addressed as OBI FERDINAND ARIA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EMMANUEL MATHEW WUYA. That I was born on the 25th day of December, 1989. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

VIDOHONJI SARAH OKOH Formerly known and addressed as OKOH SARAH AIRELOBHO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as VIDOHONJI SARAH OKOH. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. OLATOKUNBO JOHN I, formerly known and addressed as FADEYI TOKUNBO JOHN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLATOKUNBO JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster unity among the members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tiqgris Crescent, Off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication

ASSOCIATION OF ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND RELIGIOUS COMPARATIVE DAWAH

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.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent off Aguiyi ironsi street maitama, Abuja

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Elder (Comrade) Udeme James Otong - Chairman 2. Comrade Solomon Akpan Peter - Secretary 3. Comrade Joseph Akpan Udo 4. Comrade Boniface Cyprian Nkorok 5. Comrade Eyo Thomas Akpan

BUFUS EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act , 2004(as mended)

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT OLORI - EBI - In - council of the above named family has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part ‘C ‘ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990

The Aims and Objectives Are:1. The Braimah kotun Family Dynasty association is set up primarily to preserve and keep in permanent form the history and genealogy of one undivided and promote it’s member in all spheres of life. 2. To facilitate and foster unity of the entire family, as well as strengthen the existing bond, fellowship and brotherhood among members of the family 3. To hold in trust the family house for an on behalf of all the descendants of our Patriarch late Braimah kotun and to aid administration of other assets and affairs of the family

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

Signed: Chairman

SIGNED BY : FRANCIS OGUNBOWALE ESQ (SOLICITOR)

BRAIMAH KOTUN FAMILY DYNASTY ASSOCIATION

ASSOCIATION OF TRAINED HEALTH WORKERS IN PATENT MEDICINE

Signed Trustees

AUCTION SALES! AUCTION SALES!!

Public Notice

- CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To unite ourselves as Producers and Distributors of films for the advancement of the Movie Industry and benefit of the society Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrationGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act , 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. MR KARIM SALIU AKANJI 2. MR BAMIMORE HASSAN 3. MR ADESINA ILIASU ADISA 4. MR IMRAN LAWAL 5. MR IDRIS WAHAB

- CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To engage in Islamic research and da’awa programs Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. SIGNED BY :SECRETARY

FARMERS ADVANCEMENT AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act, 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. CHIEF (DR.) EBIGWEI SYLVANUS OLUSANYA 2. OKUNNU MUSTAPHA ABIODUN 3. OPIA ANTHONY KINGSLEY UGBOMA 4. HON. BAMGBOLA HAKEEM BABALOLA 5. DR. MADU EDWIN OBIORA 6. CHIEF OGUNDEJI SAMUEL LANRE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To Protect the interest of members 2.To harmonize the trade atmosphere of member’s goods and check influx of goods in the market 3. To provide security for members and their goods . Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Chairman

SIGNED BY : SECRETARY

ADVERTISEMENT OF SPECIAL RESOLUTION TO WIND-UP In the matter of OSATA SURAJU GENERAL STORES AND CHINESE RESTAURANT LIMITED - (RC NO. 177883), In members’ voluntary winding up and in the matter of the companies and Allied Matters Acts, Cap. C20, Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of OSATA SURAJU GENERAL STORES AND CHINESE RESTAURANT LIMITED “the company” duly convened at plot 7 Opebi Road, Opebi, ikeja, Lagos on the 13 day of June, 2017 the following resolution were duly passed: 1. That the company be wound up voluntary pursuant to section 457(b) of the companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004; 2. That Tijani Oluwatomisin Faith of 18, Adele Road, Apapa, Lagos be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator for the purpose of the wind - up”. SIGNED : BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD

ABE OLATOMIDE FOLAKE

MUHAMMED ABAS YELWAH

I, formerly known and addressed as AKINWALE-ABE OLATOMIDE FOLAKE and AKINWALE OLATOMIDE FOLAKE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABE OLATOMIDE FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ABASS MUHAMMED BATURE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MUHAMMED ABAS YELWAH. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

UGBAJE-REUBEN ADEBOLA ESTHER I, formerly known and addressed as AYOADE ADEBOLA ESTHER, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UGBAJE-REUBEN ADEBOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UAGBAOJIE HELEN CYNTHIA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OZEMOYA HELEN CYNTHIA due to change in my marital status. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

OZEMOYA HELEN CYNTHIA

CHANGE OF FAMILY SURNAME

That I, LAZARUS CHUKWUEMEKA NNAWUIHE is the first son of the NWAGO family. That we were formerly known called and addressed as NWAGO family. That we wish to change our family surname from NWAGO family to LAZARUS family. Henceforth we wish to be known, called and addressed as follows : 1. LAZARUS CHUKWUEMEKA NNAWUIHE 2. LAZARUS CHIZOBA AGNES - Wife 3. LAZARUS CHINYERE NGAMNODINMA - Sibling 4. LAZARUS NNENYEREUGO IHUNARULAM - Sibling 5. LAZARUS IJEOMA EKWUTOSI - Sibling 6. LAZARUS UGOCHUKWU AMAECHI - Sibling 7. LAZARUS CHINEDU UKACHI. - Sibling 8. LAZARUS KELECHI NGOZI - Sibling 9. LAZARUS OHANEYE ONYEACHULAM - Sibling 10. LAZARUS UZOAMAKA CHIKWADO - Sibling 11. LAZARUS CHUKWUNONSO DURUAKU - Sibling That all the documents bearing our former surname remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. OGUNBANWO OLASUNKANMI DAVID I, formerly known and addressed as OLAJIDE OLANREWAJU DAVID, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OGUNBANWO OLASUNKANMI DAVID. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That I am the same person bearing ADEYANJU AJOKE TAIWO and ADEYANJU TAIWO CHRISTIANA. That my full and correct name is ADEYANJU AJOKE TAIWO CHRISTIANA. That all documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

OMOSEBI JOHN I, formerly known and addressed as ADEBOLA OMOSEBI DARAMOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OMOSEBI JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

MRS. BLESSING OLUCHI GODFREY NJEMANZE I formerly known and addressed as MISS BLESSING OLUCHI ALADI , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BLESSING OLUCHI GODFREY NJEMANZE . All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note

22 Public Notice MISS AKEEM SOFIAH OLAWUNMI

I formerly known as MISS OLASUPO SOFIAH OLAWUNMI now wish to be known as MISS AKEEM SOFIAH OLAWUNMI. All documents bearing the former names remain valid. The general public should please take note. MRS OBIDINA RAFIAT OLOLADE

Formerly known and addressed as MISS HAMZAT RAFIAT OLOLADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBIDINA RAFIAT OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. MRS. ONYENEKWE JACINTA EZINWANNE

LU ABIKOYE

Formerly known and addressed as OLUMIDE GABRIEL ABIKOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as LU ABIKOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. LAWRENCE WISDOM CHIBUNNA BARNABAS Formerly known and addressed as LAWRENCE BARNABAS CHIBUNNA WISDOM, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWRENCE WISDOM CHIBUNNA BARNABAS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. OKORO MARIA GORETTI

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

MRS AKINNUSI FUNBI CHARITY

CHARLOTTE ADERONKE FAPOHUNDA

SAFIU SULAIMAN MAITO

Formerly known and addressed as MISS DANIA FUNBI CHARITY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKINNUSI FUNBI CHARITY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BOSEDE ODEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHARLOTTE ADERONKE FAPOHUNDA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as SULEMAN DISU, now wish to be known and addressed as SAFIU SULAIMAN MAITO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

MOSHOOD ABOSEDE OLUSOLA

MRS CHARLES AMANISONG DEBRAH

Formerly known and addressed as OLUAWO OLUSOLA ABOSEDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MOSHOOD ABOSEDE OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. GODSPOWER OGADIMMA OSUJI

Formerly known and addressed as BASSEY DEBORAH UDOH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHARLES AMANISONG DEBRAH. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as IDIEGE SAMSON OGBA, now wish to be known and addressed as IDIEGE LIVINUS OGBAJI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

ODUNZE SIMEON

ANIEKPENO SUNDAY TOM

This is to certify that the name OSUJI GODSPOWER IKECHUKWU and GODSPOWER OGADIMMA OSUJI refers to one and the same person; now wish to be known and addressed as GODSPOWER OGADIMMA OSUJI. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ODUNZE JUNIOR, now wish to be known and addressed as ODUNZE SIMEON. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUAMA JACINTA EZINWANNE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ONYENEKWE JACINTA EZINWANNE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKORO MARIA IKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as OKORO MARIA GORETTI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PATIENCE CHIOMA ANOZIE-AHUNW I, formerly known and addressed as ALAGWU PATIENCE CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as PATIENCE CHIOMA ANOZIEAHUNWA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS. UDE-OSUJI PHINA

MRS. GLORIA ADAKU OFOEGBU

MRS. MBAHAOTU CHINOMSO LINDA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYECHUBA PHINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UDE-OSUJI PHINA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS GLORIA ADAKU VIRGINIA UWAZIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GLORIA ADAKU OFOEGBU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UZOR CHINOMSO LINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MBAHAOTU CHINOMSO LINDA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS. ANYANWU EUCHARIA NKECHI

DEBAYO-DOHERTY OLUBODE

NUHU AHMED

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NJOKU EUCHARIA NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANYANWU EUCHARIA NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DOHERTY OLUBODE DEBAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as DEBAYO-DOHERTY OLUBODE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYEMA UGOCHUKWU AUGUSTINE

AJUWA ISIOMA HENRY

I formerly called and addressed as UGOCHUKWU FRANCIS now wish to be known called and addressed as ONYEMA UGOCHUKWU AUGUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note. ELIZABETH CHIBUENYIM ORIAKU

Formerly known and addressed as ORIAKU ELIZABETH CHICHI BETTY, now wish to be known and addressed as ELIZABETH CHIBUENYIM ORIAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. NZEKWE UGOCHUKWU ELIJAH

Formerly known and addressed as GODWIN CHARLES GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as NZEKWE UGOCHUKWU ELIJAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. GIFT EKATTE AKPAN

Formerly known and addressed as GIFT EYO AKPAN EKWERE, now wish to be known and addressed as GIFT EKATTE AKPAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHISOM FLORENCE NZERIBE I formerly known and addressed as CHISOM EZEOCHA , now wish to be known and addressed as CHISOM FLORENCE NZERIBE . All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ISIOMA HENRY, now wish to be known and addressed as AJUWA ISIOMA HENRY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHIOMA NWANOGLIE

Formerly known and addressed as SANDRA VINCENT, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIOMA NWANOGLIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ISA ABDUL RAHAMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as NUHU AHMED. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. OKEREKE GLORY CHIDIMMA

AWODIPE OLUWAFEMI JOSHUA

Formerly known and addressed as EJIMS FAVOUR OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as EJIMNAKA FAVOUR OLUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AWODIKPE FEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as AWODIPE OLUWAFEMI JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ASSOCIATION OF CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS IN NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the company and allied matters Act. 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Professor Godwin O. C. Obia, JP. 2. Ms. Grace Oluchi Godwin 3. Ms. Faith Chinwendu Godwin AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the distinctiveness of managerial discipline in Corporate Governance. 2. To promote managerial knowledge sharing among managers 3. To develop career development and advancement among managers through training and workshops. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Sign: Gloria Ezeji Esq. Solicitor

Formerly known and addressed as MUSA JENNIFER NKEM, now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA NKEM JANE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS IKE QUEEN NNENNA

IDIGO IYABO DORCAS

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. ANYANWU MUNACHISO JANE-FRRANCES, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SAMUEL-ONYEKA MUNACHISO JANEFRANCES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ORIYOMI IYABO DORCAS now wish to be known called and addressed as IDIGO IYABO DORCAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. IGHO OSAGIE SWEET ADAOBI

Formerly known and addressed as KANU ADAOBI AMEN, now wish to be known and addressed as IGHO OSAGIE SWEET ADAOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DANIEL GIFT

I, formerly known and addressed as DANIEL CHIRMARK NAPOLEON, now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL GIFT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. MBA CYNTHIA CHIEHIURA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKORO CYNTHIA CHIEHIURA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MBA CYNTHIA CHIEHIURA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as HASANA ISMAIL, now wish to be known and addressed as OSEIMOH HASSANA ISAYZA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EBUZOR CHIAMAKA SILVIA

MRS. SAMUEL-ONYEKA MUNACHISO JANEFRANCES

OBINNA GODWILL ORINGANOME

I, formerly known and addressed as OBINNA IHENACHO GENK, now wish to be known and addressed as OBINNA GODWILL ORINGANOME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MUSA NKEM JANE

Formerly known and addressed as NWACHUKWU QUEEN NNENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IKE QUEEN NNENNA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

RAJI ADEBUSOLA OLUWAKEMI

Formerly known and addressed as LUCAS MOJISOLA ANIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as BAMIKIYA MOJISOLA ANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSEIMOH HASSANA ISAYZA

Formerly known and addressed as TAIWO OLAIDE AJOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as OWOSENI OLAIDE AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. I formerly known and addressed as OBIOHA CHIAMAKA SILVIA now wish to be known called and addressed as EBUZOR CHIAMAKA SILVIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EJIMNAKA FAVOUR OLUCHI

I, formerly known and addressed as KINGSLEY SUNDAY TOM, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIEKPENO SUNDAY TOM. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OWOSENI OLAIDE AJOKE

I, formerly known and addressed as NJOKU GLORY CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEREKE GLORY CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid. Abia State Polytechnic, NYSC and the general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AKINDELE JENEY OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI ADEBUSOLA OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IDIEGE LIVINUS OGBAJI

BAMIKIYA MOJISOLA ANIKE

MRS. IFEOMA CALISTA FRANCIS

I formerly called and addressed as MISS IFEOMA CALISTA DIKEnow wish to be known called and addressed as MRS. IFEOMA CALISTA FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note. OLAYINKA MUFLIAT ABOLORE

Formerly known and addressed as AKINOSI MUIBAT ABOLORE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAYINKA MUFLIAT ABOLORE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. EIYEGBENIN EROMONSELE

Formerly known and addressed as EIYEGBENIN EROMONSELE JOSHA, now wish to be known and addressed as EIYEGBENIN EROMONSELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SALAMI HANNA TITILAYO

MRS. OJO ROFIAT ODUNAYO

Formerly known and addressed as TITILAYO OSINOWO, now wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI HANNA TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. SHODEINDE ROFIAT ODUNAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OJO ROFIAT ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF SURNAME We, formerly known and addressed as 1.CHIEF GEORGE CHUKWUMA OGBODO 2.MRS PATIENCE NDIDI OGBODO 3.DAVID UCHENNA OGBODO 4.GEOFFREY CHIKWADO OGBODO 5.GRACE AMARACHI OGBODO 6.RUTH CHIGOZIE OGBODO 7.PRECIOUS KOSISOCHUKWU OGBODO now wish to be known and addressed as 1.CHIEF GEORGE CHUKWUMA EKENEMCHI 2.MRS PATIENCE NDIDI EKENEMCHI 3.DAVID UCHENNA EKENEMCHI 4.GEOFFREY CHIKWADO EKENEMCHI 5.GRACE AMARACHI EKENEMCHI 6.RUTH CHIGOZIE EKENEMCHI 7.PRECIOUS KOSISOCHUKWU EKENEMCHI All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that MGBEMERE IHECHI, MGBEMERE IHECHUKWU, NWANOSIKE BRIGHT IHECHI and NWANOSIKE BRIGHT refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as NWANOSIKE BRIGHT IHECHI. All former documents remain valid, the general public please take note. NWEZE CHIDIMMA JOY I Formerly known and addressed as Akubueze Chidimma Joy now wish to be known, called and addressed as Nweze Chidimma Joy. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

MRS BLESSING ABIEYUWA AGBONIGHALE

I Formerly known and addressed as MRS BLESSING ABIEYUWA OMORUYI. now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS BLESSING ABIEYUWA AGBONIGHALE. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

NWOKOCHA PRINCE

I, formerly known and addressed as, NWOKOCHA ONYEMA, AND NWOKOCHA ONYEMACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWOKOCHA PRINCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. MRS ONUOHA FAITH NMESOMACHI

FALOYE ADESUWA PRISCILLA

OGWEHI BENJAMIN

MARY YETUNDE ADEBIMPE

MRS. OKEREAFOR LINDA CHIBUIFE

I Formerly known and addressed as Aihebho Adesuwa Priscilla now wish to be known, called and addressed as Faloye Adesuwa Priscilla. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as Ogwehi Benjamin Lawrence now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ogwehi Benjamin. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as Mary Yetunde Okulaja now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mary Yetunde Adebimpe. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ONONUJU LINDA CHIBUIFE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. OKEREAFOR LINDA CHIBUIFE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. ONUORAH GINIKACHI STELLA I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. GINIKACHI STELLA OKENWA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ONUORAH GINIKACHI STELLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. BEATRICE EGERE ARUA

NWIAKERE JOE MENEBE

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. BEATRICE JEKPEME ARUA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. BEATRICE EGERE ARUA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, WILSON UKOH, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWIAKERE JOE MENEBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. AMADI CHIOMA

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UMEH, CHIOMA OGADINMA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. AMADI CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. EZENWANKWO CHINWE

I, formerly known and addressed as, Ichema Faith Nmesomachi, now wish to be known and addressed as, Mrs Onuoha Faith Nmesomachi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EZE CHINWE, now wish to be known and addressed as, EZENWANKWO CHINWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ONEJEME OGOCHUKWU SCHOLASTICA I formerly known and addressed as DIM OGOCHUKWU SCHOLASTICA. Now wish to be known as ONEJEME OGOCHUKWU SCHOLASTICA. All former documents remain. General public and authorities concerned should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH ELEGBA. Now wish to be known as ELEGBA SUNDAY ABEL. All former documents remain valid. General public and authorities concerned should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ELEGBA SUNDAY ABEL

ALABI SALAU DANMOGAJI

I, ADETUNJI JEMILAT ADEDOYIN is the same person bearing ADETUNJI TEMITOPE JEMILAT. I hereby wish to be known and addressed as ADETUNJI JEMILAT ADEDOYIN All my relevant document remain valid. General public take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DANMOGAJI ALABI SALAUDEEN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ALABI SALAU DANMOGAji. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS. ADEYEMI OLUWABUNMI SARAH I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS LAMBE OLUWABUNMI SARAH NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ADEYEMI OLUWABUNMI SARAH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SAKIRU OLAJUMO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLAJUWON OLAWALE SHAKIRU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ONUH CHINEME MAXWELL

I, formerly known and addressed as ONUH CHINEME .M. DESTINE, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUH CHINEME MAXWELL. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note. MRS NDUKWE ADAORA CHINELO I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGBONNA ADAORA CHINELO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NDUKWE ADAORA CHINELO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. MRS OMALIKO LOVETH EBERECHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONUIGBO LOVETH EBERECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OMALIKO LOVETH EBERECHUKWU. My correct date of birth is 12th July 1982. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FRANCIS ADO ETUKE

Formerly known and addressed as FRANCIS EBITIMI FORCADOS, now wish to be known and addressed as FRANCIS ADO ETUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

23 Public Notice

OLAJUWON OLAWALE SHAKIRU

MRS ANI OGBODO PEACE CHIZOBA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EWOH CHIZOBA CICILIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANI OGBODO PEACE CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

VIRGINIA UTAZI OJIKE

I, formerly known and addressed as VIRGINIA UTAZI, now wish to be known and addressed as VIRGINIA UTAZI OJIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DICKSON JOY

Formerly known and addressed as OMOMAGIOWAWI JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as DICKSON JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ANIMASHAUN TEMITOPE ABISOLA

Formerly known and addressed as AKINFOLARIN TEMITOPE ABISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIMASHAUN TEMITOPE ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, BLESSING ETTEN, AND BLESSING ETIM ETTEH, refer to one and same person but, now wish to be known and addressed as, BLESSING ETIM ETTEH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. ONIGBINDE ABOSEDE JANET

I formerly known and addressed as AKINLOYE ABOSEDE JANET. Now wish to be known as ONIGBINDE ABOSEDE JANET. All former documents remain valid General public should please take note. OLAYORI TAIWO OLUWAKEMI I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLURONKE TAIWO OLUWAKEMI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLAYORI TAIWO OLUWAKEMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

UWAKWE AKAA INYA I, formerly known and addressed as NNANNA AKAA INYA, now wish to be known and addressed as UWAKWE AKAA INYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. MRS OHABUIKE ABUMCHUKWU BLESSING I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EGBO ABUMCHUKWU BLESSING and MISS EGBO ABUMCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OHABUIKE ABUMCHUKWU BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS ONAH CHINWENDU CHRISTIANA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, ADE ALLADAY, NAJIMU FADEJINMI, ADE AJIBADE, NAJIMU AJIBADE, ADEWALE AJIBADE A. N., AND ADE N. AJIBADE, refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, OFORJI MICHEAL AZUAHU and OGWUDIRE MICHEAL AZUAHU refers to one and same person. That I now wish to be called and Addressed as OFORJI MICHEAL AZUAHU .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

JEJELAYE OWOLABI OLORUNWA

DADA SHINA MICHAEL now known as DADA SINA MICHAEL : All former documents remains valid, Gtbank and the general public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OJEKUNLE OWOLABI MUSILIU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JEJELAYE OWOLABI OLORUNWA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

DAUDA AMUDAT MOTUNRAYO

JAMOH-RAMON-OLUWADAMILARE

Formerly known and addressed as Moturayo Nujeem (Nujeem is Sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name used for BVN) now wish to be known and addressed as Dauda Amudat Motunrayo. All former douments remain valid. General public take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAMIU-RAMONOLUWADAMILARE Wrong Date of Birth-25/06/1995, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAMOH-RAMON-OLUWADAMILARE Correct Date of Birth-15/05/1991. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OBUMNEME FRANCIS

I, formerly known and addressed as OBUMNEME JOACHIM, now wish to be known and addressed as OBUMNEME FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. MRS IHEKWAOBA ADAEZE EUCHARIA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAFOR ADAEZE EUCHARIA and MISS EZE ADA EUCHARIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IHEKWAOBA ADAEZE EUCHARIA . All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS EJIGA EJURA GRACE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS FARUNA EJURA GRACE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EJIGA EJURA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS NWANNADI VIVIAN IFEYINWA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBI VIVIAN IFEYINWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWANNADI VIVIAN IFEYINWA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UDEJI CHUKWUDI VICTORY

MRS EZUNU EBERE GLORIA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBIEFULE CHINWENDU CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONAH CHINWENDU CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as IFEANYICHUKWU CLETUS UDEJI, now wish to be known and addressed as UDEJI CHUKWUDI VICTORY. My correct date of birth is 10th March 1980. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAFOR EBERE GLORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZUNU EBERE GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ENECHUKWU ONYEKA OKECHUKWU

SAMSON NATHANIEL

MRS JIMOH MODINAT OLAJUMOKE

I, formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR CHIDERAH OKECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as ENECHUKWU ONYEKA OKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/ DATE OF BIRTH My name was wrongly written as UZOMA PAUL instead of UZOMA FLORENCE AJI. My date of birth was wrongly written as 1st January, 1960 instead of 18th April , 1974. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MONDAY NATALA, now wish to be known and addressed as SAMSON NATHANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. MRS. SINMIKAYE, VICTORIA YETUNDE

Formerly known and addressed as AFOLABI, VICTORIA YETUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SINMIKAYE, VICTORIA YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ANWANAODUNG EMMANUEL JOHN I, formerly known and addressed as, ANWANAODUNG EMMANUEL UMOH, now wish to be known and addressed as, ANWANAODUNG EMMANUEL JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. IRECHUKWU CHIAMAKA DEBORAH I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. NDULAKA CHIAMAKA DEBORAH, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. IRECHUKWU CHIAMAKA DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

TAMUNOTELEMA ONOJA I FORMERLY KNOWN AS ONOJA LARUBA HEARTY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TAMUNOTELEMA ONOJA All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

ETIM SAVIOUR OBETEN I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GABRIEL SAVIOUR ENONG NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ETIM SAVIOUR OBETEN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

AJIBOLA SHUKRAH ABIOLA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SULEIMON SHUKRAT ABIOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AJIBOLA SHUKRAH ABIOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS ONUKWUFOR MARIAN IJEOMA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IHEDIGBO MIRIAN IJEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONUKWUFOR MARIAN IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS CHUKA-ELOSIA CHINWE MODESTA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGU CHINWENDU MODESTA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHUKAELOSIA CHINWE MODESTA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

OKAFOR FRANCISCA ONYINYECHI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANICHEBE FRANCISCA ONYINYECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR FRANCISCA ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

IJEOMA UDE ORJI

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olanrewaju Ajala Modinat Olajumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Jimoh Modinat Olajumoke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as IJEOMA UKEMEZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA UDE ORJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DEBORAH ELISBETH OKON

MRS FLORENCE OLUBUNMI IBIAM-IYAH

I, formerly known and addressed as DEBORAH ELISBETH INOTU now wish to be known and addressed as DEBORAH ELISBETH OKON. my correct date of birth is 6-2-1989 and not 6-2-1962. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoare Florence Olubunmi now wish to be known and addressed Mrs Florence Olubunmi Ibiam-Iyah. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Jealous woman bathes rival girl with acid in Delta Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏ It was gathered that

the incident, which occurred on Sunday morning while the victim was on her way to the church, had been generating serious ripples among the people of the Okpanam community who described the action of the house wife as “barbaric and wicked.” Although, the police in the area had confirmed the arrest and subsequent detention of the suspect, her husband, who spoke to jour-

nalists on Tuesday in the area on condition of anonymity, denied relationship with the victim, describing her as a neighbor who calls him father. He said, “I cannot date a small girl who calls me her father. My wife acted in error, she should face the music.” The suspect allegedly brought acid and poured it into water can and proceeded to the gate of the church in the area, and unknown to the victim who hails from Oleh town and had been living with her parents in

Okpanam, bathed her with the chemical. The suspect was said to have tried to escape. Unfortunately for her, she was nabbed by the church members who later handed her over to the police. Speaking to our reporter the pastor of the church where the victim worships, pastor John Ikubor confirmed that the victim after the alleged acid attack, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba where she is currently responding to treatment.

At the FMC, journalists were prevented from taking her photograph rather to only speak with her. The victim, who managed to speak to journalists, said: “My attacker is a liar, I never dated her husband, she hated me and wanted to kill me. My Lord will expose her.” In a swift reaction, the police image maker in the state, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed that investigation was on-going, adding that the suspect would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representative’s Committee on Integration and Co-Operation in Africa, Dr. Kingsley Ebenye; representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Roy Ugo and Chief Executive Officer, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, during the NEPAD Stakeholders’ workshop on Skills Initiative for Africa in Abuja… recently.

Kwara firm squabble over tantalite license Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

The Kwara state government and an indigenous mining company, Victory Crown Associates (VCA), are at loggerheads over the fate of a mining licence, 23572EL, granted by the federal government for the exploration of tantalite in Siringwaria village, Kaima local government area of the state. The license was approved for VCA on December 16, 2016 and to expire on December 15, 2019. While the firm is insisting its licence has not been revoked by the federal government and thus remains valid, the state government is claiming that it has revoked the licence through the withdrawal of the community consent earlier granted the investor over the mining site. Company secretary and legal counsel to the firm, Bashir Oladipo told newsmen at the weekend that one Yomi Johnson, allegedly acting on behalf of the state government as a tax consultant has already taken over the site. He was alleged to have been contracted by the state’s internal revenue agency, KWIRS. But the state government claimed that it has taken over the site because the firm has been ‘oppressive’ and allegedly failed to perform its expected social responsibilities to its host

community. A letter from the commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Funmilayo Oniwa, addressed to the traditional ruler of the community also claimed that the firm had failed to pay taxes and royalties to the government. “This position is unacceptable, hence the approval by governor AbdulFattah Ahmed for the takeover of the site in overriding public interest and thereby lay the basis for government control of the site through legally acquiring it for the benefit of the people in the area and government of Kwara state”, the letter, dated February 8, 2017, read in part. The commissioner also announced the appointment of one PAT-KAY Revenue Consultant to continue to operate in the area to generate revenue for government while asking the traditional ruler to revoke his earlier consent for Victory Crown Associates Limited. However, Bashir, who backed his comments with documents from the federal ministry of solid mineral development as well as security agencies whose leadership had intervened on the crisis at various times, accused some officials in Kwara state of frustrating his company’s efforts for selfish reasons, lamenting that they had turned around to describe genuine investors as security risk in the state.

Raid on The Sun premises: Call EFCC to order, NPAN tells FG

CRSHA constitutes c’mtte to investigate shooting of student

prietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to order in the interest and greater good of the nation and the rule of law. The NPAN made the call following the reported invasion of the Apapa, Lagos Corporate Headquarters of The Sun Newspapers on Monday June 12, 2017 by operatives of the anti graft agency. Describing the invasion as a thing of grave concern, the NPAN in a statement signed by its President, Nduka Obaigbena, wondered why the EFCC

The Cross River State House of Assembly has mandated the committee on ICT, Information, Youths and Sports headed by Hon. Mathew Olory, to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the shooting of a student during the May 27, Children’s Day celebration at the Calabar stadium. The decision of the House followed a motion of urgent public interest brought before it by the member representing Boki II State Constituency, Hon. Hillary Ekpang Bissong. Constituting the committee, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, charged them to invite all relevant persons including the Commissioner for

ÏÏÏ The Newspaper Pro-

operatives would chose to swoop on the newspaper in the early morning of June 12, while Nigerians were commemorating the historic day of free expression and order security men to take them on a guided tour of the premises of the newspaper. “The EFCC operatives subsequently prevented journalists and staff from performing their constitutional duties, and abridging their rights to free speech by preventing those who were in the premises from leaving, and others reporting for duty from entering the premises.” While expressing concern over the reasons adduced by the anti-graft agencies for storming the Sun premises, as part of

plans to enforce a 10-year old Interim Order of Forfeiture on the shareholding of Sun Newspapers, the newspaper proprietors pointed out the position the Editors of the Newspapers who said the EFCC officials were there on a vengeance and intimidation mission to settle scores on several stories published by the newspaper, including the alleged ownership of certain properties by the wife of the EFCC Acting Chairman for which the Acting Chairman had threatened libel lawsuits. “Instead of lawsuits, the EFCC operatives raided the newspaper offices to revive a 10-year old Interim Order of Forfeiture that is already before an appellate court.”

The body added that “Given these developments, it is our considered view that the EFCC, being a State institution and a creation of the law, cannot be above the law: and the manner of the invasion tends to suggest that the EFCC was out on a selfhelp mission, a voyage to intimidate journalists, criminalise journalism and cower free speech. “We should continue to remind ourselves that this crude tactics of invasion of media houses and harassment of journalists did not work in the past, is not going to work now, and will never work. It is unknown to The Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.

Edem Edem, Calabar

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Youths and Sports Development as well as the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. Also invited are the heads of all security agencies in the state, Student Union Governments from the University of Calabar, the state University of Technology, and College of Health Calabar, representatives of youth groups, National Youth Service Corp members and other recognised youth associations. The House also mandated the committee to visit the affected student in the hospital, ascertain the medical bills incurred and also interface with the parents of the victim and report back accordingly to it. The House condemned in strong terms the crises which led to the shooting of the student by the police.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

TIJANI RASHIDAT GBOGBOLOMO

I formerly known and addressed as OLADIMEJI-TIJANI RASHIDAT OYEBOLANLE and OLADIMEJI RASHIDAT OYEBOLANLE, now wish to be known and addressed as TIJANI RASHIDAT GBOGBOLOMO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SHOBOWALE WISDOM MODESOLA I formerly known and addressed as SHOBOWALE GANIYU MODESOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as SHOBOWALE WISDOM MODESOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLADIRAN OLUSEGUN DAVID I formerly known and addressed as DAKE DAVID, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADIRAN OLUSEGUN DAVID. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADELEKE ADEFEMI SIMEON ADETUNBI. I, formerly known and addressed as ELEGUNDE ADEFEMI SIMEON ADETUNBI, now wish to be known and addressed as ADELEKE ADEFEMI SIMEON ADETUNBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/ DECLARATION OF AGE I, formerly known as STEPHEN GOODLUCK KALU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as STEPHEN DIBIA KALU. And my date of birth is 30-04-1983. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

USMAN ABDULKADIR I formerly known and addressed as NURUDEEN USMAN now wish to be known and addressed as USMAN ABDULKADIR .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

DADA TITILAYO SILIFAT

xxOKAJARE BOLA JAMES

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME/ DECLARATION OF AGE

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25 Public Notice

ALOZIE MARTINS CHUKWUNONSO

I formerly known and addressed as BARTHOLOMEW ALOZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as ALOZIE MARTINS CHUKWUNONSO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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My name appears as ODUNEWU HAKEEM KAYODE in First Bank account, it appears as ODUNEWU HAKEEM OMOKAYODE in other of my documents. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ODUNEWU HAKEEM OMOKAYODE. This is to confirm that I am the same person bearing the above name. General public should please take note.

MRS. ADEYEMO ADEWUMI ELIZABETH

x EHIMERE HAPPINESS JANE

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ORAHEMO OVIE SYLVESTER

MRS. ONYEMEM MARY OLUCHI

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AJIBADE ALICE OMOWUMI

ADENIKINJU TOYIN DORATHY

OJO OLUSEGUN KOLAWOLE

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JAMES CHIMA OBIECHEFU

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OLALERE JOSEPH OLAOLUWA

MICHEAL CORNELIUS ADEDIRAN

OLADEPO AMOS OLUGBEMI

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YEKANYIOLUWA BOLANLE OPEYEMI

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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OORI SUNDAY OKEBE

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YUSUF BRIDGET BLESSING

ISHOLA MICHAEL ABIODUN

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ADAMSON OMISORE OLUWATOBI

CLEMENT NWADIKE AIGBE

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SHODE SUNDAY MICHAEL

FAVOUR OYINLADE OLAOLUWA

ADENIYI OLUWAKOYA JAMES

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MRS AKUCHIEZE OGECHI GLORY

SIKIRU AKINKUNMI AFEEZ

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CHUKWUMA AMANMA AUSTINE

DAMILOLA ANNA SOBANDE

BAMIDELE AJOKE OMOLARA

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I, formerly known and addressed as MUSTOPHA TELLA OLABISI SUWEBAT, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TELLA OLABISI SUWEBAT, was born on the 19th July, 1950. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

PETER AMARACHI PRECIOUS

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ADDITION OF NAME

In some of my documents my name was written as ELURO ESTHER ONUWA and I wish to add EGWUNYENGA to my name. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ESTHER ONUWA ELURO EGWUNYENGA. All the documents bearing all the names are valid.General public to please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME In some of my documents my name was wrongly written as ABDULLAHI KAYODE OLASILE instead of ABDULAHI KAYODE OLASHILE All the documents bearing all the names are valid. General public to please take note.

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ADDITION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

In some of my documents my name was written as ORACHEBE OKECHUKWU and I wish to add CASMIR to my name. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ORACHEBE OKECHUKWU CASMIR. .All the documents bearing all the names are valid.General public to please take note.

In some of my documents my name was written as OKWUDIRI BENSON ERONDU and In some other documents my name was written as BENSON OKWUDIRI.The names refer to the same person.Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as OKWUDIRI BENSON ERONDU. All the documents bearing all the names are valid.General public to please take note.

Features 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Protesters

Controversy trails Cross River Super Highway, Deep Seaport Edem Edem The much-awaited construction of Cross River state’s multimillion Naira super highway and deep seaport projects in South-South Nigeria, may be long in coming, following storms of petitions, protests and doubts currently trailing them. When Prof Ben Ayade was sworn-in in 2015 as the elected governor of Cross River State, it would be recalled, he singled out the 12-lane, 260km (162 miles) super highway, with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, which will link the proposed deep seaport from Bakassi on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the border with the neighbouring Benue state, as one of the significant projects he would execute. Ayade, by this declaration, received wide applause from the people of the state; but neither the governor nor the people know what really was involved in the projects. Everything was shrouded in secrecy, including the cost of the project and its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) issue. However, being anxious to see its immediate take-off, the government was able to convince President Muhammed Buhari to come in person to do the ground-breaking ceremony. It would be recalled that Mr. President, who was also elected in 2015, initially seemed supportive of the project, but on observing that the needful was not done, cancelled his proposed visit to break the ground for the commencement of the project. In fact, he discovered that an EIA for the project was not carried out. Stakeholders saw the President’s action as very strong signal to remind everyone that the law cannot be taken for granted, even though Governor Ayade

had made it clear that he wanted the President to flag off the construction of the project, but the outcry that it caused, made the President not to flag off the superhighway then. However, once the road was diverted around the Park, this seems to have allayed the fears of the President, who eventually visited Cross River State to inaugurate the superhighway on the 20th October, 2015. Sadly, few months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the state and the Federal Government had found themselves on a collision course, as there was no EIA to support it. Right of way The absence of the Environmental Impact Assessment drew protests from local activists and 15 international organisations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the World Conservation Society and Birdlife International. It was said that if the project was carried out, up to 180 communities will lose their lands and homes, as the superhighway will pass through their local areas. Conservationists believe the proposed highway will lead to the loss of a large portion of the last remaining rainforests in Nigeria, half of which are in Cross River state. The project seeks to acquire 20.4km of land all along the superhighway as right-of-way without consultation with the communities. Martins Egot, who runs Ekuri Initiative, a community-based body said, “Taken altogether, this project will take a quarter of the land in the state. It is a pure land grab – why ask for 20km as right-of-way when the right-of-way for federal expressways in Nigeria is 50 me-

Prof. Ayade, Governor, Cross River State

tres?” Egot wondered. Egot’s organisation manages the Ekuri Forest, which lies along the route of the project. Rainforests in the state have large portions designated as protected areas, such as, the Cross River National Park, Cross River South Forest Reserve, the Afi River Forest and Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary — all of which the activists say, lie within the right-of-way or very close to the superhighway. These protected areas are very rich biodiversity hotspots and home to endangered animal and plant species. For example, 16 primate species have been recorded in the Cross River Nation-

al Park, including common chimpanzees, drills, Cross River gorillas and the gray-checked Manga bey, already considered extinct in the area. Altogether, record shows that 78% of the primate species in Nigeria are found within the park’s area. It also contains about 950 species of butterflies, 610 species of birds (including vulnerable species, such as, the gray parrot and unusual species such as, the olive long-tailed cuckoo; and the grey-throated tit-flycatcher as well as 42 species of snakes. Conservationists, Non Governmental Organisations and scientific organisaCONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Features

Controversy trails Cross River Super Highway, Deep Seaport CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

tions have campaigned against the construction of the six-lane, 260-kilometer (162-mile) Cross River Super Highway, because, it cuts through Nigeria’s Cross River National Park, which provides important habitat for wildlife, including Red List species and subspecies such as forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti). The acclaimed biodiversity hotspot also serves as one of the last refuges for the about 300 remaining Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla Diehl). The new highway route has been moved to the fringes of the national park, according to a map produced by WCS. The original route for the 160-mile superhighway, which included a 12-milewide buffer, would have been catastrophic for the Cross-River rainforest, demolishing some of the last-remaining habitat of the highly endangered Cross River gorilla. The clearing of the rainforest caused numerous local and international outcries, causing environmentalists to petition the then minister of environment, Amina Mohammed, to invoke the EIA Act, a federal law that mandates a study on the likely effects of environmentally sensitive projects before they start, to stop the project. The minister, who used to be a special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, obliged, issuing a stop-work order in March pending the conclusion of the EIA process. The draft EIA report however failed to account for the 20km right-of-way and could not provide financial justifications to show how it will be funded, earning it a ‘D’ grade from the Federal Ministry of Environment, which means that it needs to be redone in parts. In the meantime, communities are mobilising and creating awareness amongst themselves to oppose the project. Egot of Ekuri Initiative and chief Edwin Ogar, who also runs an environmental organisation, Wise Administra-

Elephants and Zebra

President Buhari at the ground breaking with him is the state governor, Prof. Ayade and other dignatries

tion of Terrestrial Environment and Resources (WATER), were able to mobilise the Ekuri community to protest against the clearing of their forest, forcing the bulldozers that had arrived to leave. The people of Ekuri live in Akampa Local Government Area of Cross River State, deep in the heart of one of Nigeria’s last surviving rainforests. Their forest is sandwiched by the Ukpon forest reserve to the north and Cross River National Park to the east and south and to the west by the Iko Esai community forest. which will destroy the ancestral lands

and forests of the Ekuri people and thousands of others along the proposed 260 km route, continues. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Cross River gorillas are critically endangered with only 200-300 left in the wild. So, why are we about to destroy their home? The World-Wide Fund for Nature and other NGOs have documented the fact that they harbour an enormous diversity of plant and animal species almost unmatched anywhere else in the world. In recognition of this, the UK govern-

Monkeys

ment invested millions of pounds into the Cross-River State Forestry Department in the 1990s. WWF also invested millions of pounds into the establishment of Cross River National Park over a period of 7 years. More recently, the UN established the UN-REDD programme in Nigeria with Cross River State as the first pilot state in which to establish structures to channel carbon credit funds from the world to reward the State for actions to protect these globally important forests.

Public Notice 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Stop agitation for secession, Okorocha tells IPOB ÏÏÏImo state governor,

Rochas Okorocha has advised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to desist from agitating for secession, saying the Igbos were not ready for another civil war. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Okorocha as given the advice at a news briefing at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday. He also urged the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other Nigerians in diaspora, drumming support for the actualisation of Biafra, to stop. Mr. Okorocha called

on Igbo youth to calm down and redirect their agitation toward the actualisation of economic advancement of Igbos rather than asking for a new sovereign nation. On the recent sit-athome ordered by IPOB and MASSOB, he said the exercise succeeded because the people, especially traders, wanted to avoid trouble. He described the statement by the Arewa youth group directing Igbos to leave the North as “nonsensical and inciting.” The governor said that Igbos were peaceful people, who had come a long way in contributing to the economic development of the country, add-

UCHECHUKWU SYLVANUS OBIDIMBU

CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTED DATE OF BIRTH

I formerly known as Sylvanus Obidimbu wish to be known and addressed as Uchechukwu Sylvanus Obidimbu. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note

I formerly known as Ukaegba Victoria Blessing wish to be known and addressed as Nwachukwu Blessing Ugonwanyi and Corrected Date of Birth is 4th march 1968 .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

OGUNDIPE IFEOLUWA JOHN

AYODELE AINA ADEJOKE

hatred and division we inherited from the colonial masters,” he said. Mr. Okorocha also said that agitation for the leadership of the country by the different geo-political zones in the country was an ill-wind which had not done something good to the country. He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to guard against hatred and unite to fix broken relationships.

ADEYEYE OLUWABUNMI HANNAH

OSARENREN ESOHE BETTY

I formerly known as ODEWALE OLUWABUNMI HANNAH wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEYE OLUWABUNMI HANNAH .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as OMEDE ESOHE BETTY wish to be known and addressed as OSARENREN ESOHE BETTY. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note

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OLUFOWOBI AFUSAT BOLANLE

OLUWAYEMI BLESSING MMA

MUSBAU TAOHEED

I formerly known as ADESANYA OMOBOLANLE OMOLARA wish to be known and addressed as OLUFOWOBI AFUSAT BOLANLE .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as AWOYEMI BLESSING MMA wish to be known and addressed as OLUWAYEMI BLESSING MMA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

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ONIYANGI ROYHANAT OMOLOLA

I formerly known as Itodo Ejiofor Joshua wish to be known and addressed as Itodo Ejiofor .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ISHOLA ROYHANAT OMOLOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ONIYANGI ROYHANAT OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AZOMBE ANSELEM OGECHUKWU

OLUSESI MONSURAT DADA

YUSSUF RIANOT TEMITOPE

I formerly known as Onwuazombe Godstime Anselem wish to be known and addressed as Azombe Anselem Ogechukwu .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as Monsurat Olusesi Ajoke wish to be known and addressed as Olusesi Monsurat Dada .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as SHOTOMIWA RIANOT TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSSUF RIANOT TEMITOPE, henceforth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HAROON OLAYINKA JOSEPH

MR. ODOH GABRIEL OJILE

I, formerly known and addressed as HAROON OLAYINKA ABDULWASIU, now wish to be known and addressed as HAROON OLAYINKA JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. ONOJA ENEJO, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ODOH GABRIEL OJILE, henceforth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONWUALU FAVOUR OGOCHUKWU I Formerly Known AND ADDRESSED As ACHUMIE FAVOUR HOPE Now Known AND ADDRESSED AS ONWUALU FAVOUR OGOCHUKWU. ALL Former Document Remain Valid, General Public Note.

THITA NICHOLAS OBAJI CHIMA

ADEJUWON LAIDE ABDULGANIYU

I, formerly known and addressed as NICHOLAS CHITA THITA, now wish to be known and addressed as THITA NICHOLAS OBAJI CHIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I Formerly Known AND ADDRESSED As ADEJUWON ABDULGANIYU J AND ADEJUWON ABDULGANIYU Now Wish To Be Known AND ADDRESSED AS ADEJUWON LAIDE ABDULGANIYU. Former Document Remain Valid, General Public Note.

EMEKA CHRISTOPHER BARBA I, formerly known and addressed as Emeka Benjamin Anasoronye now wish to be known and addressed as Emeka Christopher Barba. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

This is to confirm that I am the bearer of the mentioned names RUNSEWE OLUBUNMI ABOSEDI, RUNSEWE OLUBUNMI but now I would like to be called and addressed as RUNSEWE OLUBUNMI ABOSEDE. All documents bearing the above names are mine and remain valid. General public take note.

Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ing that no other ethnic group had contributed as much. He called for reorientation of youth to repair the broken political relations between the North and the East and end the existing hatred and division between them. “We have failed as leaders hence the campaign of hate for one another; we need to take responsibility and end it. “We need to rise and take steps to end it and get rid of the inherent

ITODO EJIOFOR

I formerly known as OGUNDIPE JOHN . I. wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDIPE IFEOLUWA JOHN .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

Adeleke to shun APC primary, may join PDP

MRS. OLANIYI COMFORT FUNMILAYO

MRS. OGUNYEMI OLUFUNKE BOLANLE

I formerly known as Musbau Taoheed Olu wish to be known and addressed as Musbau Taoheed. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

OLUWALADE OMOLOLA CAROLINE

I, formerly known and addressed as AGBEBI OMOLOLA CAROLINE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWALADE OMOLOLA CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That I Beatrice Adamma Osuagwu is the same person bearing these names Beatrice Osuagwu Chukwunyere. All Documents / Credentials bearing these names remain valid, general public please take note.

GIWA OLUKOREDE MARSHAL I, formerly known and addressed as GIWA OLUKOREDE WAHEED, now wish to be known and addressed as GIWA OLUKOREDE MARSHAL, due to family reasons. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

\ MRS. SOLERI ENIOLA SHUKURA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADISA ENIOLA SHUKURA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SOLERI ENIOLA SHUKURA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MGBE THOMAS AYAMBEM

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

I, formerly known and addressed as AYAMBEM JOSEPH MGBE, now wish to be known and addressed as MGBE THOMAS AYAMBEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT ANYOKO TITUS TARTOR AND ANYOKO BENJAMIN IS THE SAME PERSON, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ANYOKO TITUS TARTOR. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

MRS CHUKWUMA CHIDIMMA JENNIFER

OMORI JOEL CHUKWUDI

IHEANYI ANTHONY NWOKORO

I Formerly Known AND ADDRESSED As MISS OKAFOR CHIDIMMA JENNIFER Now Known AND ADDRESSED AS MRS CHUKWUMA CHIDIMMA JENNIFER.ALL Former Document Remain Valid, General Public Note.

I Formerly Known AND ADDRESSED As OMORIE CHUKWU Now Known AND ADDRESSED AS OMORI JOEL CHUKWUDI. ALL Former Document Remain Valid, General Public Note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Chukwunonso Anthony Ifeanyi now wish to be known and addressed as Iheanyi Anthony Nwokoro. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AWOWALE COMFORT FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLANIYI COMFORT FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SAM ONYEMAECHI HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION. This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. REV. FR. IFEANYI SAMUEL AKARAONYE - chairman 2. ENGR. GREG NTIWUNKA 3. MRS. AMAKA OSAKWE - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To build progressive self-reliant communities. 2. To adopt a holistic approach in providing healthcare and rehabilitative care service to people. 3. To bring succor to the less privileged through financial aid for small scale businesses. 4. To provide scholarships to indigent students and aid skill development in the community. 5. To do all such other lawful things as may be considered incidental to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar - General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed : secretary

ÏÏÏ

There are strong indications that the younger brother of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first civilian governor in Osun state, Otunba Ademola Adeleke who is an aspirant for the Osun West Senatorial by-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) might decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was learnt that the defection was a ploy to get the ticket to contest the senatorial seat under the platform of PDP. Adeleke was to contest the APC primaries with Senator Mudasiru Hussein tomorrow.

It was learnt that some of his supporters within the APC were instrumental to Adeleke’s defection. Daily Times authoritavely gathered that some APC leaders who are loyal to late Isiaka Adeleke have been meeting with chairman of the party, Hon Soji Adagunodo and others PDP leaders since the last 48 hours. Recall that the All Progressives Congress Screening Committee had disqualified the Osun State Commissioner for Cabinet Matters, Senator Mudashiru Hussein, from participating in the senatorial primary earlier scheduled to hold on Monday.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME We the under mentioned formerly known and addressed as 1. DAVID GOODMAN 2.MRS JESSICA GOODMAN 3.DAVID GOODMAN (JNR.) 4.ADAUGO GOODMAN 5.CHIOMA GOODMAN 6.CHIDINMA GOODMAN. now wish to be known and addressed as 1. DAVID IKE EZEODO 2.MRS JESSICA EZEODO 3.DAVID IKENNA EZEODO (JNR.) 4.ADAUGO EZEODO 5.CHIOMA EZEODO 6.CHIDINMA EZEODO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

29 News

Lagos opens ‘door of return’ to Africa with Diaspora Festival in Badagry Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ The ‘door of no return’ made ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏ A 52-year-old woman iden-

tified as OpeyemiBabatola has committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Aule area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.PastorAdeoluBabatola, the husband of the deceased was said to be the first person to see the deceased hung herself inside the room on Monday. Reasons behind the action of the late Mrs. Babatola was still unknown as at the time of investigation into the incident. A source who spoke to Daily Times said the incident still looked mysterious mostly to the husband of the deceased. The source who does not want his name in the print said the husband of the deceased, Mr. Babatola, had already been arrested by the police

over the incident. He narrated how the deceased had told her husband that she was going to attend a church programme at the mountain on Friday. “But, she went into one of the rooms in her house to hang herself while the husband thought she had actually gone to the mountain since Friday. “She told her child and her husband that she wanted to go to a mountain to pray, so since Friday her husband was thinking she was at the prayer mountain praying for the family because that was not her first time of doing so. “On Monday morning the husband went to the back of one of the rooms in the other apartment of the house and discovered that there were many houseflies by the window side. “So, he opened the room and found his wife hanged. He had to cry out to the neighbours”, the source said.

However, Daily Times gathered that immediately after the news of incident was broken in the area, the police was invited to the scene but they could not do anything to untie the woman. Femi Joseph confirmed the incident and said investigation had begun over the matter. Mr Joseph said that the husband of the deceased, Adeolu had been invited to the command for interrogation. “The husband is with us and helping us in our investigation, the husband told us that on Monday he was perceiving some strange odour and houseflies in one of the rooms in the house, when he checked inside, he saw his wife hanged.” He however noted that it could not be certain if there was any criminal involvement in the incident but insisted that the investigation was still ongoing.

popular during the transatlantic slave trade in Africa will become the ‘door of return’ during the Diaspora Festival in Badagry this year. This assertion was made on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on the Diaspora, Hon. AbikeDabiri, during the unveiling of the festival logo along with the Special Adviser to Governor AkinwunmiAmbode on Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global), Professor Ademola Abbas. The two-day event, which will be in partnership with the Lagos State government, will hold between August 23 and 25. According to her, the festival will showcase Africa to the world in good light and on a positive note. She said it was specifically aimed at hosting Africans in diaspora, with Lagos partnering with the organisers for the first time. According to Abbas, the ‘door of no return’ is leading to a ‘door of return’. He said when Hon. Dabiri led a delegation to the state

government to ask for support regarding the project, he (the governor) bought into it because it was in line with Lagos’ agenda of ensuring investment, as in the case of the deep sea port in Badagry, and showcasing the state via the T.H.E.S.E (Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Sports for Excellence) project. Marketing partner to the event, RufaiLadipo, said the festival would be similar to FESTAC 77, but is expected to be bigger in terms of the tourism disposal on display. On what to look out for during the showpiece event, he said a lot had been lined up. “After the opening ceremony there would be a carnival procession. There would also be a boat regatta, fishing competition, beauty pageant, international music festival, Diaspora dinner, among others.” He said his main job was to ensure there were good financial returns regarding the project, as such, he would be reaching out to prospective investors and corporate bodies to support the festival, saying it would mark a turning point in tourism in Lagos.

NAF organizes free glaucoma screening, treatment for personnel in Lagos Joy Anyim

ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Air force (NAF)

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (r), presenting sprayer to one of the beneficiaries, during the launching of the State’s Fadama III agric scheme in Kurfi village of Kware LGA of Sokoto State… recently.

on Tuesday organized a one day free glaucoma awareness/ screening exercise for personnel of the service as well as their family members in Lagos. At the event which held at the Nigerian Air force Base, Logistics Command, Ikeja Lagos, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal SB Abubakar stated that the exercise was part of NAF effort to improve the welfare of the personnel. Speaking at the event which was tagged ‘ winning the war against glaucoma’, The CAS who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice-Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya maintained that the eye was one of the most important organ in the human body and as such, great care and attention ought to be given to it. In his remark, the representative of the CAS said, “the eye is one of the most important aspects of the

human anatomy and glaucoma has become a major eye disease. We therefore consider this program as timely. The Air force is a highly technical force, technology driven so we cannot afford to have personnel that are not healthy because we handle very sensitive and expensive equipment. “The program is therefore meant to educate and create awareness on glaucoma for all our personnel and their families. It is for them to come and check their eyes to ensure they don’t have any case of glaucoma which is very common amongst persons of African descent. It is preventable if detected early and that is what we are trying to do. “Secondly, we are trying to build a data bank of our personnel as to those who have glaucoma both serving and retired. It is needless to say that with such data bank, we will be able to plan appropriately on how to expand our facilities and equip them.

Arewa’s quit notice is empty - Plateau Igbo Chief

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÏÏÏ An Igbo Chieftain in Plateau

State, Barrister AchikeOnochie, yesterday stated the position of Ndigbo in Plateau over the reaction of a faction of Arewa youths calling for Igbos to leave Northern Nigeria Onochie who is also the Legal Adviser to Igbo community Association Jos, also told Daily Times

yesterday that the threat made to Ndigbo by the northern group is empty, saying that the south-east leaving in Plateau are not shaking, warning the Arewa youths to note that the incidence of the past is not the same as what is obtainable today. The Igbo Chieftain who is also the Immediate Past President Anambra State Welfare Association,Jos Branch, also said the south-east cannot be marginalised and at the same time asking

them not to cry out, saying that the Igbos have done nothing wrong by agitating against marginalisation. He pointed out that the Nigeria Army retired about 90 percent of Military Officers who hail from the south-east, adding that the act clearly shows that the north is up to something very cynical that Nigerians are yet to understand. “The north strategically positioned their people in key political appointments and yet just recently, they accuse the Vice President,

Prof. YemiOsinbajo by carrying out the Redeemed Church agenda by surrounding himself with nine personal assistance all Yorubas as against the reflection of national character. “For the Igbos, we have kept our fingers cross and we will not make any statement that will destabilize the polity but we shall continue to prove to the world that we are not ordinary fry, it is time for the Igbos to put their house in order. “We have not picked up arms

and have not chased anyone out of the Eastern region but are only telling the world how we have been marginalised and we shall not continue to be silent on the matter. “The issue of Biafra notwithstanding, we have not declared any republic, all we are saying is that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander”, he said. Barrister Onochie said the solution to the country’s problem is to implement the report of the National Conference held in 2014.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

EXTRATIME

I Saw Nigeria’s Defeat Coming - Egbe F

IFA Match Agent and Stadium Facility Expert, Ebi Egbe, has declared that he saw Super Eagles fall in Uyo to South Africa coming. Egbe had before the match warned that Nigeria’s foreign legion would always find it difficult playing at home, no thanks to the bad playing pitches that litter the country’s landscape. “I saw the problem Eagles faced in Uyo coming. The interviews I granted the media before the game can attest to that. The way the players express themselves in Europe is not the same way they would when they come home be-

Egbe

Iheanacho remains in City for now

elechi Iheanacho could remain at Manchester City beyond this summer despite interest in his services from top clubs like West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal. 20 year old Iheanacho has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad since Gabriel Jesus became eligible to play for the team as he is now third choice forward with Sergio Kun Aguero ahead of him. West Ham United agreed a fee with Manchester City for his transfer but disagreements over the fee and duration of a buy back option City wants in the deal held up the proposed move. From then till now, City have hardened their stand on his possible exit following the frustrations they have suffered in their bid to strengthen their squad in the attack. ” Guardiola is no longer keen on letting him go unless a replacement is signed. As it stands now City only have Jesus and Aguero, considering the amount of games the team will play next season they need more than two strikers”, his intermediary told Owngoalnigeria.com. ” He could yet leave but the club must have his replacement signed before he leaves, he has been told in clear terms and he understands that is why he has said severally that he is staying at the club. ” Iheanacho wants to play but he has a five year deal with Manchester City, so they hold the ace. He is very young and still has a long way to go, even though he wants to move to where he is sure of getting games, City will have the final say”.

cause of the undulated pitches we have here in Nigeria. The Uyo pitch may be the best in the country today, but it is not anywhere near the zero undulated pitches our players are used to in Europe in their various club sides. We can clearly see that the players find it difficult to adjust after one or two days of training on the undulated Uyo pitch, For us, to get the best out of our players, we must invest in good pitches,” Egbe said. Egbe who is the CEO of Monimichelle, a stadium construction outfit said home-based players would have done better in the game against South

Africa because they would have been playing on a familiar terrain. “What we can do is to forget about using our foreign-based players when we are playing at home until we fix our pitches. I have consistently said the biggest problem facing our football is that of the playing turfs. If the North African countries and even a country like Congo and Gabon can get it right, I don’t see why Nigeria can’t. “Constructing good pitches, the kind of pitches we see in Europe is not rocket science. My outfit has the expertise to provide the country with FIFA approved Geo technology lead

free synthetic grass pitches that are 95 per cent natural. With same ball behavior with a properly manicured zero undulated natural turf pitch. Our Geo tech pitches even have a lower temperature than a natural turf pitch on a sunny day.” Egbe was however quick in adding that it is not over for the Eagles as far as the race to Cameroon 2019 AFCON is concerned. He said the Eagles on a good day are capable of beating South Africa away. “The terrain in South Africa in the return leg would favour the Eagles. The race has just started and I believe the Eagles would bounce back to reckoning.”

Onyekuru Voted Second Best African Player In Europe

uper Eagles latest invitee Henry Onyekuru has been voted the second best African player in Europe behind Borussia Dortmund Gabonese forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. In a poll conducted by France Radio, the forward who could join English Premier League giants West Ham United finished in second position, six

points behind Aubameyang who finished with 32 votes. He finished ahead of the likes of FC Basle Seydou Doumbia, Antalyaspor Samuel Eto’o and Lazio’s Diao Balde Keita in the poll where he was the only Nigerian in the top 20. Onyekuru failed to make the matchday squad in Nigeria’s 0-2

loss to South Africa despite making his debut against Togo in a friendly game played in Paris few days to the game. The scorer of 24 goals for modest Belgium side Eupen will in the coming days sealed a move away from the modest Belgium side with a fee slightly above £7m placed on him as transfer fee.

Onyekuru

South Africa deserves respect – Bafana’ striker Percy

fter scoring a goal against Nigeria on Saturday, South African striker Percy Tau has urged his teammates to remain level headed and the rest of the continent to recognize their quality. The Mamelodi Sundowns

forward netted Bafana Bafana’s second goal against the Super Eagles in Uyo as they secured their first 2-0 win over the West Africans. When Bafana landed in the country on Monday, Tau said they had a chance to score more than two goals in their 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. “We don’t want to be too confident just because we beat Nigeria,” Tau tells the Sowetan. “But I do think we should also give ourselves some credit. We worked hard for this win and we’re glad that we won against Nigeria.

“We could have scored more goals. Overall we did so well. We’re South Africans. It’s about time we get the same respect.” Following the win, the 1996 African champions have three points and sit at number two in the group behind Libya, on goal difference. Meanwhile, Tau and his Bafana teammates will hope to continue with their winning form when they face Zambia in a friendly on Tuesday. The match against Chipolopolo is set to be staged at Moruleng Stadium on Tuesday night, getting underway at 19:00.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 08050220692. Editor Daily: SAM NZEH

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The Abuja Times

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Sen. Cttee.on FCT to regulate rentage AT3 promises on low-cost housing

FCT gets referral center to tackle AT3 domestic/sexual violence War on illegal schools: Authority in delima over legal frame work ÏÏÏ Despite huge financial in-

FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, planting a tree at the FCT Parks and Recreation Department to commemorate the World Environment Day celebration in Abuja…Monday.

Wrong land allocations killing agriculture in fct, say farmers

Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Farmers in the Federal Capi-

The Abuja

T E A M

tal Territory (FCT) have decried non- inclusion and arbitrary allocation of lands in the nation’s capital, adding that such has caused more damages to farmlands in Abuja than encouraging farming even as the FCT Permanent secretary described such farmers as ignorant of the law that established the territory. The farmer’s representative in the FCT, Ahaji Momoud Isa, stated this while addressing the permanent secretary of the territory who represented FCT minister, during the flag-off ceremony of 2017 sales of subsidized agricultural inputs to FCT farmers, targeted on increasing the yearly produce to ensure abundant food in the city. Alhaji Mamoud, while admonishing the administration, ap-

pealed for an allocation for farming as all and sundry have been enjoined by theMuhammadu Buhari’s administration to embrace farming. His words, “they ask us to go back to agriculture and here we battle with people who already have land allocations for the same land we farm and should this kind of thing continue, the FCT may not meet up with the United Nation’s Food target for each state of the nation. You see when you make any attempt to ague, they will show you land allocation paper which shows that the land is no longer available. “ Reacting to the statement, the permanent secretary to the FCT Ministry, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, who represented the Honourable minister at theOccasion, said that it has come to the knowledge of the administration,that most of the farmers are not well educated to

Special Projects Editor Kenneth Madueke

Correspondents Lateef Ibrahim Idu Jude

the making of the FCT. Dr. Ajakaiye, remarked that the Abuja land policy, is a document that has provision for the needs of the residents of the FCT, including the farmers. He said that the 8,000 square kilometers of the FCT, has lands allocated for farming and that the farmers should also be meant to know where they should look out for lands for commercial farming. Ajakaiye, also, assured that the original copies of the document, are readily available for any of them who should come over to enrich himself of the plans of the city and where to categorize himself. Meanwhile, the FCT administration used the occasion to enjoin farmers in the territory as well as other stakeholders, to ensure the provision of the farm inputs which will help the increase to food production in the FCT. The permanent secretary said that the administration has procured enough inputs for all- year round farming activities. He said that each beneficiary would buy the various inputs such as water

pump, spray and agro chemicals, at 50% subsidized price. “I urge smallholder farmers, farmers’ groups and cooperative societies to embrace the administration’s to buy and make judicious use of these inputs. We are putting all machinery in place to ensure that required Agro inputs are available and accessible to farmers on time and at affordable prices” As part of the ongoing efforts to revitalize the agricultural sector in the territory, the FCT Administration plans to upgrade facilities at the eleven Agro services centers across the six area councils. He noted that the centers are closer to the farmers’ farmstead, as they serve as one- stop for farmers, where they can access quality Agro inputs and services. The permanent secretary said that the FCT administration has keyed into the CBN Anchor borrowers scheme of the Federal government of Nigeria as well as signed into federal government’s revised growth enhancement support scheme for access of farm inputs by farmers. CONTINUED ON PAGE AT 2

vestment on FCT education and efforts for quality assurance, the Authority has continued to suffer in the hands of operators of illegal schools. Record show that the illegal schools’ operators in the FCT enjoy unquestionable freedom, as the Authority still contends with absence of adequate legal frame work to prosecute offenders. Daily Times learnt that the Authority is worried that closed down schools are opened by the operators shortly after the FCT officials left the environment. This ugly incident late 2016 resulted in the sudden death of a pupil at Dutse Alhaji due to illegal operation of a school under unfit building. All the illegal schools operate without toilets and windows for ventilation. Others operate with no presence of playing ground for the little kids, while several sicknesses such cholera and meningitis have claimed lives recently. The education secretariat during the midterm media briefing, claimed that it’s administration despite lack of relevant laws to prosecute offenders still ruffle feathers of the illegal operators. It said that a total of 115 private schools were registered and Certificates of accreditation signed by the FCT Minister were presented to them. According to the Acting Director of Administration and Finance, Education Secretariat, Mrs Justina Avong Maimagani, a total of 60 schools were inspected for commencement of academic activities for approval to operate and 117 private and public schools were screened for the 2017 accreditation exercise and the sum N 33,550,000 was generated from the exercise. She stated that a follow up visits were paid to schools whose sites and commencement of academic activities fell short of approval standards and 60 schools were inspected for commencement of academic activities for approval to operate.

The Abuja Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

International archives day: FCT harps on data management ÏÏÏ Minister of

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has charged public servants and the general public to cultivate the habit of maintaining effective and sustainable information management system across all spheres. Malam Bello who gave the charge over the weekend in Abuja during thecommemoration of the International Archives Day, stressed thatpromoting effective records management system would enable the FCT administration and the country in general to achieve good governance and accountability, thereby engendering national development. His words: “As we celebrate this year’s edition of the International Archives Day, I urge us, particularly all staff of the FCT Administration to imbibe the spirit of promoting effective and a sustainable records management system in our various SDAs.It is only by so doing that the FCT Administration and the nation at large, can attain the long-cherished global aspiration for good governance and accountability”. The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr.Babatope Ajakaiye, promised to strengthen FCT Archives and History Bureau for excellent service delivery, adding that the establishment of the Bureau in 2005 by the FCT Administration underscores the top priority it places on records keeping. He said: “It was in appreciation of the importance of proper records-keeping and archives management that the FCT Archives and History Bureau was established in 2005 with the responsi-

bility to collect, collate, preserve and manage archival records of the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA). According to Malam Bello, the International Archives Day celebrated annually provides the unique opportunity for co-operation and ollaboration among nations and relevant stakeholders for information sharing. Dwelling on the theme of this year’s celebration: “Archives, Citizenship and Interculturalism”, the Minister said it offers a positive moral judgment and commitment not just for civil servants, but also for the entire citizenry to come to terms with the historical importance of preserving our collective memory as a people. Earlier, in his welcome address, the Acting Director of FCT Archives and History Bureau, Ms Ceril Jogai, explained that commemorating the International Archives Day is in line with the Universal Declaration on Archives, which gives special recognition on the vital role ofarchives in fostering administrative accountability, transparency and protection of individual rights. According to her, the annual event marks an important milestone in the annals of the FCT Administration, as it offers the Administration and the residents the unique opportunity to carefully reflect on the ways and manners officials records are handled. In his keynote address, Prof. Folarin Shyllon, lecturer, University of Ibadan, stated that archival materials are priceless, hence the need to do all it takes to maintain accurate information keeping.

Wrong land allocations killing agriculture in fct, say farmers CONTINUED FROM PAGE AT 1

“Let me also emphasis that FCT administration is determined to improve the agricultural productivity of the farmers by the giving incentives and implementing projects/ programmes aimed at making agriculture profitable and attractive to the youths. Farmers’ groups and cooperatives societies, should take maximum advantage of the agriculturalprogrammes of the FCT geared towards increasing agriculturalproductivity such as Agric land Development programme in kwali area Council, subsidized tractors and implements to farmers groups andindividual corporate farms and back to land implement to farmers’ group and individual corporate farms and back to land programme targeted at providing jobs for interested youths and women”.

Acting Secretary to the Agric secretariat, Dr. Musa Aliyu, noted that the farmers should be aware of the efforts of the administration in procuring the farm inputs, knowing the economic value of the agriculture. He described farming as the most dominant economic activity of the rural population of the FCT with over 150,000 farming families involved in small scale farming. “I dare to say that this gesture is a welcome relief to our farmers since it will effectively reduce the cost of production and as well as increase their crop yield”. Representative of the six area council during the occasion, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha of Gwagwalada area council, stated that the efforts of the FCT administration, indicates that the 2017 farming would have bumper harvest.

Arewa youth ultimatum: Ohaneze president calls for calm Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Amidst fever of

Xenophobic call by Arewa youths, the president of FCT chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Odozi Nwaodozi, has called for calm, and advised the youths of Igbo extraction living in the northern part of the country to go about their normal businesses without fear or favour. The President FCT Chapter of Ohaneze gave this advice in an exclusive interview with the Daily Times with regards to the debased world press conference held by the northern Youths. Recall that the Igbos have, in the history of Nigeria, continued to suffer ethnic disparity and developmental neglect that have prompted the call for balanced

and equitable sharing of the nation’s resources. Legislators of South -East extraction, recently sponsored a motion at the National assembly, which was meant to address the huge developmental neglect and compensation to the damages caused by the Nigerian Army during the civil war. The FCT President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, while calming the spirits of the Igbos across the North, reminded that the Igbos have never in history been toothless bulldogs. He reaffirmed commitment of his office to ensure that Igbos are not pushed aside in any part of the North, even as he called for strategic plan before reacting to seemingly xenophobic call. His words, “After due consulta-

tions with strategic Igbo stakeholders on the recent provocative and seemingly xenophobic press statement by some misguided youth elements of Arewa extraction, asking Ndigbos to vacate the north before the 1st of October 2017, it has been resolved that though their position is lifethreatening, Ndigbo at various parts of the north shouldn’t join them in this path of dishonour. We should be calm and vigilant. We urge all of you, to report all developments to Ohanaeze Ndigbo or any trusted security agency for immediate action”. He, also, stated that Igbo leaders will be meeting soonest to chart the way forward for a lasting solution to the current situation.

FCTA Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye cutting the tape during the commemoration of the International Archives Day in Abuja over…recently

Beggars, sex hawkers defy fct order, take over the streets ÏÏÏ There has been major appre-

hension across FCT major business districtsas beggars and sex hawkers have defied the authority’s policies to settle for the worst, just as the territory’s administration said that its rehabilitation centers for destitutes are still operational , stressing that arresting the people and taking them to the rehab is one thing but making them to stay another. The Director of Information and communication in FCT, Mrs Stella Ojeme, stated that all efforts of the FCT administration have been reduced to nothing as the arrested persons always find their ways to the city to beg as that brings quicker money into their pockets for survival in a recessed economy like Nigeria. In recent time, records have shown that commercial sex hawk-

ers (corporate), beggars as well as destitutes have over run the populationof the FC, threatening investors and diplomats. This worrisome trend led to the present FCT administration to put up joint taskforce committee headed by the FCT Commissioner of police, Mr. Musa Kimo, to head other security and paramilitary agencies to eradicate the menace . The centres which came into operation in 2006 under the administrationof Mallam El-rufai’s was put up to ensure that beggars and other miscreants such as commercial sex hawkers are kept in a centre for rehabilitation. Mrs. Ojema stated, “The rehabilitation centre is still operational. And it is a place where these people are taught vocational trades. On daily basis, these people are picked up from the streets and takenthere but they somehow still find their

way to the street to beg for alms because they make a lot of money from generous Nigerians. We will still continue to pick them and sensitize them that a vocation is better than alms begging”. FCT residents, who queried the inability of the FCT authority To sustain the project initiated by former ministers, felt disappointed that there has not been enabling laws to prosecute offenders who refuse to stay within the rehab centers but choose to flood the city for begging as a means of survival. Mr. Peter Akparanta, another Abuja resident, said that despite efforts read in the media on how the administration is fighting the scourge, little or nothing has been felt as more sex hawkers and beggars churn out of the streets on the daily bases to thedetriment of innocent passersbys.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

FCT residents kick as banned ‘okadas’ resurface ÏÏÏ Twelve years after the ban of

commercial motorcycle as means of transportation in the FCT, thousands of the residents may soon be visiting emergency wards of several hospitals either as patiences or well wishers as the most -dreaded “Okadas” have resurfaced in operation with the law still in place. The means of transportation through commercial cyclists was banned in 2005 by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for the safety of lives in theFCT as well as bring law and order. It was also targeted at ensuring standard and sanity in FCT road transportation. The operation of Okada, twelve years back, saw the sudden death of thousands of innocent souls and maiming of others as the case may be. Abuja Times can authoritatively report that many popular axis of theFCT, currently are witnessing the operation of the banned transport means, regardless of its danger to human health. Popular city centres like AYA roundabout in Asokoro high- brow area, Gudu by Apo Legislative quarters as well as popular Julius Berger junction are their spots. In an interview with some of the residents, Mr. Mike Ojiako, a legal practitioner and civil right activist, confirmed that he has seen much to warrant public comment. Mr. Ojiako, said “I have noticed with dismay that the previously banned motorcyclists popularly known as Okada have returned fully back to the city and wrecking serious havoc. Can we please speak to the minister to help stop them before they get out of hand?

The legal practitioner, reminded the entire FCT Administration of what it took the then Minister of FCT, Mallam El-Rufai ,to get them off streets, stating that the tempo must be maintained to ensure safety of lives and property. Barrister Ojiako, observed that part of the problems in Nigeria, is not the disobedience to the existing laws but the political will to implement the laws by enforcing them . “Twelve years ago, when El-Rufai was in power as the FCT Minister, he implemented a tough one on them to leave the city to the satellite towns because Abuja city centers could not continue to experience some kind of environmental degradations. Among those items that were banned was the minibuses, believed to have contributed to the menace. Speaking to our correspondent, at AYA, an Okada rider who gave his name as Yakub Iliasu, through an interpreter, was hopeful that things would get better on the emergence of the present administration but was disappointed as all hopes have been dashed. “wallahi ba aiki yenzu a najiriya. Baba ba lafiya, kuma, kuma ni ban da kudi a cikin foket.” Which means in the name of God Almighty, there is no work now in Nigeria, the President is not even healthy and I have not even moneyin my pocket to eat”. Most of the okada riders at Gudu district, however, pointed accusing fingers at economic downturn and lack of employment opportunities as reasons for his venturing into riding okada as a means of survival. “

3 The Abuja Times

FCT gets referral center to tackle domestic/sexual violence

Stories by Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ The FCT Minister, Malam Mu-

hammad Musa Bello, has charged the FCT Social Development Secretariat to give special attention to the issueof violence against women and children . The Minister gave this advice while inaugurating the FCT Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team and the Gender- Based Violence Referral Centre in the FCT on Monday in his office. Malam Bello, who noted that the FCT ranked high among areas with prevalent cases of domestic and gender- based violence, said with the right political will and cooperation among all stakeholders, a lot could be achieved to contain the scourge. He expressed gratitude to the office of the Vice President for initiating a national discourse on domestic and sexual violence, whichculminated in this initiative being embarked

upon by the FCT Administration. According to him, “What we really need to do is to make sure that we all work together and I can assure you that with the right political will which is already on at the federal and FCT levels, if we get the right commitment from all offices, I think in a very short time, we will be able to achieve a lot.” Malam Bello added, “As difficult as this activity may appear to be, as long as you have pockets of success and it is well documented and publicized, that opens up a lot of confidence in what can be done and more importantly, gives people hope that whatever happens to a person, you always have a place where you will receive a listening ear, guidance and counseling, above all resolution of problems.” The Minister also called for the right attitude and efforts from other stakeholders to make the Referral Centre a success because the menace

must be tackled headlong. His words: “The capacity is there, the knowledge is there, the institutional support is there. If we really create time and look at this, I assure you we are going to achieve a lot of successes.” Speaking earlier, the Acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Elegbede Irene Adebola, said the Referral Centre enjoys the support of the Presidency, Agencies, Departments, NGOs, among others as anchoring partners. She said domestic and sexual violence happens among the low and high, the educated and uneducated in the society and therefore called for concerted efforts. “In FCT, in the course of our service delivery in the Social Development Secretariat, we are confronted almost on daily basis with myriads of gender-based violence within and among families, siblings and within neighborhoods,” she stated.

Traffic chaos returns to Maitama junction ÏÏÏ

Contrary to FCT Minister’s effort to decongest roads across the FCT, by ensuring a better traffic lights are installed at all the junctions, Maitam junction, one of the many across FCT Wednesday, witnessed uncontrollable madness as vehicles collided with each other. Recall that the FCT Minister Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, recently set up committees of joint task force to ensure free flow of vehicles and human beings. At 5.pm Wednesday, traffic controllers were neither on ground to bring the situation to order nor the installed traffic light working to control human traffic. The confusion at several FCT interceptions particularly at Maitama junction, which has become a tradition, builds up usually at rush hours between 5pm to till late in the night. Daily Times investigations, however, have shown that reasons for this are not far from the rush to be at home quick after closing hours. The Transport Secretariat of the FCT, on the occasion to commemorate two years administration of the Honourable Minister Mallam Mohammed Bello, regretted series

of vandalism of the streetlights put at all the interceptions. It said, through the Acting Secretary of the Transport secretariat, Alhaji Abdulraheem Sulaiman Abdulraman, that in order to ensure vandal -free traffic lights that the administration, has adopted the use of solar energy as an alternative to the vandalized ones. The Acting secretary, in the curse of our investigation, said that the administration has recently devised the means of training in house technicians having incurred so much expenses in the installations and maintenance of the streetlights. He said that the installation of traffic light at an interception, is capital- intensive and also costs much to be maintained. “In the past ,we had an agreement with a Chinese company, which had in the past installed and maintained but because of the high cost, we decided to engage our men to understudy them and learn about how to do the work and today, we can boast of about 30 traffic light installers in the FCTA and it has saved the administration a lot of money.”

Pix 6: Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council, Mustapha Adamu (middle), presenting farm inputs to an FCT farmer, while the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, (right) watches, during the flag-off of the sale of farm inputs in the FCT, Abuja…Wednesday.

Sen. Cttee.on FCT to regulate rentage promises on low-cost housing ÏÏÏChairman

Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Menaiye, has said that irregular rentage of houses being experienced by the residents in Nigerian Capital City will soon be a thing of the past as his committee will sooner than later, legislate on the system to have a standard as done elsewhere in the world. Senator Menaiye, was speaking on the arbitrary increase in house rents as adopted by the landlords, who do not consider the tenants’ income base. According to Senator Dino, residents of the FCT do not deserve the treatment they receive always from their landlords, just because of the way Nigerians do things. “My committee is being frank

and considerate by trying to establish laws or legal scope to protect tenants in the hands of their landlords. We understand that landlords hide under the economic situation in the country to increase rentage each year, irrespective of the location of the building and the quality of the house.” Recall that individual house owners under the aegis of Landlord associations of Abuja, each year meet to decide fate of the helpless residents regardless of their levels of income. Notably, he reminded that the Federal Government has been footdragging on the review of workers’ minimum wage. Also, there is need to have a uniform price of house rent to a particular location.

Other areas of concern, according to the Kogi- State law maker, is to fine-tune the mode of contract and rent renewal standard between land lords and their tenants. “We need to think of the conditions of these residents who also contribute to the building of the capital city and if we do not care, the way they live will in the long run affect their individual contribution to the economy of the FCT. And you and I know that the condition of living today more especially the high cost of house rent in the FCT, has driven over 90 per cent of workers in Abuja to neighbouring states like Nasarawa and Niger. This adversely affects their contributions to the making of the FCT”.

The Abuja Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

FMBN plans to harmonise housing fund issues in FCT ÏÏÏ The Federal Mortgage Bank

of Nigeria (FMBN), says it plans to inaugurate a task force to harmonise issues bothering the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme in the Federal Capital Territory. Mrs Felicia Aningo, the Coordinator of the bank in FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the six Area Councils pulled out of the scheme in 2000. Aningo said they pulled out following agitation by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the FCT. “The issue of NLC has been resolved; we want to set up task force in all the six area councils to harmonise payments and pay point of workers for them to come back to the scheme. “Most of the payments in the past years were not made with schedules. “We want to find out who was in a particular council as at the point those payments were made to enable us print individual statement,’’ she said. According to the coordinator, the bank has begun sensitisation programme, across the six area councils, on the importance of the housing scheme. She said that Bwari, Abaji and Abuja Municipal Area Councils have returned to the scheme, just like many states and local governments that earlier pulled out, have returned. “ Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari area councils are yet to return,’’ she said. Aningo said that the bank was focused on resolving all issues surrounding the scheme, so that contributors could access N1 million

as Home Renovation Loan (HRL). NAN reports that the HRL is a scheme that affords NHF contributors the opportunity to access mortgage loans of N1 million for the renovation or improvement of their existing homes. “You should not deprive yourselves of what you stand to gain from the scheme. “The interest is six per cent and the loan will be spread out to ease repayment,’’ she said. On refund, Aningo said there should be refund only when a contributor retires after 35 years in service or attains 60 years of age in line with the Federal Civil Service regulation. She explained that for contributor, who dies before retirement, the next of kin could come for refund of what the principal had contributed. She explained that the bank always entertain refund only after an officer retires and that the process takes “not more than one week after application is received’’. She, however, noted that delay on refund could be from the office of the contributor. She advised organisations to endeavour to remit staff contributions with accompanied schedule promptly to the bank for proper record. “If an employer remit money of a staff and did not bring an accompanied schedule, which show the breakdown of payment, it will be difficult to trace the exact amount for an individual contributor. The FMBN introduced the HRL to enable more NHF contributors to access the fund to make their shelter habitable.

ACCI chair lauds FG’s effort on ease of doing business ÏÏÏ

Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, says the Federal Government must lessen challenges people face in doing business in the country to grow the economy. Ekechukwu made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. He explained that Nigeria would always do better with a favourable balance of trade, pointing out that once a country had a good balance of trade it would have good balance of payment. Ekechukwu lauded the government for issuing an Executive Order on ease of doing business in Nigeria, saying it would accelerate business development in the country. He said the step was necessary considering that if investors encountered many bottle-

necks in their processes of doing business they would be discouraged. Ekechukwu said ACCI would fast-track its activities to improve trade relations between Nigeria and other countries to quicken economic development. “Every country of the world has a chamber of commerce, ACCI exists to foster the businesses of our members and to grow trade relationship between our country and those of other countries. “ACCI is also bringing foreign businessmen together to exchange business ideas with our members and ensure that it gives credence to our members when there is business between them and other businessmen from other countries,’’ he said. The director-general also said the chamber would continue to offer advice to the government on economic issues.

FCT joint task force arrets four illegal immigrants, impersonators Stories by Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ The FCT Commissioner of

police Mr. Musa kimo, has announced that the joint task force under his watch, within 23rd of may and 11th of June, arrested four illegal immigrants hiding in the Federal Capital Territory without eligible documents for their stay in Nigeria. The committee, also, has raided impersonators who go about harassing and arresting innocent Nigerians while impersonating the ministerial taskforce. According to the FCT commissioner of police’s monthly report on thesecurity of the FCT, the arrested illegal immigrants were apprehended at Wuse business district of the FCT. The immigrants though names withheld comprise one Italian, two Chi-

nese and one Moroccan. Theimmigrants, who were arrested through a tip-off to the taskforce, has since been handed over to the immigration service for appropriate implementation. Daily Times was reliably informed by the office of theCommissioner of police that the following formed progress report of operations of the Ministerial Joint Taskforce on the enforcement of ban on use of motorcycles, restriction of tricycles, activities of unpainted taxis and illegal motor parks as well as the eradication ofother public nuisance in the FCT. In the report, taskforce arrested about 116 unpainted taxis and illegal parked vehicles, also arrested about 163 motorcycles plying opposite route on the expressway to the detriment of their passengers.

It said that about seven suspects were arrested while in confrontation with the team of security men. The seven suspects were said to have resisted arrests for different offences against the environmental laws of the FCT. Meanwhile, the Joint Taskforce has observed a high rate of impersonation, as some miscreants have indulged in harassing the innocent citizens claiming to be working for the Commissioner of Police- led team. The taskforece, however, advised that Nigerians should hook on to different media both print and electronic around the FCT to know who represent them in terms of providing security. This, it said, has been the efforts of the committee to enlighten the people to guide themselves and always report to appropriate authority.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (2nd left); Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Bushra and others, during a courtesy visit to the FCT Minister in his office in Abuja…recently.

Association donates items worth N500,000 to old people’s home in Abuja ÏÏÏ The

Julius Berger Senior Staff Wives Association (JBSSWA), Abuja Chapter, have donated relief materials worth N500, 000 to an Old People’s Home in Abuja for their welfare. The association made the donation in Kado Estate, Abuja on Monday, during a visit to Amazing Grace Foundation (AGF), an NGO based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Grand Patron of JBSSWA, Hauwa Isma’il, explained that the visit was part of its social responsibility to show love to the needy in the country. Isma’il said that in spite of their tight schedules, the association still made out time to support hospitals, school of the

blind and orphanage within the country. “It is interesting that we do this from time to time as part of our own social responsibility on behalf of our husbands and families. “Despite our tight schedules, we still make out time to support all these people and without creating time, we won’t be able to do all these. “We have visited places like hospitals, the blind, orphanages and so many other places where you find the less privileged,’’ Isma’il said. Mrs Ifeyinwa Obegolu, Founder, AGF, said that the major challenge of the old people’s home was lack of fund especially with the economic down turn that

had affected the country. “We have global economic recession that has affected not only Nigeria but everywhere in the world. “We do not raise funds but God raises funds for the old through individuals and groups that usually come to visit us. “The younger ones can no longer take care of the elderly ones and the elderly ones begin to suffer. Obegolu described the association as a ministry set up by God to sustain old people and meet them at the point of their needs. Some of the items donated were bags of rice, beans, assorted food items, wrappers, clothing materials, and soaps among others.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Osinbajo: Recession will give way to abundance soon

Page B2

2018 budget process to align with ERGP – FG The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning on Tuesday, in Abuja, began the process of preparing the 2018 budget proposals. The early preparation is to meet up with a resolution that the Executive will submit 2018 budget proposals by October to the National Assembly. Reports say that the event, which was tagged: “Flag of the 2018 Budget Preparation Process,’’ was held behind closeddoors at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. The event came up less than 24 hours after Acting President YemiOsinbajo signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law. It was gathered that the objective of the event was to update the ministers and other relevant stakeholders on the processes and procedures expected of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the budget preparation. The objective was also to ensure that that the budget proposals for 2018 align with achieving the key areas highlighted in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP’s projected that Nigeria will make significant progress to achieve structural economic change with a more diversified and inclusive economy in five key areas by 2020. The key areas are stable macro-economic environment, agricultural transformation, food security, sufficiency in energy and improved transportation infrastructure. It was also learnt that the meeting discussed step by step guidelines for delivering of each strategy in the ERGP.

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro

Deputy Business Editor Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

Central control system lacking in electricity sector - Engineer Obilomo Page B3

NAMA: The challenge of aeronautical message handling systems Page B8

$1.1b Malabu scam: EFCC to extradite Adoke

OpeOluwani Akintayo

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to extradite former Attorney-General of Nigeria cum Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke to face fraud charges in the country. Speaking on Tuesday, counsel to the EFCC, Johnson Ojogbane, said the FG is making arrangements to bring the former minister back into the country.

“The Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to bring them back to Nigeria so that they can face their trial. “The government will take steps, in collaboration with the international police to locate them and bring them back to Nigeria through extradition, which is a very cumbersome process, but it will be done,” Ojogbane said. The EFCC had charged Adoke, Shell and ENI, to court as suspects in the $1.1 billion Malabu scam.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

The two multinationals were said to have paid the $1.1 billion into a Nigerian government account in London for OPL 245, an oil block considered one of the richest in Africa. Adoke, then, authorised the transfer of the money into private accounts of former petroleum minister, Dan Etete, in controversial circumstances. Over $800 million of the money was transferred. According to investigation,

most of the money ended in private pockets of officials of former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, including Adoke. But, Adoke has several times, denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Presiding judge, Justice John Tosho, had adjourned the case to June 13 for arraignment of Adoke and the other co-defendants, including Etete at the last hearing On the sideline, Ojogbane, said that the matter could not move to the next stage because the EFCC had been unable to get Adoke and other defendants to appear in court. “The matter was adjourned until today for arraignment of the deCONTINUES ON PAGE B2

L – R : Ikechukwu Miller, Branch Manager, Diamond Bank Plc, Mohammed Buhari Area, Abuja; Samson Kekere, DiamondXtra Season 9 Winner; and Chidinma Moses, Customer Service Manager, Diamond Bank Plc, Mohammed Buhari Area, Abuja at cheque presentation Ceremony for DiamondXtra Season 9 April Month-end draw winners held in Abuja recently.

N701bn stimulus:10 GenCos get N12 billion

By Simon Ugwu

Electricity supply is expected to get a boost, as the Generating Companies,GenCos have got a financial lifeline to rejigs their operations and enhance electricity supply to Nigerians Therefore, the (GENCOs) are expected to put lots of things in order having got N12 billion stimulus ‘package. These include, payment of their indebtedness to gas companies, investing in their operation and generating enough power so that the issue of shortfall in

power generation will be a thing of the past. This fund is expected to address so many issues affecting the power sector value chain, as there should be a trickledown effect on all other value chain. The stimulus package is expected to address the issue of system collapses, which hampered operation of the power sector. It will be recalled that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) disclosed that about 10 generating companies (GenCos) have received N12 billion from the N710 billion interven-

tion fund earmarked to sustain steady power generation in the country. In an exclusive interview, Head of Corporate Communications of NBET, Henrietta Ighomroro, said, while NBET has commenced disbursements, the 10 GenCos had already been paid for power generation supplied to the agency of government in January, 2017. Earlier in the year, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), rising from a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), had

announced that council had approved N701 billion payment assurance fund to be disbursed to the GenCos for power delivered on a monthly basis for two years, beginning from January, 2017, as a bail out from the liquidity crisis that engulfed the sector, particularly the generation subsector. Ighomroro said the payment for the 10 GenCos was gulping an estimated N12 billion, adding that the other GenCos were yet to receive their payment as they are yet to comply with the requisite documentations that will enable their eligibility.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2 Africa needs capacity to coordinate Agenda 2063 - ACBF The African Capacity Building Foundation, the continent’s leading capacity development institution, has pledged to use its expertise to help regional economic communities (RECS) achieve their objective of integrating Africa and leveraging its sustainable development. According to the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, the RECS, if well capacitated, would be able to effectively coordinate the implementation of the first 10 years of the action plan of African Union’s Agenda 2063 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. At a just ended retreat for regional economic communities in Abuja, Prof. Nnadozie said ACBF’s assistance to the communities would be in collaboration with partners such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s Agency (NEPAD Agency) and the International Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). “The Foundation plans to scale-up on its regional economic training programs to cover such areas as regional integration, trade negotiation and domestic resource mobilization, amongst others,” he said. He said ACBF has published knowledge products to meet the capacity needs of the communities. They include, the 2016 “Survey of the Capacity Needs of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities and Strategies for addressing them,” and the 2014 Africa Capacity Report (ACR), which focused on capacity imperatives for regional integration in Africa. Among other things, the 2016 Survey called for strengthening of the mandates of the executive secretaries and heads of Africa’s RECs to manage internal mechanisms and governance structures as well

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Osinbajo: Recession will give way to abundance soon Acting President, YemiOsinbajo has assured that the current recession in the country will soon give way to a new era of prosperity for Nigerians. Speaking shortly after signing the 2017 budget into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, Osinbajo described the signing as an important milestone in the path to the nation’s economic recovery and growth plan, as laid down in April by President MuhammaduBuhari. According to him, the process of preparing and processing the Bill was much smoother than the 2016 Appropriations Bill, which was dogged by allegations of errors, or mistakes, whereas, there was a significant improvement in the quality of the preparation, as well as, the presentation of the current budget. He said, “The 2017 Budget,

which I have signed into law today, is christened “Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth” and reflects our commitment to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by MuhammaduBuhari and the annual budgets, He said the budget was designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession unto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth, adding that the budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion, while the projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion was to be financed largely by borrowing. On the issue of the nation’s growing public debt, Osinbajo stated that the government is taking several actions to grow its revenues as well as, plug revenue

Osinbajo

leakages. “This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures,” he added.

Joy Ekeke

In a bid to halt Nigeria’s declining forest cover which was about 40 per cent, but now less than five per cent of the total land area of the country, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has launched the ‘Green Recovery Nigeria’ with the aim of developing a strategic action plan and road map towards forest rehabilitation in the country. The Director General of the NCF, AdeniyiKarunwi, described the GRN Initiative at the twoday summit held recently, as a national programme that belongs to all Nigerians including religious bodies, production entities, institutions and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). “It is my hope therefore that we shall all strive to give this initiative the required facelift and stimulus needed to drive Nigeria’s forests back to the minimum global standard of at least 25 percent over the next 30 years (2017 – 2047).” Mr.Karunwi said the GRN as an initiative “to accommodate ongoing efforts in the forest sector, operationalise voluntary carbon markets to create employment opportunities, enhance community resilience to climate change, as well as support forestation and reforestation projects across Nigeria.”

$1.1b Malabu scam: EFCC to extradite Adoke CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

L-R: CAP Plc, Company Secretary, Rose Joshua Hamis; Chairman CAP Plc, Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah and Chief Executive Officer, CAP Plc, Mrs. Omolara Iswat Elemide, during the company’s AGM in Lagos…on Tuesday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.

Nigeria generates N204.77bn from VAT in Q1 – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that Nigeria generated the sum of N204.77 billion as Value Added Tax (VAT) in the first quarter of 2017. VAT is a consumption tax that is placed on a product whenever value is added at a stage of production and at final sale. The NBS stated this in a Sectoral Distribution of VAT Data for first quarter of 2017, published by the bureau on Tuesday in Abuja. The report showed that the N204.77 billion generated in the

NCF launches ‘Green Recovery’ to restore forest rehabilitation in Nigeria

quarter was lower than N207.35 billion generated in the fourth quarter of 2016. According to the report, the decline in the amount generated represented 1.25 per cent decrease quarter-on-quarter. Comparing the amount to the first quarter of 2016, the report stated that VAT generated was N186.43 billion in first quarter of 2016, representing 9. 84 per cent increase year-on year. The bureau stated that other manufacturing sector generated the highest amount of VAT with N28.73 billion generated.

It stated that it closely followed by Professional Services and Commercial and Trading, both generating N20.82billion and N12.89billion respectively. The bureau stated that Mining generated the least, and was closely followed by Local Government Councils and Textile and Garment industry with N35.07 million, N99.84 million and N230.89 million respectively. It further stated that out of the total amounted generated in the first quarter of 2017, N126.64

billion was generated as NonImport VAT locally. In addition, it stated that N31.72 billion was generated as Non-Import VAT for foreign, while the balance of N46.41 billion was generated as Nigeria Customs Service-Import VAT in the quarter under review. The bureau, however, acknowledged the contributions of its strategic partner, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and technical partner, Proshare in the design, concept and production of the publication.

fendants, but up till now, we have not been able to secure the attendance of most of the defendants, because they are outside jurisdiction, that is they are outside the country. According to him, the court adjourned the matter until October 26 after the court’s vacation to give enough time to bring Adoke and others back to Nigeria. Before now, Adoke had said he would submit himself for trial. Along the line however, he changed his mind after having been advised by friends and family against turning himself in for trial. According to Adoke, he feared he would not be maltreated by the EFCC. In December, the EFCC charged nine suspects, including Adoke, over the fraudulent purchase of OPL 245. FG had also on March 2, filed fresh charges against Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited and Agip Nigeria Exploration Limited, a subsidiary of ENI, for alleged complicity in the Malabu $1.1 billion scandal. Adoke, Etete, Aliyu Abubakar,

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

INTERVIEW

Central control system lacking in electricity sector - Engineer Obilomo After two years of acquiring the country’s sole power generation, transmission and distribution company by the private sector, which Nigerians had hoped would run the former government’s organ better, the same citizens are worried over poorer services delivery. KENNETH MADUEKE spoke with Engineer Ayo Obilomo, a former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the defunct National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, and later PHCN, on issues affecting the power industry. Excerpts How has it been since your departure from PHCN? We thank God it has been okay. It is not like we have completely severed relationships with the company. We are on the sidelines making contributions to the power sector. That’s what we have been doing. In what areas do you make contributions? We are consultants; and we also undertake projects for the power sector and for various power organizations. We also do training, having acquired the level of experience we acquired in that industry. The good thing we can do is to try to impact that knowledge on the upcoming people. So, we do training and in recent times we have concentrate on training in the electricity safety. As someone who has a deep knowledge of he sector, how would you compare what is obtainable now with the old system? When we were in PHCN, there was a lot of emphasis on training and knowledge. Before we joined the PHCN, we had completed our university education, but we had two solid years doing nothing other than being trained. If you start a man in that manner, you are already giving the message of what you expect from him. So, training was very solid; and you have a focus of contribution from whatever you think you have acquired in the past. So, the practical training in addition to your academic training, created a very solid foundation for the engineer and nobody was coming in between. You have to have started from the scratch and run through the whole system. For instance, when I started, I was a young engi-

tions; and they should be able to compensate for the kind of depreciation we are getting from the old one. What I still believe is that the system needs to be run more efficiently. How will the system be run more efficiently? There should be greater supervision as we are seeing now, especially, as, NERC and the ministry, have started to do.

neer and I later became a senior engineer. I have worked in transmission, worked distribution and in generation before being focused on a carrier part. So, that gave me a very broad base and that I believe the industry must return to if you really want to retain and have good manpower for the industry. Nigerians are dissatisfied with the services being rendered by Gencos and Discos. They believe the truth is not being told and the services are below par, what is your take on that? There are two things about service as it is and expectations from customers. When the system was more or less privatised, the expectation of the customer was very high; and what the customer expected, was an almost immediate noticeable improvement, which the customer probably or most likely has not seen. The people, who came, looked to me as if they did not really manage that expectation very well. They came and kept quiet and the customer was expecting something; and when the customer did not see it, there was now this kind of loud noise all over the place…….. Was it really a loud noise or……. It is not a noise because, if it was really managed as well as the reason why they complained, it would not have come up. The whole thing was not really managed. It was not a noise, because, if I call it a noise, it will be to say that they do not know what they are saying. It is real, because , if we are still talking about 3,600 mega watts, they have seen it before. So, they were not expecting to see 3,00 MW after two years because they have seen it before. What do you think they can do given the expecta-

Obilomo tion of Nigerians? The first thing to be done is that the people, who have bought the system must understand the system they are running. It does not appear as if they have acquired sufficient understanding of the system they are running. The place has been privatised, but all the things we have been talking about before, the song that the PHCN people were singing, vandalisation and no gas, that is the same thing we are still seeing today. As an expert, how do you think they can approach this issue? . When this place was being privatised, there is always a way if you have the will and the means. NEPA at that time, and PHCN later, believed they knew what to do, but there were no resources to prosecute some of the projects. And that was one of the reasons the thing went to the private sector. The private sector now knows the way and they are also assumed to have the means, so, there is no reason we should address the issues better than the way it was before. That

is my own candid opinion. What I think we should do is that we need to understand the system we are running. if we cannot understand the system you are running properly, you can not proffer the appropriate solution. The knowledge base in this industry appears to have gone down the drain. What of the knowledge base of operators of the system? The knowledge base of the people who are operating the system. It has gone down; and they must get people who know what to do and how to do what they know how to do. I mean, those who know how to operate the system. What is your view of the much touted embedded system? The situation of the infrastructure may be close to what you are talking about, but they have not reached the level where they can not be operated and you will see that there are injections into the system. Many power companies are coming with power sta-

There exists no central control system as we used to have in NEPA headquarters, if there had been the existence of central control system, the negative effects should have been addressed by all the agencies that had been created to take care of that particular envisioned situation. NERC is now up and some of the pronouncements we are hearing in recent times are the things we should have been doing in the last five years. Number one, the various companies involved in the distribution in the power sector, need some kind of a way of supervising them so that there will be a lot of discipline in the system, because we are now running various organisations that have commercial relationships that are very critical to one another. It must be run with a lot of discipline. The generating stations must know that not when the light that they produce goes off they start complaining and laying blames at the door steps of the distribution companies. They have to hold themselves responsible to ensure that whatever they have declared is their capacity is available in the system. The transmission company is not to just explain outages to the distribution companies. If the line is down between Oshogbo and Benin, the distribution company must have away of holding responsible for that down time, then the distribution companies can not just explain it a way and

say customers are not paying because that is why you yourselves are there. So, in that chain, everybody must be held responsible for his own failings of activities in the chain. That was absent for almost three years. Given the loops and leakages in the transmission lines, do you think it is proper for the Federal Government to come to the aid of the transmission company despite being concessioned? I think Federal Government has not left them unattended. In recent times, from all that one has been reading, one has read about world bank giving them billion dollars. Those are things the FG can do. What TCN is supposed to do should be properly spelt out; and they should be held responsible for that. The system has reached a level now since the independent people are handling its various activities; they need a lot of discipline, if that chain will not be broken. Do you think the increase in tariffs should be of great assistance to the distribution companies? NERC has not properly addressed the issue of tariffs. The condition of reviewing tariffs are built into the MYTO document and if its something that has been approved and everybody has been keying into it, I do not believe anybody has the right to tamper with it. But, arbitrary increase in the MYTO will not be easy to understand, especially now that power appears not to be doing well. Do you see the current services being rendered as satisfactory? The customer is not yet satisfied. There is, no doubting that; and customers are saying that there can be a big room for improvement.

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

NSE: Profit taking declines market value by N28b Afolabi Adesola

Profit taking persisted on the Nigerian Equities market on Tuesday, as Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), All-Share Index- dropped 0.28 per cent from its previous level, to settle at 33,141.85 points. Market capitalization declined by N28 billion to settle at N11.461 trillion. Activity level slowed

as value of transactions closed at N5.5 billion, against N6.1 billion recorded previously. Volume of transacted stocks ended at 410.2 million units against 501.1mn units traded on Monday. Price movement table showed 31 gainers and 28 losers. Forte Oil topped the day’s losers with a loss of 7.57 per cent. The share price closed at N58 per share.

Cadbury posted a decline of 7.87 per cent to close at N14.40 per share. While Champion breweries, fell 4.94 percent to close at N3.27. Learn Africa and Initiates Plc also depreciated 4.94 per cent each and both closed at 77 kobo per share respectively. On the flip side, May & Baker topped the day’s gainers with an appreciation of 9.94 per cent to

close at N3.43 per share. Transcorp was next on the gainer’s list with an increase of 9.67 per cent to close at N6.58 per share, while Skye Bank, added 9.64 per cent and closed the day at N1.82. Nigeria Police Force Micro Finance Bank, was up by 7.41 per cent, to close at 58 kobo per share and Presco increased 6.92 percent to close at N1.39 per share.

CAP Shareholders endorse N1.54bn dividend, fresh capital Adesola Afolabi Shareholders of CAP PLC has endorsed a dividend of N1.54 billion for the 2016 financial year, at the company’s annual general meeting in Lagos, on Tuesday. The company’s shareholders also approved an increase of authorised share capital from N420m to N750m, by the creation of 660million additional shares of 50k each. The fresh capital, according to the company, would

Daar Communication records 47% loss after tax 2016 Bonny Amadi DAAR communication Nigeria plc has felt the impact of challenging operating environment, as its 2016 audited financial statement has revealed. The company’s result recently released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed that The company’s revenue declined by 47 per cent to N3, 732,527 from N7, 089,393 recorded in 2015 financial year. Loss before tax, increased by 102 per cent to N3,001,230), from N1,483,161 in the preceding year, while loss after taxation, also closed higher at N2,139,589, from N1,510,776 in 2015, reflecting increase by 41 per cent. Non-current assets dropped By 10 per cent to N14,814,849, from N16,532,875. In the preceding year, current assets, however, increased by 16 per cent To N3,297,269, against N2,818,463 In the preceding year. The 2016 audited result of Daar Communication further showed that the company’s shareholders’ fund dropped to n11, 281,838, from N13,421, 427 in 2015, reflecting 15 per cent drop, total equity and liabilities dropped by 6 per cent to N18,112,117, from N19,351,339 in 2015, while loss per share increased by 42 per cent to 27 kobo from 19 kobo in 2015. revenue declined to N3,732,527 from N7,089,393, cost of sales dropped to N4,973,910 in 2016, from N5,175,019 in 2015, while gross loss reduced to N1,241,383 from N1,914,374 in 2015 financial year.

further strengthen capacity for business and facilitate the company’s ability to accomplish financial objectives, having complied with regulatory requirements. CAP PLC, a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria PLC; and the manufacturer of Dulux, delivered a turnover of N6.81 billion, representing a decline of 3 per cent over previous year. The operating profit was N2.32billion, a decline of 10 per cent over 2015. Mr. Larry Ettah, Chairman CAP Plc, said that, “The scarcity of forex, high cost of funds, rising cost of input and downturn in the real estate sector impacted the planned growth for the year.” Ettah explained that the decision to expand distribution network by five in 2016, was in a bid to grow market share. “We also increased our offering by the introduction of CAP Screeding Filler, a predecoration product to complement both our premium and standard brands.” He said that the company to acquire an in-plant tinting technology, to modernise its paint production processes, while improving efficiency and delivering prompt customer service.

OTC FX futures rates increase boost new contracts Bonny Amadi L-R: Glo subscribers, Gambo Ali, Caroline Okwudike; Glo brand ambassador, Innocent Idibia, aka Tuface; other Glo subscribers, Ify Asemota and Namure Edoimioya, at the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja... on Saturday

Experts say market trend driven by sentiment, remain upbeat Bonny Amadi Cross-section of Nigerian capital market stakeholders have described the current rally in the equities market as being propelled by market sentiments. They said that the sentiment reflects positive developments in the capital market; and would further

Summary of activities on NSE ASI 33,141.85 6,167.00 VOLUME 410,223,496.00 DEALS

VALUE

5,545,886,112.78

CAP

11,460,545,757,828.34

boost market depth, vibrancy and engineer renewed market confidence. Some stockbrokers, who spoke to Daily Times on the prevailing positive market trend, said that it is only positive market sentiment that could drive interests, adding that prevailing market state points to opportunities that are begging to be taken. One of them, Mr. David Imafidon Andorin, a Lagos-based senior stockbroker, told Daily Times Nigeria in a telephone interview that sentiments have sustained market upsurge, adding that, it was good for the market. He said that some of the blue chip banks that have started recording improved investor’s

interests are also positively impacted by the market hearsay, which not only impact positively in the banks or companies, but investors’ earnings and the overall development of the market. Commenting on the rise of the FBNHoldings’ share price in recent times, Imofidon said that, the bank is known to be a tier one bank, and in a market where even tier three banks are trading at above N10.00 per share, FBNHoldings, is therefore, poised to surpass the level of tier three banks and attain tier one bank equities pricing. “It used to be a tier one bank an even tier three banks are trading at N10.00 per share, so they have to close higher.”

The increase in OTC forex futures offered rates has been attributed to be the main driver of new forex futures contracts recorded in the OTC market last week ended 09th June, 2017. Last week, rates offered in the OTC FX Futures space, were largely above the closing NAFEX rates in the out-gone week. Daily Times recalls that Activity levels at the Naira settled OTC FX Futures market, last week jumped, as investors opened $13.83m worth of new contracts in the outgone week, compared to just $2m in the prior week. Although there was a significant increase in the value of contracts opened in the outgone week, but experts however, opined that the establishment of the I&E FX window by the apex bank regulator may have also played a vital role.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

D aily M ark e t Ro u n d U p Th e Nig eria n e q uities m arke t ext e n d e d losses t o t h e seco n d tra din g sessio n as t h e b e nch m ark in d ex slid 0.3 % t o d ay t o close a t 33,142.18 p oin ts, f urt h er t a kin g in N ESTLE (-2.6 %), A CCESS (-3.7 %), F O RTE (-9.6 %) a n d D A N G CE M (5.0 %) w hich o f fse t g ains in

W A PC O (+2.9 %) a n d ZE NIT H (+1.0 %).

Co nse q u e n tly, invest ors lost N291.4m in valu e as m ark e t ca pit aliz a tio n f ell t o N11.5t n. Lik e w ise, activity level so f t e n e d as volu m e a nd valu e tra d e d f ell 5.6 % a nd 3.4 % t o 410.2m u nits a n d N5.5b n resp ectively. B e a rish Pe r f o r m a n c e a cr oss Se c t o rs Perf orm a nce across sect ors w as bro a dly b e arish as all in dices d eclin e d. Th e O il & G as in d ex d eclin e d t h e m ost, d o w n 2.0 % o n t h e b ack o f sell pressure in F O RTE (-9.6 %) a n d SEPL A T (-1.3 %) w hile losses in A CCESS (-3.7 %) a n d U B A (-1.7 %) dra g g e d t he Ba n kin g in d ex 0.7 % lo w er. Lik e w ise, t h e Co nsu m er G o o ds in d ex dipp e d 0.6 % o n acco u n t o f w e a k a p p e tite f or N ESTLE (-2.6 %) w hile t h e Insura nce a n d In d ustrial G o o ds in dices slip p e d 0.1 % a piece d u e t o pro fit-t a kin g in M A NS A RD (-1.2 %) a n d D A N G CE M (-0.2 %). M a r k e t Br e a d t h St a ys So f t ra tio) w e a k e n e d t o 0.6x (fro m 0.7x yest erd ay) as 18 st ocks a dva nce d a g ainst

To p 10 G ain ers Tick er M A YB A KER TRA NSC ORP SK YEB A N K NPF M CRFBK PRESC O 7UP CCN N TRA NSC O H O T UPL U A C-PROP

Price (N) 3.43 1.82 0.58 1.39 66.15 94.50 7.29 6.24 3.45 2.69

Price Ch g % 9.9 % 9.6 % 7.4 % 6.9 % 5.8 % 5.0 % 4.9 % 4.9 % 4.9 % 4.7 %

To p 10 Tr a d es b y V olu m e Tick er V olu m e (m) % v olu m e ZENITHB A N K 62.3 1.0 % TRA NSC ORP 49.2 9.6 % FC M B 41.5 0.7 % DIA M O N D BN K 38.5 -0.7 % FBN H 25.6 -0.7 % FIDELITYBK 23.2 1.5 % G U ARA N TY 22.9 0.1 % A CCESS 21.4 -3.7 % UB A 10.9 -1.7 % STERLN B A N K 9.3 -4.3 % To p 10 Tr a d es b y V alu e

Price (N)

Price Ch g %

Tick er

58.00 14.40 3.27 0.77 3.48 0.65 3.51 1.11 23.00 38.00

-9.6 % -7.9 % -4.9 % -4.9 % -4.7 % -4.4 % -4.4 % -4.3 % -4.2 % -3.8 %

To p 10 Losers Tick er FO C A D BURY CH A MPIO N LE ARN A FRC A C APH O TEL CILE ASIN G CUST O D YINS STERLN B A N K PZ C O N OIL

ZENITHB A N K NB G U ARA N TY NESTLE D A N GCE M A CCESS ST A NBIC FBN H PRESC O UB A

V alu e (m)

% v alu e

1289.9 912.4 771.6 553.2 260.7 220.3 183.1 172.8 153.9 95.9

1.0 % 0.1 % 0.1 % -2.6 % -0.2 % -3.7 % 1.7 % -0.7 % 5.8 % -1.7 %

NSE A ll Sh ar e In d e x

34,000

NSE All Share Index

Naira Value (m)

100,000

32,000

80,000

30,000

60,000

28,000

40,000

26,000

20,000

24,000

28 w hich d eclin e d. A t t h e su m mit o f t h e g ain ers' ch art w ere M A Y B A K ER (+9.9 %), TR A NSC O R (+9.6 %) a n d SK Y E (+7.4 %) w hile F O RTE (-9.6 %), C A D B URY (-7.9 %) a n d C H A M PI O N (m ain t ain o ur vie w t ha t t h e curre n t d o w n tre n d in t h e m ark e t w o uld n o t p ersist b eyo n d t h e sh ort t erm as w e exp ect invest or se n tim e n t t o re m ain 22,000

(20,000)

02-Apr 05-Apr 08-Apr 11-Apr 14-Apr 17-Apr 20-Apr 23-Apr 26-Apr 29-Apr 02-May 05-May 08-May 11-May 14-May 17-May 20-May 23-May 26-May 29-May 01-Jun 04-Jun 07-Jun 10-Jun 13-Jun

larg ely drive n by im prove m e n ts in m acro eco n o mic fu n d a m e n t als a n d d evelo p m e n ts in t h e FX m ark e t.

M acr o ec o n o m ic G ist Nig eria n e quities as a b ask e t is curre n tly t h e 2017 g old min e o f t h e e m ergin g a nd fro n tier m arke ts f ollo w in g th e im prove d flexibility in t h e a d ministra tio n o f FX. Th e

Term of t h e d a y

o n-

DTewmo-Si u t udaliz e d aMtio ar n k e tis w he n a m u t u al com p a ny o w n e d by its users/m e m b ers co nverts in t o a com p a ny o w n e d by sh Am are arkheold t in ers. w hichInmark efef tect, ma k ers t h e(orusers/m sp ecialists) e mare b ers re q uire exch d taongive g e btoht eir ha rig h ts o f use f or sh ares in t h e d e m u t u aliz e d com p a ny firm bid a nd firm ask f or e ach security in w hich t h ey ma ke a mark e t.

resilie n t co m p a ny f u n d a m e n t als, w hich m ark e t h as la gg e d, h avin g re d uce d t he

pre miu m on m acro risk. W hilst w e n o t e d in o ur 2017 O u tlo o k t h a t t h e e q uities m ark e t w ill re b o u n d n ort h w ard o f 15.6 % if t h e FX ch alle n g es are a d dresse d, t he curre n t struct ure o f FX a d ministra tio n a n d t h e resp o nse ra t e o f t h e e q uities m arke t

Maritime B6 Stories by Babajide Okeowo The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has warned that the Ports and Harbours Bill 2015, which is currently pending before the House of Representatives, will portend great security and revenue risks for the Federal Government, if passed into law. In a letter dated June 1, 2017 and signed by its President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and Secretary-General, Comrade Felix Akingboye, said it is opposed to

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Maritime workers oppose Ports and Harbour Bill, say it poses security risk the bill because, it would cede labour operations to private individuals. In the letter addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, MWUN said harbour operations, all over the world, are major revenue earners and the exclusive preserve of the governments. It warned that if passed into law, the bill would portend great security

and revenue risk for the Federal Government as well as lead to mass sack of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA workers. The union said it was surprised that the bill, sponsored by one Nicolas Ossai, has passed second reading without relevant stakeholders being carried along. The union’s letter read in part: “Much as we do not begrudge the Hon-

ourable Speaker and the distinguished members of the House of Representatives from enacting good and beneficial laws for the good governance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are of the strong opinion that all relevant stakeholders should be carried along whenever any important bill that will affect them is being debated and not side tracked as we have

been. “As a stakeholder in the maritime industry, we shall be seriously affected by the effect of the Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Bill 2015 once passed into law, hence this protest letter.” According to the workers,“We have carefully perused the bill viz-a viz the Nigerian Port Authority Act 1955 as amended and we cannot see any

deficiency in the present NPA Act that warranted this bill except the latent intent of the promoters of this bill to corner for themselves this harbour operations which is the major revenue earner for the NPA and by extension the Federal Government without taking into consideration the security implication to the country and the havoc it will wreck on the workers.

NPA seeks collaboration with shipping chamber

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (Middle); President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Andy Isiche (left) and the Director General of NCS, Mrs. Oby Obi, when the NCS team paid a courtesy visit to the management of NPA at the corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos

Ease of Doing Business: FG urged to outsource scanners In a bid to facilitate the ease of doing business, Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Muda Yusuf has urged government to outsource the scanners at the ports. This, he said, will eliminate the myriads of problems ranging from physical examinations of containers at the ports, faulty and nonworking scanners which has led to some banned and

prohibited items finding their ways to the street “In order to eliminate monotony, there is need to put apparatus and equipment in place like scanners, quality scanners to ensure that things are detected. In this age of technology, we should use technologies to deal with some of the issues, how can we at this age and time still be doing physical examinations, how many containers can we examine

physically? We need to get our scanners to work.” Also, he said, “managing the scanners should not necessarily be by the customs, we can outsource it to people who have the competence to manage the scanners”, adding that, “Government should outsource some of these things that have technological requirements to agencies that can manage them.” According to him, if the scanners are outsourced, it

DAILY SHIPPING POSITION: VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PILOTAGE DISTRICT SHIP

AGENT

PORT

JAN RITSCHER MSK NIG APMT KIBAZ INTERSHIP ACJ CRYSTAL BAY INTERSHIP PWA KOTA SABAS PIL APMT GREEN FREEZER APS ENL DESERT VICTORY G/SHIPP ABTL JIN YUAN LING CHINA SHIPP ENL BONAIRE LANSAL APMT GNDBREAKER BLUESTAR GDNL DERBY D C.C NIG APMT

TONNAGE E.T.A

580FCL 37807MT 21900MT 600FCL 2500MT 43879MT 19672MT 550FCL 47250MT 260FCL

4/05/17 4/05/17 4/05/17 4/05/17 5/05/17 5/05/17 6/05/17 8/05/17 8/05/17 10/05/17

LENGHT

209M 183M 183M 228M 134M 194M 185M 259M 190M 259M

CARGO

CONTAINER PMS PMS CONTAINER F/FISH B/WHEAT G/CARGO CONTAINER B/SUGAR CONTAINER

would eliminate the perennial case of faulty and nonworking scanners at the ports, which has made Customs to revert to physical examination on containers at the ports. He said, “In this age of technology, we should use technologies to deal with some of the problems confronting us, how can we at this age and time still be doing physical examinations, how many containers can we examine physically? We need to get our scanners to work. He said that, “The Customs is wired in a bureaucratic manner that even if the scanners are faulty, it has to go through all manners of approval from the man manning the scanner to the Head of the department, to the Area Controller and through all manners of hierarchy.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has reiterated the commitment of her administration to cooperate and collaborate with the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, NCS as well as, every other stakeholder in the maritime industry. She made this disclosure when she hosted members of the Chamber on a courtesy visit to the NPA Headquarters, Lagos, recently. The Managing Director added that NPA is re-strategizing on its core functions with the intention of enhancing development in the maritime industry. President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mr. Andy Isichei, while congratulating the MD on

her appointment, promised that the Chamber would give her total support so she can move the industry forward. The President commended the Managing Director for all the innovative ideas she has implemented since assumption of duty and for the palliative measures made so far on the dilapidated Port Access Roads. He also commended her on the Authority’s continuous enforcement of the minimum standard requirement for trucks operating within the Ports Industry. Isichei also canvassed for the empowering and sponsorship of Nigerian Seafarers on access to sea training programme, where they would acquire requisite experience for the future.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

B7 ICT

ICT road map can create 2.5m jobs – FG Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Federal Government has assured that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Road map, if well implemented can create 2.5 million jobs for Nigerians, especially the youths. The new road map was approved a few days ago to add greater value to the

sector. The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu said that the Federal Executive Council, presided by Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has approved a three-year ICT road map between 2017 – 2020. He said,“Today, we are happy that at last, the ICT road map 2017 – 2020 has Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu

been approved for implementation by the government.” He assured that, apart from creating over 2.5 million jobs, the approval of the ICT Road map is an indication that there would be broadband penetration across the country, which will ultimately ensure that the 30 per cent broadband target set by the National Broadband Plan, is

achieved. He also stated that road map, when properly implemented, would immensely contribute to Nigeria’s economy, which was rated as the biggest in Africa few years ago, by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. Shittu said ICT will also increase its GDP, which is curently about 10-20 per cent by Year 2020.

MTN Foundation: 400 Communities, others get support

Digital investment attracts 50m Euros for startups in Africa

To fulfil iits promise of improving the quality of lives in our communities, MTN Foundation, ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative, has impacted over 10 million Nigerians in 400 communities and 347 local government areas across Nigeria. According to the Foundation,in these LGA’s, several projects,including the following were executed: 40 transformers, 40 boreholes and 14,200 school furniture. In addition, household items have been donated to 66 orphanage homes, as well as, supply of medical equipment to 80 primary healthcare centres. The initiative, it was gathered, was lauded by residents in the beneficiary communities, as the Foundation caters for educational needs, through the donation of school furniture; medical supplies and economic empowerment intervention, through the donation of transformers and boreholes across the different communities. Speaking on the initia-

The Paris-based Orange Telecom is consolidating its corporate venture strategy by creating a new Africa section in its flagship programme for investment in start-ups, Orange Digital Ventures, This flagship programme is a result of a renewed commitment with the sum of 50 million euros, devoted to indirect investments through specialised funding for Africa. Commenting on this programme, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Orange and Chairman of Orange Digital Ventures, Pierre Louette, confirmed that the latest investment corresponds to half of the direct investments made via its new Orange Digital Ventures Africa programme. According to him, the other half has been devoted to indirect investments through special-

Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma tive, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, said that all projects were selected from a pool of thousands of nominations by members of the public in Phases 1 and 2, after rigorous screening and verification exercises. She said,“At the end, 200 communities were chosen to benefit in Phase 1, another 200 communities in Phase 2 and announcements were made in the print, electronic and digital media platforms. We are

pleased to report that all the 200 projects in Phase 1 have been successfully implemented, while all the 200 projects in Phase 2 are at various stages of delivery and installation.” According to her,”The ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative that was launched in 2015, as part of the 10-year anniversary commemoration of the MTN Foundation, was conceived to do something refreshingly different for our communities.”

Cisco envisions online video to boom in MEA by 2021 Cisco said it has envisioned that by 2021, 81 per cent of all Internet traffic in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), will be video. This is according to Cisco’s 12th annual Visual Networking Index Complete Forecast, which projects future IP and Internet traffic trends, adding that last year, the amount of MEA Internet traffic that was video was

62 per cent. Internet usage numbers, however, will remain low in the region, with the report predicting that 28 per cent of the MEA population will use the Internet in 2021. This is, however, an improvement on the statistic of 21 per cent last year. Global forecasts show that overall Internet users will grow from 3.3 billion in 2016 to 4.6 billion by 2021,

which will represent 58 per cent of the total global population. By 2021, in MEA, there will be 35 gigabyte (GB) of Internet traffic per month, per user? this is up from 8GB in 2016. Cisco also predicts monthly Internet traffic in MEA will generate three billion Digital Versatile Discs’ (DVDs’) worth of traffic, or 10.3 exabytes (EB) per month.

ised funding for Africa. The DCEO explained that Orange Digital Ventures Africa is the group’s investment vehicle for early-stage innovation projects in Africa in areas such as, new connectivity, financial tech-

nology, the Internet of Things, (IoT), energy and e-health, among others. “The objective is to target start-ups offering responses to Africa’s fundamental challenges while leveraging the operator’s assets on the continent.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Orange, Chairman of Orange Digital Ventures, Pierre Louette

Beware of fake contracts, NCC warns

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has cautioned members of the public against letters of contracts purportedly awarded by the commission in circulation, saying they are fake. The commission said in a statement made available to Daily Times that its attention had been drawn to the circulation of letters of award of various contracts purportedly written by its Secretary. “The commission wish-

es to categorically state that these letters were not issued by the commission. “When contracts are to be awarded by the Commission, adverts are published in various newspapers, the Federal Tenders Journal and our websites. “The procurement process adopted by the Commission is always transparent and can be duly verified. The general public and corporate organisations are advised not to transact business with unscrupulous persons is-

suing these fake letters,’’ it said. The Commission urges members of the public to ensure that thorough diligence was conducted in all cases to avoid falling victim to the peddlers of the fake letters of award. It said that offers of the fake letters of award should be reported to the Commission or the law enforcement agencies. “Any person who deals with such peddlers of fake letters does so at his/her own risk,” NCC said.

Aviation B8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 14, 2017

NAMA: The challenge of aeronautical message handling systems Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Good aircraft and good flight crew operating in unsecured skies are potential tragedies without safe air corridors, monitored round the clock by well-trained technical crew, modern and regularly maintained tracking systems, the best pilot flying the best aircraft would be a mere accident waiting to happen. This shows that operations of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ,(NAMA), are very critical to the success of the aviation sector in the country being that, for an aircraft to take off from one airport and lands safely at another, depends largely on how efficient the agency functions. Apart from provision of landing aids and dissemination of weather information to pilots, NAMA has contributed significantly to improving safety in the nation’s airspace since the crashes of 2005 and 2006, more than any other aviation agencies. Experts have, lately observed that since then, the airspace has been calm and safe for all stakeholders, due to the technical prowess of NAMA and other agencies in industry. A good indicator to NAMA’s contribution to the safety enjoyed by all, is the recently published reports on aircraft serious incident and accident reports by Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). On March 13th this year, AIB released its final reports on Dana Airlines, Bristow Helicopters, OAS Helicopters, and the one involving Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS). One salient issue contained in the report is that most of the air mishaps or incidents have no bearing on the safety or otherwise of the airspace. With the way the new management, led by Captain Fola Akinkuotu, is going, it is expected that NAMA will succeed in continuous delivering of safe skies to the country and beyond. Within a very short period of time, the new helmsman has strongly shown the determination to ensure speedy completion of the AIS Automation project in view of the centrality of the project to the success of the ongoing global migration from Terrestrial Based Navigation to Satelite Based Navigation (PBN). Preparatory to the commencement of Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) Automation, NAMA had last year embarked on the training of various categories of personnel in order to build adequate capacity needed for its deployment. In line with that, different batches of NAMA personnel

have gone to Frankfurt, Germany for short Train-the-Trainer Course on Map/Chart/e-AIP Publication. These trainings were done, ahead of the deployment of Aeronautical Fixed Telecom Network (AFTN)/ ATS Message Handling System (AMHS) in Lagos and Kano. It was gathered that these operators’ training conducted by Avitech GMBH at the company’s factory in Germany are critical components of the AIS Automation Project, targeted at giving trainees the needed exposure to handle the complex situations associated with the project. To show his strong commitment, the Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Akinkuotu re-echoed his intentions to judiciously implement the project at the recent World AIS Day held in May 15 this year. In view of critical deliverables of the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) project, such as, the enhancement of e-NOTAM, e-Flight Planning, e-AIP, e-TOD, e-Charts, e-Flight briefing etc, Akinkuotu warned that the project must be taken seriously. Akinkuotu said that, given that the automation represents a global migration to a dynamic data-oriented aeronautical information management system that facilitates the timely exchange of aeronautical information in an accurate and standardized format from anywhere to everywhere globally, on real-time basis, the automation project is a must-do for NAMA.” The NAMA boss said that for the dream of AIS automation to be realized, it behoves on staff of the department to put in their best to see that their service both at the individual and group level remains invaluable, adding that they could do this through extensive research and paper presentation at seminars, targeted at enriching the system and taking it to the next level. He promised to open his doors to their professional and technical advice which he said would give him the needed guidance in taking key decisions. The NAMA helmsman also lauded the orkers of the AIS department for their diligence, hard work and dedication to duty, saying, “AIS remains one of the most critical departments in the agency even though they are hardly given the prominence they deserve, because their job most often, is behind-the-scene,” he said, stressing that the absence of AIS in the system will bring about chaos in the entire civil aviation. In his views, General Manager, AIS, Mr Kabir Gusau, appealed to NAMA’s management to consider the periodic training and retraining of AIS personnel, which, ac-

Sirika

Akinkuotu

cording to him, “would bring staff up to speed with modern trends in a dynamic aviation industry and also prepare them to effectively embrace automation when fully deployed.” Gusau also harped on the need for the agency, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to ensure that qualified AIS personnel were licensed as this would bolster them towards hard work, commitment to duty and enhanced productivity. Also as part of efforts to improve safety, the agency has already pledged its readiness in landing aircraft at zero visibility, just as the agency also revealed its plan to install Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in no fewer than 18 airports nationwide to ensure safety in the airspace. Captain Akinkuotu, who made the pledge recently, assured that the country has Category 2 ILS’; and have bought 11 new ones, which it would be putting in airports, including Minna, Benin, Ibadan and some other places, while using others recovered on other airports. He said the Category 2 ILS is effective enough to bring down an aircraft from at least 100feet from elevation and visibility of less than 800metres up to 1000 feet. “We might also add that quite often we hear our pilots talk about what kind of capabilities we have in the harmattan and this system is a category 2 ILS which will bring us down to at least a 100feet to from elevation and visibility of less than 800 metres up to 1000feet, which is quite good. Our Harmattan can be bad, but I am sure that for 95%, if not 100% of the time with an operable ILS Category 2 system, we should be able to get it every time. So come December there should be no reason or no excuse”, Akinkuotu said.

On replication, Akinkuotu added,” Government has tried, we have an order, contracts for 11 ILS, I know there is Lagos, Port Harcourt, Minna, Benin there is Abuja, Kaduna, but they are 11 that are going to be installed. They are brand new but don’t forget that we are going to recover some items, Lagos has an ILS and I think Ibadan too is going to get from the new ones so whatever we recover, we will put them at some of the other airports. I would expect that over time when all of the assets are in we should be able to do not less than 18 fields.” On the means of installation, the NAMA Chief executive hailed the dexterity of the agencies’ engineers stating that they have been doing quite a great job over the years even when under appreciated. “I must say here that it was done by NAMA engineers , which sometimes they are not given the kind of recognition they deserve. Contractors tell us that they fixed it, but they (NAMA) engineers, fixed it and they have done a very good job, as we have calibrated it,” Akinkuotu said. In addition, it was gathered that the ILS/DME and VOR/DME in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Bauchi airports were calibrated by South African Flight Calibration Company (FSCL) before the closure of Abuja airport for repairs of the runway recently. Commenting on their facilities, Airspace Manager of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Mr. Lawrence Ajayi said that, Runway 18R, has precision approach lighting system, which is one of the best in the industry, while 18L has simple approach lighting system, because it is not busy at night, saying that both of

them are working at optimal levels. On the radios, he said Radio Frequency 127.3mhz has an improved range; and is working perfectly, just as, the Radio Frequency 124.7 mhz is also in good condition and both of them are on presently. Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Engr. Farouk Umar, who confirmed that all their equipment are in order, noted that in aviation, there is nothing like epileptic communication. He said that,” It is either you are communicating or you are not communicating. Nigerian airspace is safe for both local and international flights.” Meanwhile, NAMA has been able to build and instill confidence to most stakeholders including, operators, and passengers amongst others. For instance, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema has commended the Federal Government for the on-going programme to provide category two Instrument Landing System (ILS) and improved communication system at nation’s major airports. Onyema, an airline operator, said that this would ensure smooth flight operations in December, which is the busiest season for airlines, unfortunately that is also the high point of Harmattan haze, which lowers visibility and force airlines to cancel their flights. The Air Peace boss said airlines lost revenues amounting to millions of naira last year, due to flight cancellations, adding that the failure of the airlines to airlift thousands of passengers to their destinations last December, damaged the image and goodwill of the airlines, as passengers did not understand that the airlines were not responsible for the cancellations of flights. “I just learnt that the Federal Government is about to install landing aids at our major airports so that flights can operate during Harmattan haze, and flight cancellations during the period, will become a thing of the past. I hail government’s decision on that.” He said,”I have no doubt that the Minister of State, Aviation; Senator Hadi Sirika is all out to make a difference. I have no doubt, and I sincerely commend him on this. I also commend him for the speed and timeliness with which he completed the rehabilitation of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. That was unprecedented. That was also how he made efforts for the airlines to be included in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) forest window, which we benefited with manufacturers,” Onyema said.

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TIMES Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Where is Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Prince of Mavin records?

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Gbubemi Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Covenant Snr

Daily Times Heroes Awards: The winners, their imprints Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia State

Governor Bindow Umar Jibrilla of Adamawa State

Echoes of the 91st Anniversary celebration of The Daily Times continues at the domain of renowned biochemist, teacher, and the 4th democratically elected Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, who was crowned with the Times Heroes Governance Award. Sworn in as Governor on May 29, 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ikpeazu was born on October 18, 1964, to the family of late Pa Ishmael and Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu of Umuebere in Umuobiakwa village, Isialaukwu Mbato Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Dr. Ikpeazu started his early education at Amaise Central Prima-

Business tycoon turned politician, Governor Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria, was the proud recipient of the Times Heroes Governance Award, for his motivation of youths and

and the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nige-

Just three months after his inauguration on May 29, 2015, the zealous governor attracted attention nationwide with the launch of To give the administration a sense of direction, Governor Jibrilla

This draft document, he said, will evolve into the working docufessional sons and daughters of Adamawa State to participate. The While this is ongoing, Governor Jibrilla has recognised the need ished from previous administrations in the state. Consequently, he mobilised and commissioned contractors to return to site on 20 township roads in major towns of Yola, Jimeta, Ganye, Numan and Mubi.

Pharmacology from the University of Calabar.

Okezie Victor Ikpeazu

Bridges Governor Ikpeazu has completed the construction of a brand leted the realignment of another bridge at Umunneochie; government has decided to erect solar light at both sides of the bridges. Zero tolerance to potholes

the state road management agency and it is taking place simultaneously in the two cities of Umuahia and Aba.

Ube and many others all in Aba. Trade Centres Abia State under the leadership of Governor Ikpeazu is establishing trade centres where the old professions are to be revived.

Bindow Umar Jibrilla brilla mounted a drive to lift the healthcare sector by launching proj-

pinos. The idea is for them to begin to teach Abia children the rudiments of the old craft works like carpentry, masonry, House Wiring so that we can produce our own household items without going abroad to import them. The idea of teaching handiworks like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tiling, etc, is also to help artisans add some professionalism and education to their trade. Also, the trade centres are targeted to create jobs and empower people with skills.

Road Construction The Abia State Government under the leadership of Governor Ikpeazu is present on 47 active sites and two bridges are under construction in the state as you read this. Three of such roads were commissioned in Aba by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. These roads cut across the three geopolitical zones of the state and arrangements are on between the state and its neighbour, Akwa Ibom, to jointly rehabilitate the shared federal roads. struction, which means we have to cast with concrete over a mass of the roads, to ensure durability and longevity.

that would be developed all around Adamawa State, including a special housing package for returnee Boko Haram Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nige-

to form partnerships and vast social and professional networks to

admission into Eziama High School, Aba, and later moved to Ihie amination in 1979. The promising governor, who gained admission into the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to study Clinical Biochemistry at the age of 16, graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class Upper Division and from August 1984 to August 1985, Dr. Ikpeazu served as a clinical biochemist in the medical laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, for his National Youths Service. He also holds an M.Sc degree in Bio-

Political career In 2002, Dr. Ikpeazu served as the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. This marked his entry into politics. He later served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State. Dr. Ikpeazu was appointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009, and in 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During the period, he facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the NBTE. In 2011, he was reappointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held unti Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and environs. What should have dampened the spirit of a leader has rather became an inspirational obsession for Governor Ikpeazu. His passion for service to Abia people has remained unshaken and unwavering

This project has already taken off with all the prototype samples being constructed on site. The estate project will allocate about 10% of the houses directly to civil servants of the state, under an owner-occupier sub-programme. -

Friends of Abia Schools Adoption Initiative (FASAI) The Governor used the occasion of his 51st birthday to launch this pet project to mobilise funds to renovate the worst primary schools in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state. The State Government is concluding plans to launch the construction work on the Abia Industrial clusters starting with Aba. The Government is currently procuring equipment needed for the clusters and for the appropriate equipment that can match home standard of technological development. The aim is to mechanise and automate the process of leathermaking and the artisanship works in Abia State. The Aba Industrial Cluster would involve 40,000 shoemakers who produce 1000 quality shoes daily. As you read this, other projects including Skill Acquisition Programme, Education, Foreign Partnership, Mass Market Development, NDE Programme, Stomach Infrastructure under which government would feed a minimum of 30,000 pupils weekly, as well as salaries and pensions are all on the front burner of the Ikpeazu-led administration. A devout member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Dr. Ikpeazu is a member of the Biochemical Society of Nigeria, the Nigeria Environmental Society and Rotary Club of Eziukwu, Aba. He is happily married to Mrs. Nkechi Okezie Ikpeazu, and the marriage is blessed with four children.

neurial Governor recognised the role that classy hotels will play in encouraging tourist visitors and investors to come to the state, so he charged the contractors to return to the Yola International Hotel site to complete the 5-star hotel project, as well as the Yola Sports

Yola, Numan, Ganye and Mubi. In demonstration of his connectivity to the Organised Private Sector, Governor Bindow Jibrilla has commenced several projects under his Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. One of the key projects

In only three months of his administration, Governor Bindow Ji-

Properties and Estate Limited, and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria

one of the leading contributors of the National Housing Fund. Accordingly, the Bank, he said, was ready to support the NHF contributors in the state to acquire the houses. Furthermore, Governor Bindow Jibrilla saw the need to be creative in gradually overcoming the ravages of Boko Haram. With the progress recorded as a result of the national security response, Governor Bindow Jibrilla has taken steps to push for the return of normalcy in the seven Local Government Areas of Adamawa State that immensely suffered from the insurgency. He regularly visits all the centres hosting the IDPs in the state to motivate the people and monitor their welfare. Governor Bindow Jibrilla has also facilitated many partnerships with international development partners and the corporate world to support him in providing and delivering relief materials. Governor Bindow Jibrilla is strengthening connectivity with the micro, small and medium-scale Enterprises (MSME), and the informal sector of the economy generally. He has launched a N500 million credit package for small and informal entreprevolving loans project. It will lead to the creation of additional 40 entrepreneurs, each taking at least N30,000 credit in each of the 226 political wards in the state. Agriculture is the main socio-economic activity of the people of Adamawa State. To provide support for this critical sector that provides employment and food for the people, Governor Bindow Jibrilla launched a N3.5 billion fertiliser acquisition and supply programme. The administration has also facilitated access to a combined N6 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) credit packages for Women Cooperative societies, MSMEs and also for Agricultural loans in the state. These packages are all strengthening wealth among the citizens of Adamawa State. Governor Bindow Jibrilla has also launched a unique and inbetween the political leadership and the traditional leadership to effectively design, implement, monitor and manage all grassroots projects in the state.

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Nwaokocha Daniel

Has Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;prince finally quit music? have always found a way to beat it to the top and be the best. Her artistes are always up notch and trust Don Jazzy for something; he brings out the best in

outstanding artiste, if not the best. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Mavin Records (also known as the supreme Mavin Dynasty) just as we just established, is a revamped

where he has been or what he has been up to since the compilation album, SOLAR PLEXUS, that the label released on May 8 2012 and his one and only album, business man and a musical production manager, is the younger brother of music mogul and CEO of

Jazzy,came back from the United Kingdom to promote

Curriculum Vitae, which was released in December the aforementioned producer and business partner

Banks, Korede Bello, and the recently joined Poe, Johnny Drill, and the DNA twins. Majority of these artistes have been able to prove themselves in the industry by delivering back to back hit songs that are able to hit the market and take it by storm. On the other move to Mavin Records after the dissolution of MO

nominated for three awards in three years which include 2010 NIGERIAN promising act and Most promising acts

did a pretty good job but unfortunately, the market has moved on and fresh prodigies are storming to take over. ticks before it becomes too late, should should we accept that he has decided to drop his musical career and dabble

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