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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

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VOL. 3

NO. 683

N150

Tramadol importation

Uproar as convict

escapes 5

years jail with N300,000 fine NAFDAC decries weak penalty for drug offenders

Peter Fowoyo and Angela Onwuzoor, Lagos Controversy is now trailing the conviction of a businessman, Ifeanyi Ezeanwu, to five years imprisonment or an option of fine of N300, 000, over importation of a container load of Tramadol and other sex enhancing drugs by a Federal

High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Hadiza RabiuShagari, had reviewed the facts of the charge, following a change of plea by the convict who was arraigned by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) in February 2015, on a one count charge of unlawful importation of the

said drugs.

Ezeanwu had pleaded not guilty when he was first arraigned but, when the case came up at the last adjourned date, he changed his plea to guilty, while the court adjourned the case till Friday for a review of fact and sentence.

Continued on page 4

Rachael Okonkwo:

I want a man that understands the nature of my job g L2 Buhari confirms Daily Times story, exonerates 3 perm secs g4

INEC boss at IPI World Congress, says no electronic balloting in 2019g 5

PDP kicks as DSS arrests Sen Abaribe g 5

Don’t allow politicians to use you, CJN tells judges 4 g

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Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Friday,June May23, 11,2018 2018 Saturday,

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

3

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Uproar as convict escapes 5 years jail with N300,000 fine Continued from page 1 Other banned drugs said to have been imported by the convict include Ibamol tablet of 50 mg, and Heogra tablet of 150 mg.

The offence, according to the prosecution, contravenes the provisions of section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Ptocessed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Act Cap. C34 Law of the Federation 2004.

Reviewing the facts of the case on Friday, the prosecuting lawyer, Mr.

Umar Shamaki, narrated to the court how the convict was arrested by NAFDAC operatives.

Shamaki also tendered several items which including the convict’s confessional statements, samples of banned drugs, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

After the review, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict according to Section 3(1) of NAFDAC Act. Shamaki told the court that the NAFDAC Act prescribed a payment of N500, 000 fine, or a prison

term not less than five years and not more than 15 years.

Meanwhile, lawyer to the convict, Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, pleaded with the court, to be lenient in sentencing the accused, as he was a first time offender.

But Justice RabiuShagari, in her verdict held that: “the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, especially, as there is no other way of proving a case than self-admittance”.

She, consequently, convicted and sentenced the convict to a term of five years imprisonment or an

option of fine of N300, 000 from the date of arrest.

But analysts have decried the latest judgement, saying that the development has showcased the need to review the law for drug offenders in the country and also support the recent call by NAFDAC for a stiffer penalty for drug offenders.

The Director - General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, had on Monday during an interview with journalists in Abuja, proposed stiffer penalty for drug counterfeiters in the country to serve as

Buhari confirms Daily Times story, exonerates 3 perm secs Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the appointment of three Permanent Secretaries - Mrs. Ibukun Abimbola Odusote, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele and Mrs. Fatima Binta Bamidele, who have not been posted since November 2015 should not be terminated in view of the fact that allegations against them could not be proven.

The Daily Times had exclusively reported on Thursday, June 14, 2018 that the three permanent secretaries were yet to be posted since 2015 in spite of the fact that there was no prima facie case against them The President gave

this directive on Friday while considering the recommendations of the Federal Service Management Committee and that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Buhari also noted Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, who recently retired from the Service upon the attainment of the mandatory age of 60 years and wished her well in retirement.

The President, however,

stated that the careers of the remaining two Permanent Secretaries - Mrs. Ibukun Abimbola Odusote, and Mrs. Nkechi Ejele must not be terminated on account of unproven allegation until they are due for retirement.

In his magnanimity and compassion, Mr. President’s directive has now brought to closure the uncertainties surrounding the careers of the permanent secretaries.

The Presidential clean bill for the top civil servants is a further demonstration of the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that no government employee is unduly victimised on account of frivolous allegations and petitions.

New Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), Justice Folashade Ojo (second right); Mr Salman Salman and other guests after her swearing in at the Supreme Court in Abuja ... on Friday.

deterrent to others.

Adeyeye noted that the provision of the law for drug offenders in the country prescribed weak penalty, stressing the need for review of such law.

She said that the agency had presented a bill to the National Assembly demanding for more punitive punishments for those involved in illicit and falsified drugs.

She said, “Fake and illicit drugs kill people and the judgment the offenders usually get is so insignificant when compared to the level of the

offence committed.

“Getting judgment of months or two years’ imprisonment is not enough.

“We must do everything possible to get a law in place that will recommend stiffer penalty for drug counterfeiters.”

Adeyeye noted that food and drugs were too important in human life to toy with.

She pledged that NAFDAC would ensure that those dealing in fake and illicit drugs in the country would not go unpunished.

Don’t allow politicians to use you, CJN warns judges Andrew Orolua, Abuja The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen on Friday urged judges in the country not to allow themselves to be used as tools by politicians to achieve their selfish ends.

Onnoghen sounded the warning while swearing in 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal (JCAs) in Abuja.

He said as judicial officers, they should used the law as it should be used to decide matters that are brought before them, adding that in any matter, one party must win while the other loses.

The CJN said, “Let me emphasized here now that politics is here and election matters will be arising, as judges, things should be done to bring down the temperature.

“We have to be careful so as not to be used as instruments for personal and intraparty squabble .We should use the law to decide all political matters according to law because judiciary remains the last hope of every man whether superman or ordinary man”.

Onnoghen further urged the jurists to abide by the constitution, oath of office and Code of Conduct for judicial officers, as well as adhere strictly to judicial precedence.

The CJN said that when judges do the right things at the right time, they “will sleep and snore and will not care whose ox is gored because judiciary and the law will be there to protect them. Be courageous and fearless in the discharge of your duties.

Onnoghen , however, promised judges who elect to cut corners that they will have sleepless nights because the institution will not shield them but fight and expose them.

He said, “As judicial officers, you carry the whole nation on your head

in terms of justice dispensation and when you adhere to your oath of office, there would be no problem”.

The CJN noted that with the inuaguration of the justices, the Court of Appeal has been enriched with more hands, who have been found worthy and so honoured.

He however, urged them to work hard and help to workload of the court.

“Let me emphasized here that Court of Appeal is not a place for holiday to whom much is given much is expected. Your appointment and inuaguration is not for holiday but an invitation to be hardworking. Your track records are there, but you can improve on them because of the new status and new challenges”, he added.

On the issue of financial autonomy for state judiciary, the CJN remarked that the constitution had already granted that under section 121(3), but that the political will to enforce it has been lacking.

He said, “ Financial autonomy for the judiciary has been there, what has been lacking is the political courage and will to enforce the constitution by past administration“.

Onnoghen emphasized that the independence of the judiciary is the bedrock of democracy, adding that adherence to the rule of law is the solution to our problems.

He stressed that impunity would vanish, when all of us resolved to do the right thing at the right time.

The 12 new JCAs approved for the Court of Appeal are:- Justice Patricia Abuma Mahmud, Justice Folasade Ayodeji Ojo, Justice Ibrahim Ali Andenyangsto ,Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole, Justice Bariki Bello Aliyu, Justice James Gambo Abundaga, Justice Ebiowei Tobi, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba, Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero, Justice Ababakar Mu’azu Lamido and Justice Mohammed Baba Idris.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

5 News

INEC boss at IPI World Congress, says no electronic balloting in 2019 Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has ruled out electronic balloting in 2019 general election, saying that the commission will however continue to deepen the deployment of technology.

Also, about 80 million Nigerians have registered to cast their ballots in elections in the country, although the nationwide voters’ registration exercise is ongoing.

Yakubu disclosed this on Friday at the ongoing 67th World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) taking place in Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The INEC boss made the remarks when he participated in a discussion tagged: “Covering Elections, Advancing Democracy; Endorsing the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage”, at the IPI World Congress, where the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage was adopted by media stakeholders.

He said: “There will be no electronic balloting in 2019, but technology is

already being used in many aspects of the processes.

“Electronic voting should be the ultimate step in a chain involving five processes: electronic voter register, accreditation, balloting, collation and transmission of results.

“At present, the Commission has a more robust voter register than at any time in our history. Accreditation of voters (and storage of accreditation data) is also electronic while we are piloting the electronic collation and transmission of results.

“What remains is to bring these processes into a voting machine to complete the chain.

“I am confident that full automation of our electoral process is only a matter of short period of time.

The INEC Chairman also pointed out that “We are currently inching closer to 80 million voters, although the nationwide voter registration exercise is ongoing. The figure will certainly rise above 80 million registered voters”.

He averred that in 2019 general elections, the largest number of political parties will field candidates, stressing that 68 political parties

are at present registered, while 138 applications from association seeking registration as political parties are being considered, and the number is rising by the day.

Prof Mahood said “there is also increasing determination by marginalised groups such as women, youths and Persons With Disabilities (PWD), for greater participation than ever before and we are working with these groups to facilitate their enrolment in the electoral process”.

He noted that the 2019 elections is the most deliberately well planned

in Nigeria, adding “so far we have formulated, validated and published the strategic plan (2016 – 2021), the strategic plan of action and the Election Project Plan with full participation of all stakeholders and development partners”.

The INEC boss said election dates are no longer matter of conjectures as the Commission has established the principles that “our election will be held on the third Saturday of the month of February of election year, beginning with national elections.”

The INEC Chairman assured of

credible elections in 2019, stating that “I want to assure this Congress that the will of the Nigerian voters will continue to prevail. Nothing but the votes cast by citizens will determine the outcome of elections”.

He reiterated that “the rule of law cannot thrive without free speech.

There cannot be free speech without free press. There cannot be free press without democracy. There cannot be genuine democracy without credible elections. The relationship between an Election Management Body such as INEC and IPI is therefore organic”.

HE COMETH EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR AYOOLA DAVID RILIWAN - CHAIRMAN 2. IJAOLA KOLAWOLE AJANI - SECRETARY 3. IDOWU ADEOLA JAMIU - TREASURER 4. AYOOLA OLUWAFEMI JOSEPH - P.R.O. 5. AYOOLA CHRISTIANAH ABOLUWAPE - MEMBER 6. AKANBI OLADAYO SAMUEL - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2. TO EVANGELISE THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

THE GUIDANCE FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. GINIKACHI UDUMMA IWUDIBIA 2. OSINACHI AGBOTI 3. IWUDIBIA CHIKA KENNEDY 4. SAVAGE AFEEZ AYODEJI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO CHILDREN WITH NO PARENTS EITHER THROUGH JOB REFERRALS OR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. 2. TO PROVIDE WIDOWS WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THEIR BUSINESSES. 3. TO PROVIDE COUNSELING TO WOMEN GOING THROUGH TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. 4. TO ENSURE THAT ORPHANS ARE PROVIDED WITH A FOSTER HOME. 5. TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN EDUCATION ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

CAROL NGOZI

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS CAROL NGOZI IKE -OFUOKWU , NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESS AS CAROL NGOZI OFUOKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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L-R: Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas; Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Abdulahi Sabi; and Chief of Staff to the Senate President Dr. Hakeem Baba- Ahmed, during the National Assembly response to the president Buhari Budget Slashing accusation in Abuja... on Friday.

Photo Temitope Balogun

PDP kicks as DSS arrests Sen Abaribe in Abuja Idu Jude and Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia).

The development came just as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the arrest of Abaribe, saying that there was no justification for the arrest of its senator.

Though no reason was given for Abaribe’s arrest but the development might not be unconnected with the senator’s failure to produce the leader of banned IndigenousPeoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, in court for trial, having stood as surety to Kanu An aide of the lawmaker was said to have stated that Abaribe was picked up in Abuja on Friday morning while attending a function at one of five star Hotels in Abuja.

Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam was also arrested on Thursday by the DSS without

any explanation for his arrest.

But the PDP has demanded the release of Senator Abaribe.

Expressing fear over his safety, the PDP lamented that the Gestapo-style arrest of Abaribe has further confirmed its earlier alarm that the APC-led Federal Government has commenced a total clampdown on the opposition and perceived opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.

The PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who stated this in a statement made available on Friday, said the clampdown on Senator Abaribe is feared to be in furtherance of the moves to intimidate and emasculate members of the National Assembly who are known for their outspokenness against the constitutional violations and misrule of the APC administration.

He said, “The PDP notes that the Federal Government has given no reasons for the arrest and detention of Senator Abaribe, who has been kept incommunicado

without access to his lawyers and associates. “ The party also notes the apprehension of Nigerians following numerous alleged plots by the Federal Government to frame up other lawmakers, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, as well as Senators Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani.

“Nigerians can now see that our dear nation is fast descending into a fascist state where constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech no longer obtains and citizens are marked, arrested and detained on the whims and caprices of those in power”..

The PDP therefore urged the DSS to immediately declare Senator Abaribe’s whereabouts, as well as the charge against him.

According to the opposition party, “the laws of our nation are clear on the process of arrest and prosecution of any citizen and not recourse to clampdown and intimidation.”

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Judge’s withdrawal stalls Innoson Motors boss arraignment

The scheduled arraignment on Friday of Innocent Chukwuma, known popularly as Innoson at an Ikeja Special Offences Court suffered a setback, following the withdrawal of Justice Mojisola Dada from the case.

Chukwuma is the Chief Executive Office of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd. Dada was withdrawn from the case on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), responding to the Feb. 12 petition of the automobile boss.

Innoson’s petition was entitled: “Request to Investigate the

Circumstances Leading to Justice Mojisola Dada of Lagos State High Court Issuing a Bench Warrant Against Chief Innocent Chukwuma and Ordering His Arrest.”

The NJC disclosed that the council in a meeting held on March 9, had absolved Dada of any wrongdoing.

“At the end of deliberation, council did not find any act of misconduct on the part of the judge.

“However, if the case is still pending before Justice M. A. Dada, same will be returned to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge,” the letter, signed

by Mr Ahmed Saleh, the Secretary to the NJC, said.

Sources in the court, who pleaded anonymity, revealed to NAN that following the NJC’s order, the case file had already been returned to Justice Opeyemi Oke, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, for reassignment.

When the latest development came to light, prosecutors from the EFCC and Innoson’s defence counsel had to leave the courtroom, after waiting for over two hours for proceedings to begin.

Following Innoson’s nonappearance in court for the fifth time on May 23, Dada had declared him wanted, following the request of the anti-graft agency.

Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nig. Ltd., were to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretence; obtaining property by false pretence; stealing and forgery in a transaction with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

EFCC alleged that the defendants with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain by false pretence, containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of GTB

from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Apapa, Lagos.

They were alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui O.S.K. and Maersk Lines to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods, which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank, to clear the goods.

The prosecution claimed that the defendants, in order to facilitate the fraud, forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Lines Ltd. and 11007950841 of

PDP defectors causing trouble in A’Ibom APC -Ewang Isaac Job, Uyo

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim commission (NCPC), Rev. Uja Tor Uja (middle) with State’s Chairmen and Secretaries of Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board across the country during the Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers meeting on the new date of Christian Pilgrimage which is taking off on 27th of this month at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

African Child Day: Children face more deprivation, than men, women – Minister Tom Okpe, Abuja

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Jummai Aisha Alhassan has said that children experience more deprivations of their basic needs in the society than men and women saying hunger and poverty remains major concern for the African children.

Hajia Jummai, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday, during a press briefing to commemorate the 2018 day of the African Child at the NAF Center said: “Children are the building blocks of any society so, it is important that their rights are adequately promoted and protected.”

The theme for this year’s celebration as announced by

the African Union, “Leave no child Behind for Africa’s Development” she said builds on the momentum created by the DAC 2017 theme, “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development for Children in Africa: Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunity”, expressing the needs to mainstream children’s rights in all developmental programs implemented by member States.

The Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) instituted the Day of the African Child in 1991 in memory of Students who were massacred in Soweto, South Africa on the 16th of June, 1976 for demanding improved

quality education.

“The day has since been used to remember these children, to celebrate children in Africa so as to inspire sober reflections and action towards addressing various challenges militating against the proper growth and development of the African Child.

“Although Children are the majority of Africa’s population, the rate of child poverty remains high on the continent with about two-third of the children experiencing two or more deprivations of their basic rights and needs.

“Hunger and poverty therefore, remains major concerns for Africa’s children with significant number lacking access to basic life saving services

such as health, education and birth registration,” she said.

Earlier in her remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, noted that the day’s event was to equip the people with necessary information required to create awareness on Children’s issues as it relates to the African Child.

She also said the Ministry in her efforts to promote children participation on issues concerning them, created a platform for children to air their views on issues that affects them using the instrumentality of the Nigeria Children Parliament saying; “The Parliament has been institutionalized both at the national and sub- national levels.”

Mutsui O.S.K. Lines, by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine, to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

Former military administrator of Ogun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Group Captain Sam Ewang (rtd) has blamed the crisis in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party on defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ewang (rtd) said this on Thursday in Uyo, that the new comers are changing the leadership arrangement of executives in the party against the laid down structure, and the agreement reached during the congress.

He said the incident has brought about fresh disagreement in the party and advised stakeholders to remain committed to the 2014 peace agreement reached by the party leadership and not be cowered into towing a different path that could cripple the party.

He said it was important that the party concentrates on sustaining the peace and reconciliation recently reached in preparation for the 2019 general elections, noting that he would not support anything to the contrary.

He said anything to the contrary vowed that he would not support anything else besides the initial decisions which were carefully taken to restore and sustain the needed peace in the state chapter of the party.

“It is good that Nigerians know the truth about what happened in Akwa Ibom state.The agreement reached was that we are going to use the 2014 structure. And another point of agreement was that the state Chairman

and State Secretary will be removed, and that once that was done there is going to be peace.

“And as far as I am concerned the issue of removal of the state chairman and state Secretary and then the use of the 2014 structure were the areas of disagreement, conflict, and negotiations. And we knew some people had left our party to other political parties and that some people had died, so we also agreed that while using the 2014 structure, that only the people who had died and those who left the party will be replaced.

“But after the peaceful congresses I understand that some people went and started changing the 2014 arrangement in different local government and that is not acceptable. People also went ahead and changed the state structure other than removing the Chairman and Secretary which we have done and that is not acceptable.

“Most of the changes done, they changed from the original people and brought in the PDP people. Whatever they did is not acceptable. The truth is the 2014 list.

“They put the state chairman in confusion, and that is why I pity the young man and that is the essence why I have come out to talk now so that he would be in position to know exactly what it is and what to do.

“I have been told that the stakeholders will meet before the party national convention.

When the stakeholders meet, I know they will not differ from what I am saying now,” he stated.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

7 News

Edo Govt embarks on verification of N-Power applicants

Edo State Government has scheduled physical verification for preselected applicants for N-Power Creative, N-Power Tech Hardware and N-Power Tech Software of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme, in the state.

In a statement, the State Focal Person, National Social Investment Programme, Osayuwamen Aladeselu, said “The verification exercise for the pre-selected applicants would commence on Monday, June 25, and end on Friday, June 29.

“The verification exercise would take place across the state at the National Orientation Agency (NOA) offices in all Local Government Secretariats.

“Pre-selected applicants are expected to go to the venue of the verification with originals and photocopies of the following documents: certificate of birth/affidavit, proof of place of residence, academic certificates (minimum of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination), valid Identity Card and passports.”

She stressed that the preselection of the applicants does not translate to final selection.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Minerals, Oil and Gas, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, has warned members of the public over the activities of persons who disguise as representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and

the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) taskforce in the state.

Ugheoke said the State Government was aware of the

illegal activities of the group of persons, adding, “these persons move about from one fuel station to another harassing, intimidating and exploiting marketers and

petroleum tankers along the high way under the guise that they are representatives of the NNPC and IPMAN task force.”

He urged members of the

public to report the activities of the groups to the nearest police station and to the State Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas, in Benin City, for immediate action.

Ugheoke said all relevant security agencies are on alert and would not hesitate in arresting persons or group of persons carrying out the illegal activities.

Windstorm: JED appeals for calm over disruption to power supply

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), has appealed to customers to exercise some patience as it works towards restoring power supply to affected areas following the recent havoc caused by windstorm in the Nigeria Northeastern state of Bauchi and other franchise states.

The havoc affected many electricity poles, wires and meters causing totally blackouts in most parts of the affected

states.

The Company has also assured consumers that despite losing a huge sum in terms of property loss, they would not be billed for the period which the blackout will last.

Speaking to newsmen, the company’s Marketing Director and Investment, Mr. Verr Jirbo said, “we have been able to quickly intervene and restore supply in certain areas but a large portion of the heavily destroyed areas have remained without light but we are moving swiftly to restore power to those

areas and for the period of repairs the affected customers will not be billed.

“Preliminary investigation shows that in Bauchi State alone, over 500 poles, many meters hung on some poles have fallen and broken and distribution networks disrupted but the Company is committed to work to restore power supply to them.

“In the last few days, there have been happenings within the franchise area; heavy rainfall and windstorm which hit our area, left a lot of havoc on the distribution

network; the destruction is massive.

“Customers should not think that the electricity cut off is a planned one. Our team of engineers and technicians are working to ensure things return to normal.

“The public should be informed that a delegation has been sent to affected areas, upgrade and reenforcement are ongoing but can’t be done in a few days.

“With our extent of commitment, funds are needed to procure materials and

deploy personnel to fix the damaged property, these may take a few weeks but we assure that we will not send bills to affected customers until electricity is restored.”

Jirbo said the company had informed all relevant stakeholders, including state governments and traditional leaders on the damage and appealed for understanding from its customers, saying the items lost were capital intensive which would need a lot of funds to procure and deploy personnel to fix them.

ARDI confers anti-corruption Merit Award on Magu Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, received the “Government Agency Excellence Award”, bestowed on him by the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, ARDI. The award was in recognition of his doggedness and commitment to the anticorruption crusade, and for “distinguishing himself in the anti-graft campaign so much so that his name has suddenly become not only a household name, but a catchphrase to remind Nigerians that inasmuch as corruption may fight back, it will never again take the centre state”.

Magu, who was represented

by Ben Ikani, Director, EFCC’s Forensic Evidence Unit, used the opportunity to call for an a”ll inclusive participation in the fight against corruption”.

While appreciating the organizers of the award, for “a role well played in the fight against corruption”, he told the gathering that the EFCC has so far secured over 609 convictions.

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari and President of Zimbabwe Special Envoy, during an audience at the State House.

Photo: Sunday Aghaeze

Kwara Govt to begin rehabilitation of Omu-Aran township roads

Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

Indications has emerged that the Kwara State Government is set to commence rehabilitation work on Omu-Aran Township roads in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

A combined team of officials and engineers from the State Ministry of Work and Transport and Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) were in the community on Thursday to carry out markings and surveying of the roads.

It would be recalled that the state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, had earlier indicated the government’s interest to rehabilitate the roads during the commissioning of a 2.4 kilometer road in the community some months ago.

The said road, which was handled by Nigeria Army Engineers Corps, was initiated

by Hon Funke Adedoyin, a member representing Isin, Ekiti, Irepodun and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency from the State.

Ahmed had disclosed that the cost for the rehabilitation of the roads was already captured in

the 2018 state appropriation.

Efforts toward the rehabilitation of the roads was also re-echoed by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki in a message during the thanksgiving and funeral rite of the late Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, few weeks ago.

Our correspondent who monitored the surveying and markings processes listed the affected roads as Olomu PalaceAgamo roads, Seun-TosinRoundabout road, as well as Taiwo roads in the community.

A member of the team who

preferred anonymity said “work on the rehabilitation of the roads would commence very soon and earlier than expected”.

“The markings and surveying of the roads is a directive from the Commissioner for Work and Transport and Directorgeneral, KWARMA. “I can confirm that the government is set to fulfill it’s promise to get the roads rehabilitated earlier than the expectation of the people,” the source said.

Chief Bisi Adeyemi, President, Omu-Aran

Development Association, (ODA) in a remark, said the association had not relented in putting pressure on the government over the road issue.

“The government had few months ago promised to look into the issue of the deplorable state of the roads.

“We are very grateful for this new development toward getting the roads rehabilitated.

“We are hoping and appealing at the same time to the government to expedite action on its commencement and completion without delay,” Adeyemi added.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Ugwuanyi, best Enugu Gov since 1999 -PFN Moses Oyediran, Enugu

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as the best governor in the State since the return to democracy in 1999.

Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the PFN, Bishop Dr. Godwin Madu, said this shortly after he was inaugurated

alongside 28 others for a second term in office.

Bishop Madu described Gov. Ugwuanyi as “a good man”, who honours and worships God and “believes and recognizes everybody”, declaring that the PFN would do all within her powers to ensure that the governor was re-elected for a second term in office.

Maintaining that Gov.

Ugwuanyi has performed creditably well in office, the Church leader said the governor had “ended all manner of discrimination against some section of Christians”.

According to him, “the PFN was not carried along by the government of Enugu State in the past. But under this very administration, we have not been left behind; everybody is

being treated in Enugu now unlike before.

“I want everyone to ensure that we vote rightly. When we see something good, we need to say keep it up. Enugu State needs to go on and the PFN is saying that Governor Ugwuanyi should go on; we will not disappoint him.

“I plead with everybody here, in case you have not obtained

your PVC, please do, that is your ticket to the voting hall, that is our power for tomorrow.”

In his remark, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ugwuanyi on Religious Matters, Rev. Chinedu Nwoye, who was at the event, assured that the government would continue to treat all the residents of the State with fairness and serve them with the fear of God.

Nigeria, India partner on enhance power generation

Nigeria and India are set to explore opportunities in renewable energy development in line with international agreements signed by both countries, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Nagabhushana Reddy, said on Thursday.

The high commissioner, who made the disclosure at a business meeting in Abuja, said that exploring areas of cooperation in renewable energy would build on existing partnerships between both countries.

Reddy said that Nigeria as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) had indicated the country’s commitment to diversify its energy sources.

ISA, an inter-governmental organisation, aims to provide dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource rich countries and mobilise one trillion dollars in funds for future solar generation, storage and technology across the world.

The alliance, launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015 by the President of France and the Prime Minister of India, sought to increase the use of solar energy and reduce its members’ dependence on fossil fuels.

The ISA Framework of Agreement had been signed by 65 countries and ratified by 33 countries.

The envoy added that the Indian Government was committed to supporting Nigeria in achieving its target of 30 per cent of its energy needs from renewables by 2030.

He said “we are opening a

new chapter of India-Nigeria economic engagement by moving into the power sector relating to renewable energy.

“India had been present in Nigeria in the power sector mostly in the areas of distribution and transmission.”

Reddy said that both countries would sign a Memorandum of Understanding in the renewable sector to create a joint working group to develop projects for enhanced and effective collaboration.

The business meeting, organised by the Indian High

Commission, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was aimed at establishing partnerships among stakeholders in the renewable energy sector.

The President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, called on the Federal Government to harmonise policies on renewable energy.

Kayode also urged government to create single body for the implementation of

relevant policies.

He said “there has to be clarity in policies and we need all the advantages solar power and renewable energy can offer.

“Government should just take the issues of renewable energy and put it in one agency that has multisectoral approach so all other relevant agencies can work together as a team.”

He added that promoting synergy among stakeholders would create jobs and fast track economic development in line with the government’s economic growth plan.

A representative of the Nigerian chapter of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Mr Rajneesh Gupta, said that there were ongoing enlightenment campaigns on promoting renewable energy.

He said “Simba Solar has been educating Nigerians that renewable energy technologies can deliver value.

“We are also providing training to electricians and budding entrepreneurs so more people can key into these technologies to the end users.”

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Messrs Tolu Ibitola; Ayo adeyemi; Deputy Governorship Candidate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; Governorship Candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the State Chairman APC Ekiti State, Chief Jide Awe; listening to the testimonial of one of the beneficiaries of the social security scheme for the elderly citizens of the last Fayemi administration during the campaign in Usi Ekiti…on Thursday.

Mashi becomes Nigeria’s Permanent Rep to World Meteorological Organisation Idu Jude, Abuja N i g e r i a n Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has added another feather to its cap with the election of NiMet DG/CEO, Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi, a permanent representative of Nigeria at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

According to a release by the NiMet in Abuja, the election took place, Wednesday at the Executive Council Seventieth Session (EC70) meeting in the organisation’s headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.

WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations for weather and climate, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences, comprising 192 members charged with the responsibility to formulate policies, scrutinize programmes and give directions on all matters of meteorology.

The Council comprise of 37 members (9 from Africa) representing the 192 members of the WMO. Nigeria is the only Anglophone country representing West Africa on the Executive Council.

Prof. Mashi’s membership of the revered Council will provide an opportunity for Nigeria to access firsthand knowledge of current global issues and apply it into Nigeria situation.

The release explained that the new election will also strengthen multi-lateral and bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and countries worldwide on weather, climate, water, environment and sustainable development.

Nigeria’s membership, which is for four years, will also enable NiMet to strengthen its existing relationship with research and development communities worldwide.

Professor Johnbull: Kanayo presides over Nigeria-Ghana cooking contest Nollywood legend, Kanayo O. Kanayo, in another sizzling episode of Globacomsponsored television drama series,Professor Johnbull, presides over a culinary ‘contest’ between Nigeria and Ghana to underscore the age-old rivalry between the two neighbouring countries.

Entitled Ghana versus Nigeria Jollof, the ‘contest’ is described as “deeper, sharper and silent rivalry” by

KOK, the erudite academic who is also the arrowhead of the situation comedy.

Two Ghanaian star actresses, Martha Ankoma and Salma Mumin, slug it out with Nje (Angela Okorie), Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko) and Jeroboam (Osita Iheme) in a contest to determine which of the two countries has the upper hand in culinary skills and especially in the coking of jollof, an edible mishmash made of rice and other

ingredients and is eaten in a good number of countries in Africa including Nigeria and Ghana.

The episode presents a hilarious bent to the serious ‘contest’ as Flash (Stephen Odimgbe) takes his philandering acumen across the Nigerian border to support his new Ghanaian girlfriend, Ajuwa (Martha Ankoma), while the series’ restaurateur, Olaniyi (Yomi Fash-Lanso), lends

his support to his buxom ‘proximate’, Nje. Viewers will see how Jumoke plays her card in her bid not to lose out completely in the “contest” for the heart of Flash, whom she describes as “a Nigerian jollof, garnished and seasoned for the consumption of Nigerian ladies” Will Salma Mumin convince viewers that her presumption that jollof rice originated from Senegal owing to the homophonic

rendition of Wolof (a tribe in Senegal) and jollof is right after all?

In the same vein, Professor Johnbull queries the basis for the Ghana-Nigeria superiority complex as he insists that tribe and nationality should not prejudge a man or a woman’s ability to make a good spouse or otherwise.

The Executive Producer of the series, Globacom, encouraged viewers to hook

up at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday on DSTV Africa Magic Family and GOTV Channel 2, with repeat broadcast on Thursday at 9.30 p.m. on the cable TV channels and on Anambra Broadcasting Service at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday in order to find out how the popular television academic resolves the culinary competition between Ghana jollof rice and Nigeria jollof rice.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

9 News

NASS to Buhari: We adjusted 2018 Budget to correct geo-political imbalances in projects Tunde Opalana and Henry Omunu, Abuja In swift reaction to President Muhmmau Buhari’s allegation that the 2018 budget may not be implementable as a result of alleged N347 billion cuts in the Appropriation bill by the National Assembly, the legislature on Friday said the adjustments were done in national interest.

Justifying its actions, the National Assembly said adjustments and reductions in the locations, costs and number of projects approved were made in order to address geopolitical imbalances that came with the Executive proposal.

This is as the executive was accused of failure to utilise funds appropriate by the legislature to the Second Niger Bridge in both the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

The National Assembly disclosed that “as of today, there is no existing contract for the Second Niger Bridge in spite of frequent requests from the National Assembly.

This, the lawmakers said, necessitated the N900 million reduction from the N10 billion proposed by the Executive which was deployed to fund ancillary roads that connect to the Bridge, noting that the N12.5 billion and the N7.5 billion appropriated for the Second Niger Bridge in the 2016 and 2017 budget by the National Assembly were never utilised for the project.

President Buhari had on Wednesday during the budget signing ceremony accused the legislature of cuttings amounting to N347 billion which were meant for 4,700 projects.

Addressing a joint press conference at the National Assembly, spokespersons of the two chambers - Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi and Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, stated that the introduction of new projects was done to ensure the promotion of the principles of Federal Character as contained in Section 14, subsection (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which states that “the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria...”

Giving an insight into what transpired during the appropriation process and how decisions that are contained in the 2018 budget were reached, the National Assembly spokespersons blamed the misrepresentation and misgivings on failure of appointees of the President to properly brief him.

They said the number of projects had to be increased “in order to give a sense of belonging to every geo-political zone of the country to ensure socio-economic justice, equity, fairness, and to command national loyalty”.

They backed their actions with the provisions of Sections

4, 80 and 81 of the Constitution, saying everything that the National Assembly has done is within its powers.

“Furthermore, Chapter 2 of the Constitution emphasises the need for balance, inclusivity, and equity in the distribution of national resources. The annual budget, which symbolises the distribution of these resources must reflect the aforementioned values, which we swore to uphold.

“These Constitutional provisions, in addition to a recent Court judgment have affirmed the fact that the budget process is a ‘joint effort’ that must reflect the input of both the executive and the legislature -- the latter being the closest representatives of the people. However, we are fully aware that the Executive has the exclusive responsibility to execute all parts of the Appropriation Act once it is signed into law.

“We took the decision to reduce the funds in some areas in order to ensure balance and equity in the spread and utilisation of our national funds. Additionally, the figures given amounts of the reductions made by the National Assembly were unduly exaggerated as we did not make any substantial reduction on any project to the extent of affecting its implementation”, they stated.

Details of specific projects where deductions were made include the counterpart funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/Ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, LagosIbadan Express Road and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project, reduced by only N3,956,400,290 – which represents only 1.78 % of the total N222,569,335,924 submitted by President Buhari.

This, they argued, left these projects with N218, 612,935,634 which cannot negatively affect their implementation. This obviously contradicts the claim that these projects lost “an aggregate of N11.5 billion”.

“The counterpart funding for 3050mw Mambilla Hydropower Project was reduced from N8.5 billion to N8.2 billion (a reduction of N300 million); “The construction of the Second Niger bridge including access roads phases 2a and 2b in Anambra and Delta states and other projects in the South East were reduced from N10 billion to N9.1 billion (a reduction of N900 million); “The construction of BodoBonny road with a bridge across the Opobo channel in Rivers State was reduced from N10 billion to N8.7 billion (a reduction of N1.3 billion); “The funding for the LagosIbadan Expressway was reduced from N20 billion to N18 billion (a reduction of N2 billion), which would not significantly affect the construction of the road in one appropriation cycle; “The Railway Projects (Counterpart Funds): 1.

Lagos-Kano (ongoing) 2.

Calabar-Lagos (Ongoing) 3.

Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Aladja (Warri) (Ongoing) 4. Port Harcourt-

Buhari

Maiduguri (New) 5. KanoKatsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic (New) 6. Abuja-Itakpe and Aladja (Warri)-Warri Port and Refinery including Warri new Harbour (New) 7.

Bonny deep Sea Port & Port Harcourt of N162, 284,335,924 was retained by the National Assembly as presented by Mr. President.

“The National Assembly increased the aggregate funding for the East-West Road from N11,285,000,000 to N12,085,000,000 because it realised the strategic importance of the road to the entire oil producing areas of our country and the fact that the road project has lingered for too long,” they stated.

In addition, the National Assembly said it allocated an additional N2 billion to the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway project.

This was more than the Executive proposed.

It accused the Federal Executive Council of awarding 15 roads contracts in the implementation of 2017 budget with no budgetary provisions.

The legislators stood by their decision to cut the budget of the FCT by N 7.5 billion because they discovered that in the 2016 and 2017 budget cycles, there was a severe non-performance of the budgetary allocations to

Saraki

the FCT. “During the two years in question, over 50% of the funds that were allocated and released to the FCT were not utilised. These funds were ultimately returned to the treasury. Hence, in order to ensure that scarce resources were allocated in accordance to ‘needs over wants’, funding for the FCT which has historically been under-utilised were allocated to other MDAs that have demonstrated the capacity to implement their allocation for the development of the nation and its people. It was part of the allocation that we spread over the roads for which contracts were awarded with no budgetary allocation”, the lawmakers said.

The National Assembly as well discovered that out of the N2 billion contract for the Enugu Terminal Building, N1.7 billion had already been paid to the contractor and what is left to complete this project is just N300 million. Hence, the National Assembly approved N500 million for the project.

This , they said, was contrary to claim by the President that the provision for construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport was cut from N2 billion to N500 million and that this will further delay the completion of this critical

project.

Thus, based on agreement between the National Assembly and the Executive as represented by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the additional revenues were allocated among the three arms of government.

“It is therefore very clear that the three arms of government benefited from the increase which was mutually agreed on with the Ministry of Budget and Planning. In fact, we have correspondences addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly from Ministry of Budget making requests on how to spread the increment arising from the Benchmark differentials,” the lawmakers said.

Commenting on National Assembly budget, the legislators said the N139.5 billion budget of the National Assembly represents less than 1.5percent of the entire N9 trillion budget. “Does it not make sense to use 1.5 percent to protect the other 98.5percent?” they quipped.

“The public should note that this increase in the legislature’s budget was also necessitated by the drastic inflation of the last four years; the need to rehabilitate the National Assembly’s deteriorating facilities, like

the elevators which shutdown almost weekly; spending hundreds of millions to procure diesel to constantly power the entire complex; and the need to immediately upgrade the security facilities of the complex. It is important to point out at this juncture that the collapse of the CCTV system facilitated the mace theft in April”.

In conclusion, the parluament said all additional 24 projects costing N245, 512,325,726 was appropriated for by the National Assembly due to the increase in the benchmark price of oil after full consultations, and in many cases, requests by the Executive branch through the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

To ensure that all Capital Projects in the 2018 budget receive their necessary financing in the 2018 budget, the legislature called on Mr. President to present the borrowing plan to the National Assembly for approval.

The National Assembly, therefore, urged all Executive appointees to ensure that they brief Mr. President with the truth and facts of their engagement, to promote healthy and harmonious relationships between the Executive and the Legislature.

Presidency clarifies on 2918 budget distortion by NASS Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Presidency has given clarification on the distorted 2018 budget, insisting that the National Assembly erred in its actions.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Friday said that sequel to the response of the National Assembly justifying its distortion of the 2018 Budget, the clarifications have become necessary.

The Presidency said that throughout the budget consideration process the executive, through the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, was in touch with the National Assembly.

It said that the executive was approached by the National Assembly who indicated that they intended to increase the

benchmark price by US$5, from US$45 to US$50. Out of the US$5 increase the National Assembly informed the Executive that they intended to utilize US$2 (amounting to about N170 billion) for projects selected by themselves. They asked the Executive to suggest important projects that could be accommodated with the funds arising from the balance of US$3.

According to Femi, after some consideration, the Executive was of the view that an increase in the benchmark price of crude oil to US$50 was not unrealistic and the President decided to accept this in the spirit of compromise required for a successful budget exercise.

He explained that the executive had, in that spirit, suggested that from the additional funds arising out of

the US$3 increase, $1.25 from the increase should not be appropriated as expenditure, but utilized to reduce the deficit in the budget.

Adesina said, “The Executive therefore restricted itself to submitting, for the consideration of the National Assembly, important items that could be funded from US$1.75 of the US$3 increase.

NASS eventually raised the benchmark price to US$51, apparently to accommodate the additional allocations to Health and NDDC. The Executive is therefore surprised that with an additional sum of N170 billion available for the National Assembly to spend on Constituency Projects, together with the sum of N100 billion , already provided for in the Budget, that the National Assembly should feel

it necessary to cut allocations to important national projects, and thereby distort the Budget, in order to further increase their allocation for Constituency projects. How much is enough!,” he stated.

He added that “the President’s position is clear from paragraph 12k of the President’s speech, where he said “About 70 new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly”.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

I won’t dump PDP if I lose presidential ticket, says Atiku Tunde Opalana, Abuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just as he vowed not to jump ship should he fail to clinch the party’ presidential ticket.

This was coming from the presidential hopeful as he expressed confidence in the present leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Prince Uche Secondus who he described as ‘total chairman’.

Atiku , who was at PDP National Secretariat on Friday to formally inform the party leadership of his presidential ambition, however called for transparent primary.

He commended the party for the transparent in the electoral process of the governorship election in Ekiti State, but noted that if “the feat recorded during the governorship primary in Ekiti State is repeated in other primaries that will come, the party is destined to reclaim its role and retrieve power.

He said the development was a departure from the way and manner primaries were conducted by the party in the past, adding that “with the precedent you have set, we are on our way to reclaiming power in 2019”.

He said his visit to PDP national secretariat was to intimate the party leadership with his desire to seek the presidential ticket of the party .

Atiku said, “I am here to

put you on notice and I believe that I should do this before reaching out to other organs of the party.

“I want thank you and look forward to working with you. Whether as presidential candidate or not, you can always expect me to fulfil my obligations as a loyal member.”

In his remark, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche

Secondus assured Atiku of free and fair transparent party primary while stating that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) is working to rebrand and reposition the party.

He said, “We have removed all those impediments of imposition, of impunity, from the dictionary of the National Headquarters of our party.

“Your Excellency, I promise you that there will be free, fair, transparent primaries. And as you noted that we did well in Ekiti State, we will do more because we have no choice, so as to restore the confidence of Nigerians because Nigerians are yearning for the return of PDP. And the best we can offer is to be free and fair to all aspirants.

“Your Excellency, the National Working Committee will conduct all elective primaries that will be acceptable because this country is at the brink of collapse.

The PDP chairman, however, warned the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against rigging the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election.

Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi; greeting chiefs and party supporters at the party’s campaign in Usi Ekiti, during the party’s tour of Ido Osi LGA…on Thursday

Buhari makes 9 new appointments Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the renewal of the tenure of three Chief Executive Officers, and four new Non-Executive Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and two new Chief Executive Officers for some federal agencies.

Olusegun A. Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation made the announced

the appointments on Friday, in Abuja.

The renewed appointments are: Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Dr. Ogbonnia Ibe-Enwo, Rector, Second and final term of Four years, with effect from 7th August,2018; Arc. Olusegun Olarenwaju Aluko, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, IIaro, Ogun State Second and final term of Four (4) years, with effect from 25th September, 2018.

Others include: Engr. (Prof)

Sunday Ohousi Onohaebi, Rector, National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State, Second and final term of Four years, with effect from 25th July, 2018.

The new appointments are: Adeola Adetunji Non-Executive Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), initial period of four years with effect from 7th June, 2018; Prof. Mike I. Obadan, Non-Executive Director of the CBN, initial period of four years with effect

from 7th June, 2018; Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko, Non-Executive Director of the CBN , initial period of four years, with effect from 7th June, 2018 and Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo, Non-Executive Director of the CBN, initial period of four (4) years, with effect from 7th June, 2018.

For the federal agencies: Prof. Abdullahi Dasilva Yusuf, Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, initial period of four

years, with effect from 19th June, 2018; and Eha-Amufu, Enugu State Dr. (Mrs) Pauline N. Ikwuegbu, Provost, Federal College of Education, initial period of four years, with effect from 19th March, 2018.

The President urged the new appointees to regard their appointments as a call to national service and to carry out their responsibilities with uprightness, diligence and prompt response to the yearnings of the public.

Smuggling: Rice farmers laud FG’s plans to close border Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) on Friday commended Federal Government for its plans to close Nigeria’s border with a neighbouring country to stop rice importation through the land borders.

Mr Segun Atho, the SouthWest Coordinator of RIFAN, conveyed the commendation

in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He noted that the indiscriminate importation of rice through the land borders had been increasing worrisome; particularly due to the fact most of the rice importers were smugglers who evaded the payment of customs duty.

He said that the proposed policy would boost local production of rice, adding that it would signal a new lease of life for local rice producers.

He said that the act would also encourage the establishment of more rice plantations and mills across the country.

“We need to appreciate the

activities of rice farmers across the country; this is a right step in the right direction and the farmers are very happy about it.

“The nascent policy will encourage rice farmers to double their production because we are up to the tasks ahead.

“We are hopeful that this

decision by the government will also encourage new entrants into rice cultivation,’’ he said.

Atho, however, urged the Federal Government to give more incentives to rice farmers so as to encourage them to produce more and meet the increasing demand for rice by the citizens.

NURTW, NDLEA partner to stop illicit drug consumption Secretary, National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Olugbade Olagunju, in FCT, says it is partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the campaign against illegal drug consumption.

Olagunju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Friday in Abuja, that the campaign would begin in Jabi Motor Park before it would move to other motor parks in the FCT. He noted that the campaign was part of the NURTW objectives, adding that the collaboration would also assist in checking illegal activities in the area.

Olagunju said that the NDLEA had been assisting the park in the campaign against drug abuse by organising workshops to educate drivers on the dangers associated with drug abuse.

“What NDLEA is projecting has been helping us in the park; it has been beneficial to both our drivers as well as people within the park.

“We have more than 800 drivers in the park and we cannot control such crowd alone; NDLEA conducted a workshop to that effect in the motor park and we do not intend to stop the exercise.

“The union is also planning to organise more workshops for our drivers because we love our passengers,’’ he said.

Olagunju said that the union was aware that commercial drivers took prohibited drugs, adding that the drivers in Jabi Motor Park would not indulge in such acts.

“We don’t allow sales of alcohol and illegal drugs within the park; we value our passengers so much that if we discover that our drivers are into such, we hand them over to the NDLEA, and they will be taken to rehabilitation centres.

“We also conduct thorough checks on our drivers before they move out of the park so as not to put the lives of the passengers in danger,’’ Olagunju said.

He said the management would continue to ensure that prohibited substances were not brought to the park or any place nearby.

He also noted that negligence and illegal drug consumption were among the major causes of road accidents.

The secretary, however, appealed to the government to upgrade the park, adding that it had been abandoned for more than 15 years.

According to him, the FCT, especially the Abuja Municipal Area Council, should upgrade the park.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

11 News

FCT Minister advises land owners against encroachment, double allocation

Idu Jude, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has advised land title holders in FCT to come regularise their parcels of land by processing their titles.

Bello, said this is one way of safeguarding such titles

against encroachments or inadvertent reallocations.

He made the call when his Ministry of Interior Counterpart, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rtd) paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday.

He disclosed that FCT Administration was working to recover all lands in Abuja that were

originally designated for Ministries and Agencies in the Abuja master-plan but were unwittingly allocated for other purposes in the FCT. His words: “With respect to allocation of land to Ministry of Interior and many other ministries that are not housed in the main secretariat, we are working at the areas at the

Ahmadu Bello and Shehu Shagari ways, especially trying to identify land within the designated areas that were originally meant for Ministries but over the years were inadvertently allocated for other purposes.

Wherever it is practical and possible, we will try to recover these lands.”

The FCT Minister

also indicated that the FCT Administration is also trying to revive the project for the expansion of the Federal Secretariat to provide befitting office accommodation for other ministries that are not housed in the main secretariat.

Earlier in his remark, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman

2019 guber: Maikaya, pledges to continue Al-Makura’s programmes if elected Augustine Kuza, Lafia All Progressive Congress (APC), g o ve r n o r s h i p aspirant in Narawa State, Mohammed Musa Maikaya, has said that he will continue with the development strides of incumbent Governor Tanko

Almakura, if elected the state governor next year.

Maikaya, who fielded questions from our correspondent in his home town Toto, the headquarter of Toto Local Government Council, during the naming ceremony of his new borne baby, said “I am entice by the Governor Tanko

Almakura’s infrastructural developmental projects which I will consolidates on if elected.’’

He said that he would lift Nasarawa state to become a world class tourism hub as the state is highly endowed with tourism potentials in the likes of Farin Ruwa

Water Falls, Awe and Keana traditional salt mines, Andaha Hills, Umasha fishing festival among other chain of sites and attractions across the state.

In addition he said that he also leverage on the mineral resources potential of the state to boost the economy.

According to him “as part of my humanitarian services, I will use part of my salaries to funding the less privilege in schools, supporting indigent women.’’

Commenting on security, the aspirant said he would develop programmes that would foster peace and harmony in the state.

Vice Chairman, Edo State Private Property Protection Taskforce, Chief Osaro Idah (2nd left); Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Cabinet and Special Services, Mrs. Olatunji Juliet (right), during a press briefing over the arrest of alleged land grabber, Efosa Omoruyi alias Egbowo of Evbuodia Community in Iyekogba.

Danbazau, urged the FCT Administration to have a closer look at the small markets that are springing up around the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the FCT, saying some of the markets have been turned to platforms for sale of dangerous and prohibited drugs.

“Some of them will claim they are IDPs from the Northeast; of course, there is need for us to accommodate these displaced persons but we have to do it in a way that it does not have negative consequences on security. I thought I should seize this opportunity to bring it up so that we can put heads together and know precisely how to deal with the situation,” he said.

Speaking on the Old Secretariat building housing his Ministry of Interior, Danbazzau said, the Ministry is looking for a befitting area to erect a new Ministry Secretariat that would reflect the image and importance of the Ministry. The Ministry he said warehouses the five major paramilitary organizations charged with the responsibility of maintaining the internal security and public safety in the country. He hoped that they should be properly accommodated to perform their functions effectively.

“We’ve tried everything we can do on our own to renovate the old building. We have carried out an extension from the main building with the permission of the FCTA, which we are still working on.

Still it’s an area that we thought we should be able to relocate. We want to make that request for land for a new secretariat,’’ he said.

‘A’Ibom Govt caring for 800 orphans, vulnerable children’ Isaac Job, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Government has said that it is currently taking care of over 800 orphans and vulnerable children in 5 orphanage homes owned by government in fulfillment of welfare service delivery to citizens in the state.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Edet, who addressed women in uyo

to mark the 2018 International Day of the African Child, also disclosed that the state government is supporting women to take care of their children through the provision of loans and grants.

“The state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare is caring for over eight hundred orphans and vulnerable children in the five government homes.

“It is also giving loans

and grants to our women to help them take care of their children”.

She explained that the essence of the event was to remember the protestation of the South African apartheid educational system in 1976, which culminated in the death of several children.

The commissioner also emphasized that the day provided an opportunity for the African continent to reflect on the agony and sufferings

of the children with a view to consolidating efforts towards addressing the challenges.

She pointed out that the Child Right’s Law that was domesticated in 2008 is to principally protect children from anything that may militate against their safety, survival and right to maximize their God given potentials.

Edet commended the state governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom for sustaining the free and compulsory basic

education in public schools and for putting in place policies and programmes that impact on the lives of children in the state in different dimensions.

While commending Mr. Emmanuel for providing free health care services to children below five years old, she also showered encomiums on the Governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel for her unrelenting efforts in caring and providing for children in the state.

In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Margaret Edem thanked the children who attended the event and charged them to be involved in the fight against child abuse by reporting cases of abuse, stressing that their involvement will go a long way in reducing the scourge.

The theme of this year’s International Day of the African Child is ‘Leave no child behind for Africa’s development.

12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday June 23, 2018

Politics

PDP faults detention of Suswam, says action undemocratic The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC), government that nobody can replace the nation’s democracy with autocracy.

The party also warned the Federal Government to exercise caution over its plan to establish cattle ranches in some parts of the country.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan lamented that the nation has fallen into a perilous time.

He said: “Today, our dear nation, Nigeria, has finally fallen into a perilous time! There are fears and trepidation everywhere. The safety, personal freedom and well¬being of Nigerians, particularly, opposition members are no longer guaranteed.

Kola said that the clamp¬down has already started, adding that “only yesterday, we were made aware of the arrest and detention of former Benue State governor, Hon. Gabriel Suswan who has been kept incommunicado without access to his lawyers, while the Federal Government is not forthcoming with the details of the reasons behind the arrest and detention.”

The spokesman explained that Suswan’s arrest and detention is intended to put him out of circulation, “so that he will not take part in the mega meetings of our party planned for the North Central states.”

Kola Ologbondiyan Speaking on the explosives discovered in Ebonyi State PDP secretariat, Kola said that it was either planted to blow up “our secretariat and kill our members or to set up our leaders.

“These attacks, threats and intimidation targeted at influential

Suswam Nigerians, particularly, past leaders, show clearly that the APC and the Buhari Presidency are very scared of their inevitable defeat in the 2019 general elections and now seek to apply all machinations to overheat the polity and ostensibly frustrate the process.”

The statement further charged the federal government to exercise caution over its plan to establish cattle ranches in some parts of the country and hold enough consultations, so as not to escalate the same problems it claims to be addressing.

Don’t go near Ajimobi , APC Unity Forum warns members A faction within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Unity Forum, has distanced itself from an alleged romance between Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state and some of its members in a suspected bid by the governor’s camp to break into its rank and prevent planned mass defection of aggrieved members from APC. Unity Forum in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Olawale Sadare, a copy which was obtained by newsmen on Friday described the alleged efforts by Ajimobi to buy over some people from its fold as “amounting to colossal waste of time and resources which ordinarily should have been channeled to righting some wrongs in the seven years” of what he described as deceitful and corrupt leadership in the state.

Sadare said, “We have been inundated with reports of some private individuals being patronised by the

governor’s SENACO faction with a view to using them to weaken Unity Forum’s formidable structures through heavy financial inducement and political patronage. This, to us, is another exercise in futility as no unscrupulous elements can reverse the decision of the majority to abandon the sinking boat of APC in Oyo State.

“The resolve was a bottom-up phenomenon facilitated by the unparalleled despotic leadership of an individual, and the same person has never shown remorse for his lack of sincerity and respect for democratic ethos till date. Therefore, believing that by dangling some carrots at few vulnerable persons, if at all they exist in our Forum, in order to compromise them would spell further doom for the sponsor(s) of the plan.

“For us, that day the national leadership of APC rubber stamped a globally acknowledged fraudulent state executive committee backed by Mr

Ajimobi marked our final exit from the discredited party and we are using this opportunity to reiterate that we are done with APC while our new political party would be made public early next week.”

Sadare added that the forum expressed its satisfaction with the turnout of event from its teeming faithful and members of the general public since it announced the decision to quit the ruling party while it assured that the quality of aspirants in its fold signaled a better future for the state.

He said, “The spontaneous show of numerical strength by our members across the 33 local government areas as well as overwhelming support received so far from the people of the state including eminent personalities, traditional rulers, organised labour unions, students, among others, shall keep us going until we return good, responsive and purposeful governance to the state in 2019 with the arrays of quality aspirants we are blessed with.”

Gov Ajimobi

2019: Beware of deceptive politicians, PFN cautions Nigerians As the nation inch towards the 2019 general election, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has advised Nigerians to be wary of deceptive politicians.

Chairman of the PFN, Enugu State chapter, Bishop Dr. Godwin Madu, who made this call during the inauguration of the State officers of the Christian group, said this was not time for a game of change.

Bishop Madu who was re-elected alongside a 29-member executive of the body to serve for another four years, asked Nigerians to ignore the assertion that politics is a dirty game, saying, “Let us not make the mistake of saying that politics is a dirty game, when your cloth is dirty you take it to the laundry house, if politics is dirty, let us become a laundry house, that is the truth and the reality.

“There was a statement made by late Michael Okpara, ‘First fool no be fool, second fool na him be proper foolish’.

“So, we have played a game of change in the past, now let us be wise, you must not hear everything from me, but let us work and make sure we reposition the nation and reposition the state.

“We are into critical security situation in the country and that is why we have to be very careful in our choices.

“Let us not sell our credibility through vegetable gifts. I maintain that the government is not the problem, the church is the problem. If we are able to stand, we are not to run to government, government will come to us.

“I plead with everybody here, in case you have not obtained your PVC, please do, that is your ticket to the voting hall, that is our power for tomorrow.”

Madu, however, said the PFN would do all within their powers to ensure the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who he said had ended all manner of discrimination against some section of Christians.

“In Enugu State, the governor is a good man, we have a governor that believes in everybody, that recognises everybody.

“The PFN was not carried along by the government of Enugu State in the past, but under this very administration, we have not been left behind.

“I want everyone to ensure that we vote rightly, when we see something good, we need to say keep it up.

Enugu State needs to go on and the PFN is saying that Governor Ugwuanyi should go on; we will not disappoint him,” he further stated.

Meanwhile, Rev. Chinedu Nwoye, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ugwuanyi on religious matters, who was at the event, assured that the government would continue to treat all residents of the state with fairness.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

APC Convention: I’m not aware of any ‘Unity list’ – Ndoma-Egba The Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention Central Planning Committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said he was not aware of the existence of a ‘Unity list’ for the party’s convention holding today in Abuja, where new national officers are expected to emerge.

There have been growing concerns among the APC members over a purported list of preferred aspirants for the various elective positions, said to have been put up by some key stakeholders in the party. It was reported that the APC governors were going to meet to ratify the ‘Unity list’.

However, the convention committee scribe assured that there was no cause for worry as a level playing field will be created for all the contestants at the convention.

Ndoma-Egba, in a chat with newsmen, said in fulfillment of its mandate, the committee was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure a transparent and hitch-free process that will lead to the emergence of new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party.

“I am not aware of any such list. The committee has nothing to do with any such list. Our business and mandate is to ensure a successful convention by conducting a transparent exercise that will be acceptable to all. And that is exactly what we are set to do. We are determined to deliver a credible and transparent elective convention for our great party,” Ndoma-Egba declared.

According to him, the 7,200

Senator Ndoma-Egba

delegates coming for the convention from the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will decide the fate of the contestants for the various offices.

He added that out of the 65 contenders for the various offices, 20 of them are running unopposed, while 45 others will be slugging it out for the remaining positions.

A member of the Publicity Subcommittee of the National Convention Committee, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,

had also told journalists in Abuja that the alleged ‘Unity list’ is fake. She was quoted as saying: “And we hear of the existence of a unity list. This is not true, there is no unity list. But of course consensus is allowed, affirmation is allowed. And of course as I said, some people are running unopposed.

There’s no such list as Unity list, if you see any, it is a fake list. The election will be held, and it will be free, fair and credible.”

2019: Group trains Lagos residents on registration, PVC collection Benjamin Omoike Ahead of the 2019 elections, the Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Vanguard, has organised a training session for Lagos residents in Badagry and Ikeja divisions of the state, to train the people on the importance of the ongoing voters registration exercise and Permanent Voters Card (PVC), in the forthcoming 2019 general elections .

The state coordinator of the group, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade, who disclosed this to journalists; said the group is canvassing for five million votes for the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for his re-election in the 2019 gubernatorial election.

He commended the governor’s total dedication to duty, saying his enormous developmental projects, and his desire to make the state a better place to live in, had endeared him to the people.

“Gov. Ambode’s unimaginable performance and commendable zeal for developmental projects have been visible in every nook and cranny of the state, especially in

Badagry division.

“In this division, you have all benefitted in the programmes and policies of the Governor Ambode led-administration. This is why we must all support his re-election so that he can continue to make our division and Lagos an enviable state,” he said.

Bamigbade urged residents to be part of the continuous voter registration being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“You have to register as a voter to be eligible to vote. We must take it seriously to make sure our names are in the voters register. Go to the polling centre to collect your PVC. “I am calling on residents in Badagry division to enrol en masse and be in a position to vote in credible candidates such as Governor Ambode with the tagged five million votes. It is our collective civic responsibility,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Sunny Ajose, noted that Ambode’s performance had

made the state a reference point in Nigeria.

“Talk about commerce and industry, good health care delivery, good roads across the state, quality education and prompt payment of workers’ salaries and arrears, Ambode has simply been fantastic,” he said.

Gov Ambode

13 Politics

2018 budget: Ijaw youths attack NASS, tells Buhari what to do The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has accused the National Assembly of being selfish by reducing the budget allocations to developmental projects in the country.

While assenting to the 2018 appropriation bill during the week, President Muhammadu Buhari had alerted Nigerians that it would be difficult for the purpose of the budget to be achieved due to some changes made by the National Assembly.

The changes include the slashing of fund allocated to construction of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the East-West Road.

IYC wondered why the lawmakers would increase their own funds while reducing that meant for development of the country.

The youths recalled that a similar reduction in allocations to developmental projects was done under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that it led to the noncompletion of the East-West Road.

The IYC, in a statement on Thursday by its President, Eric Omare, said, “We consider the action of the National Assembly as insensitive and retrogressive to the development of the country. It

is utter selfishness for the National Assembly to reduce funds allocated to key developmental initiatives and increase its budget.”

He recalled that “the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Delta State was one of the agreements reached between the leaders of the Niger Delta and the Federal Government to ensure peace in the region.”

According to the Ijaw youths, it was in furtherance of the agreement that N5bn was budgeted for the establishment of the university.

The youths demanded that Buhari sends a supplementary budget to the National Assembly without further delay, to enable it to correct the anomaly in the interest of the Niger Delta.

He said, “The IYC is compelled to ask if the members of the National Assembly were elected to serve the interest of the generality of Nigerians or their personal interest.

“There is no single reason why members of the National Assembly would reduce funds allocated for key projects such as the Maritime University, East- West Road, Mambilla Power Project and the completion of Enugu International Airport and increase their own budget. This is to say the least condemnable.”

Herdsmen: Sen Owie warns Buhari against using Nigeria’s money for ranches A former Chief whip of the Senate, and chieftain of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Senator Rowland Owie, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari against using public funds to build cattle ranches in the country.

The ADP chieftain said cattle rearing remain a private business and it would be illegal for the President to spend taxpayers’ money to set up ranches.

Owie, who is also the chairman, National Contact Committee of the ADP, further admonished that, “The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government should also perish the idea of establishing ranches in states. Cattle rearing is a private business and those involved in that business should sort themselves out and government funds must not be used for it.”

Reacting to the comment by the President that the budget will be difficult to implement, after he accused the National Assembly of inserting N578billion into the budget, he said the President should not expect the National Assembly to always do his bidding since it was an independent body

outside the Executive.

According to Owie, “I wish to call on a few democrats that are still in the APC to tell President Buhari that the National Assembly is never and can never be a rubber stamp Assembly and that the President be tutored on the difference between Supreme Military Council and the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly in a democracy.”

Senator Rowland Owie

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Life & Times

Rachael Okonkwo:

I want a man that understands the nature of my job Nollywood actress, Nnenna Rachael Okonkwo is famous for her role in Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, a movie series which has run up to six parts. Born in Enugu State, Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, as she is popularly called, began her journey into the movie industry in 2005.

In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, she recalls her journey into the Nollywood, her ideal man and why the movie industry needs more funding amongst others. Enjoy…

How did you journey into Nollywood begin?

I joined Nollywood in 2005. I acted about 7 movies and stopped because the experience was terrible. I then joined the music industry as a dancer. I danced and danced until people started calling me ‘ote egwu’ because I appeared in most gospel music videos in the market then. I went back to Nollywood and continued acting until the movie Nkoli Nwa Nsukka came and gave me the breakthrough.

Aside movies what else do you do?

Property management. I buy and sell properties.

How was your growing up days like?

My growing up was not rosy at all probably due to the early demise of my father. I hawked corn, groundnut and did other menial jobs just to survive and help my family. But I never lost focus.

Did you foresee yourself becoming this popular?

Not really even though I

always believed in myself. I must confess the fame actually took me unaware. I give God all the glory.

Can you share one your best moments as an actress?

One of my best moments as Nkoli Nwa Nsukka was when we were shooting Nkoli Nwa Nsukka season 5 & 6. We got to a location and people did not allow me to shoot because they saw Nkoli Nwa Nsukka. I never knew I had become that popular.

In fact, I ran back inside the car and started crying though it was actually tears of joy.

Were your parents in support?

I lost my father at the age of 13.

My mother did not support my acting career initially because she felt I was not on the right track. But after I disappointed her expectation, she became my biggest fan and supporter. Her prayers and that of my siblings and fans keep me going.

How do you deal with stubborn male fans?

I try to manage them very well because I see them as my well

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

15 Life & Times

wishers. Without people like them, we won’t feel appreciated. God will always bless my fans them for me.

Any embarrassing moment with a fan you can’t forget?

Yes o. I came out of my car to inquire something from someone and on noticing I was the one , the young man jumped up and kissed me right on my lips. And this happened in traffic; so, many people saw it. I can’t forget that day in a hurry.

I felt so embarrassed that I felt like disappearing from there. Na one of those things sha.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by God, kids and love for humanity. Nothing gives me joy like touching lives positively.

Can you tell us about your last event?

It is called Nkoli Nwa Nsukka Children’s Easter Carnival. It is a means I have chosen to give back to the society after all that God has been doing for me. It’s actually a big carnival where we have not less than 20,000 kids in attendance. I have thousands of gifts for the kids such as bicycles, school bags, food items, clothes, books and other writing materials etc.

So it’s actually meant for children alone?

Yes but because their parents and siblings normally bring them to the arena, they all join and together we have fun and virtually everyone in attendance goes home with gift items.

Seems you love kids a lot, how many do you plan having?

As many as God gives me.

When should we expect the wedding bells to ring?

As soon as ‘Oyom’ is ready for us to walk down the aisle (laughs).

Are you currently in a serious relationship?

Yes. What’s your ideal kind of man?

A man that understands me more than all the men in the world. (Laughs). A man that understands the nature of my job is hard working and has the fear of God in him. And of course no man is perfect but kudos to those that try.

Do you plan to go into movie production?

Yes but not anytime soon. Right time, I want to concentrate on my acting career and so far so good with it.

What makes Rachael different from other Nollywood actresses?

She doesn’t try to be like anyone else. She believes in the uniqueness of man and wishes everyone well because she doesn’t believe in competition.

Who are those actresses you were looking up to before you joined the industry?

I looked up to Genevieve and still look up to her because she has lasted in the industry and is still holding it down. She is indeed an icon. I love and respect Tonto Dike very much. She is strong and passionate about her career. I can’t forget her words of encouragement the first time I worked with her. Funke Akindele is another actress I admire so much. She is in her own world and I respect her for that. Angelina Jolie is a role model too.

y r t s u d n i e i v o Why m s r o t s e v n i e r o m needs onkwo k O l e a h c a R s s e r t c -A Did you ever encounter sexual harassment at your early stage?

No, I have not. It is not the way people talk about it.

What makes you cry?

Worship songs because they remind me of God’s goodness in my life. I can be so emotional with such songs.

Have you ever been heartbroken?

Yes. How did you deal with it?

I picked up the pieces of my heart and moved on (laughs). You know how it feels watching someone you so much cherish

leave you probably for another girl but thank God someone better has taken the place.

What do you think should be done to take Nollywood higher?

We need more investors. Funding has been a major challenge. Marketing is another challenge but with proper funding and monitoring of the market, we can take the industry to the next level. Shout out to those who have remained steadfast in the game. The industry keeps getting better by the day.

What has fame deprived you?

Privacy though I still try to be the same old me.

16

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Society Gist Mrs. Aishat Dania Ogieriahki gives back @50 In a bid to give back to the society, Mrs. Aishat Dania Ogieriahki, the founder, Blue Baby Support Initiative on 16th of June 2018 feed the destitute in Ibadan. The 3-in-1 event was graced by top personalities from all spheres of life. The stylish lady with large heart was full of joy not only because she clocked the golden age but for her uncommon favour. It will interest you to know that, the amiable London based humanitarian was blessed with the fruit of the womb after several years of delay. While she was pregnant, the circumstance that surrounded the birth was

Chartered Institute of Public Resources, Management and Politics honours Agbeyo Stories by Isaac Oguntoye

On Tuesday 19th of June, 2018, the amiable entrepreneur, Dr. Babatope Agbeyo, the chairman of Confield Group, a world class business conglomerate with unique and excellent brands played host to, Mr. Babatunde Akinsanya, the Vice President of Chartered Institute of Public Resources, Management and Politics (Ghana), Dr. Richard IkpadaPoku, Executive director and Mr. Olanrewaju Sadiq who is the Head of Administration at the Lagos, Headquarters of Cornfield Group, where he was formally inducted into the 2018 Fellowship Hall of Fame following his impressive and enviable track records of promoting national and international economic productivity.

The Convener, Dr. Richards Ikpada-Poku, the Executive Director, described the honour conferred on Agbeyo as well-deserving owing to his exploits in leadership and youth empowerment.

Also speaking at the event,

Vice President of the institute, Mr. Babatunde Akinsanya said Agbeyo has a record that young people can emulate to restore Africa back to its rightful position in the global circle.

In his words, he said “Dr. Babatope was recognised for the vital role he has played in leadership, innovation and his deep personal commitment to helping citizens of the world and his outstanding contribution to an entrepreneur in West Africa.”

“Have unanimously selected you as one of the five awardees for the 2018 roll call of honors, this is a result of your phenomenal and exemplary statesmanship contributions to enhance Africa economic growth, we are very proud to celebrate with one of your renown establishments, Botosoft Technologies Ltd, the recent historic approval and acceptability of her I.C.T. services in Republic of Kenya, this is another ground breaking attestation of your professional competence.”

With the honour, Agbeyo

will be joining the league of renowned global leaders and eminent personality like; Alhaji. Dr. Mohammed Hassan Koguna, Alhaji. Barr.

Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Dr Mrs. Nana Konadu Rawlings, Barr. Mrs. Uju Catherine Ifejika and others as council of fellows.

In his response, the Usi-Ekiti, Ekiti State-born businessman, who holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, thanked the visiting team for the recognition and honour while pledging not to disappoint the institute and millions around Africa continent that draw inspiration from him.

Meanwhile, Babatope’s apt and ingenuity has won him many awards and recognition locally and internationally, particularly in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and United States of America.

His network of partners and influence spans across many countries including the USA, UK, Germany, South Korea, China and many other African countries.

frightened due to the multiple complications she experienced.

On surviving with the baby, she promised to always support people with different health challenges. This gave birth to Blue Baby Support Initiative (BBSI) which was also launched on her birthday at Tabitha Homes around Ring Road Ibadan.

In her word, she said “I thank God for this opportunity. My priority in life couple with my experience is to always put smile on people’s face irrespective of their problem. I pray God in his infinite mercy will continue to bless me to bless others.” She concluded.

Olumide Aderinokun’s grandstanding in real estate Hard-working, industrious and enterprising are few words that could best describe the younger brother of the founders of GTbank, Olumide Aderinokun, who had struck gold in the real estate industry of the difficult Nigerian economy.

The ebullient businessman, who has carried on the Aderinokun family business legacy, had shown tenacity in building his real estate empire and to become a powerful force to reckon with.

Despite efforts by his detractors to run him aground, Olumide Aderinokun has ridden above hate, shaken off negative stories around his business with recurrent tales of his impressive achievements.

Olumide, who is now enjoying a marital bliss, contrary to rumors, is presently in touch with his political roots, and he will be taking another shot at representing Abeokuta North, Odeda, Obafemi/ Owode at the Federal House of Representatives in the coming elections.

We gathered that he has a fantastic relationship with his people, party leadership and delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Olumide Aderinokun has over the years proven to be not just a socialite but a business colossus that knows his onions.

His party primaries elections might be a seamless one as he prepares to ride on the dwindling popularity of the ruling APC in Ogun state.

K1 pledges

support

As political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2019 general elections, music living legend and top politician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal popularly known as K1 De Ultimate has pledged his support for President Mohammed Buhari.

Penultimate Wednesday, 20th Of June 2018 the Fuji Czar arrive the country for the APC National Convention in Abuja that is taking place today Saturday the 23rd of June 2018.

The acclaimed king of Fuji music left the North America country of Canada through Frankfurt on Lufthansa and arrived Nandi Azikiwe’s International Airport Abuja on Wednesday with his entourage

he was driven to the Transcorp Nicon Hilton Hotel, where he had met with the number 1 citizen of the country President Mohammadu Buhari to discuss pressing national issues. The meeting that had top members of his musical organization was indeed a success as the music legend was able to discuss some of the pressing issues affect the country especially in the area of entertainment and tourism while also pledging his full support towards his reelection.

Meanwhile, immediately after the meeting with the president and the Convention, K1 will be returning back to Canada to observe his rest before finally coming back at the end of the month.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 23, 2018

17 Gist

Wale Tinubu’s astuteness @51 Honesty, integrity, commitment, passion and inspiring others are part of the qualities that make a good leader. Industrious Wale Tinubu did not only possessed these top qualities but a disciplined, frugal and dynamic businessman of note. Without exageration, Wale Tinubu’s level of creativity and innovation has cemented Oando PLC as Nigeria’s foremostintegrated energy service provider. This great achiever has soared higher on the wings of his uncommon brilliance and business acumen to become the King of African Oil. His greatest assets are to spot opportunities where no other person is looking and to create wealth where other business leaders have given up.

The joyful philanthropist and a trained lawyer who carved for himself an enviable position as one of Nigeria’s most venerable dealmakers will be celebrating his 51st birthday on the 26th of June 2018 amidst fanfare.

The sexagenarian have over the years inserted himself atop the perking order in the league of major Nigeria’s oil industry.

The Trained lawyer would be celebrating his 51st birthday amidst pomp and splendor. Wale will treat his close friends and family members to a private executive dinner at an highbrow location in Lagos. The few guests would be treated to an array of high-cost exotic wines laced with assorted meals.

According to a close source who

divulged that; ‘’Wale is a very quiet person who loves his privacy, but on the other side, he is someone who does not joke with his birthday. This year’s celebration is a very special one; because, despite the wavy storm he faced since his 50th birthday last year, in family and business, he is still staying strong and firm. It takes the grace of God to survive the travails, which makes it a more reason for him to be thankful and celebrate. He will be doing some quiet donations like he did during the just concluded Ramadan fasting to the Muslim faithful in Lagos. He will be donating heavily and celebrating with to the motherless babies, the physically challenged, less privileged and widows. He would also be giving out scholarships to brilliant students across the country.’’

On society lady, Tayese Ebunlomo’s event Come July 1st, 2018 the sleepy town of Abeokuta in Ogun State will come alive when society big gal, event planner guru, Tayese Ebunlomo will bringing the season 2 of the first and largest all event vendors exhibition to Ogun State.

According to the organizers, the event is meant to promote while creating a platform for all vendors in Ogun state to exhibit and showcase their business to the world.

The one-day event promised to have prominent personalities in attendance.

Meanwhile, it will also interest you to know that, Tayese Ebunlomo is the consultant and the team leader at NPU Events,

an events planning firm involved in logistics events planning and consultancy with vast experience with numerous clientele.

Ebunlomo Taiyese loves to inspire young ladies to get better at what they do by urging them to efficiently utilize their entire God given wisdom and skills through her generosity and philanthropist nature.

Speaking on the event, Ebunlomo whose prowess was recently recognized with an award as one of the top 3 event planners in Ogun State says it will be a lot of fun for people coming to Abeokuta while laying emphases on the need why government and corporate organizations should support the industry.

Chief Rasaq, Sade Okoya celebrate Eid-el-fitr If there is one unique thing that set chief Rasaq and his amiable stylish wife, Alhaja Sade Okoya aside from other socialites, it will definitely be their level of consistency and commitment towards God and giving back to humanity.

Just like every other year, the annual celebration of Eid-el-fitr in Oluwanisola Estate, along LekkiAjah Expressway, Lagos was held in the billionaire mogul’s sprawling estate with Chief Rasaq Okoya and his vivacious wife, Alhaja Shade Okoya looking radiant like a new wedded couple. The prayer was coordinated by the chief Imam of the central mosque within the estate with little sermon from the

Islamic cleric. From the prayer ground, family, guest, and wellwishers was ushered into the palatial mansion by the beautiful socialite and wife of the Aare of Lagos.

The ambience was alluring as guests were treated to high champagne, red and white wines and other assorted soft drinks.

Aside drinks, both local and intercontinental dishes were in abundant as the entire attendees felt at home.

Aside the first wife, Alhaja Kudirat Okoya, the celebration witnessed notable personalities from political gladiators, business moguls and top entrepreneurs within and outside the country.

Governor Ambode’s wife, Bolanle A wife of noble character they says is her husband’s crown. And every successful man needs a supportive woman. Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, the first lady of Lagos State, is not just a prudent wife but also one whose principle and good moral is considered to be a virtue.

The elegant woman of substance has been playing a vital role in the area of social activism; human development and poverty alleviation ever since her husband assume position of number one citizen of Lagos State. And one of the things you will find most inspiring about her is her open support and lifting up other women.

Bolanle is an example of how women can help propel each other forward instead of holding each other back. Since the inauguration of the administration, Bolanle Ambode has showcased an exemplary profile of Mother to all. She has been an

epitome of care and love as the chief host in the State Government House. Few days ago, she urged women in the state, to pay due attention to their health and speak out against social vices like domestic violence, child abuse, rape and teenage pregnancy.

She said this at a women’s forum organised by her, at the Police College, GRA, Ikeja, to address issues of women’s health and recurring social vices in the society. Mrs Ambode noted that good health was a prerequisite for every other thing, including good attention to children and family, business and even political activities, stressing that without good health, nothing meaningful could be achieved. Meanwhile, Her concern for the welfare and happiness of people has led to philanthropic activities revolving around care for the widows, people living with physical challenges and children

Mixed Grill 18

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Afrobeats shines at MIDEM once again Stories By Mutiat Alli After organising a successful Midem Africa Forum in Lagos looking at ‘High-Potential Growth Markets’, Spotlight Entertainment, 6060 Music, Cream Entertainment and Enspire Management partnered with Midem to put together a thrilling Nigerian/Afrobeats programme in France including a panel and pavilion exhibition space. The programme took place at Midem’s annual conference event in Cannes, France from Tuesday 5 June – Friday 8 June 2018.

Midem Director, Alexandre Deniot said, “The focus on Africa was to strengthen the exchange between national and international music executives and businesses and increase Africa’s participation in the global music ecosystem”.

He further commented that Midem was passionate about Africa and African music and as an ex musician he welcomed the partnership with the Nigerian/ Afrobeats executives.

With an array of workshops, panels, showcases and activities and thousands of participants from around the globe, the African programming did not disappoint with the Nigerian/Afrobeats team presenting an engaging panel themed ‘Africa: The New Music Frontier, Open for Business’.

The panel was moderated

by Radio and TV host Adesope Olajide and included African music executives Vannessa Amadi, CEO of high profile PR firm VA-PR and Partner at Stealth Management home to Davido, Chinedu Okeke, Entertainment Entrepreneur and Director of the biggest festival in west Africa, Gidifest; Andre Hackett,

Cross section of the participants at the event

Artist-Manager for chart topping artist FuseODG and Co-founder T.I.N.A (This is New Africa); and superstar Artist–Entrepreneur Seyi Shay.

The conversation reviewed the areas in need of the most growth within the African music scene, including distribution strategies, infrastructure for the live industry and education plus the solutions to make the African music scene not just open for business but for partnerships and development.

During the panel, it was noted by Seyi Shay that, “the help we need is an opportunity for The West and Africa to build a structure that works in line with what is being done internationally” Alongside the panel, the Nigerian/ Afrobeats Pavilion stand attracted hundreds of delegates from around the world eagerly interested in

knowing how to engage with African music. Superstar Nigerian artists Davido and Yemi Alade showed their support with a meet and greet with industry professionals and fans before their show stopping performances at the Midem by Night showcase events. There was also a surprise visit to the Pavilion from international music mogul Scooter Braun, a keynote speaker of the week and the winner of Midem’s first ever award launched this year.

On reflection of Midem 2018 and the plans moving forward for the Nigerian/Afrobeats team, Steve Osagie of Spotlight Entertainment confirmed that, “The plans are to continue to showcase that Nigeria offers immense opportunity for companies, tech firms, labels and international artists open for collaboration”.

Cartoon Network begins search for new animation talents in Africa C a r t o o n Network Africa has launch of a brand new initiative, Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab, an African venture designed to bring innovative, local short form content to the channel and its digital platforms, while reinforcing the local relevance of the brand.

Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab is conceived to address the gap in locally relevant content, which offers a viewing experience that resonates with its African audience.

The initiative will encourage African talents, creators, writers, graphic artists, animation students and lovers of kids’ content to explore their creative, animation and production skills and stand the chance to produce a short-form animated comedy.

Entries for the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab will be open from 7 June until 31 August.

Applicants must be not be younger than 18. African-based companies can submit their one-minute to three-minute creative short project, which must be in the genre of comedy and fit with Cartoon Network’s values of funny, random, irreverent, smart and contemporary humour.

According to Ariane Suveg, Head of programming and

acquisition Turner Kids Africa, “We are honoured to be supporting local African animation talent through the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab. We look forward to seeing the entries and hope to see the winners flourish in their career as content creators, following the footsteps of some of Cartoon Network’s greatest talents. There is a need to invest in local content and our commitment to further mentoring talent in the African animation industry.”

Ten projects will be short-listed in September and the local creators will get the opportunity to pitch their work to Cartoon Network Africa’s content programming team. The winner and two runnersup will be revealed at DISCOP Johannesburg at the end of the year.

The winner and runners-up will be given the opportunity to get their project produced as a pilot with Cartoon Network Africa, which will then premiere on Cartoon Network Africa and its digital platforms in 2019.

Ambode, Tomori, others for Opelope Anointing Foundation anniversary Epe, Lagos State will on July 7, come alive, as popular gospel minister, Evangelist Dunni Olanrewaju (a.k.a Opelope Anointing), will lead other dignitaries to the town, as part of the activities making the 8th year of the Opelope Anointing Foundation (OAF), targeted at giving back to the society, especially the underprivileged.

The two-day event, which will feature the inauguration of the Opelope Anointing Fans Club, Epe chapter, on July 6, would be graced by the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle as the special guest of honour and chairperson of the day respectively.

Other dignitaries that will converge on the Epe town hall, Ita Opo, to celebrate with Opelope Anointing include the deputy governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Titi Tomori, Elder Akin Ognbiyi; actress, Mrs Idowu Philips, popularly known as Mama Rainbow; Lady Evangelist Iyabo

Ogunsola; Pastor Taiwo Idris; Bishop Rachael Ibironke; guest speaker, Prophet Caleb Olulade, among others.

According to the musician, other notable gospel musicians such as Evangelist Esather Igbekele, Biyi Samuel, and Seyi Lewis will perform at the event.

It was gathered that the highpoint of the event will be the charity programme where the people of Epe with benefit free healthcare services, free drugs

and eye test, free glasses and windows, as well as supports for the underprivileged.

Opelope Anointing noted that the initiative was a platform designed to touching lives aside spreading the gospel through music.

“This initiative surfaced eight years ago and I thank God that we have been able to sustain it through the support of wellmeaning Nigerians. We have toured different states including Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, affecting lives positively in the last eight years.

It is our delight to mark this year’s anniversary with the people of Epe. This is significant, because it is the country home of the Lagos State governor, His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and we are happy to give back to his people, as well as inaugurate the Epe chapter of the Opelope Anointing Fans Club in his source.

This will in a way serve as a token of appreciation to his tremendous works in Lagos State,” she added.

Josh Kamba drops new song, ‘Sososo’ Rising singer, Joshua Edeh known on stage as Josh Kamba has released a new song entitled Sososo.

Produced by Toebay, the dances is available for streaming and

download on digital platforms on all Temple Digital channels.

From Reggae to DanceHall to Pop and Afro Beats, Josh puts all these Genre’s together to create a Masterpiece.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, June 23, 2018

19 Xtravaganza

Style Focus Stories Ajibade Alabi Though it is going to a month since he celebrated his birthday, but the glitz and glamour of the celebration is yet to settle down. We are talking about Managing Director, Ray Power and FAAJI FM, Ambrose Olutayo Somide.

The talented on air personality whose career has influence many upcoming journalists was shot of words when daily times paid him courtesy weeks back.

“I am just too short of words. I don’t think I have ever received any amount of greeting like that during my birthday. It starts right from airport”.

Somide will not be carried away by the euphoria of the greeting or how much people poured encomium on his personality.

Ambrose Somide still savouring his birthday “it is not all about people greeting me or merry, merry that one should think about.

One should think about his life where one is coming from, where one is and where one is going. Also one has to think that it is not by ones power that one lives to celebrate another year, but God’s grace.

What really strikes most was that on the morning of my birthday I was about boarding a flight when a daughter of one of my friend called me and informed me that her father who was my friend just died. I was scared and afraid to board the plane. Many things were going through my mind like: is this not a message for me?

Is this going to be my last? So it is a grace not by my power,” Ambrose Somide, who is

close to three decades in broadcasting journalism explained.

Ondo State First Lady, Betty to storm Lagos for media nite award Ahead of the 13th edition of the prestigious Nigeria media nite-out award this year, gist coming to daily times have it that the first lady of Ondo state, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu whose pet project , Breast Cancer Symposium of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, has been penciled down for as one of the recipient of the glamorous award. According to the organizer the first lady

was been recognized for her health service to the people.

Daily times could recalled that First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, once spoke about how she survived breast cancer Meanwhile the organizer of this year Nigeria media nite out award has unveiled categories for this year with additional categories that will add more value to the award that has come to stay as Nigeria prime media award

Unveiled! The woman behind Hon Kehinde Odeneye Like the popular saying” behind every successful man, there is a woman” but what the saying failed to add is that, the woman behind the successful man is not just ordinary woman but intelligent woman. this aptly captioned the woman behind Hon Kehinde Odeneye a member of House of Assembly representing Ijebu Ode/ Odogbolu and ijebu -NorthEast Constituency in Abuja.

Her name is Funmilayo Odeneye, though this beautiful woman from Akure , Ondo State, who had an HND in

accountancy from Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) is a public shy even though she is sometimes seen with her husband in an event according to people who are closer to her has been very supportive of her husband who is eyeing third term “There is a lot of pressure that is associated with position of been an Hon wife but thank God I have been able to overcome as it comes” she told daily times in a chance meeting But what this well loved wife of Hon Odeneye will not

tell you is her contribution towards a better life for people in her constituency “she is not the type that believes in paparazzi or make noise of what she has done what is doing, but I can tell you for free she has impacted in so many people life just like her husband she has organized some programmes for women and the aged in her husband constituency. Where she gave provision and Christmas gift for all the party members within the constituency,” a close confidant of the loving woman confided in us.

Yetunde Esan on threshold of history!

Listen to her music you will mistake her to be Tope Alabi but make no mistake about it. She is not Tope Alabi but a certain talented gospel artiste whose latest album “Modupe Ore” is set to shake the music industry, her name is Yetunde Esan aka Ojiji Olodumare. :” many people has likened me to Tope Alabi, and it has really caused me a lot of embarrassment because of the way I sing many people say I sing like her, but I don’t know I sing like her. I never knew I sing like her. I don’t know why people always mistake my voice for that of Tope Alabi.

But I never learn or score tope Alabi s way of singing” explained the Afon Alaye , Ekiti State born artiste who claimed she started singing since when she was little far back as children choir in CAC, but started professionally in 2005 When probing further, Yetunde, who studied business administration at lagos state polytechnic predicted she will soon be a star to be reckoned with in no far distance “I am on the threshold of history. I want to be the best as far as gospel music is concerned in Nigeria. And I believe my first album with the tracks like “Modupe, Oba Awon Oba, Arabanibaba, Mo More, Apalara, and Oketegbagbeibosi” will make a statement for me”

Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

EU tariffs on US goods come into force

NSCDC nabs security man over alleged vandalism of AEDC substation

Tony Nwulu meets EU Parliament, attracts huge investment to Imo

IFC okays $1bn for Indorama Eleme Fertiliser to boost Agric in Nigeria

RIFAN lauds FG’s plans to close border to stem rice imports

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Itohan Abara-Laserian

The International Finance Corporation, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a new $1 billion (N360 billion) debt financing for Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited, Nigeria (a subsidiary of Indorama Corporation), for the construction of a new fertilizer line that will expand its capacity of urea fertilizer to more than 2.8 million tons.

The IFC said that it would will lend $100 million and mobilize an additional $850 million of loans from other developmental financial institutions and commercial banks.

Communication officer, World Bank,

Abuja, Olufunke Modupe Olufon stated this on Friday in a statement, adding that another $50million in financing will be available from IFC’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program.

Joining IFC as Joint Mandated Lead Arrangers (including as lenders) are European Investment Bank, YES BANK, CDC Group PLC, African Development Bank, Bank of Baroda and Standard Bank.

Also supporting the financing are Standard Chartered Bank; Bangkok Bank; FMO; DEG; PIDG company, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund; PROPARCO; ICICI Bank Limited; and Citibank.

The large number of participating

banks signals a strong endorsement of the project, Indorama, and the country by the syndicated loan market lending though a blend of IFC A and B Loans and uncovered facilities.

Sérgio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Middle East and Africa said, “IFC aims to support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its manufacturing base and improve stability of its financial system through greater foreign exchange earnings from exports. With Indorama Eleme, IFC is also a partner in helping farmers in West Africa increase their food production and incomes.”

Manish Mundra, CEO, Indorama Africa, said, “Nigeria has enormous potential to achieve agricultural selfsufficiency and food security which is

evident from the multi-fold increase in domestic fertilizer consumption after the start of Indorama’s first plant.

Nigeria has also become a major hub for urea exports. With Line 2, we aim to further expand our ability to provide competitively priced and high-quality fertilizer to farmers in West Africa and across the globe. Indorama is looking forward to continue contributing to Nigeria’s economic development”, said Amit Lohia, Group Vice Chairman, Indorama Corporation said, “This financing reflects our strong partnership with IFC over a span of almost three decades. We are extremely pleased to bring our financial partners to Nigeria on the back of this strong partnership.”

L-R: Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the Public Presentation and Breakdown of the 2018 FGN Budget in Abuja... on Thursday.

Lagos, June 22, 2018 (NAN) The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) on Friday commended Federal Government for its plans to close Nigeria’s border with a neighbouring country to stop rice importation through the land borders.

Mr Segun Atho, the South-West Coordinator of RIFAN, conveyed the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He noted that the indiscriminate importation of rice through the land borders had been increasing worrisome; particularly due to the fact most of the rice importers were smugglers who evaded the payment of customs duty.

He said that the proposed policy would boost local production of rice, adding that it would signal a new lease of life for local rice producers.

He said that the act would also encourage the establishment of more rice plantations and mills across the country.

“We need to appreciate the activities of rice farmers across the country; this is a right step in the right direction and the farmers are very happy about it.

“The nascent policy will encourage rice farmers to double their production because we are up to the tasks ahead.

“We are hopeful that this decision by the government will also encourage new entrants into rice cultivation,’’ he said.

Atho, however, urged the Federal Government to give more incentives to rice farmers so as to encourage them to produce more and meet the increasing demand for rice by the citizens. (NAN)

NURTW, NDLEA partner to educate commercial drivers on illegal drug consumption Ibironke Ariyo Abuja. June 22, 2018 (NAN) Mr Olugbade Olagunju, the Secretary, National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in FCT, says it is partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the campaign against illegal drug consumption.

Olagunju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Friday in Abuja, that the campaign would begin in Jabi Motor Park before

it would move to other motor parks in the FCT. He noted that the campaign was part of the NURTW objectives, adding that the collaboration would also assist in checking illegal activities in the area.

Olagunju said that the NDLEA had been assisting the park in the campaign against drug abuse by organising workshops to educate drivers on the dangers associated with drug abuse.

“What NDLEA is projecting has been helping us in the park; it has been beneficial to both our drivers as well as

people within the park.

“We have more than 800 drivers in the park and we cannot control such crowd alone; NDLEA conducted a workshop to that effect in the motor park and we do not intend to stop the exercise.

“The union is also planning to organise more workshops for our drivers because we love our passengers,’’ he said.

Olagunju said that the union was aware that commercial drivers took prohibited drugs, adding that the

drivers in Jabi Motor Park would not indulge in such acts.

“We don’t allow sales of alcohol and illegal drugs within the park; we value our passengers so much that if we discover that our drivers are into such, we hand them over to the NDLEA, and they will be taken to rehabilitation centres.

“We also conduct thorough checks on our drivers before they move out of the park so as not to put the lives of the passengers in danger,’’ Olagunju said.

He said the management would

continue to ensure that prohibited substances were not brought to the park or any place nearby.

He also noted that negligence and illegal drug consumption were among the major causes of road accidents.

The secretary, however, appealed to the government to upgrade the park, adding that it had been abandoned for more than 15 years.

According to him, the FCT, especially the Abuja Municipal Area Council, should upgrade the park.

(NAN)

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

21 Business News Environmentalist expresses concern over abandoned mining pits Okon Okon

Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) accompanied by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah retd, (2nd right) and the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development.

Mr. Julius Otele (centre) inspecting the 1600 Units Low Cost Housing Estate being executed by the Restoration Government at Anyama Ijaw in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State.

Photo by Lucky Francis.

NSCDC nabs security man over alleged vandalism of AEDC substation Aminu Ahmed Garko Minna, June 21,2018 ( NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger has arrested a man for alleged vandalism of Zarumai substation in Minna which belongs to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

The state Commandant of the corps, Mr Philip Ayuba, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.

Ayuba said that the suspect and another now at large were staff of a security outfit saddled with the responsibility of protecting the substation.

He said that the corps was alerted

on strange movement around the substation and it deployed a surveillance team to the station which arrested the suspect.

“Upon interrogation and visitation to the scene of the crime it was discovered that the transformer oil had been tampered with.

“The transformer was bought by the State Government and handed over to

AEDC to prevent the perpetual darkness being witnessed in the state,” he said.

The commandant said that the suspect would be charged to court after investigation.

He called on members of the public to be watchful and report any person or group of persons found tempering with public facilities to the command for prompt action. (NAN)

FG wants states to domesticate Essential Medicine List Felicia Imohimi Abuja, June 22, 2018 (NAN) The Federation Government on Friday called on states government to domesticate Essential Medicine List (EML) to guide the procurement of medicine in health facilities and enhance quality healthcare services in the country.

Mrs Beauty Okologo, Deputy Director/Head Pharmaceutical Services, Federal Ministry of Health, made the call at a stakeholders meeting on the revised National Standard Treatment Guidelines (NSTG) and Essential Medicine List (EML) dissemination and utilisation action plan development in Abuja.

Okologo noted that only FCT and Kaduna State Government have domesticated EML since it was inaugurated in 2016.

The meeting was organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria-

Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health @Scale Project (PSNPACFaH).

Okologo noted that EML was meant to be used for procurement of medicine, describing the selection of medicine from the list as a step in the right direction of the rational use of medicine and ensuring the quality of healthcare delivery.

Okologo said: “The principle of EML is that a limited number of availability of medicine will promote a better supply chain and rational prescribing to the rural and remote health centres.

“This concept will also ensure better procurement policy at lower costs, more in amount, with easier storage, safeguard and improve distribution and dispensing of medicine.”

She listed federal government efforts toward full implementation of these documents by states to include dissemination and awareness creation.

According to her, government has also sensitised local manufacturers to produce some medicines in the list, including Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and ZincLow Osmolarity instead of importation.

This, she noted, would ensure accessibility and availability of these products in the country.

“EML is a national document that should as well be translated to states and states that are yet to domesticate their own should do so without hesitation.

“Dissemination of EML and STG is continuous. We are developing strategies to increase information so that people will know about these documents and use them effectively.

“We have come up with an addendum or additional list which consists of antibacterial like Ampicillin which was not captured in the EML to take care of bacteria infection in children from age zero to 59 days.

“We have also removed Chloroquine and replace it Antemital and Lumefacin (ACT) which will now be used in treating malaria in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was aimed at brainstorming over the dissemination of NSTG and EML for effective implementation.

Dr Edwin Akpotor, Senior Programme Officer, PSN-PACFaH @ Scale Project, said development of an action plan would ensure full dissemination and implementation of these strategic policies.

Akpotor noted that the action plan would reflect essential drugs such as Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and co-pack Zinc-Low Osmolarity Oral Rehydration Salt (Zn-Lo-ORS) recommended as first line drugs for Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea, respectively. (NAN)

Sales assistant, 20, disappears with employer’s N3m jerseys Teniola Ibitola Lagos, June 22, 2018(NAN) A 20-year-old sales assistant, Nnamdi Mbanefo, was on Friday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing his employer’s jerseys valued at N3

million.

Mbanefo, resident of No. 11, Kadiri St., Surulere, is standing trial on a charge of theft.

He, however, denied the charge.

But Police Prosecutor Cousin Adams told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 2 at No.

92, Ojuelegba Road, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused had at various times refused to deposit proceeds from the sales of jerseys valued at N3 million.

The offence contravened Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,

2015 (Revised).

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Ajibade said the sureties must be blood relations of the accused and adjourned the case until July 23.(NAN)

Abuja, June 22, 2018 (NAN) Dr Thaddeus Thompson, the Chief Executive Officer, Safe Water Energy and Environmental Restoration, (SWEER) Limited, an NGO, has raised concern over abandoned mining pits across the country.

Thompson, who made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, said the situation had continued to claim lives.

He also said the situation which was caused by mostly unauthorised persons was also polluting the environment.

According to him, the emitted gases from the abandoned mining pits in the atmosphere causes some health problems to human, animal and plants in the host communities.

The environmentalist said there was urgent need for government’s intervention.

Thompson urged governments at all levels to implement the Mineral and Mining Act 2007 to tackle the menace and protect communities from further degradation.

NAN recalls that the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 replaced the Minerals and Mining Act, No. 34 of 1999.

He said that if punishment was meted out to those caught illegally excavating the ground in search of solid minerals it would serve as a deterrent to others.

FCT minister promotes madein-Nigeria product Idu Jude, Abuja Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has underscored the enormous investment potentials abound in the FCT which, he said, is made even more favourable by the sound transportation system and infrastructure being developed in the city.

Bello made this promotion at a cocktail the FCT Administration hosted for members of the International Press Institute (IPI) at State House Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja, at the opening of the world media confab on Thursday, June 21, 2018. He declared that Abuja’s rising aviation traffic places it on course to becoming Africa’s aviation hub. He disclosed that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport now hosts five international flights and counting.

His words, “Abuja’s rising aviation traffic, places it at a vantage position to becoming Africa’s aviation hub. Situated in the heart of Nigeria, you could access most countries of Africa from Abuja at an almost equal flying time.

A major highlight of the occasion was the presentation of souvenir leather puffs to the leaders of the Institute; Barbara Trionfi Executive Director and John Yearwood - IPI Executive Board Chair.

Speaking on the leather works, Bello said that the material, which was a Nigerian made product, had wrongly been described as Moroccan leather by Europeans when they first came into contact with the product from Morocco through the Trans-Saharan Trade route. The material, he emphasized, was a product of Sokoto hides-and-skin craftsmen.

Business News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Tony Nwulu meets EU Parliament, attracts huge investment to Imo Chris Onuoha

Federal lawmaker and progenitor of “Not Too Young To Run” Act in the Federal House of Representative, Hon Tony Nwulu, just back from an official work visit to European Union Parliament yesterday disclosed that he has secured in place a mechanism that will lead to massive and huge inflow of direct investment from Europe to Imo State and Nigeria in general.

The Imo State born lawmaker who represents Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency and a leading Governorship aspirant in the 2019 General election in Imo State was in Brussels, Belgium on the invitation of the European Union Parliament.

His vibrant drive and visionary mandate took a new dimension as a leader of delegation to the European Union Parliament to consolidate an undeniable investment in democracy for Nigeria. He was received by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. katil Karlsen at the EU Parliament headquarters in Brussels.

Speaking to media at the heels of his return, he stated, “It was a very successful outing to the EU parliament in Brussels with my team. In a pre-session meeting with Amb. karlsen, my efforts was lauded, commended and recognised by him, especially in the areas of entrenching equitable representation of youths in mainstream politics. Also, in recognition of my commitments in the transformation of the global world and as the champion of the “Not too young to run act”, the popular youth friendly act was also deliberated at the floor of the United Nation Congress through my international influence and effort,” says Nwulu.

However, the Nigeria delegation led by Hon. Tony Nwulu attended a deliberation which was hosted by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group of EU Parliament, which focused on undeniable investment in democracy, election observation missions and the ever changing political environment. The Parliament was impressed with the signing into law of

the “Not Too Young To Run Act”, a bill initiated by Nwulu on the floor of the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. The lawmaker took advantage of the thumps up from the EU members for the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Act and engaged some European countries on the need to invest in Imo State, South East Nigeria where he has been endorsed by thousands of youths to take over the mantle of leadership of the State in 2019.

Leading the gesture, Spain expressed its resolve to be a viable development partner with Nwulu’s Imo State.

This was disclosed to the governorship hopeful by Mr. Santiago Fisas Ayxela, a member of the European Parliament after extensive talks and deliberations. Another member of the EU Parliament, Mr. Gerrad Quille who received Hon Nwulu in Brussels, Belgium engaged in mutual discussions with the Governorship aspirant on the need to strengthen youth mainstreaming in Politics and expressed his readiness to go into viable development

partnership.

The Head Slovenia Investment Council and member EU Parliament Mrs Romana Tomc also assured Nwulu of Slovenia’s readiness to collaborate with Imo State in the area of enhancing Youth capacity. And also, the need to make Imo State an economic hub came from Mrs Maria Arena, another member of the EU Parliament and Head Belgium International Trade Council. This is expected to translate in making Imo State an economic boom by the time Nwulu is elected at the polls to take over the governance of Imo State in 2019.

Meantime, reactions have however trailed Hon Nwulu’s initiative as many Imolites at home and in Diaspora have applauded the 39 year old lawmaker for considering the development of the State a top priority. An observer posted on social media “That’s what digital governance is all about.

We need this generational shift from analogue to digital. We in the Mezie Imo Movement remain resolute in our commitment.”

L-R: Officials of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Jumai Oluyede Mohammed, Vice President (Women Development), Johnson Anene, Vice President (Commerce), Rose Nwosu, Vice President (Mines), Tonia Shoyele, Acting Director General, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, President of the Chamber, Tinuke Awe, Executive Director (Regulation) of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),

Border communities development agency gets new boss

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of Mrs Agnes A. Aremu as new acting Executive Secretary of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), with effect from Wednesday, 20th June 2018.

Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Lawrence Ojabo, said this in a statement made available on Friday.

He stated that the new acting Executive Secretary will oversee the affairs of the agency pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive

Officer.

Aremu was until this appointment, the Director Human Resources Management in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

While in charge of the agency, Mrs Aremu will effect the formal disengagement, investigation and disciplinary procedures

against the former Director, Mrs. Olutayo Odumosu over allegation of age falsification.

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said that government has taken the step to restore normalcy to the agency, which has been the subject of investigation by various agencies.

Substandard Rice: CPC apprehends 8, confiscates over 1000 bags in A’Ibom Uyo, June 22, 2018 (NAN) The Director General of the Consumer Protection Council, (CPC) Mr Babatunde Irukera, says the council has apprehended eight persons for allegedly dealing in substandard rice in Akwa Ibom.

Irukera, at a news conference in Uyo on Friday, said that the council also confiscated over 1,000 bags of substandard rice worth millions of Naira.

He said that the suspects were arrested following intelligence gathering by the surveillance unit of the council with the aim of ensuring consumer safety.

The DG said that the arrested persons belonged to a gang of people that allegedly engaged in re-bagging substandard rice to sell to unsuspecting consumers.

Irukera said that those arrested would soon be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

“This is the third of all the location of our sting operation in Uyo in respect of putting away substandard product from the market, specifically rice.

“What we have found here is very sad, a proposed warehouse, but nothing here than to re-bag substandard rice.

“By our count, we have apprehended in today’s operation about eight persons and confiscated over 1,000 bags of rice, excluding those that are being re-bagged.

“All the perpetrators of this act would be prosecuted, not only prosecuting them, but I will advocate for our laws to be respected and sufficient provision for the Customs’ Act for the forfeiture of the building used for this illegality,” Irukera said.

The director general assured consumers that the monitoring exercise would be routine, to get rid of substandard products from the market and protect the health of consumers.

He urged consumers to be careful where they make their purchase, adding that when they were in doubt, they should speak out.

“Consumers need to complain when things go wrong. If somebody buys something that is not good, the person should complain. If you do not like something, say something,” he said.

One of the operatives of the shop in Udoma Street in Etuk Market, Mr Kanayo Jackson, said that they had been in the business since 2013.

He said that most of the people selling rice in Akpan Andem and Itam Market in Uyo metropolis was doing the same business.

“It is not only in Udoma Street that people are re-bagging rice, there are many other places like Akpan Andem and Itam market.

“I am only working for my brother, Mr Jackson. We buy the empty bags and re-bag the rice for sale,” he said.

He told newsmen that security operatives had been coming to the shop before, but their boss used to settle them. (NAN)

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

23 Business Int’l

Brics countries agree on cooperation to tackle tax evasion Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) on Thursday agreed to work together in tackling tax evasion and tax loopholes through growing cooperation between the counties and the use of the right international mechanisms to fend against tax havens.

Mark Kingon, acting Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, said that South Africa and Brazil were failing to meet taxation revenue targets due to anti-tax practices and tax evasion, while their counterparts’ tax collection was on par or had increased.

Kingon was speaking at the media briefing after

the Brics tax and customs meetings held this week and following another meeting that took place in April where the framework for the Brics customs cooperation was discussed.

“Making it easier to tax people than it is for them to evade paying tax is another strategy discussed.

Using the internet to connect tax collection agencies to retailers and other supply chain members,” Kingon said.

“We are working on more transparency and more cooperation with the banking sector to bring in the tax haven to work with the international mechanisms to avoid tax evasion.”

The week-long meeting also addressed the 4th IndustrialRevolution, the economy, taxation and governance, with participants from all five Brics countries.

Kingon also revealed that South Africa has legislation that allows the collection of tax revenue on behalf of other countries.

With regards crypto currencies and blockchain technology, all Brics tax heads said more study and research were needed as blockchain technology offers many opportunities but also risks. No unified strategy was announced on the matter.

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY

China’s president Xi Jinping (middle), Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd left), South African president Jacob Zuma (2nd right), President of Brazil Michel Temer (left), and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (right) pose for a family photo during the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) summit, in Xiamen, China... recently.

EU tariffs on US goods come into force The European Union (EU), has introduced retaliatory tariffs on US goods as a top official launched a fresh attack on President Donald Trump’s trade policy.

The duties on €2.8bn (£2.4bn) worth of US goods came into force on Friday.

Tariffs have been imposed on products such as bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and orange juice.

European Commission president JeanClaude Juncker said duties imposed by the US on the EU go against “all logic and history”.

The Trump administration announced in March that it would introduce tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium imported into the US. After being deferred, the duties on steel and aluminium went ahead on 1 June and affect the EU, Canada, Mexico and other close US allies.

Mr Juncker, who has previously criticised the move, said on Thursday: “It goes against all logic and history. Our response must be clear but measured.”

Addressing the Irish parliament in Dublin, he added that “we will do

what we have to do to rebalance and safeguard” the EU. The majority of US goods targeted by the EU, such as tobacco, Harley Davidson motorcycles, cranberries and peanut butter, will now carry a tariff of 25%.

However, the EU has introduced a 50% duty on goods such as footwear, some types of clothing and washing machines.

The new duties have been imposed as tensions over trade continued to grow between the US and China.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump threatened to impose 10% duties on an additional $200bn (£150bn) worth of Chinese goods which he said would come into force if China “refuses to change its practices”.

However, China accused the US of an act of “extreme pressure and blackmail” and said it would respond with “strong countermeasures”.

Why is the US imposing tariffs?

President Trump believes that if you have a trade deficit - if you import more than you export - you are losing out.

He is especially irked by the hefty deficits in US trade with China and

Mexico, but has indicated that he will not let any country “take advantage of us on trade anymore”.

The US trade deficit has increased in recent years, running at around $50 billion (£38bn).

However, this could be the result of a stronger economy, with US consumers buying more goods from overseas.

The new tariffs are meant to correct this imbalance.

There were confrontational scenes and words after the recent G7 summit in Quebec, at which the other major world economies challenged Mr Trump’s tariffs and trade policies.

A photo from the summit went viral, showing the leaders of the other member nations standing over the president, sitting with his arms crossed.

The US tariffs, and retaliatory measures from other states, have caused fears of a trade war, weighing on global stocks.

In the past however, President Trump has said trade wars are good and “easy to win”, despite a jittery response from the markets. BBC

Airbus: We could leave Britain if no Brexit deal European aviation giant Airbus warned on Thursday it could be forced to pull out of the UK if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal.

In a Brexit risk assessment, Airbus said Britain withdrawing from the EU without a deal “would lead to severe disruption and interruption of UK production.”

“This scenario would force Airbus to reconsider its investments in the UK, and its long-term footprint in the country, severely undermining UK efforts to keep a competitive and innovative aerospace industry, developing high value jobs and competences,” it warned.

“Put simply, a no deal scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK,” Tom Williams, chief operating officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, said in a statement.

In its risk assessment, Airbus said under a “no deal” scenario, delays and disruptions to its production could cost it up to one billion euros ($1.2 billion) a week in lost turnover.

It said a no-deal Brexit “would be catastrophic” for the aviation group.

Airbus employs 14,000 people at more than 25 sites in Britain, where it manufactures the wings of its aircraft.

“In any scenario, Brexit has severe negative consequences for the UK aerospace industry and Airbus in particular,” Williams said.

“While Airbus understands that the political process must go on, as a responsible business we require immediate details on the pragmatic steps that should be taken to operate competitively,” he said.

“Without these, Airbus believes that the impacts on our UK operations could be significant.

We have sought to highlight our concerns over the past 12 months, without success.”

On the future trade relationship between Britain and the EU, Airbus said the current transition period, which runs until December 2020, “is too short for the EU and UK Governments to agree the outstanding issues, and too short for Airbus to implement the required changes with its extensive supply chain.”

“In this scenario, Airbus would carefully monitor any new investments in the UK and refrain from extending the UK suppliers/ partners base.”

Britain is due to leave the European Union in March 2019 but continue the current trading arrangements during the transition phase to December 2020 to give time for the two sides to agree the terms of a new partnership. AFP

Business Int’l 24

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Greece declared markets fit after 8 years of austerity John Psaropoulos Eurozone extends debt repayment, but strict supervision on spending and reforms will remain for 40 years.

Greece will officially graduate from eight years of financial dependence on its eurozone partners in August, the currency bloc’s finance ministers announced, as they cleared the country to borrow from markets again.

“This is not an ordinary moment. This is a magnificent moment,” European Finance Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said.

“The Greek crisis ends here in Luxembourg tonight. This has been a long road,” he added.

“We’re talking about eight years of efforts coming to a close for Greece, and it is an important moment for the eurozone, too.

We’re seeing an end to a crisis that had threatened our common currency.”

The deal, reached in the early hours of Friday, was needed to allow for Greece to safely emerge from its third bailout programme, which is slated to end on August 20.

He said the decision would “allow Greece to get back on its feet”.

The Eurogroup will also grant Greece a 10-year extension on repayment of its first bailout loan, agreed to in 2010. It will now be repaid by 2033. Earlier debt relief measures had addressed the second and third loans.

“The maturity extension will help Greece return to markets,” said Mario Centeno, Eurogroup president. It is hoped that the extension will render the Greek debt sustainable, attracting investors back to the country and satisfying a core demand of the Syriza government.

Greece will also receive the balance of its third loan as a lump sum from the European Stability Mechanism, the sovereign distress fund the Eurozone created to bail out governments.

“We have ordered the ESM to disburse 15bn euros (about $17.4bn) as the last instalment of the programme,” Centeno said.

“In total, Greece will depart the programme with a 24.1bn euro (about $28bn) buffer for the next 22 months. This will be a very important measure to face whatever danger may arise.”

In theory that money is only for emergencies; Greece has committed to setting aside an annual sum equal to 3.5 percent of its economy for the next five years – that means 6.3bn euros next year – to repay loans. After 2022, it will still have to permanently set aside an average of 2.2 percent of GDP – an undertaking Centeno admitted was onerous.

Greece will not be entirely free to make its own spending decisions, either. It must submit to strict supervision on the execution of its budgets until 2059, when it is scheduled to pay off its loan to the European Stability Mechanism. That is what the ESM, Greece’s supervisor, calls its “early warning system” against backsliding on Greek promises to control spending. “We will continue to support Greece and the Greek people to keep it on the right fiscal path,” said Centeno.

Piraeus University economist Stratos Papadimitriou is underwhelmed by Greece’s graduation.

“It doesn’t mean a lot,” Papadimitriou told Al Jazeera.

“Officially, theoretically, it means we are out of the programme, but nevertheless we are under scrutiny,” he said.

“It doesn’t affect the real economy, which is suffering from these eight years of austerity

and anaemic growth.” Greece’s economy grew by 1.4 percent last year - its first growth in a decade.

He believes the biggest problem is the flight of the younger generation, which is shrinking the tax base and depriving the economy of new businesses.

Athens University economist Panayotis Petrakis believes that Greek prospects remain mediocre.

“The environment into which we’re emerging, compared to that which other bailout countries emerged into, is much more demanding and difficult,” Petrakis told Al Jazeera.

“There’s the anticipated rise in interest rates worldwide, there’s the political unsettlement of Europe, which we saw in Italy and which will develop in European elections that lie ahead… this more demanding environment demands a more prosperous and resilient economy, which we never acquired.”

He believes that Greece’s greatest liability, though, is its polarised political scene.

“I think investors will come to Greece, or not, mainly on the basis of its internal political situation. If they see a tendency to broaden deficits, they’ll abandon us. If they see a tendency to adopt structural reforms they will trust us.”

The crisis Greece bankrupted itself by overborrowing in the years leading up to the financial crisis of 2008. After the crash, markets no longer had the liquidity to extend cheap loans, and they began to scrutinise the

‘ ,

financial health of borrowers. By the spring of 2010, investors demanded interest rates of more than six percent for a 10-year loan to Greece, a rate the country could not afford.

To keep paying salaries and maintain public services, the government was forced to accept a loan of 110bn euros from its eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On May 2, 2010 the government unveiled the austerity measures that would accompany the biggest bailout in history.

Finance Minister George Papakonstantinou described them as the most ambitious fiscal adjustment ever undertaken by a European country.

Through a mixture of consumer tax increases and public sector salary cuts, the government managed to cut the deficit by a third in the first year of the adjustment programme. It would take many more tax hikes, a second, 130bn euro loan and two more governments before the budget was balanced, by the end of 2014.

The arrival of Syriza in 2015 made a third, 86bn euro loan necessary, because the government spent six months unsuccessfully trying to convince the eurozone and IMF to improve the terms on which Greece had to repay its two first loans. The premium left too little money to restart the economy, Syriza argued, and the IMF agreed. The renewed political confrontation in the eurozone convinced investors, who had begun to warm to Greece in the summer of 2014, to stay away.

“I think investors will come to Greece, or not, mainly on the basis of its internal political situation. If they see a tendency to broaden deficits, they’ll abandon us

It was not just the Greeks who made mistakes. The IMF admitted, in 2013, that it had underestimated by half the effect that abrupt public spending cuts would have on the rest of the economy. During its eight years of austerity measures, Greece lost 27 percent of its economy. The IMF had argued in 2010 that Greece’s debt should never have been refinanced before being reduced, because it was unsustainable from the start.

That refinancing cost was huge. Of the 302bn euros Greece has borrowed from its eurozone partners and the IMF, only about five percent entered the economy through government spending. Twenty-one percent has been spent to recapitalise banks, and three quarters of the money bought up existing debt and serviced interest payments.

Source: Al Jazeera Description: https://www.aljazeera. com/mritems/Images/2018/6/22/ a5d04a8c08d14481a844e8c4fd8fa738_18.jpg People take part in a demonstration marking a 24-hour general strike in May against austerity measures [File: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images] The human cost of eight years of austerity has been enormous. Unemployment rose from 8.4 percent at the end of 2008, to 27.8 percent in September 2013, as a third of all businesses went bankrupt. Twenty percent of the workforce remains jobless.

Salaries have fallen by an average of 15 percent, and that has meant that Greece regained some competitiveness, boosting exports; but this has also meant that poverty in Greece doubled during the crisis to affect 22 percent of the population, compared to a European average of 7 percent, the OECD revealed in April.

Greece’s population also began to shrink during the crisis. Live births fell as the death rate rose, so that on the basis of reproduction Greece is losing 30,000 people a year. An estimated 45,000 more are leaving for healthier job markets, meaning that overall, Greece is shrinking by 0.7 percent a year.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Feature

25

World Cup: Indian maths teacher cycled to meet Messi in Russia

Vikas Pandey, BBC Delhi correspondent Clifin Francis was sitting at home in southern India when a friend asked if he was going to the World Cup. “Of course,” he replied. “I might even travel to Russia to watch the extravaganza.”

That was in August - but he had no idea how he would afford the air tickets from Kerala where he lives. Mr Francis is a freelance maths teacher and earns $40 (£30) a day.

“I realised I wouldn’t have enough money to travel to Russia and stay for a month. Then I asked myself - what could be the cheapest way of travelling?

Bicycle was the answer.”

Friends didn’t believe him, but

by then he’d made up his mind.

On 23 February, he started on an epic journey that took him by air to Dubai, and then ferry to Iran. From there the Russian capital is still more than 4,200km (2,600 miles) away by bike.

The prize at the end - a chance to see his hero, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, arguably the best footballer in the world.

“I love cycling and I am crazy about football. I simply combined two of my passions,” Mr Francis told the BBC. He had planned to travel via Pakistan but had to drop the idea because of tense relations with India.

‘Football and films’ “The change in plan cost me a lot. I could not take my bike to Dubai and had to buy a new one there which cost $700. It

wasn’t the best one for longdistance travels but that’s all I could afford,” he said.

But he forgot this temporary setback as soon as he entered the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on 11 March.

“It’s the most beautiful country in the world and the people are so welcoming. I spent 45 days in the country, but stayed in a hotel only for two days,” he said.

Mr Francis had only $10 a day to spend but says everywhere he went in Iran, people invited him to stay in their houses and offered him food.

“My perception about Iran has changed. I realised that you shouldn’t form an opinion about a country based on its geopolitics,” he said.

He vividly remembers the

dramatic landscapes.

“Cycling became less painful because of the beautiful Iranian countryside. I would definitely go back.

“They made me promise that I would cheer for the Iranian team in Russia. They also love Bollywood and that helped me break the ice with people in many places,” he said.

“It’s so true that football and films unite the world.”

Cycling made him thinner Next stop was Azerbaijan, where the border police had trouble verifying his travel documents because he’d “lost a lot of weight from constant cycling”.

“I didn’t look like my picture in the passport. The police took more than eight hours to verify my details, but they were nice to me.”

Mr Francis couldn’t afford hotels

in Azerbaijan and mostly pitched his tent in parks.

“People were nice here as well but they took time to open up to a stranger. I found some Indians living in the capital Baku and stayed with them for a while.”

Stuck in ‘no man’s land’ When Mr Francis reached Georgia, however, he was turned back and had to change plan again, about halfway to Moscow.

“I had all the documents but still don’t know why I was refused entry. That left me in a precarious situation because I had a singleentry visa for Azerbaijan,” he said.

Mr Francis was stuck in “no man’s land” between Georgia and Azerbaijan for a day. He was eventually given an urgent visa by Azerbaijan to re-enter.

“I then had to find another route to get into Russia. Somebody told me that Azerbaijan shared a land border with the Dagestan region of Russia,” he said.

“I went there without realising that it was not considered safe. But I had no option of turning back and I entered Dagestan on 5 June.”

Language was a big problem because people hardly spoke English in Dagestan, he added.

“People were so surprised to see an Indian on a bicycle entering their area. Again, I used the universal language of football and films to make people open up to me.”

Mr Francis has now made it as far as Tambov, a city about 460km south of Moscow by road. He needs to be in the capital by 26 June for the France v Denmark match.

“It’s the only game I managed to get tickets for.”

“But I support Argentina and Lionel Messi is my favourite - I worship him. It’s my dream to meet him and ask him to sign my bicycle.”

Clifin Francis hopes his journey will inspire people about football and fitness.

“I want to see India play in the World Cup some day. And that will only happen when more children take up football in India. I am optimistic about our chances in the next 20 years,” he said.

“I am also hoping that people will take up cycling after reading my story.

“Cycling takes you back to the primitive necessities of life. What you need at the end of the day is a shower, nice place to pitch your tent and good food and you are happy.

“I would be happy if my journey ends up inspiring even one child to play football in India.”

Politics Interview 26

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

After spending 16 years in Lagos Assembly, its time to move to national level–Taiwo Hon. Kolawolwe Taiwo, popularly known as HKT is the former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, a House he served for four terms holding several positions including Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader among others. An experienced legislator by all means, he now aspires to continue his legislative duties in the House of Representatives to represent the people of Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE he speaks on several national issues including why he desires to represent his people in Abuja.

There are many people worried about security development in the country, recently the Dapchi girls were kidnapped and later returned in a manner many say smacks of conspiracy theory, what is your opinion of the situation?

When I learnt of that thing I just felt sorry for my country. I once had a friend, Ekpo, he is late now, he was the Area Commander of Area K in Badagry, we use to get together to talk, there was a particular day he was telling me of his experience before coming to Badagry, he was from that Sambisa forest axis. He told me that this Boko Haram thing will not finish and I said why will you say such a thing, he said the money being given to security operatives involved in that fight is so much that they will not want it to go away and I believe that is one aspect of the whole story that our government is supposed to take seriously. Why should security operatives leave a particular spot and then shortly after those people struck and then they return, something must have happened. Nobody will want to blame the President, election is very close and something that happened in 2015 occurred again.

You remember that last time was when they were thinking of Jonathan coming back, they just kidnapped those girls and took them away, Jonathan did not do anything, he thought it was just a joke, but this President will do anything to rescue the situation. But, I do not believe that there is something that is not possible, because the whole situation is somehow, they said they took 110 and now came back with 105, is that possible and nothing happened? There must have been something serious that exchanged hands, no government will come out and say we paid ransom, but I know that ransom payment is part of negotiation, so there must have been something that happened, but we need to do more of investigation of some of these things and the excess money that they are giving to these operatives should be reconsidered.

Like one of my leaders said, if you are stealing money and that money enters into your expenditure line, there is no way they will not catch you one day, because anything that enters your expenditure line you must look for it, when the money you are stealing is now part of the revenue you are using to solve your expenditure needs, that is what is happening. You posted a soldier to a particular place you are giving him $5000 every month, for two months when it enters into expenditure it will change your life, therefore if those things are no more coming you look for how to make it happen. Those are the things we need to now look at and then we begin to reorient our forces, to let them know that they don’t have to see that as a normal life, because it is not.

This situation is even making the government not to look honest, that is my opinion, but there must be something behind it, you cannot come one day, the operatives have left, took some children away, then one day you just bring them back, somebody even told me that it’s like they bought new school bags for them, it is from which money? We are making mockery of the whole thing now, but it is a serious matter.

The battle against Boko Haram is not a normal war, these are aggrieved people that are using all tactics to undermine our security and you cannot know them, they don’t have uniform and you cannot

INEC boss, Yakubu read the mind of somebody from afar off, so you cannot say you have defeated them like that, yes tactically you have defeated them, but that you have taken over all their territories doesn’t mean you have defeated them, because even in Syria where the government said they have won, they are still bombing. We should expect this until we are able to solve those problems that led to it, some of them are ideological problems, some of them are policy problems, we must solve all those ones, these are some of the other problems that needs to be solved, not this combatant solution.

That one has gone down, they are no more fighting as before, they are no more planting bombs like before, but that doesn’t mean that they are now happy with Nigeria, you must do things that will make them happy, reintroduce them to the society, make them normal persons, that aspects we have to work on, even if you have defeated them, drove them away and you won’t see them again, you have taken all their territories, because it is not something you hear that Boko Haram has taken over a whole local government, that era is gone, but that doesn’t mean those people are not existing.

That is the reason why when you finish battle you must now send people that will assist those that have been affected. Take for instance if the Boko Haram struck and kill a whole family leaving only one person, that person needs to be reoriented on how not to now become a Boko Haram convert. Those are things that we need to be doing now, but you just decide to remove people and put them in camps, IDP camps like refugees and you think you don’t need to do a lot of reorientation for them not to have that mindset that this society is not worth it’s while. Because in such a situation if you find somebody that is not happy such person is not normal and it is when somebody is not normal that he will think let me pick up bomb and kill people.

Even in developed world they still find it difficult to cope with these people who are not happy and they are looking for ways to make them happy and re-integrate them into society and we are not doing that here.

So I don’t believe we have won, the bombing may have stopped, we might have been able to drive them away from their territory and take back all the places they took, that doesn’t mean you will now leave them in the bush for them to still keep that ideology, no, we must look for a way of changing that their ideology.

Some people are even of the opinion that perhaps some of these displaced Boko Haram may even be part of these Fulani Herdsmen operating all over the place, do you share that view?

No, I don’t believe that, I have cows myself and have farm, but I don’t have a ranch, I plant several things and I have a section for my cows in the farm, from time to time my Fulani employees take them around. What I have discovered from my experience, these herdsmen came into my farm one night, I was so annoyed, not with my cows, they were going towards my pen for my poultry, I was shouting that they shouldn’t go there and they moved away, then I saw one of them coming with a keg of water, one of my staff can speak Hausa very well, and I asked him, why are people behaving like this, can’t you see that you are going to a livestock area, I told him that I also have cows and you can see those cows coming are my cows that I will not allow my herders to just take the cows into somebody’s farm to just destroy the farm. I told them when they come to my farm they can always use the portion I left for my cows for their own cows.

The second week the herder came back to discuss with me, he said they are Nigerians, but that there are some that will not listen to anything that I have said, that they will destroy everything here, that if I can fence the whole place. How can I fence, is it easy fencing about 30 to 40 acres, it is not something that is easy, if you fence it with barbed wire they will destroy it. It was like the guy was preparing my mind, about one month later they came and destroyed all my farm, there was a day I met them, luckily for me one of my security guards had a gun, because they can mob me and kill me there, they charged at me, but my guard released a shot and they retreated, it’s as bad as that.

Some of them are not Nigerians, some of them doesn’t have normal temperament or orientation. The problem we are having is that the President need to talk, I have always believed that the President’s silence was part of the problem, but he has started talking, but the silence for a very long period is not good and the reason the President needs to talk is not just because he is the President no, if this things was happening during Jonathan’s era, nobody will say Jonathan should come and talk, they will take him for granted. The reason the people are clamouring that the President should talk is because there was a time the President went to Oyo State to discuss on the side of the Fulani. I am happy now that he has come out, no President in

“

I want to go to the National Assembly, I have been a state legislator and I have seen all that needs to be seen at the state level and I still feel that I have things to offer for our nation to be better, I want to be part of our success story, of continuity, a positive continuity, because I know continuity will bring better growth, better development and I want to be part of it.

”

any nation will ever sanction anybody to go and kill innocent people and I know our President will never do that, but those people are of different mentality, some are level headed, but there are some that believe they own the world.

There is a crisis in the APC obviously, which is why the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reconciliation committee was set up, but considering the brief for the Tinubu committee and the issues Tinubu himself has with some members of the party leadership, where do you see the future of the party?

Well, even normal life cannot be divorced from crisis, because crisis is part of normal existence, not to even talk about politics, politics where two people will want one thing and you say there will never be crisis. The best thing is to manage it and try to resolve as much as possible, there is no way we will not have crisis when one thing is put before two or three or four and even in some cases you even have 100 people struggling to get one particular thing, there will be a lot of antics, there will be a lot of problems, acrimony and all that. So, I will not tell you that there is no crisis, crisis is even a continuous thing in politics, the reconciliation is for now, if we are able to reconcile ourselves now, to at least have majority say on issues, then we will postpone crisis to tomorrow, because there will be another one. So, it is normal and I feel for our leader, I don’t envy him, but I am not surprised. He came around as a private person contested for Senate and won, he came back after the NADECO era and said he wanted to become governor, he won, he was only governor for two terms, he has never occupied any electoral office after that, yet most of those that have occupied positions cannot even measure half of his weight. So, there is bound to be envy and jealousy and he is still striving, he said we want to take over power, we want to install the president, as if it s a joke, the president was installed and it is said that the more powerful you are the more enemies you have and the more influential you are the more you will attract, those are the things that are happening, but I know Asiwaju, he is in a position to resolve these things. This is a man that has done so many things; if you look at him you will know he is not just an ordinary man. Let me give you one example, after his second term as governor, he was thinking of going to the Senate and in our party there was so much acrimony, GOS (Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon) wants to be governor and this want to be that, there was a lot of murmuring and he said GOS come and take my ticket and go, that is the kind of leader, that is reconciliation we are talking about, leadership by example.

I know he will reconcile the party, I know it is a question of give and take, it is not easy, some people have offended him and he is human. I was part of the last convention of the party that we elected the executive, I was even in the state committee and I know what transpired, we were waiting for them for like two days and nobody showed up, we didn’t know who was coming for the screening or not and this man stood his ground that this is the person I want, and when you install him he will now take him for granted, you know sometimes you feel frustrated. If he is not a very strong man that could even make him to be angry with the party, but our leader will not do that, he wants the party to work, I know him beyond that, that is why I am so confident

that he will come out with something positive.

APC will not die, some people say APC does not have ideology, but I say ideology is about policy interest, it is not like culture, when we were in AD, when we were in ACN, AC, we talk of true federalism, we talk about devolution of power, we talk about state police, that is the ideology of our party, today we cannot say we do not believe in that ideology again, you build ideology with time, people will try to know with a particular idea and say these people this is how they are, they are pro-life, they are pro-this and that, therefore nobody can tell me that we don’t have ideology, I will tell them, no, there are somethings that we are known for, even in APC that is rainbow coalition, we have been able to impress it on some of our leaders, there are some that doesn’t believe in it, but they have started talking about it. Nasir El-Rufai committee was talking about state police, you can see that it is spreading, and you can see that we can work together, though it is a rainbow coalition, but we are working on it, it will work, therefore I believe our party will pass the test of time.

But are you worried about this third force and other such coalitions to get APC out of power the way APC got PDP out of power?

It is unfortunate that APC came at the wrong time, when there is economic meltdown, but we have been able to stabilize things, if we were not able to do that you would be thinking that people will get tired of our party and would not want to touch us, but a party that went through economic meltdown and was able to survive will easily get re-election. Two years ago, nobody even wanted to hear about APC and that was at a time we had not even spent more than a year in office, they thought we caused the problems, they didn’t know that the problem is over time and has been there and fortunately or unfortunately for us as a nation, God wanted us to see the mistakes we were making.

I know that since 2019 there has not been any election that you were not part of, are you going to be part of 2019?

I pray so, I want to go to the National Assembly, I have been a state legislator and I have seen all that needs to be seen at the state level and I still feel that I have things to offer for our nation to be better, I want to be part of our success story, of continuity, a positive continuity, because I know continuity will bring better growth, better development and I want to be part of it.

What will be your mission to the National Assembly?

My mission will be to go there, be part of good lawmaking and helping in bringing out laws that will help our people positively and will better the lives of our people.

Will this be in the House of Representatives?

Yes, at the lower chamber The person there now though not from your party is quite popular among the grassroots, how do you intend to surmount that?

Who says, I am the most popular person among the grassroots.

But you lost election….

Yes I lost election when I didn’t expect to, but I was the only one that won in my local government, in Ifelodun LCDA I was the only person that won, I won with 1700, but the lackadaisical attitude of our people caused my loss, because nobody believed that HKT can loss election. I was humbled and I give thanks to God that it happened. I recognise why I lost and since then I have not been resting on my oars, I have been working, I have been talking to our people, I have been very active and if you come to HKT meetings you will be shocked that this is the man that lost election. Even the present representative of the people in Abuja now is afraid that HKT is coming, because it is like tsunami coming to consume them and I look forward to it and pray to God that He will give the leadership of our party the courage to feature me at the election and pray that God will give me the grace to win again.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

AWUJALE COUNCIL OF OTUNBAS FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED 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, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALAIYELUWA OBA – ADETONA SIKIRU KAYODE, CFR JP - CHAIRMAN 2. YEYE OTUNBA – MARTINS-KUYE IYABODE 3. OTUNBA – OSIBOGUN AYODELE OLUKEMI – HON SECRETARY 4. OTUNBA – OSINUSI WAHAB OLANIRAN 5. OTUNBA – OSIYEMI MICHEAL AKINOLA 6. OTUNBA (DR) – HASSAN OLUBOLA ADEKUNLE 7. OTUNBA – ALEBIOSU BUSURA TIAMIYU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (A) THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CULTURAL, CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC UPLIFTMENT OF IJEBUS AT HOME AND IN DIASPORA. (B) TO TAKE GIFTS OF PROPERTY, WHETHER SUBJECT TO ANY SPECIAL TRUST OR NOT FOR ANYONE OR MORE OF THE OBJECTS OF THE FOUNDATION. (C) TO ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT, AND TO AID IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPPORT OF, ANY OTHER FOUNDATION GROUP OR ASSOCIATION FORMED FOR ALL OR ANY OF THE OBJECTS OF THIS FOUNDATION ANY OBJECTION TO THE ABOVE 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

ANICHEBE EVELYN

HABIB OZOVEHE

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27 Companies Registration

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OKORO JUDITH

OGEH NATHANAEL

MALO EVANGELINE

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ALBERT NGOZI

IMAM NURAT

ONYETUBE CHINYERE

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LOSS OF DOCUMENT

CORRECTION OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME

THIS IS TO REPORT LOSS OF INDENTURE OF LEASE REGISTERED AS NO 26/26/537 OF THE LANDS REGISTRY ENUGU AND DATED 14/1/1977 BELONGING TO FOSTER AMANO, OGUEJI AMANO, TOCHUKWU AMANO AND OSITA AMANO. THE LAND LOCATED AT ODOMA IN ENUGU NGWO, ENUGU NORTH LGA, ENUGU STATE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MY NAME EZE EVELYN CHINYE PRECIOUS, WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN, BUT NOW WISH TO BE CORRECTED AND ADDRESSED AS EZE EVELYN CHINYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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MALO NICHOLAS

ANAGA UCHECHI

CHIJIOKE OLUCHI

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NWATU EBERE

MUONEME AMARA

EGBO VICTORIA

NNAJI LIVINUS

CHUKWU CHINWE

EGEDE JOHNSON

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ENEH UCHECHI

CHINZE MODESTER

IGWEJIM CHINEMELUM

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NWAMUOMA PROSPER

VIVIEN CHUKWUBINYELUM

EJIOFOR CHINELO

PRINCESS CHIDINMA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

RIDWAN OLADIMEJI

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OKUKWA TRADERS ASSOCIATION AMANSEA

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

ONUORA EMMANUEL IKECHUKWU 2.

ONU EMEKA LONGINUS 3.

NWOKIKE IFEOMA EUNICE 4.

UKPAI EMEKA JUVENTUS 5.

OBIAKOR CHIGOZIE JOSEPH

DIAMOND PALS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVENAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

UMEH EMMANUEL OBINNA 2.

EZENWUDEH CHUKWUDI STAN 3.

OKOYE THANKGOD CHUKWUKA 4.

OKEREKE SUNDAY 5.

NWAFOR EMEKA FRANCIS

AIMS & OBJECTIVE: TO ASSIST MEMBERS WHO ARE IN NEEDS.

AIMS & OBJECTIVE TO ASSIST MEMBERS WHO ARE IN NEEDS.

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

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

FADE ATANDA

MAHMOOD ABIODUN

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HASSAN RASAQ

AKANDE SUMBO

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28

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

Foreign Affairs New Zealand PM stays in hospital with ‘hungry’ baby She is second world leader to give birth while in office New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is to spend a second night in hospital with her “very alert and hungry” newborn daughter, her office said on Friday.

The realities of motherhood have seen plans for a public appearance by the 37-year-old with her baby canceled twice.

Ardern is only the second world leader to give birth while in office, following Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto whose daughter Bakhtawar was born in 1990.

She has yet to announce the name of the child, but a spokesman for her office said “everyone is doing well if not a bit tired” and Ardern spent a lot of time feeding the baby during the night.

“The nurses described the baby as ‘very alert and one hungry baby’,” the spokesman added.

The baby arrived Thursday afternoon, weighing 3.3 kilogrammes (7.3 pounds).

It is the first child for Ardern and her 40-year-old partner Clarke Gayford, a television fishing personality who will become a stay-at-home dad when she returns to work after six weeks of maternity leave.

Her deputy Winston Peters is now acting prime minister, although Ardern will continue to be consulted on significant issues.

Jacinda Ardern plans to return to work six weeks after giving birth with her partners

The birth capped an eventful year for Ardern who became prime minister last October, three months after inheriting the leadership of the Labour Party when it was languishing in the polls.

Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari tweeted “congratulations” and shared a link to a news story on how the Pakistani leader showed it was possible to be a mother and a prime minister. ARAB NEWS

ANC veteran Billy Modise dies at 87 South Africa’s former chief of state protocol and recipient of the National Order of Luthuli, Billy Modise has died.

Modise died after a long illness in hospital on Thursday evening. He was 87.

Modise was chief of state security under Thabo

Mbeki’s administration until his retirement in 2006.

He is well known for his work in building the anti-apartheid movement in the Nordic countries in the 1960s.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country and its people suffered a great loss.

“He served his country selflessly and diligently.

He was a distinguished gentleman and leader

of our people who contributed exceptionally to the achievement of a South Africa free of racial oppression and to the building of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic country,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa sent his condolences to his family and friends.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

NEWS24WIRE

US imposes visa ban on DRCongo officials

The United States said on Thursday it had imposed visa bans on several senior officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo for corruption tied to the country’s electoral process to send a “strong signal” about the need for a peaceful transfer of power.

Washington declined to identify the individuals, saying it was not obligated to reveal them based on “foreign policy considerations.”

“Today’s actions send a strong signal that the US government is committed to fighting corruption, to supporting credible elections that lead to DRC’s first peaceful and democratic transfer of power,” the State Department said.

The move comes before elections scheduled in DRC for Dec. 23. There are concerns, however, that President Joseph Kabila, who succeeded his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, could delay the

vote to seek a third elected term.

The visa ban comes after the US Treasury sanctioned Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler on June 15, who it said had amassed a fortune through corrupt mining and oil deals in the DRC, using his close friendship with Kabila.

Sasha Lezhnev, deputy policy director at the nonprofit rights group Enough Project called Thursday’s visa ban an important step “to dissuade Kabila from putting his name on the ballot and help ensure a credible election.”

“Several senior Congolese officials involved in corruption travel frequently to the US, so the visa ban is an important step,” said Lezhnev. “They or the businesses they partner with also use US banks to process corrupt commercial deals, so the US and EU should enact stronger sanctions on their corporate networks to target their assets.” REUTERS

S’Arabia gives $31bn aid to 78 countries Since the foundation of Saudi Arabia, its wealth has not been limited to its citizens but has been spread throughout most of the world.

It has provided humanitarian aid, charitable grants and soft loans to countries regardless of colour or race. The Kingdom has always been one of world’s top providers of aid.

To highlight the Kingdom’s effort internationally and to preserve its right to give in the same way as the major donor countries, King Salman issued a royal decree, under the guidance of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), to establish a database of Saudi aid, including the Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The center worked on the design and prepared the platform for the registration of humanitarian, development and philanthropic projects and contributions based on international standards in the registration and documentation of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (DAC-OECD), and the UN’s Financial Tracking Service (UNFTS) and the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI).

Saudi aid is in cash and in-kind assistance, provided in humanitarian and charitable grants and soft loans to promote development. The aid data also includes payments and subsequent financial commitments.

Saudi donors have been trained to provide and classify the aid in three phases: The first 10 years (2007-2017) — the current phase — the second phase (1996-2006) and the third phase, which includes the rest of the assistance provided since the establishment of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom has a long history in a variety of sectors and fields, where it is called the Kingdom of Humanity and its name is associated with issues that call for peace and giving.

The Kingdom’s humanitarian tenders in accordance with the official Saudi Aid Platform in its current phase (2007-2017) has reached a total of $32.83 billion.

The number of the Kingdom’s humanitarian, development and philanthropic projects reached 1,084, with a total of $31.90 billion for 78 benefiting countries.

The financial contributions to international organizations and entities included (489) contributions totaling $929,711,258 to 37 beneficiaries. Development aid amounted to $493.88 billion and humanitarian aid to $353.440 billion, while philanthropic aid reached $82.381 billion.

The top five recipient countries of aid from Saudi Arabia are: Yemen, with a total of $14 billion for 290 projects, followed by Syria with a total of $3 billion/153 projects, Egypt was ranked third with a total of $2 billion/20 projects, while Niger was ranked fourth with a total of $1.230 billion/7 projects and Mauritania was ranked fifth with 14 projects and a total of $1.219 million.

The top five beneficiaries of the Kingdom were the UN with 45 contributions totaling $303.37 million, the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf with 23 contributions totaling $225.849 million, the League of Arab States with 28 contributions totaling $140.810 million, the UN Development Program with 24 contributions totaling $80.200 million and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with 21 contributions totaling $48.395 million.

The official public statistics of Saudi humanitarian, development and philanthropic projects to serve the continents and regions worldwide have reached more than $21.165 billion in Asia, $9.810 billion in Africa, $379 million in Europe, $376 million in North America and $170 million in Europe and Central Asia. .ARAB NEWS

TIMES SPORTS

Saturday, June 23, 2018

RUSSIA 2018 SUPER EAGLES UPDATES!

Nigeria win first World Cup match, thrash Iceland 2- 0 Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup hopes are firmly back on track after Ahmed Musa conjured two goals for the Super Eagles to fly past Iceland 2-0 and shoot to second place in Group D with three points.

Ahmed Musa scored both goals as Nigeria swept aside World Cup debutants Iceland to leave Group D intriguingly poised with one round of games to go.

The Super Eagles would have gone out with defeat but came good in Volgograd.

Musa showed superb technique to fire Nigeria ahead on the half-volley before the Leicester player rounded keeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson to make it 2-0.

Iceland missed a late penalty awarded after a video assistant referee review, Gylfi Sigurdsson firing over.

The Leicester City star has now scored a total of four goals in two World Cups – the most by any Nigeria star.

The Eagles will now need to at least avoid defeat on Tuesday against

Oghenekharo Etebo: Nigeria don’t lack goalscorers

Ahead of the Super Eagles big clash against Iceland Friday, Stock City midfielder Oghenekharo Peter Etebo has revealed in a recent interview that Nigeria don’t lack goalscorers.

According to the former Warri Wolves play-maker when he was asked if Nigeria was going to find the back of the net in their second group stage game against Iceland, he said “We don’t lack goalscorers. We scored in the World Cup qualifiers – not just in our home games but also away – otherwise we wouldn’t be here.

Etebo who was the only Africa named in the FIFA best 11 of the first game went further to say the team have moved on from the disappointing 2 – 0 to Croatia in the first game.

FIFA World Cup Results, June 22 Nigeria 2 - 0 Iceland Brazil 2 - 0 Costa Rica Serbia 1 - 2 Switzerland

FIFA World Cup Fixtures, June 23 16:00 South Korea vs Mexico 19:00 Germany vs Sweden 13:00 Belgium vs Tunisia

Argentina in Saint Petersburg and hope Iceland do not beat Croatia in a final group game to sail through to the Round of 16.

Man of the Match Musa opened scoring on 49 minutes, when he expertly controlled a cross by Victor Moses from the right, before he fired home from inside the box.

He then doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 75thminute, when he raced past his marker, committed the Iceland goalkeeper before he picked his spot to hit the back of the net.

This was just a minute after his goal-bound effort crashed against the crossbar.

The Vikings failed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute, when Gyfli Sigurdsson blasted over the bar after VAR showed substitute Tyronne Ebuehi tripped an attacker inside the box.

Iceland carved out the better chances in the first half, but young goalkeeper Francis Uzoho pulled off a series of saves to justify his choice as the country’s No 1.

National Volleyball League Round of 16 begins The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) says the Round of 16 of the National Volleyball League has begun on Friday in both the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences.

The Technical Director of NVBF, Martin Melandi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the phase two of the league would feature 16 teams in each of the conferences.

According to him, we are in the round of 16 after the ground round that is the qualification stage and 16 teams have emerged.

“We have divided the teams into conferences. All the teams that qualify from the northern region will play under Savannah Conference with their venue in Kaduna.

“While teams from the southern part of the country will play in the Atlantic Conference with venue in Port Harcourt.

The league commences on Friday to July 1,’’ he said.

Melandi said that after the Round of 16, the league would proceed into the

ranking positions which would come between Aug. 10 and Aug. 19.

He said that the volleyball premier league which was the final would be played in October in Abuja.

“We will have eight teams from the 16 teams that are playing in the conferences to play in the premier competition.

“Eight teams that are at the bottom of the table will go to ranking position for the Division One, while the other eight top teams will go to the premier position,’’ he said.

Melandi said that the quality of the league was very impressive, adding that it meant the target of the federation was being achieved.

He said the league had also helped the federation to discover lots of young players that never had the opportunity to come to the centre for competitions.

The technical director said that because the first phase of the league was taking to the doorsteps of players at the zonal level, more players had the opportunity to participate.

Melandi noted that the league also provided the federation the opportunity to select good players that would be injected into the national team.

“Playing the league at the zonal level availed players the opportunity to be able to come at a minimal cost to compete,’’ he said.

Melandi appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the league, adding that the federation would not achieve much without sponsorship.

“We will not be able to take the league to the level that we want without sponsorship.

“I appeal to companies and individuals that we have a league that will sell their product and their image,’’ he said.

The 16 teams from the Savannah Conference are: North East — Wikki Bauchi, Spatans of Yola; North-West — Kada Emeralds of Kaduna and Zamfara State VBallers.

From North-Central — Benue Queens and Plateau Rocks and Federal Zone —

NSCDC and Immigration in the female category.

The male teams are: North East — Spartan of Yola and Wikki Bauchi; North West — Kano Pillars and Kada Kings of Kaduna.

While North-Central has Plateau Rock and Niger Brass and Federal Zone — NSCDC and Immigration.

For the 16 teams in Atlantic Conference we have: Female teams, South West — Lagos, South-South — Delta Force, Rivers Spikers; South-East — Imo Spikers, UCEM VBall Club and Federal Zone – Customs and Nigerian Army.

NAN reports that Scorpions of Gombe were given a wild card to play in the South-West.

Male teams are: South-West — Sunshine of Akure, Team Lagos, SouthSouth — Edo Braves, Famous Spikers; South East — UCEM VBall Club, Dynamic Spikers and Federal Zone – Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Police Force.

Times Sports 30

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

White swipes at Hearn over $500m Joshua deal

UFC president Dana White has branded Eddie Hearn “very oversensitive” regarding reports of a potential $500 million deal between the UFC and Anthony Joshua.

Hearn has been Joshua’s promoter since he turned professional in 2013, guiding him from his Olympic gold medal to the current unified heavyweight champion of the world.

Despite interest from other promoters in signing Joshua when his current contract with Hearn expires, White downplayed reports and insisted he never made an offer of $500 million himself.

“It’s not true,” White told The MMA

Roasted regarding the offer. “Me and Joshua spoke on the phone. We never got together.

“His contract was coming up and I said, ‘Listen, I would like to talk to you guys.’

“He made it very clear to me that he wasn’t going to leave Eddie and that he wanted to stay with Eddie.

“I said: ‘Yeah, I’m not looking for you to leave Eddie, we can all work together, I think we can do a lot for you here in the United States.’

“Eddie Hearn hasn’t been in the business that long. I think Eddie Hearn was very oversensitive over the thought that Anthony Joshua and I would even

and were officially knocked out of the tournament.

Egypt’s only goal was scored by Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot, however, the referee denied Egypt another penalty after Marwan Mohsen was also fouled inside the penalty box.

The Kingfut website reports that the EFA is looking to file a complaint against the Paraguayan referee for not using the VAR system to make the right decision.

“We will file a complaint against the whole refereeing

team especially after it was proven that their was some injustice,” Abou-Rida said.

“The referee did not use the VAR when Marwan Mohsen fell inside the penalty area and the penalty was clear.

“Apart from that in Russia’s first goal Ahmed Fathi was clearly pushed.

“The FA will use their right in filing an official complaint and we will demand an investigation to take place.”

Hector Cuper’s men still have one game against Saudi Arabia in their final group match on Monday, June 25.

SuperSport launches new World Cup shows for DStv, GOtv subscribers Mutiat Alli DStv and GOtv subscribers will have access to new top-notch shows and more gateways to the glamour of the ongoing FIFA World Cup on SuperSport.

The new shows will ensure that DStv and GOtv subscribers do not miss a single action on or off the pitch.

Lifestyle magazine show, From Russia with Love will showcase sights and sounds

of the World Cup in Russia and transport it back home to Africa. The show, which runs on weekends, will be anchored by Minnie Dlamini, Thato Moeng alongside Nigeria’s Charles Anazodo.

There will also be daily onehour news special on weekdays at 6 am on SuperSport Blitz.

The latest fixtures, updates from the Nigerian camp and new stories will be provided

by Julia Stuart, Crystal Arnold, Lucas Radebe alongside former Russian league stars,

The Enugu state government says it has secured an insurance cover for the players and technical crew of Rangers International FC. Joseph Udedi, commissioner for sports, told NAN in Enugu on Friday that the insurance covers accident, adding that it was for the ongoing 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Udedi, who disclosed that the insurance policy was being handled by Premium Insurance Company, noted that it could be extended.

“We have secured a group accident insurance for 43 players and 15 officials of Rangers International FC, Enugu, who are currently participating in the ongoing 2017/2018 NPFL season,” he said.

According to him, the insurance cover for the team shows the passion and commitment of governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to place Rangers as a model team in the NPFL. “We are grateful to our sports-loving governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has continued to support Rangers in every way possible so that the team achieve enviable result.

“The insurance policy for the players and technical crew of Rangers is a feat not common among NPFL teams. But the governor has graciously done it,’’ Udedi added.

Rangers are currently occupying the 10th position on the league’s table with 33 points, after playing 24 matches.

talk and was almost insulted by it.

“And that really wasn’t the conversation we had or the intent.”

Despite White’s firm denial of any offer, he did admit it’s all good publicity for Joshua’s profile.

“If you’re Anthony Joshua, they know that we have money and they know what we’re capable of doing,” White added.

“It’s not a bad thing for Anthony Joshua to be in all of the newspapers and all over the internet that I made a $500 million offer.”

Joshua’s last outing was a unanimous decision victory over Joseph Parker on March 31.

Egypt FA to file complaint against Paraguayan referee The Egyptian Football Association has decided to launch a complaint against referee Enrique Caceres following what they believe is poor officiating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Pharaohs lost their second Group A match to hosts Russia on Tuesday and EFA president Hany AbouRida has confirmed that they will file an official complaint against Russia.

The North Africans suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to the World Cup hosts in their second group game

Enugu Government secures insurance cover for Rangers players, technical crew

Matthew Booth and Stanton Fredericks. Also on Saturdays at 9am on SuperSport 3, Mozez Praiz will hostFanFest, the show that gives fans the voice. Subscribers can also look forward for a 360-degree breakdown of the on-field action on Master Plan, a show that focuses on strategic and tactical analysis. It has former Northern Ireland World Cup player, Andy Townsend, in the driving seat.

The broadcast experience is completed by Insights, which

is set against the backdrop of different destinations. It is hosted by former Manchester United star, Phil Neville. The show will feature in-depth chats with ex-footballers and focus on tactics, injuries and goals.

SuperSport will also deliver the first-ever live-streamed soccer show on Facebook.

Called On The Ball, the fanfocused show will tap into the drama of the FIFA World Cup and look at the lighter side of the game.

Brazil edge towards World Cup knockouts after Costa Rica late show Philippe Coutinho and Neymar broke down dogged Costa Rica in injury time on Friday, sealing a 2-0 win for Brazil that propels the fivetime champions towards the World Cup last 16.

The Central Americans looked likely to hold on for a hard-earned draw, particularly after Neymar had a penalty award chalked off by referee Bjorn Kuipers after he consulted the Video Assistant Referee.

But Coutinho and Neymar finally broke through, scoring in the 91st and 97th minutes to put Tite’s side on the brink of the knockout stages.

At the final whistle, Neymar sat down on the grass and wept, with the

emotion of victory hitting home after the tense Group E contest at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.

Neymar started despite limping out of training on Tuesday with a hurt ankle, which the Brazilian FA said was sustained as a result of snapping Swiss defenders.

After a ponderous start, Brazil enjoyed a gradual crescendo during the first period but their dominance in possession was not reflected in chances created.

Neymar faced the most devoted of markers in Costa Rica’s Cristian Gamboa, the Brazilian spending most of the half hopping over scything tackles or dodging past a barging shoulder.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 23, 2018

31 Times Sports

RUSSIA 2 0 1 8 W O R L D !

Sustain the winning momentum – President Buhari tells Super Eagles

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Eagles on their 2-0 victory Friday over the national team of Iceland in their second match at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The President expressed delight at the confidence, discipline, team-work and indomitable spirit displayed by the young Nigerian

players.

President Buhari urged them not to limit themselves but sustain the current winning momentum by going all out against their last group opponent, Argentina, next week.

“I am confident that if our players believe in themselves, they can qualify out of their difficult group and even go

very far in the tournament,” President said, according Media Adviser, Femi Adesina.

“With determination, nothing is impossible,” Buhari added.

The President urged all Nigerians to continue to rally round the Nigerian ambassadors with their prayers and other forms of support.

Crisis hits Argentina camp ahead of clash with Nigeria Argentina camp here at the FIFA World Cup in Russia is in turmoil. The reason for the crisis is the 3-0 defeat handed out to the Albiceleste by Croatia on Thursday night to narrow the chances of the South American nation making it to the knockout stage a difficult one.

Now, with Argentina’s last Group D game against Nigeria on Tuesday a difficult battle ahead, Manchester City forward, Sergio Aguero, has hit out at Coach Jorge Sampaoli, insisting he can take a walk from the team he has mismanaged.

At the post-match press conference immediately after the loss to Croatia, Aguero was in no mood whatsoever to hang around the team as he stormed out of his very brief and heated interview.

“Let him say what he wants,” said Aguero in a caustic manner to reporters in apparent reference to Sampaoli’s defence of his poor tactics that failed woefully to unlock the Croatian defence.

With Argentina on the brink of World Cup elimination from the group stage of the Mundial here in Russia, Sampaoli

admitted that his ‘project has failed’ and that he struggled to find a system to get the best out of Lionel Messi and Co. Sampaoli refused to blame Messi for the inability of Argentina to pick a point from the match.

He also took the blame as he tried to deflect the criticism from a terrible goalkeeping mistake by Willy Caballero who gifted Ante Rebic for Croatia’s first goal.

“It’s not right to blame Caballero,” said Sampaoli, looking bemused during his post-match news conference.

“If I’d planned things differently, it would have worked out differently. I honestly thought the plan for this match was going to put pressure on the opponent. But after the disaster of the first goal, it was tough, we were lost emotionally.

“Our driving force is Leo, but we couldn’t find him. We work as a team to get the ball to Leo, but also the other team works to avoid that.

“There is shame, pain, at not delivering for the Argentine people. It’s been a long time since I felt like this, and now it’s

happening with the shirt of my own country. It hurts badly.

“It’s not the boss’s partial responsibility, it’s his total responsibility,” said Sampaoli, after presiding over Argentina’s heaviest defeat in the World Cup group stage since 1958, a result that saw Croatia qualify for the last 16.

Third in Group D with one point after two games, Argentina is now struggling to scrape into the second

round and an exit at this stage would be humiliating for a team of their stature.

Croatia qualified from their group with a match to spare thanks to goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.

If Argentina goes ahead to fire Sampaoli because of the poor show here, he will become the third Argentine coach sacked during their troubled qualification phase – Gerardo Martino and Edgardo Bauza.

World Cup: A review of the performance of African teams so far There have been exceptional performances at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but the African teams have not particularly had a bright start to their campaign in the 21st edition of the Coupe de Mundial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all five participating African teams with the exception of Senegal lost their opening matches.

The first African team to ever play in a World Cup finals and began their campaign in Russia is Egypt.

They returned to the world stage after 28 years and lost by a lone goal to Uruguay, no thanks to an own goal by Azeez Aziz Bouhaddouz

in the 89th minute which gave the South Americans the victory.

The second African team to lose their opening match was Morocco who also conceded a late own goal to Iran.

Then came the turn of the Super Eagles of Nigeria who suffered a 0-2 defeat in the hands of Croatia.

These results sparked divergent views among sports enthusiasts about the ability of the African teams to make it out of the group stage.

Many, however, hinged their hopes on Tunisia to beat England or at worst secure a draw, but yet again, it was the European side who took the day through another late goal by Harry Kane.

The last African side to begin their campaign was Senegal. They no doubt brought a glimmer of hope to Africans as they defeated Poland 2-1.

NAN also reports that the five African teams have conceded a total of 11 goals so far with Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt all on the verge of World Cup exit.

A cross section of football enthusiasts who spoke to NAN at a viewing centre at Druz Resort in Maitama noted that Africa’s campaign at the World Cup had been disappointing so far.

Businessman Ernest Frank said the African teams, especially Nigeria and the North African teams had0 performed below par.

“Most of the African teams did well but have failed to measure up to their opponents.

“I mean, look at how Morocco played against Iran. They had the game in their hands but they couldn’t convert their chances and were made to rue their missed goal scoring chances.

“They were also technically sound against Portugal, but just one from Ronaldo was all the Portuguese needed to edge them out.

“So far, I have not been impressed by the performances of the other African teams at the World Cup, with the exception of Senegal who have given me a little more reason to believe in Africa,” he said.

Spectators utilise World Cup for tourism, troop to Volgograd’s Heroes City 2018 FIFA World Cup spectators at Volgograd in Russia have been trooping to the Memorial Complex to be part of the fun offered by the beautiful features at the Heroes City.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spectators were in groups of families and friends.

They practically took over the Complex to share in the memories of the “Heroes of Stalingrad Battle’’ on the Mameyev Hill.

From Tsaritsyn in 1589 to Stalingrad in 1925, and then Volgograd in 1961, the city holds so much memories of the bloody battles between the Red Army and the Nazis.

NAN reports that the fallen heroes of the Stalingrad Battle were victims of Hitlerian overrun of the City of Volgograd in their gallant move to defend their country.

Among such attractive features at the Heroes City are the Square of the Fallen Fighters (Ploshchad Pavshikh Bortsove), Pavlove House, Panorama Museum and Alleya Geroyev (Alley of the Heroes).

The football spectatorsturned-tourists were engaged in photograph-taking, presentation of flowers (laying of wreaths) at the burial grounds of the heroes and light refreshment after climbing the tall Mameyev Hill.

Speaking later with NAN, some of the tourists’ responses were revealing and exciting.

Andrei Solosenkho, a Russian from St. Petersburg who said he came to watch the Nigeria/ Iceland match, said the trip

for the match offered him an opportunity to visit the Memorial Complex.

“The site is a symbol of historical importance in remembrance of the Fallen Heroes of Stalingrad Battle, so, I have to seize the opportunity offered by the World Cup to visit the place.

“Even though, I am a Russian I have never been to this place before. It is nice being here in a lifetime,” he said.

Chinwe Ojukwu, a Nigerian lady who came into the complex in company of some Russian counterparts, told NAN that visiting such sites has been her long-time ambition.

“I have to take the opportunity offered by the Mundial to visit the place.”

“Apart from being a nice sight to behold, it is also a place dedicated to the memory of the fallen heroes of Stalingrad Battle. So, I have to join thousands of visitors who came to pay homage, as well as to have fun,” she said.

Ian Steve, a German, told NAN he had been reading a lot of the history of the Heroes City.

“But seeing is believing. This is exactly what I have come to do.”

Joseph Watts, an Icelander who was in Volgograd to support his national team against Nigeria, said he had to utilise the opportunity offered by the World Cup to visit the place of importance.

“I cannot miss coming here, seeing the plethora of football fans who are having fun. I think I did not miss my way at all. It is exciting and interesting as well,” he said.(NAN)

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