Asaba 2018: Amusan, Enekwachi win gold for Nigeria https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts
dailytimesnigeria
www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr
N8bn diversion
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018
g 22
VOL. 3
NO. 717
N100
JAMB directors, others in hot soup
How Oloyede’s remittance of N8.7bn triggers massive probe EFCC set to prosecute JAMB officials, ‘snake swallowing N36m’ cashier
Peter Fowoyo Two Directors from the Joint Matriculations Board (JAMB) who were allegedly fingered as key suspects in the diversion of over N8 billion revenue may be arrested any moment from now for interrogation by the
APC, PDP in war-of-words over status of Saraki, g 5 Ekweremadu
Eleka heads for tribunal, files petition against Fayemi’s victory g3
operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The two Directors, one serving, the other retired (names withheld), are set to be quizzed by the anti-graft commission in relation to what they know about the missing fund which has generated puzzles as to how such huge amount could disappear into thin
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Power generation rises to 7,000 mega watts – Fashola g 6 Torrential rain claims 1 life, Pregnancy, child birth took g 11 destroys 30 shops in Kanog 9 me back to God – Tonto Dikeh
2
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
JAMB directors, other officials in hot soup
Continued from page 1
air. A source, who confided in The Daily Times on Friday, disclosed that the commission has received an audit report from the forensic audit committee and all is now set for the JAMB officials to be quizzed in order to state what they know about the diverted fund. The Federal Government is said to have lost over N8 billion between 2010 and 2015 due to the non-remittance of the accrued revenues by the examination body. This amount include unremitted Value Added Tax and Withholding Tax. In the wake of the remittance of N7.8 billion to the Federal Government by the Ishaq Oloyedeled management of the examination body, the Federal Government, working on the suspicion that the previous management had defrauded the federation of billions in unremitted revenues, had ordered a forensic audit of the accounts of JAMB for that
period of five years. The source further informed our correspondent that the report of the forensic audit committee, turned in some months ago was subsequently forwarded to the EFCC by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for criminal investigation and possible prosecution of culprits. Following the submission of the audit report, the Commission set up a crack investigative panel to review the report and take further investigative steps to bring the indicted culprits to book. The source said: “We are looking at a number of accounts with suspicious inflows and outflows. “From the detailed analyses of the accounts, we have identified a few officers that would help our investigations because funds have been traced to their accounts. Very soon, we will be inviting them for questioning. “Among the officers that we may invite are a serving director and a retired director of the examination body”.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency is set to prosecute a number of officers of JAMB already indicted in the investigation over the loss of revenues from sale of scratch cards by some of the state offices of the examination body. Among the official that may be arraigned in court any moment from now is an official based in Makurdi, Benue State, Philomina Chieshe, who claimed that a mysterious snake swallowed N36million. The money was part of the proceeds of the sale of scratch cards. Chieshe, who was arrested few ago by the EFCC, allegedly told the operatives that the money was collected on instalment basis from her by her Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Umoru. She further claimed that the coordinator usually asked her to withdraw proceeds of the sale of the cards from her account in two banks. “This money that I withdraw, the coordinator used it for the office and some time for himself,” she added.
3 News
PHOTO TIMES
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); representative of the Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nigeria, Abraham Tamrat (2nd left); Deputy Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Richard Young (right); and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice/ Chairman, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe (left), during the conference on ‘Examining the Root Causes of Human Trafficking’ in Edo State,’ in Benin City, Edo State.
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola unveiling the plaque put in his honour by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) at the Yoruba Square in Port of Spain in commemoration of his visit to Trinidad and Tobago and attendance of 2018 Emancipation Day. On his right is his wife, Sherifat Aregbesola.
Eleka heads for tribunal, files petition against Fayemi’s victory Wants court to declare him winner Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ekiti State Deputy Governor in the just concluded governorship election on July 14, 2018, Prof. Kolapo Oluwole Eleka on Friday filed over 700- page petition against the victory of the Governor elect. Dr Kayode Fayemi. In his complaints before the Election Petition Tribunal, Eleka is asking the tribunal to declare him as the winner of the governorship election. Eleka, who filed the petition at about 6pm at tribunal in Ado Ekiti on Thursday said, “I formally filed the much expected petition against the results of the July 14, 2018 governorship election, which was openly manipulated by political desperadoes, using instruments of the federal government. “Like I have maintained, I am challenging the election results not out of desperation to be governor,
but for reasons of future and posterity, and largely on behalf of the people of Ekiti, who were taken aback by the outcome of the election. “Withouts doubt, the will of the people was subverted by those who have chosen to take Nigeria back to the dark days of ballot stuffing, ballot boxes snatching and outright falsification of election results and I believe they deserve to get justice. “As law abiding citizens of our country, the only path of honour to take in a situation like this is the process that we have initiated today, to seek redress against the use of security forces and other instruments of the federal government to suppress the will of our people. “Sadly, the desperation of the APC to take over all states in the country, especially those under governors like Dr. Ayodele Fayose perceived as uncompromising has destroyed all the gains made by the PDP government regarding free,
fair and credible elections. “The mood of Ekiti people when the beneficiary of the electoral robbery was declared winner and up till today is a pointer to the resolve of the people not to accept the subversion of their will and we have answered their calls to use the judiciary to get back their mandate. “In doing this, we have presented overwhelming discrepancies in the results declared by INEC to the tribunal to adjudicate upon and I am confident that the popular mandate of the people of Ekiti will not go unrestored. “I therefore want Ekiti people to keep hope alive, remain strong and resolute in their belief in God. “While we go through this judicial walk in exposing the electoral thievery of July 14, 2018, we urge the good people of Ekiti State, especially my teeming supporters to remain calm, peaceful and prayerful, bearing in mind that those who stole their mandate will not enjoy the benefits for long.”
Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle); former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba (right) and Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, at the Commendation Service for late Deacon Adepoju Adeyemi, former Secretary to Ogun State Government and one time Head of Service, at the Ibara Baptist Church, Abeokuta... on Friday.
L-R: Director of Finance, Lagos State Department and Property Company (LSDPC), Biodun Muritala; DGM,Corporate Communications and Marketing, Olusola Martins and MD/CEO, LSDPC. Jide Sanwo-olu during the 13th Annual General Meeting of Lagos Building Investment Company Plc in Lagos. Photo: Olatunji Wale
4
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
5 News
APC, PDP in war-of-words over status of Saraki, Ekweremadu Tunde Opalana and Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Ever since the issue of defection started especially in the National Assembly, the two major political parties in the country have been at logger-head over who controls the leadership of the Senate. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in a war-of-words over the eligibility of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, retaining their positions while they both belong to the minority PDP in the upper chamber. The APC has insisted that its members remained the majority in the Senate and as such, could not allow a member of the minority PDP to preside over plenary, thereby asking Saraki to step aside. But the PDP, on Friday, accused the APC and Federal Government of ‘shopping for a fraudulent interim court order’ to declare vacant, the seat of Senate President, following Saraki’s defection from the APC to the PDP. The main opposition party also said that credible information at its disposal showed that some cabals in the Presidency and APC had perfected a plan to institute a lawsuit to challenge the validity of Saraki’s seat with the sole aim of securing a fraudulent injunction to force him out of office pending the determination of the substantive suit. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement made available on Friday, said intelligence available to the PDP showed that Saraki would be sidelined through prearranged court ruling while his deputy would be detained to create room for a change of leadership in the Senate. He said: “Once they are able to secure the injunction from a particular compromised judicial officer, they intend to arraign and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on
trumped up charges and ensure he is not granted bail so as to keep him out of circulation while their men would move in to effect an illegal leadership change in the Senate. But the party expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying “while we trust that the Chief Justice of Nigeria will protect the sanctity of our judiciary especially at this trying time in our national history”, it called on the institution of the judiciary at all levels to immune itself from being used by enemies of our democracy as no house falls leaving its roof standing. “This desperation by despotic forces to forcefully and illegally take control of the Senate, the highest symbol of our Democratic Order, is nothing short of “civilianised coup” which must be resisted by all. “The judiciary must therefore ensure that it is not intimidated or ensnared to be party to a desperate bid to destabilise our nation”, he added. The PDP spokesman also stated that the plot aimed at destabilising the nation’s democracy laid credence to the party’s earlier stand that President Buhari’s supposed London vacation is a ploy to absolve himself of responsibility for the political terror plotted by the APC government to unleash on the opposition, especially the National Assembly. He said, “Although they denied it as usual, Nigerians can bear witness to the fact that there is nothing the APC government denied that they did not eventually execute. “Indeed, there has never been any impunity they executed that they did not deny. “The recent rascally attempt to hold Saraki and Ekweremadu hostage in their homes on 24th July 2018 as well as the terrorisation of the Benue State House of Assembly after Governor Samuel Ortom’s defection bear sad testimony to this fact”. He called on Nigerians and the
Saraki
Ekweremadu
Abdullahi
international community to be on the alert as the conspirators plan to commence the execution of the alleged plot from Tuesday next week, while it cautioned the APC to note that it is running on a collision course with Nigerians as the citizens will definitely not fold their hands and watch the hard earned democracy to be destroyed. But the former Nasarawa State Governor and serving senator of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, has faulted the claim of the PDP that Saraki could not be removed, saying that Saraki has stepped on Banana peel and should hand over the crown with immediate effect or be ready for the consequences. Adamu gave the warning in an interview with journalists on Friday in Abuja. He said, “If Saraki knows political intricacies and the political terrain or the path where the banana peel in political landscape is, he will be more cautious.” According to Adamu, “the way he (Saraki) is going now, he has obviously stepped on banana peel and only God knows how far he will slip”. The Nasarawa State born politician said that he would
not pretend because he believed Saraki made a mistake by taken a wrong decision, stressing that he (Saraki) would “have stories to tell along the line.” “It is not the best he could have done. He had a duty to his father to keep the flag of the family flying but the way he is going, I do not think he is doing that.” Adamu, therefore, urged Saraki to step down to avert consequences, adding that “he should honourably return the crown or be ready to bear the consequences.” Adamu, who is the Head of pro-Buhari Support Group in the Senate, vowed that with the defection, it would not be business as usual. He explained that “the defection of Saraki and the other lawmakers is a game changer. “We expect them to do it amicably and peacefully. They should make sure they do not run away with our crown. “If they think they will go and nothing will happen and that it
will be business as usual, then they need to think again. “I will not say whether we will take steps or not take steps. We hope that between now and resumption of Senate plenary, more events will unfold. We do not want to be in a hurry to speculate.” The lawmaker, however, said that if Saraki insisted on leading a Senate with majority of lawmakers from the APC, there would be repercussions. On the belief that Saraki did not do anything constitutionally wrong by defecting and that there was a precedence where the then Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, defected but remained the Speaker, Adamu said “it will not happen this time. We are more educated on the rules now.” On gale of defections from the ruling party, Adamu said he would not want any member to leave the party again, noting, however, that it was a free world and everyone was at liberty to join the party of his or her choice.
Abe ruined his guber chances by failing to support Dakuku in 2015, says APC chieftain Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt
R-L: Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, presenting cheques to next-of-kin of pension beneficiaries; Obiomon Morrison; and Obiomon Emuata, who are next-of-kin, to deceased employees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, at the Government House, Benin City.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has berated those blaming the current challenges Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has been facing over his gubernatorial ambition in Rivers State. Chief Eze, in a statement he signed and circulated to media organisations on Friday revealed that APC had worked out a formula where Dr. Dakuku Peterside, its gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 election, would complete his terms in office, while Abe would take the ticket later as that would have satisfied the riverine agitation, answered the Ogoni Question, and pacified the South East senatorial district. He said: “But Abe worked against it in 2015 by refusing to support Peterside and by so doing, undermined his own ambition.” According to Eze, an ally of the key actors in Rivers APC, the three major unresolved issues facing Rivers State
politics were the sharing of political power along the upland and riverine divide, the challenge of the South East senatorial district that have not produced an elected governor since the creation of the State in 1967, coupled with the fact of Ogoni not producing a governor since the creation of the state on May, 27th 1967. According to him, those issues were to have been resolved under the APC formula. He said: “It can only take a sagacious, patriotic, practical, concerned and seasoned political leader like the Transport Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to find a solution to such seemingly sophisticated and near impossible challenges facing Rivers State as stated above. Eze expressed sadness that instead of Senator Magnus Abe to adhere to wise counsel and engage the elders and political leaders in Rivers State to dialogue on the issues between him and the Transport Minister, preferred to set up a Media Team under Mr. Friday Kennedy only to be spewing out negative reports.
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
FCTA to harbour additional 8,000 IDPs Idu Jude, Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it has concluded arrangements to receive and camp no fewer than 8000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), from neighbouring Nasarawa and Kogi States. Managing Director, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Abbas G. Idriss made this disclosure after a stakeholders meeting on the camping of the IDPs mid-last week, in Abuja. Idriss, who further explained that the displacement of persons was informed by communal clashes between the Ebira people of Kogi and Bassa people of Nasarawa States in four communities, added that the FCT became involved because the IDPs were taking refuge in Kwali and Abaji Area Councils of the FCT, hence
the need to properly camp, feed and secure them. He revealed that a suitable accommodation has been found at the Senior Secondary School (a boarding school) in Dangara, Kwali Area Council where only the IDPs would be sheltered for the one-month camping of the IDPs throughout September since the school was on vacations. According to him, after the one month camping, expected to open from 1st of September and last for the whole month, the IDPs would be repatriated, hopefully to their communities of origin, in line with international law, which stipulates that reparation should be “to place of choice, voluntary and dignified.” The Chairman of the camping committee also said that as soon as the two State Governments were done with their peace efforts and camping arrangements, “we will
move them to their original places of abode”. Operations Coordinator, International Emergency and Aids Initiative, Engr. Daniel B. Gambo, who also spoke after the meeting, however said that the right thing usually done internationally was not to repatriate IDPs from one camp to another camp. Engr. Gambo reeling out different camp rules stated that some activities being lined up ahead of the camp opening included cultural display by the different peoples from the two states, Islamic and Christian preaching and peace-mending meetings among traditional rulers from all sides. The Coordinator also said that the IDPs who are predominantly farmers, would also be taught way of preserving farm produce, basic health tips, sensitization on skills acquisition, environmental hazards and sanitation among others.
Power generation rises to 7,000 mega watts — Fashola Mathew Dadiya The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has disclosed that Nigeria’s current power generation has reached 7000 Mega Watts. Fashola said this on Friday in Calabar at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing 4th Edition Retreat for top directors, heads of units and chief executives of agencies and parastatals. He said that although there was still more to be done, the ministry had moved forward from where it was three years ago. He said, “Three years ago, the story was that power generation was the main problem of Nigeria. The story was that the distribution companies were complaining that they did not have enough energy to distribute to Nigerians.
“We were distributing averagely 2,690 mega watts of electricity to Nigerians, but today, that story has changed, distribution has risen to 5,222 mega watts, an all time national high. “Transmission has reached 7,000 while generation has reached 7000. The problem has not finished but all we can say is that we have made progress.” The minister added that the Federal Government was constructing roads in virtually all the 36 states some of which were through collaborative efforts as well as direct interventions. According to him, the present administration has spent over N300 billion on roads construction since coming to power three years ago. “Before this administration, there was no housing policy but now we have one.” Fashola commended members of staff
of the ministry for their support and team work, noting that without team work, the ministry would not have been able to achieve much. He said that the theme of the retreat which is “Goal Setting and Goal Reaching for a Focused Team,’’ was meant to reinforce the team spirit while setting out on its goals in the next 90 days. “It is a team that wins. We will go together as a team. If we bind together, everything is possible,” he said. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr Louis Edozien, said that the retreat was meant to appraise the performance of the ministry in the past 90 days. Edozien, who was represented by a Director, Mr Ahmed Abdul, added that the retreat would also afford the top management the opportunity to strategise on the plan of action for the next quarter.
NGO advocates true political change, seeks international partnership Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
A Non-Governmental OrganisationSocietal, Cultural values and Development Initiative (SCDI) has advocated true and transparent politics capable of changing from money to people oriented, based politics in Nigeria. In a communiqué issued and signed by its Chairman, Professor Samuel Ibiyemi and Secretary, Reverend Gabriel Olaoye, the group also seeks for partnership with international
organisations/agencies for pre-election advocacy as it noted with great delight the good intentions of the USA Government, the European Union, Canadian Government and Asian countries Governments who have always supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for good and credible performances to enshrine good and credible governance in Nigeria. The groups have always served as observers to ensure sanity in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
FCT Metro rail to generate 30,000 employments opportunities - Minister Idu Jude, Abuja The Federal government has said that major priority of the administration is to focus on massive infrastructure. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed stated this while inspecting the Abuja light rail project, which he said was a promise kept. The Chief Resident Engineer of the project while briefing the Minister on a
facility tour said about 10,000 Nigerians were employed during the construction of the Abuja Light Rail Project. He said the Light Rail which was recently commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, would employ additional 30,000 Nigerians directly or indirectly when it begins full operation. In his remarks, the Minister said the Buhari administration is building a legacy of enduring infrastructure for posterity.
Court convicts ex-Taraba SA on revenue matters over N5.4m fraud Peter Fowoyo, Lagos A Taraba State High Court, Jalingo has convicted former Special Adviser on Revenue Matters to Taraba State government, Joshua Augustine, on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of public funds. The Federal government had in 2012 provided financial assistance to the tune of N400 million for the procurement of relief materials for victims of 2012 flood disaster. Two committees were set up to which Augustine was appointed to lead one of them. The sum of N214,795,870 was given to the committee, out of which a total of N5,452,580 was diverted. He was accused to have between October 20, 2012 and December 29, 2012 as Secretary of the Procurement Sub-Committee ‘A’ Northern and Central Zones, “dishonestly misappropriated
the sum of N4,702,580 out of the total sum of N214,795,870”. Augustine was first arraigned before Justice Filibus Andetur, in March 2016. At the end of the trial the prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered several documents to prove its case against him. However, Justice Andetur on August 2, 2018 sentenced him to one year in prison on count one with an option of N100,000 as fine, and six months on count two with an option of N50,000 as fine to run concurrently. The trial judge, however, added that: “In consideration that the convict has made considerable refund, almost all, the court suspends the sentence against the convict with the payment of the outstanding balance of N300,000 which the convict misappropriated as restitution to government and if he doesn’t pay, he goes to prison as the sentence stands”.
2019: NYSC boss assures corps members of adequate security Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo
L-R: Chairmain SMEDAN Governing Board, Otunba Femi Pedro; Director Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.Mrs Anietie Umoessien and Director of Planning Research Monitoring and Evaluation of SMEDAN, Wale Fasanya after the Board meeting held at the Corporate headquarters of SMEDAN in Abuja.
As the 2019 General election draws closer, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Taraba State for their one year national service have been assured of adequate protection of their lives and property. The Director General, NYSC, Brigadier General Suleiman Zakari Kazaure gave the assurance Friday, while
answering questions from Journalists shortly after meeting with the 2018 Batch ‘B’ Corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sibre. The DG, who said he was aware of the attacks and killings that were meted on Corps members during the past election years in some States of the Federation stated that Corps members who according to him might be used as INEC ad-hoc Staff for the elections must not lose their lives.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
7 News
150,000 women living with untreated fistula Short News disease in Nigeria -Health Minister Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has said that an estimated 150,000 women and girls are living with untreated fistula in Nigeria with an annual incidence of 12,000 -15, 000 cases. Speaking during a High Level Awareness Seminar on Fistula, held in Abuja, Adewole said that the unmet need for the treatment of obstetric fistula could be as high as 98% in Nigeria, with less than 3,000 fistula repairs done annually (NSF2018). He added that the country contributes 15% to the global burden of the obstetric fistula. According to the minister, the 2017 report by UNICEF had revealed that 43% of Nigerian girls are married off before their 18th birthday, while 17% are married before they turn 15. “The North Eastern and North Western Geo- Political Zones have the highest number of cases. “It is also estimated that about 2,000 fistula repairs annually (NSF 2018- 2022) and 10,000 clients are added annually to subsequent years new cases’’, he added. To this end, the minister said that Federal
government and Development Partners were making concerted efforts to eliminate fistula and investing in capacity building of various cadres of Healthcare Workers. “Obstetric Fistula is a devastating Childbirth injury which leads to both physical and social harm for women. Women who experience obstetric fistula suffer constant incontinence, shame, social segregation and health problems. “The development of obstetric fistula is directly linked to one of the major causes of maternal mortality; obstructed labour. It is estimated that more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa,’’ he added. Identifying prolonged obstructed labour caused by limited access to emergency obstetric care as one of the common causes of Obstetric Fistula in Nigeria, the minister lamented that only 38% of deliveries in Nigeria are supervised by Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs). “Socio- cultural practices including early marriage and early childbirth before the pelvis is fully developed also contribute significantly”. He stressed that the FMOH had
developed National Training Guidelines in conjunction with National Group on Obstetric Fistula, development partners, line ministries and other key relevant Stakeholders. The Minister informed that the FMOH would established four more National Centres and one regional centre, in addition to the three National Centres ‘’ This will increase our national obstetric centres to eight including regional centre’’ He urged partners to join the fight against the scourge of fistula in the society, adding that FG would continue to play a leading role in setting the agenda. Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Family Health Department, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, said that the FMOH was committed towards the elimination of Obstetric Fistula and improve the lives of women and children in Nigeria In his remarks, the UNFPA, Acting Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy, said that there was need to create more awareness on OFs in Nigeria. He further said that focus should be on improving Girl- Child Education, Child spacing, Gender trust and people showing more compassion.
2019: I remain in APC – Gov Sani-Bello Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani- Bello has said that he has no plan to defect from All Progressive Congress, APC, to any other political party. The Governor made the clarification following the defection of some governors and members of the National Assembly to the opposition People’s Democratic Party. Governor Sani-Bello, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said he remained consistent in support of President Muhammadu Buhariled government and committed to party ideals. Gov Sani-Bello said the ruling APC of which he is not only a member, but a strong stakeholder, remains the only political party to rescue Nigeria from the many wrongs of the past administration.
Family of gay expresses concern over his whereabouts
Seven years after last seen, family of alleged gay has raised the alarm about his whereabouts. The family, in Benin City, Edo State has expressed worries over the where about of their son, James who was last seen in Lagos State, in 2011. The family is worried that their son, escaped from a hospital in Lagos, after he was rushed there by a good Samaritan after he was allegedly stabbed by a group of cult members, after they had misunderstanding. They said since his alleged escape from the Lagos hospital in 2011, no one has seen him. The family fears that he might have been killed either by the cult group or angry mob as the Nigerian society is seriously averse to same sex activities.
Defection: Stakeholders deny Kwara lawmaker’s claims Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (left), addressing political appointees in the state during a meeting at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa. With him are: From Right: the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, the State Vice Chairman, PDP, Chief Mathew Israel Goli, and the SSG, Bayelsa State, Barr. Kemela Okara.
Why we welcome Saraki, Gov Ahmed, other returnees - Kwara PDP Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
Stakeholders in the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), Kwara State say the gale of defections hitting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has given the party the numerical strength to dislodge President Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Rock Villa in 2019. The Kwara State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Sanni Abubakar who led other major stakeholders of the party, including a former deputy governor and a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, stated this in Ilorin on Friday during a Press Conference at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. According to the stakeholders, which also included the party’s Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and State Women Leader, the party gladly “welcomes the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the State Governor, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed
and other returnees to the party. “The defection has increased the numerical strength of the PDP across the country and positions it to dislodge the All Progressives Congress-led federal government. “It is with great delight and enthusiasm that we welcome these honourable and distinguished members to our party. It is, indeed, a reunion of old and long time friends and associates who have jointly contributed in no small measures to the development of Nigeria; a day we in the Peoples Democratic Party have long anxiously waited for”, the group said. The stakeholders accused some of their members of “having nocturnal meetings in Abuja with a view to mortgaging our collective destiny on the altar of personal but selfish gains”, saying that “such members are not only egocentric but driven by inferiority complex and pathological hatred and envy for Saraki. The group believes that “if Saraki, as the Senate President and chairman of the
National Assembly, can be treated with so much disdain and disrespect despite his contributions, along with others, to the success of the APC in 2015, one can imagine what is likely to befall folks without any political pedigree, like those crying wolfs where none existed”. The stakeholders called members of the party in the state to respect the right of every member and work in unison in the interest of the party and the country at large. We appeal to all members of the PDP to be receptive to the new members and prospective members and build a stronger, united and acceptable party at all levels”. Also speaking, a Former Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Chief Joel Ogundeji charged politicians in the country to eschew politics of bitterness. Chief Ogundeji who noted that politics is a game of numbers said making Kwara state a better place under the tutelage of Peoples Democratic Party is paramount.
Councillors and stakeholders in Ojomu/Balogun constituency of Offa local government in Kwara state have dismissed claims by the member representing the constituency in the State Assembly, Prince Saheed Popoola that his constituents prevailed on him not to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Popoola remains the only state lawmaker in the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his other 23 colleagues, including his kinsman from Offa, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The stakeholders made the clarification in a statement signed by five councillors and other stakeholders in the constituency. They described the lawmaker’s claim as untrue and outrageous, adding that “this came as surprise and rude shock to us.” They said that Popoola did not consult members of the constituency that elected him before he took his decision to stay back in the APC.
Poor project delivery: Niger Delta Ministry blacklists firm Idu Jude, Abuja The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs says it has blacklisted one of the construction companies handling its NDDC projects for breaching contractual agreement. The Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Pastor Uguru Usani through his Chief Press secretary, Mashal Gundu, stated that the Niger Delta Affairs under his watch has blacklisted the contractor, ANBEZ Innovations Limited, handling water projects in the Niger Delta region. According to Mashal Gundu, ANBEZ Innovations Limited was awarded the contract of providing two numbers of Mini Water Scheme in each of the nine states of the Niger Delta region in December 2017 by the Ministry, but it failed to adhere to the technical specifications of the projects. He explained that the contract termination became necessary after several cautions by the Minister charging the contractor to rectify the shoddy jobs.
News 8
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
21,000 unemployed Bayelsa indigenes to benefit from CBN/World Bank scheme Akam James, Yenagoa A Non-Governmental Organisation, Visioned Skills Development Center (VSDC), has announced that over 21,000 unemployed youths from Bayelsa State will benefit from special grants from the World Bank/ Central Bank scheme to reduce unemployment and promote entrepreneurial skills. The Chief Executive Officer of VSDC, Apostle Isreal Kama, who made this known in Yenagoa during the interactive session with shortlisted beneficiaries at a seminar organised by the VSDC in conjunction with the Social Exchange
Market, said the special grant will be sourced through the Social Exchange Market under the supervision of VSDC, for the implementation of the ‘bottom-up’ strategy of the World Bank project. Kama said beneficiaries of the scheme could get grants as high as N10 million to start small businesses that would be supervised by VSDC all year round for sustainability. Speaking to newsmen after the seminar, Kama, said the “grants all over the world are always needed for a particular purpose to advance human development. The purpose of this particular grant available in Nigeria now is for economic revolution. “Ordinary Nigerian must be given the opportunity to offer solution to one
challenge or another in order to drive our economy forward. Life everywhere is full of challenges. Various solutions to challenges of life generate. “But huge percentage of ordinary Nigerians does not have what it takes to access capital either for business start up or business standardization thereby relying on Government for source of employment. The economies of advanced nations are driven by people not government. “Government only makes favourable policies that enable people to do such driving and that is what the government of Nigeria has done by the establishment of Development Bank of Nigeria to create diverse opportunities for ordinary Nigerians to participate in economic diversification”.
Short News Ebonyi 2019: APC will win, says Chima Edward Nnachi, Abakaliki An All Progressives Congress (APC), chieftain in Ebonyi State and one of the political gurus in Nigeria and a Buhari irredentists, has vowed that come what may, not only will the President win handsomely in the state, but comfortably in all states of the federation come 2019, in spite of whatever game, subterfuge that may be employed by the enemy, known and unknown. Comrade Chima stated this in an exclusive interview with The Daily Times on Friday, while reacting to a question on why the Ebonyi State government had chosen to refuse the APC in the state clearance to use the Abakaliki Township Stadium, a venue the party had proposed to use for its Mega Rally yesterday. According to Chima, “the president has the grassroots and the level of politics being practised in the country currently was not an elitist politics, but a grassroots politics”.
Drug peddlers attack ‘No to drug initiative’ ambassador
Over the past few years the Nigerian government and NGOs have taken steps to improve country’s reputation as an international trafficking centre. At the forefront of stemming the rising cases of drug abuse in the country is the “No to Drugs Initiative”. The not-for-profit making organisation overtime has put together symposia and conferences on drug related issues in secondary schools, markets, Universities and drug infested communities. The successes recorded don’t seem to go down well with the major drug peddlers hence they resorted to the extreme by attacking the most visible Ambassador of the NGO , afropunk singer Osas Randawest Omoruyi, but he escaped being lynched just by a whisker. The secretary to the NGO wasn’t so lucky, she was however battered by the drug peddlers but suffered minor bruises.
Saraki will help PDP dislodge Buhari in 2019 - Kwara PDP Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal with a team of detectives to OPC shrine located under Opebi Link Bridge in Lagos
MEPN advises youths on human traffickers’ new tricks Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, Lagos A Germany-based Migration Enlightenment Project Nigeria (MEPN), has called on those planning to migrate to seek independent information so that they do not fall easy prey to the deceit of human traffickers. MEPN, a Nigerian Diaspora initiative, in a statement issued recently to mark this year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons, said irregular migration was being driven by people smugglers who employ lies to deceive would-be emigrants. Quoting figures released by the UN’s International Organization for Migration on 19 July, the statement signed by Co-Project Directors, Kenneth Gbandi and Femi Awoniyi, said more than 1,443 persons had died in the Mediterranean so far this year, adding that “this is not counting those who may have lost their lives crossing the Sahara Desert or in Libya”. The MEPN pointed out that despite the commendable efforts of the federal government to evacuate stranded
Nigerians in Libya, thousands are still trapped in the transit countries being not able to continue their journey to Europe. “Many are subjected to forced labour and sexual exploitation and most are exposed to serious human rights abuses.” “We have a crisis on our hands! The rising human costs of irregular migration have necessitated concerted action from governments and voluntary groups,” the MEPN said in the statement. The group, which is currently carrying out a follow-up campaign in major Nigerian cities – Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Abuja, Enugu and Warri – to raise public awareness on the risks and dangers of irregular migration, called on youths to imbibe a realistic approach to migration. “They should not believe the easy promises of traffickers whose only concern is to collect money from their clients without bordering on what happens to them during the perilous journey,” the statement read. It was important that would-be emigrants seek reliable information on their desired country of destination
and what is legally required to get there as well as the requirements for residence permit to enable them make a fact-based decision on migrating. Moreover, positive alternatives to migration should be explored before venturing outside the country. The MEPN also called on government to still device better ways of inhibiting the activities of people smuggling as “trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights”. “As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres rightly pointed out human traffickers too often operate with impunity, with their crimes receiving not nearly enough attention. This must change.” The group called for harsher treatment for convicted human traffickers, while appealing to the federal government not to relent in its efforts to evacuate Nigerians who are still stranded along the irregular migration route. The World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2018 was held across the globe on 30 July 2018, and is an annual event.
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP under the aegis of PDP One Umbrella Project in Kwara state have said that the return of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to the party will assist to dislodge the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, coordinator of the group, Comrade Ben Duntoye, flanked by other PDP leaders from all the three senatorial districts of the state, debunked the speculation that Saraki would not accommodate old members of the opposition party. They said Saraki as the national leader of the PDP will be fair to all members of the party, not only in Kwara but Nigeria as a whole. The PDP leaders, who welcomed Saraki back to the PDP, said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari had brought untold hardship to Nigerians.
Obaseki showcases 1800 Emotan Gardens, land, education reforms With less than four weeks to the 27th edition of the Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) Convention, holding in Toronto, Canada, the Edo State Government is set to parade her achievements in the housing, education and other sectors at the event. The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, will lead the state’s delegation to the Toronto convention, which has become the single largest assemblage of Edo professionals and experts living and working in the Diaspora, and forms a large part of the state’s critical mass. At a strategy meeting between representatives of MIXTA Africa, the joint venture partner in the development of the 1800-unit Emotan Gardens, and representatives of the state government, Chairman, Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), Isoken Omo, assured that a mix of engagement strategies would be deployed in the state government’s effort to meet the housing and other needs of Edo people in the Diaspora.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Torrential rain claims 1 life, destroys 30 shops in Kano Yakubu Salisu, Kano Torrential rain in Dambatta Local Government Area of Kano State on Thursday, claimed one life, destroyed 30 shops and several houses. The heavy downpour, which started at about 4 pm lasted for over two hours, and was described as unprecedented in the area in over 20 years. Chairman, Dambatta Local
Government, Alhaji Idris Haruna Zago, who confirmed the incident, said a building collapsed as a result of the flooding and killed one of the occupants at Ungwar Markafi. The areas affected by the rainfall, include Bakin Kasuwa, Abbatoir and the main town. The rain came with heavy winds, leading to the collapse of some houses and shops. Zago said: “Honestly, the loss of property is overwhelming, while a man died in the process.
‘’The Local Government can only do a little to support the victims, due to the paucity of funds at our disposal.’’ According to him, many of the residents have been rendered homeless, due to the flood. He appealed to the State Government for immediate support to alleviate the suffering in the community and urged philanthropists, not to relent in their efforts to come to the assistance of the affected victims.
4 parties get candidates for Reps bye-election in Kogi Idris Ahmed, Lokoja In compliance with the electoral act and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), four political parties in Kogi state have elected their flag bearers for the August 11 poll for the Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency. The fifth party, Action Democratic Congress (ADC) had its result suspended as it held two elections at different venues. Daily Times was reliably informed that INEC will release names of candidates of the parties on Tuesday The five parties are jostling to fill
the vacancy created by the death of late Hon. Umar Buba Jibrin (APC) Deputy Majority Leader who died early this year. The primary elections were held last week Thursday in Lokoja the state capital by Accord party,All Progressives Congress.(APC),Sociall Democratic Party (SDP)and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While at congress, Accord Party produced, Alhaji Bala Salisu as its candidate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) elected Haruna Isa, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)gave its flag to Hon. Umar Alfa Imam (former Speaker Kogi House of Assembly)and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)has Engineer
Bashir Abubakar won un opposed. At the end of the Accord Party election, the state Chairman, Hon. Alhassan Adakeke congratulated the flag bearer Alhaji Bala Salisu and urged all members of the party to brace up to ensure total victory at the poll come August 11. Adakeke who appealed to the electorate of the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency to vote massively n Accord Party, promised that if given the mandate, the candidate would perform wonders like the late Hon. Buba Jibrin He said that Alhaji Bala Salisu who is a renowned grass root politician will never abandon them in time of need.
9 News
Short News APC senatorial aspirant faults Bauchi primaries An All Progressive Congress (APC), aspirant for the Bauchi South senatorial bye-election, Alhaji Ahmed Shaibu has faulted the primaries that was conducted by the Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philips Shaibu on 25th of July. Shaibu who walked out of the venue of the primaries before the primary election was conducted said that one person cannot decide for Bauchi People. Addressing journalists yesterday, Shaibu said, “I have to walk out of the party’s primaries because of the instruction that was given to delegates by the Bauchi Governor Mohammed Abubakar that they should not vote me but should vote for Dr. Danjuma Dabo”.
Ondo Govt to provide temporary shelter for “battered women” The Ondo State Government has promised to establish a temporary shelter for “battered women” in the state to ameliorate their plights and make life bearable for them. The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olawunmi Olatunji-Edet, made this known on Friday in Akure. Olatunji-Edet spoke at an event marking the 2018 International Day of Family and Widows Day in the state. International Widows Day is a United Nations ratified day of action to address the “poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries”. The commissioner said that commemoration of the two days was merged into one this year due to time constraint.
Fake fertiliser now in circulation, producers alert govt, farmers
L-R: Two suspected Fulani herdsmen caught with rifles at the scene of killings at Barkin Ladi while the the third suspect is a Berom native during their parade by the STF in Jos, Plateau State.
Worried by fake fertilizer in circulation, the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), on Friday called on the Federal Government to intervene without further delay. The Executive Secretary of FEPSAN, Mr Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, said that the adulterated fertilizer was causing low yield of farm crops. According to Kwa, the fake fertilizer is smooth in texture, dusty and mixed with sand while the original contains particles like rice, maize and other ingredients which are visible. He said the association had observed that fake fertilizer had resulted in low yield. “The Federal Government should urgently nib the development in the bud because it could derail its plan to produce one million metric tonnes of fertilizer in 2018”.
Police launch manhunt for killers of 4 traders in Rivers
Mediation C’ttee de-escalates herdsmen/farmers conflict, says AFAN
The Rivers State Police Command have launched a manhunt for the killers of four Northern traders in the Oroazi area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Unknown gunmen had on Thursday opened fire on the four traders, who were seated close their shop killing all of them. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omoni Nnamdi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt. Omoni said policemen have been deployed to Oroazi and environs to
The Hadejia chapter of All Farmers Association (AFAN), has attributed the de-escalation of herdsmen/ farmers conflict in the area to the concerted effort of the mediation committee constituted by the state government. The chairman of the chapter, Alhaji Usman Mohammed, made this assertion in Hadejia, Jigawa. He said that members of the committee were drawn from the Police, DSS, AFAN, local government council officials and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). Mohammed said that both MACBAN and AFAN were given one motorcycle each to easily access flashpoints where mediation between herdsmen and farmers was required. “In the past, we have recorded several cases of violence between farmers and herders, especially in areas like Guri and Kirikasamma. You hardly hear that these days.
forestall the possible breakdown of law and order. He said: “I can only confirm the incident, but the details and circumstances leading to the development are yet to be unravelled. What I have at my disposal now is just a sketch of what happened. “Our men are right there are. We are talking to them. The DPO called me this morning and a patrol van is already stationed there. We have appealed to the people to allow the security agencies to do their work and unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.” Reacting to the killing of the traders,
Chairman of Northern Traders Association of Nigeria (NTAN) in Rivers State, Usman Makarfi, called on security agencies to urgently address the issue of killings in the state. Makarfi said: “I feel very said; I remember, I was with them till 4:00 O’clock yesterday (Thursday). One of them is my vice. You see what is happening; killing everywhere. Let the government do something. “Let the government open its eyes. You know that election is coming and a lot of people see election as do or die affair. Let government put security everywhere. Let the government protect life and property.”
News 10
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
We will never abandon our youths, says Oshiomhole Titus Akhigbe, Benin-City
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has assured party youths in Edo State that no one will be used and dumped by the party. He stated this in a chat with newsmen at the Benin Airport on Friday, when APC supporters waited patiently to give him a rousing welcome, while assuring them of his unalloyed support that would ensure equal opportunities to them in governance. Oshiomhole, who alighted from the aircraft with registration number N770MS, moved by the mammoth crowd at the Airport to welcome him home weeks after he emerged as the party national chairman thanked the youths, market women, politicians and well wishers for their prayers
and support that propelled him to the topmost position in the party. He said: “I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained. You represent what I call our infantry division, you are the one on election day that ensure our voters come out. “You are the one who ensured that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rigging machine was defeated. We must keep you as standing force together, we will march all and we will ensure that anyone who worked will be taken care of. “I know that there are people with all kind of stories, but let me assure you after the storm, the weather will settle. Since you did not abandon me, I will never abandon you too. “And to our youths, I want to particularly appeal to you, do not lose faith, there will be war, there will be participation, there will be involvement and crucifying, we will not throw away anybody. Nobody
will be used and dumped. “If yesterday has not been too beautiful, tomorrow will be better. I am back home as they say. Women are my wives and we must sustain that oneness. All APC women know my position; together we shall work and reign.”
“I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained. You represent what I call our infantry division, you are the one on election day that ensure our voters come out”. - Oshiomhole
Short News
School proprietor calls for consistency in payment of teachers’ salaries Proprietor, Excellent Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, Mr Wale Olorunfemi, has called on government at all levels to ensure consistency in paying teachers their salaries, to improve the standard of education in Nigeria. Olorunfemi made the call in an interview with journalists in Ilorin. He stressed the need for consistency in the payment of teachers’ salaries, to rescue the declining standards of education. He said that teachers needed to be motivated for them to be diligent in delivering quality service. “Teachers are human beings and not robots that you just programme to work. They need motivation to boost their morale,” he said.
Court slams N500,000 bail on 2 men over N419,000 theft A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State granted N500,000 bail to two men over alleged N419,000 theft. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaya, also ordered the accused – Ahmefula John (45) and Emmanuel Mike (42) – to produce two sureties in like sum. The accused were charged with stealing. The Prosecutor, Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused on July 26 stole the money belonging to Alhaji Kawume at Ovuru St. Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb. “The two men were caught and handed over to the police while trying to run away after stealing the money,” the prosecutor said. Ikem said that the offence contravened Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The case was adjourned until September 5.
People with disabilities want govt, philanthropists to build public toilets
L-R: Archbishop of First African Church Mission, Lagos Arch Diocese, Most Rev’d Solomon Gbolahan Abimbola; Deputy vice coordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA lagos chapter, Rev’d Canon Babatunde Durowoju; Immediate past chairman, Odi Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Adeyemi Alli; CAN Coordinator, Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye, Pastor Peter Ajomu; and Prophetess Funmilayo Abdul during the induction of officers of the chapter in Lagos... on Friday. Photo: Olatunji Wale
Leadership tussle: Court restrains Eze- Ndigbo, dissolves cabinet Yakubu Salisu, Kano A Kano High Court, sitting in Bichi Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Aisha Ya’u has granted an interim injunction, restraining the Eze Ndigbo Kano, Chief Boniface Ibekwe from parading himself, as the authentic Eze Ndigbo in the State, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice. In a suit No K/385/2018, signed by the Registrar of the Court, instituted at the High Court of Bichi Judicial Division between the Plaintiff, Eze Ndigbo v Eze Diorama of Kano State, Chief Ikechukwu Oliver Akpudo and the defendant, Boniface Ibekwe in an order of interim injunction, restraining the
defendant, either by himself or through his agents, by parading himself, as traditional ruler, head or leader of Eze Ndigbo Kano under the auspices of Igbo Community Association (ICA). The court order further retrained the defendant from interfering with moveable or immovable properties of the ICA in Kano, among which include, landed properties at No. 59 Church Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, as well as plots of land situated behind Tony Cheta Group of Schools, Nomansland, Kano, Business shops at the Abubakar Rimi Market, as well as New Road Motor park, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. He is also advised to refrain from transferring, evacuating or moving away any of the properties, landed or
immovable property documents, such as Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for his personal use. Besides, the defendant was also restrained from: ‘’Holding or granting press interviews and or attending any functions, occasions, meetings, purportedly, aimed at parading himself as the authentic Eze Ndigbo in Kano, pending the hearing on notice.’’ According to the court order, the defendant is to keep away from all the original documents, belonging to the Igbo Community Association (ICA), and all such properties, which are hitherto in the lawful custody of the respondent, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to September 25, 2018 for hearing of application.
The Chairman of people with disabilities in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Mr Yohanna Mbula, has urged government and philanthropists to build toilets for disabled persons in public facilities. He made the call in an interview with news men in Dass Local Government Area. He said “we are calling on government at all levels and philanthropists to build toilets for disabled persons in public facilities such as markets, schools, Churches, Mosques, institutions and auto parks.” According to him, toilets for people with disability must be big enough to allow them to manoeuvre in it without difficulty. “There must be ample space to move around in the wheelchair within the facility,” he said.
LCCI proposes 13% derivatives to states hosting ports The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says the 13 per cent derivatives principles applied to oil producing areas should be extended to states hosting the nation’s ports. The President of LCCI, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, made the suggestion at a news conference on the state of the economy in Lagos. Ruwase said that ports activities created profound negative externalities to host states and exerts tremendous pressure on the states’ facilities, which significantly affects roads, health facilities, traffic, environmental management and pollution. “These are costs that are borne by the states in which the ports are located and offers basis to argue that derivation principles should be applied to revenue generated through customs’ duties from the ports,” he said.
11
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Tonto Dikeh: Pregnancy, childbirth took me back to God You may not agree with all parts of her many controversies but there is no denying the fact that Tonto Dikeh has achieved so much for herself and for humanity especially with her many humanitarian and philanthropic projects that have combined to make her a respectable ambassador of the poor and the oppressed, in particular, women and children. BornTonto Wigo Charity Dikeh-Churchill, the delectable and obviously beautiful woman now known as ‘King’ Tonto Dikeh is a household name in Nigeria and across many parts of the world because of her exploits in the movie industry especially Nigeria’s brand, Nollywood. Many who know her from a distance are convinced she is your typical ‘bad gal’ mainly for the stubborn roles she had to interpret in most of her appearances in hits like Dirty Secrets, a movie that helped her with an up-shove though laced with out-of-the- world public discourse at a time it was a taboo for a Nigerian, indeed African, to feature in adult scenes. In this exclusive interview with The Daily Times in Abuja, Tonto Dikeh, a graduate of Petrochemical Engineering from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, said her greatest achievement in life is motherhood which she said helped to bring her back to reality and knowledge of the eternal love of God which necessitated her decision to henceforth devote a greater part of her talent, time and resources to uplifting the less privileged and women in distress. She spoke to BONAVENTURE MELAH and ADEBISI OYINDAMOLA. Excerpts: King Tonto, appellation, ‘King’?
why
the
(Laughs)..... Well we all know what king is. It means leadership, it means royalty, it means kingship. That’s just the way I see myself. And I am one person whose name works for. My name has worked for me, is working for me. My name is Charity, Love. I am Charity and I am loved, Tonto means strong. It’s inspiring. So king is just me seeing myself in kingship and naturally I am a king. A lot of people are protesting this title. Does it have anything to do with women’s rights, equality? No, it has nothing to do with women’s rights or equality. The term king has nothing to do with wanting to be like a man or equal to a man. Even if tomorrow I say I want to be a feminist, I think I know what being a feminist means, it doesn’t mean I want to drag positions with men. It’s just a right and the man has his own rights. Queen also means success, why not Queen Tonto? Oh yes, I mean I appreciate all queens but I am a king. Laughs..... Suddenly, we began to hear Tonto Dikeh talk of God, spirituality and born again. What happened? I have been with God even before I became an entertainer but I did not know how to manage it. Coming from the university young and naive, I didn’t know how to handle it. With a lot of uncertainties, I didn’t know my fate, I back-slided. I am just rededicating my life to God because when I was pregnant,
I felt God, I heard Him. Just for me to have a child grow in my stomach from day one, the growth and successful delivery just made me realise that God is the ultimate and you can never do anything without him. So my son actually gave birth to my reconciliation with God. Are you now out of Nollywood completely? No, I am not out of Nollywood completely. If Nollywood shows me a good script I will do it. But right now they have been giving me all the regulars that I am not down with. Looking back, what are the things you would have done differently? Looking back, the only thing I would have done better is how I love myself, because of all the mistakes I made was because I never loved myself enough. After everything, what I might go home and regret about is that I didn’t love me enough to stop myself from tolerating pain, insults, disgrace and reproach. Single motherhood is widely seen as a deviation in our part of the world. In your opinion, what do you think can be done for single mothers to be accepted? Why do you need to be accepted by another human being? Who are they? As a matter of fact, we are all equal. So why do I need approval from another person? I don’t need the society to approve me. As a single mother, I am doing better than most married couples. My son is going to a good school, he feeds well. He wears good clothes as you can see him. No woman
puts herself in a single motherhood position, it just happens. Fate throws things at you and when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade of it. I am proud of being a single mother. But is this what I wanted for life? No. I am a strong believer in fixing things. But here I am, divorced. Not everybody can handle it, and it has taught me that being strong ‘no be for mouth.’ It goes beyond typing on instagram that I am strong. Right now, I think I want to be seen as a role model to single mothers and assure them they are strong and beautiful and the society cannot bring them down. Now that we are talking about motherhood and all that, when are we expecting another baby from you? Laughs... I saw a picture of this pretty black girl on instagram and my womb started to talk to me. I don’t talk about that. Definitely I am not one to get a child outside marriage. I have always been against that, and I don’t discriminate people who do. I mean people have their different reasons. It’s a choice, just like I always say that I don’t believe in divorce. But I am here today a divorcée. Some women will not like this. They will think you are discriminating No I am not discriminating. It’s a choice thing. I don’t believe in divorce. I believe in working things out, but here I am today and of course I am going to get married again. So I am a divorcee and I am not discriminating. If you are against getting baby outside marriage and now you say you will have another baby, does it mean you will marry again?
Of course I am going to get married again. How soon are we expecting that? I don’t know how soon but I will definitely get married again. As a divorcée, how do you cope with sex life because adults do need or want sex, don’t they? It depends. We all have our sexual thresholds. Some people can go months without sex, sometimes in marriages sex is a pity, I pity my husband, you know? I mean women want sex sometime, it’s like an assignment, so it depends on where the person is coming from. I am celibate right now, I have been out of my home for a year now and I have been celibate. What is sex really? It’s a minds thing. It’s a two minutes, some people don’t even last for up to 2 minutes, some 40 seconds. Is that what I want to base my life on? I have better things to do. Contd from Page 12
Life & Times 12
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Gist
Oghenekaro Itene moves closer Late Ras Kimono gets burial date to her Hollywood dream
Ras Kimono
Late Reggae artist, Ras Kimono will be buried in his hometown, Onitsha Olona, Delta State, on August 25. Theophilus Ehizibue, who spoke on behalf of the family at the briefing said, “Kimono’s journey to eternity will commence on August 17, with a social
wake keep at his residence in Magodo, Lagos on August 22. Thereafter, his former record label, Premier Music, will hold a night of tributes in his honour at Freedom Park on Monday, August 20, while a reggae dancehall party comes up at his Magodo residence.”
Mr. Ehizubue also added that the Association of Music Band Organisation of Nigeria would equally hold a night of tributes at Freedom Park on August 21. “The Copyright Society of Nigeria’s night of tributes holding at COSON House, Ikeja, Lagos holds on August 22. His lying-instate will take place at the Lagos Television Blue Roof Arena, Agidingbi, Ikeja, from 9a.m. to 12noon on August 24. His body leaves for Asaba, Delta State on the same day. “While in Asaba, there will be a procession by the Rasta community on August 24 and this will be followed by a brief lyingin-state between 1p.m. and 3 p.m. Then wake-keep holds at home town, Olona. Saturday, August 25, he would be lying-in-state in his compound in Olona, followed by interment. A the thanksgiving service will hold on August 26.”
Tonto Dikeh: Pregnancy, childbirth took me back to God Contd from Page 11
In your opinion, what can young people do to contribute in making Nigeria a better place? Young people have fresh ideas- innovative ideas and initiatives that if given the right positions, they would excel and contribute positively to societal development. But it is not just about being a youth. Do you have what it takes to contribute and to lead? Because I am a youth doesn’t mean I will support just any youth that comes for position. I do believe there are miscreants coming out as youths and they will destroy us faster than the old ones have done. Everybody should be the change that we want to see, and I believe a young person can be that change. I would love to see more women in politics. I want to get into politics because I am passionate about my country, and I encourage myself too, because everything I do is pushing me towards that angle. Women in politics. Are you interested? Of course, I would love to see more women in politics. I want to get into politics because I am passionate about my country and I encourage myself too, because everything I do is pushing me towards that angle. Speaking with you closely like this one would say this is a different person from the “stubborn” Tonto we see on screen, who is the real Tonto? I am one celebrity that when people see me they are extremely happy because I don’t go out often. So nobody really knows me, you just characterize me with the roles I play on television and say oh she is stubborn. But when you see me, you have a change of opinion. When I am in the movies, I am paid to be who I am, when I am out, it’s different. The media always exaggerate your life, make you who you are not. I am not giving the
blame to the media with all the misconstrued conception. And when they said I was bad, I didn’t want the public to see me in that light, I don’t engage in instragram fights for instance. I never gave people the chance to love me, being closer to me, but I think I am now giving people chance into my life, to get to know me. On Father’s Day, you were at your son’s school playing football with other fathers to commemorate the day. Tell us about that. That was just me, being a father and a mother to my son, just because one parent isn’t there, my son will not be left out. Tell is about your charity works I have the Tonto Dikeh Initiative and we send 3,500 children back to school every year. This year we had 200 more added to the number making it 3,700 and we pay their school fees. We have Widows Support Programmes and an initiative on Agriculture through which we encourage people to go back to the farm. There is also our Youths Startup Initiatives, Skills Acquisitions as well as a programme that takes care of the motherless and orphans. As part of our contributions to the development of the Federal Capital Territory, we constructed the Karmajiji District road to alleviate the transportation needs of the people there because our interaction with the communities help to know what their immediate needs are. What do you consider your highest achievements so far? That’s my son. If you mean vain things like properties, my bank Account gosh! But my son remains my greatest achievement How much are you worth? I am worth the world in Christ. Look, I don’t have money in my bank account. (Laughs).
Nigerian-born actress, Oghenekaro Itene is steadily inching her way to her dream of becoming one of the better known talents out of Africa plying her trade in America’s Hollywood. Following her last outing in Esohe, an epic which was a collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood, served in a cocktail of the rich tradition of Bini kingdom, Oghenekaro continues the pursuit of her Hollywood Dream in Chase, in which she plays the role of Jayla. Written, directed and co-produced by Michael Matteo Rossi, the movie is about a hit man who must prove his loyalty to his mentor and best friend, while his girlfriend wants to leave the business. Rossi already has a feature, Sable and several shorts to his credit. His latest film, Chase, which showcases Oghenekaro, will be in the cinemas soon. The main Hollywood stellar cast features names like Damien Puckler, who plays the hit man. Others include Jessica Morris, Aries Spears, Richard riehle , Devanny Pinn and Simeon Panda. Expect to see a lot of action where Puckler, a known martial arts expert is in the mix. He can be devastatingly exciting and create lots of anxious moments for the audience.
The writer/director holds out no less a promise. According to him, “Chase really is a roller coaster of a ride. I feel there’s a lot of stinging emotion mixed with some action and a lot of unique kills from our lead hit man. It’ll definitely be a bloody journey for the characters involved that the audience will be invested in.” Rossi’s previous films include Misogynist and Sable. He wrote the screenplay for Chase and produced alongside Katrina
Y. Nelson and Jane Badler. Chase brings Oghenekaro up to speed in the creative world. Everything is happening fast for her. One moment she was a make-up artiste, working behind the scene in moviedom. Driven by the urge to succeed beyond the shores of Nigeria, Oghenekaro left for South Africa to set up shop, serving the movie and music video industry as a makeup artiste. She also did some acting jobs on the side. Now Hollywood is ready for Oghenekaro Itene.
AFRIMA 2018: Award receives entries for 5th edition ...as AU commends Africa’s Creative Industry for enthusiastic participation
The 5th edition of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, has received 8,009 songs/ videos on its online portal as entry submission closed at 1159hour (WAT) of August 1, 2018. This year’s submission sets a record as the highest number of entries from African artistes, music producers, songwriters, Disc Jockeys (DJs), video directors among others, Mike Dada since the inception of the tops with 45% followed by most prestigious music Western Africa with 34%. event in Africa. Southern, Central and The progress and increase Northern Africa had 13%, of 63% against the 2017 6% and 2% respectively. edition of 4,816 entries is Reacting to the a positive marker that has development, the Acting elicited satisfaction from Director of Social Affairs, the African Union, the African Union Commission, International Committee of Mr. Machacha Shepande, AFRIMA as well as the Jury congratulated Africa’s members of AFRIMA. creative industry sector for Out of the entries received participating in the 5th All this year, Eastern Africa Africa Music Awards Entry
Submission campaign opened on May 25, 2018. “The AU commends the creative sector of Africa for participating so well in the AFRIMA entry submission process which closed on 1st August 2018 and in ensuring that the music industry remains relevant for the sustainable growth of Africa’s economy which the African Union (AU) is championing through the cultural and creative agenda. The Jury’s task will be a week-long adjudication process from August 7 to 15, 2018 which includes: Screening, Categorizing, Grading, Selection and announcement of nominations into the thirtyeight (38) Regional and Continental categories of the award that will emerge winners of the AFRIMA 23.9 carat gold plated trophy.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
13
Mixed Grill
Culture infusion as ‘& SUYA’ is launched In London ‘& SUYA’ (pronounced And Suya) is an innovative West African restaurant that launched in North West London in January 2018. The restaurant offers panoramic views over Colindale which is very quickly transforming into an exuberant and stylish place. The ethos of the restaurant is to bring West African dishes to the masses. Nigerian born Ayo Osunrinade and his wife, Evelyn Mensah, a Ghanaian-Brit have managed to pull off a well thought out concept. They have developed a menu that appeals to all palates without losing the authenticity of the countries
cultural origins. As the name suggests, & SUYA offers a variety of traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian dishes in addition to suyamarinated grilled meat, chicken and fish. The exciting menu offers household favourites that range from - egusi (melon seed) soup and red-red beans (cooked in palm oil) to modern variations such as the most popular and best-selling suya honey glazed chicken wings and black tiger prawn (the size of a lobster!) with jollof rice. & SUYA are excited to offer their bespoke-crafted signature cocktails that include Ojingolo (ginger, dark
and spiced rum), Lekki Lagoon (blue curacao, white rum) and Labadi Beach Punch (grenadine, passion fruit, rum) with many more to choose from. Restaurant entrepreneur Ayo shared his vision and excitement on how the company has grown in the first six months of operation. “This project was planned for 2 years and so to see it finally take off is a dream come true for us.” he said. There were some initial teething problems with our original kitchen staff. We have since parted ways as we had different ideas about the vision of & SUYA”.
Miss Mama Africa Beauty pageant returns on StarTimes Rising Star King Bernard set to release new song ‘Escapade’ Eze Victor Bernard popularly known as “KING BERNARD” is from Abia State, an Igbo speaking part of Nigeria. His brand name “King” is a simple translation from his native name EZE. He took up a career in music late 2016 when he joined DISIAC Entertainments and did his debut single titled “Gimme More” and later released two club poppin hits...JEKALO and ANSWER. Also nicknamed crown BOY, he’s widely renowned for wearing a crown in his music videos & on
social media. His other interests include scriptwriting and acting, having featured Nollywood actresses, Regina Daniels & Ruth Kadiri in two of his music films. After several months of working on other projects, King breaks the silence with new music titled ESCAPADE which he shot in South Africa during his recent tour. ESCAPADE will be released on his birthday, 11-08-18 as he clocks another year. The song is sure to melt your hearts!!
This third edition of the first and unique interactive African beauty contest Miss Mama Africa Beauty Pageant has returned to StarTimes screen for the entertainment of its teeming subscribers on ST Sino Drama channel exclusive. The Miss Mama African beauty contest held in China, symbolize African diversity and will have African women living across China and contestants from Cameroon, Kenya, Mauritius or Benin to compete for the 2018 Miss Mama Africa Pageant. The 10 episodes of the show will showcase and promote talents in various fields of life such as workers and bright students who will one day become engineer, medical doctor, businesswoman or teacher. This talents will be trained and guided by professionals on various skills such as catwalk, shooting, hair and make-up advices for the main event. Commenting on the initiative, the editor in chief of ST Sino Drama, Yoki Li noted that “The Last edition of Miss Mama Africa contest was a success. We received a lot of positive feedbacks from our audience who were amazed to know about these beautiful and talented African women living in China. And this year, they won’t be disappointed as contestants are fantastic women, driven, ambitious and proud African who made a life in China,” According to Yoki Li, This is women empowerment
because through this contest, we want to showcase the beauty of these women who left their countries to a different country for academic purusit and also to demonstrate how training slowly evolved normal people into beauty queens. StarTimes App users can vote for their favorite contestant and get the chance to have LIVE chat and even meet her in person or win a coupon to watch all StarTimes sports channels for free.
Princess Modupe Ozolua partners with Edo monarchs to help 271,000 children, women Princesses Modupe Ozolua, under the umbrella of her nonprofit organization Empower 54 has partnered with Edo Monarchs consisting of traditional rulers and local government council chairmen, to organize a medical outreach programme to help 271,000 children and women in Edo state from August -September 2018. The aim of the medical outreach programme is to distribute medication that will improve the health of children and pregnant women. The medication to be distributed is Albendazol, a critical drug in the treatment and prevention of various parasitic worm infestations in children aged six months to five years, and prenatal vitamins for pregnant women. According to Princess Modupe Ozolua, the medical outreach programmes will run for one month in Owan West, Owan East, Etsako and Akoko-Edo Local Government Areas of Edo state. She is embarking on this initiative because of her passion for the health of children and also in line with the objective of the Federal Government healthcare
project focused on the poor, especially women and children under five years. The monarchs in partnership with Princess Modupe Ozolua include the Olososo of Ososo, Oyan Ososo, Oba Anselm Adeloro Obaitan, Ichama II; the Arah of Evbiobe, Prof Joshua Oje Aisiku; and the Ogbachi of Auchi, Princess Hajiya Zuletu Momoh. Other partners include the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jimoh Ijebai; the Chairman of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Hon. Oteh Omoru; the Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Hon. Frank Ilaboya; and his counterpart at Etsako West Local Government Area, Hon. Musa Yakubu. Others are Vitamin Angels and the Edo State Ministry of Health. Empower 54, Princess Modupe Ozolua’s non-profit organisation has been providing humanitarian assistance since 2003 through initiatives in health, education, and empowerment programmes for internally displaced persons (IDPs)/refugee and underprivileged Africans
Society 12
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
With unity, Nigeria will become great Bizman, Abayomi Bello becomes people’s choice nation - Prophet Sam Ojo Prophet Sam Ojo popularly known as Omoloju Jesu, the general overseer of Freedom Foundation Apostolic Revival International Ministry, and the founder of Mountain of Glory (Ori Oke Ogo), has called on Nigerians to embrace unity to conquer the incessant crisis of killing that has been claiming lives within the country for sometimes now. He made this clarion call penultimate Tuesday when he announced his church activities for this year anniversary cum convention. According to Prophet Sam, what is happening within the country is beyond Muslim killing Christian “I think we’re not been fair if we personalised the killing in Nigeria. Those who were killed are not Christians alone. There are Muslims among them too. So, the attack over Nigeria needs the intervention of God. It is not only Nigeria that is experiencing this crisis, other countries are also experiencing the same menace. We don’t have to personalised the killing because if we do, we’re creating another avenue to break this country. If we talk about love, a Muslim should be able to rescue a Christian brother from danger. Even in the bible, Jesus Christ died for everybody not for Christian alone. So, what we suppose to be after is how to stop the killing not blaming one religion or the other. Buttressing his point, he said “I personally heard from God that, what is happening in Nigeria is demonic. It is a satanic attack. If you check, Nigeria is among the most religious countries in the world that belief so much in prayer. And what I see about this is that, the more you attack Satan with prayer, the more he retaliate. If you analyse what is happening, Satan is causing lots of division. For instance, if you want to destroy an organization the major thing to use is disunity. When they don’t have the same voice, you can penetrate. So, here in Nigeria, Satan is causing disunity amidst us. Muslims are doing their own and Christians are also on their lane. In fact, there are factions in the Christiandom. There is no unity. Instead of us to come together and pray in one voice and ask God for divine intervention we’re busy apportioning blame. When this happen in Israel, they pray to God and God gave them
as House of Reps hopeful
solution. So, the only solution to Nigeria problem is prayer and we need to be United.” The man of God revealed. Meanwhile, the convention that will take place at the Mountain of Glory (Ori Oke Ogo) will start from 6th to 12th of August 2018 while people are expected from all over the world to be part of the convention that is tagged; “Rebuilding Destiney” During the program, the prophet revealed plan to bless 40 old women within the age of 60year old who cannot boast of a house with 40plot of land around Shagamu. In case you dont know, the Ibadan born philanthropist prophet last December empowered three people with money to start business. He has been able to sponsor Over 100 graduate through his initiatives. Some of the notable artiste expected to be there includes; Date Melody, Atorise, Remilekun Amos, Adele and other notable gospel singer
Man of the moment and one of the shining lights of Kabba/ Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Abayomi Bello might be stealthily walking his way to historic reckoning, going by the excitement and overwhelming support his Federal House of Representatives aspiration has generated across the nook and crannies of his constituency in Kogi West. The reason for the optimistic atmosphere in the federal constituency is not far-fetched. There’s a glimmer of hope in their neighborhood and the people can feel the ray of sunshine in the three-point agenda of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Real Development, which astute business man and philanthropist, Abayomi Bello, thoroughly crafted to address the plethora of challenges restraining the developmental growth of Kogi West. Abayomi, who is the Managing Director of a flourishing group of companies called Sologic Group, has scored many firsts in his line of business. He has single-handed moulded his company into one of the most sought-after in this part of the world. His success story in the private sector has ignited the hope of a better tomorrow for the constituents of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu constituency, who are clamoring for a better and more effective representation at the House of Representatives, come 2019. Abayomi, who flaunts an impressive educational credential, is one of the biggest investors in Kabba/ Bunu/Ijumu constituency. And long before his foray into politics, he has been an active presence and positive recurring decimal in the
socio-economic development of his beloved community. Through his thriving Sologic Group, the extremely humble man of style has invested millions of dollars in key sectors of the economy like Agriculture, Printing, Hospitality, Entertainment and others. His vast investments in Kogi West have created jobs for tens of thousands of indigenes and not only that, but the local economy is on the rise again courtesy of his business interventions. Abayomi, who can best described as a professional in politics has raised the bar in the history of electioneering campaign in Kogi. The young man of honour has introduced a modern participatory campaign strategy, as everyone, irrespective of their social status, is being carried along in his three-point agenda to improve on the representation of his constituency. Gone are those days when politicians just used money to buy votes without giving the people a chance to participate in the political process. For Abayomi, the people must be the major factor in the political process. To demonstrate his commitment to an open campaign, where the people can take charge of their destiny, Abayomi Bello has toured all the communities that make up the Federal Constituency, consulting with the people through personal, as well as town hall meetings, where majority of the people and stakeholders are given the opportunity to share their ideas on ways and how to develop their constituency. In deference to the authority in the land, all the executives in the local government areas were not left out of the consultation.
How consummate businessman, Yusuf Owolabi Babalola, built his Yozooph Business Empire Facts have emerged about how industrious business man, Yusuf Owolabi Babalola, who built his vast-expanding business from the scratch into an empire of note. One of his businesses is the flourishing Nigerian company of international repute, Yozooph Nigeria Ltd. It is arguably one of the fastest-growing Nigerian companies, purportedly leading the country’s march to global economy, capable of competing with some of the world’s thriving economies. Yozooph Nigeria Limited, for the record, is the vision of Alhaji Yusuf Owolabi Babalola, a man with humble beginnings who has not only built a strong brand name but has impressively moulded his many companies into major players in some of Nigeria’s key economic sectors. Yozooph Nigeria Ltd., is a brand reputed for its leading status in property and oil gas, is the oxygen breathing life into this group of thriving businesses like Coolmine Nig Ltd, Builders Nigeria Ltd, Eleven07 Nigeria Ltd and Mobivation Nigeria Ltd., just to mention a few. They are all subsidiaries of the Yozooph Nigeria Ltd brand. Leading the Yozooph Nigeria Ltd. brand’s impressive business march to prominence is the Builders Nigeria Ltd., which can best be described as a 21st century construction company of international repute. The highly-rated company is mainly into automated construction and services, a company which is synonymous with finesse and perfection, ultimately earning its iconic reputation by the quality of professionalism and innovations facilitated by its entry into the Nigerian construction sector. At Builders Nigeria Ltd., the emphasis is on automated construction and cutting edge innovations, which has completely changed the game. Gone are the good old days of conventional construction routine; the trend worldwide is now automated construction. And Builders Nigeria Ltd is one of the few shinning lights providing this latest modern construction innovation in Nigeria. This unique edge has been winning for the company many high-profile jobs that competitors in the industry are striving to catch up. This arm of Yozooph group of companies is presently creating a brand that boasts of world class construction equipments and large scale production construction materials. Also on the stable of Yozooph Nigeria Ltd., is the popular Eleven07
Nigeria Ltd., which is the flagship of the Yozooph Nigeria Ltd. brand. Eleven07 Nigeria Ltd. is the hospitality arm of the Yozooph Group and the Eleven07 brand includes luxury hotels, restaurants, pool lounges and upscale high tech farming. The apple, they say, doesn’t fall far from the tree and expectedly the Eleven07 brand is another story of excellence in the service industry and hospitality havens. The proposed Eleven07 hotels are reputed for luxury and exclusivity and a trip to any of their hotels strategically located in choice neighborhoods in all parts of the country is always a testimony of uniqueness and unparalleled services. Aside its premium collection of world-class facilities, the winning strategy of the Eleven07 brand is the quality of services offered, which are second to none. Eleven07 restaurant is adding another range of services that provides a digital restaurant service attendant where customers order via a device inside its restaurant and also pay directly without any human assistance. The Eleven07 restaurants, pool lounges are not only immersed in class and exclusivity, but they are managed by highly-trained staff who ensure that every patron, irrespective of their status, is treated with respect at every visit. And this is no wonder really, as the Eleven07 brand has wormed its way into the hearts of some of Nigeria’s decision-makers and business influencers who are regular callers at their outlets all over Lagos. Still in the business of creating value and ensuring local food sufficiency, Eleven07 also has investment in international standard Green House Farming and Animal Husbandry. The company is an active presence in the agricultural sector with massive investments in commercial farming. As you read, the Eleven07 Nigeria Ltd. is the brain behind the agricultural revolution going on off Abeokuta Shagamu express way in Ogun State. The company’s large expanse of land for commercial farming has taken tens of thousands off the unemployment market. Then, there is the Mobivation Nigeria Ltd., which is another proud member of the Yozooph Nigeria brand. Mobivation Nigeria Ltd. is basically an online business and service company. It is the magic wand behind the impressive presence of some popular brands in the country. Mobivation Nigeria Ltd. came out essentially to ease the difficult terrain of conventional everyday business activities and
Yusuf Owolabi deliver quality services in record short space of time. We learnt part of the services that will be provided by this arm of the business is presently working around the clock to launch the biggest latest transportation innovation that is bicycle and motorcycle-based, managed by a special application. Plans are in the pipeline for the grand launch in different areas in Lekki, Ikoyi, Victory Island, Surulere, Festac, Magodo and Ikeja. The Yozooph Nigeria Group, owned solely by forward-thinking man of style, Yusuf Owolabi Babalola, has raised the bar in the history of indigenous companies, staying above water in the face of crunching economic realities. Yusuf Babalola is one of the few Nigerian entrepreneurs creating employment opportunities for his country people and as well as boosting the local economy.
BUSINESS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Property: Olofinyo emerges winner of Adrom Home Incredible 12 competition Oluwaseye Olofinyo has emerged winners of Adron Homes’ The Incredible 12 competition, held recently in Lagos. The competition, which holds annually among staff of the real estate outfit, was held at Inagbe Resort, Apapa and witnessed special intellectual contests and mind games from participants. Of the 12 contestants who made it to the grand finale of the competition, Olofinyo, emerged the winner, having got the highest number of points from the judges, who were with the contestants throughout the competition. In an exclusive interview with Daily Times correspondent, an elated Olofinyo said winning the competition has opened his eyes to many challenges and opportunities that will make him a better person, even after vacating the office for the next 12 incredible winners. He also talked about how he intended to use his experience while in the office to amplify the collective vision of Adron Homes. Olofinyo, who saw himself as least expected to win the competition said he took a chance to enter for the competition even when he was writing a professional examination at the time. Said he, “There’s a professional exam I needed to take on Saturday, so I was out of the camp. I was in Lagos while other people were competing. “By the time I came back and heard about the activities they’ve done, in my mind I just knew that it’s done for me, let me just work with my team and ensure that the winner comes from my team, The Indomitable. Narrating his experience, Olofinyo continued, “It’s an Island just behind Apapa. We were at Inagbe for the entire weekend. On camp, we were split into two groups so I was in the group called the Indomitable and we have the other group as well. “The two groups are expected to compete with each other in several activities. “You have to go look for a specific thing at camp and bring it back to an agreed point where the judges are waiting to see who gets to pick the price. “All of these counted as points for you so. At the end of the day, all of these points are collated together and then the highest, I believe is who emerges as the deputy group managing director.”
Vandals: 29 year imprisoned, 21 others arrested for vandalising EEDC assets Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki A 29- year- old man, identified as Calistus Iwuagwu, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, without option of fine, by Chief Magistrate E. U. Chinaka Esq., at the IhitteUboma Magisterial District, Holden at Isinkwe, Imo State, for vandalizing armoured cables, property of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). Calistus, who pleaded guilty as charged, has been sent to Okigwe Prison, where he is expected to serve his term. He was arraigned and charged under section 390(9) of the criminal code cap 30 vol. II laws of Eastern Nigeria, 1963, as applicable in Imo State. In a related development, a
total of twenty one vandals were nabbed in the month of July, 2018 for vandalizing properties of EEDC across the South -East. In Anambra State, the trio of Chigozie Okonkwo, Odinaka Iwuchukwu and Chineme Eke-Kalu were arrested for vandalising 300KVA Gabson II substation located at MCC Road, Onitsha and the 500KVA substation located at Bishop Onyeabor Street, Onitsha. In Ebonyi State, Ogbo Samuel Onyema, Ugwu Igboke and Sunday Nwigwe were arrested for destroying Mgbom II 200KVA transformer located at Mgbom, Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state; while at Amana Village, Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area, Nwankwo Chukwu and Nwaorie Chukwudo were arrested for vandalizing
Onueke 300KVA substation. They equally admitted to being responsible for vandalizing Ameke village substation in the course of interrogation. Also at Umunaga village, Ohaozara, Abakaliki,Izuchukwu Okoro was arrested for vandalizing EEDC transformer; and Anthony Amadi, Oko Okechukwu and David Ibiam, were arrested for vandalising Ekoli Edda 300KVA, 33/0.415KV Substation; while John Uka was arrested for attempting to remove a 100KVA transformer at Mbukobe Ntezi Aba, Ebonyi State. In Enugu State, youths of Amaukwo community in Awgu Local Government Area, apprehended Chidera Nweke and Ozoemena Okeke for vandalizing a newly installed transformer which was awaiting
commissioning; while Ifeanyi Onwuegbunam, in company of others currently at large, was arrested for vandalizing Umurah Ndeaboh Aninri 300KVA Substation. Head communications, EEDC,Mr Emeka Ezeh, in a statement said the apprehended vandals were all handed over to the Police in the respective states for proper investigation and possible prosecution. According to Ezeh, it worrisome that while EEDC is striving to improve on its service delivery, some individuals that ordinarily should have been engaging in more productive activities resort to frustrating both the company and its customers. This singular act he said costs EEDC a lot financially, and end up subjecting our customers to a lot of inconveniencies.
L-R: Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs/Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Shola Adeyemi, and President, Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, during the presentation of certificate to Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria as one of the top personalities in the book titled “100 leading Telecom & ICT Personalities in Nigeria” held in Lagos.
Adesida becomes pioneer COO of Verdant Zeal Group Verdant Zeal Marketing Communications Group, an emerging marketing and communications conglomerate, has appointed Mr. DipoAdesida as its pioneer Chief Operating Officer effective from 1st of August, 2018. This announcement was made by the Executive Vice Chairman of the organization, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi on behalf of the Board and Management of the organization. In a statement signed by Dr Olugbodi, the appointment
of MrAdesida is one of the strategic moves of advancing the operational innovation of the group. Adesidaby this appointment, would have oversight functions for Creative Content, Operational Excellence, New Market Development and Digital transformation of the entire organization. According to him, “We are delighted to elevate Dipo Adesida to be the Pioneer Chief Operating Officer of the Group. He is a veteran of the Iconic Verdant Zeal class of 2007
who has been immersed in the workings of the organization. This advancement is also a clear indication of the new spirit of adequate recognition and reward system as the organization continues to expand her footprint across Africa. We are building a world class organization where employees thrive and are allowed to express their creativity”. Adesida joined Verdant Zeal as a Deputy Manager in 2007 and has risen through the ranks to the position of the Chief
Operating Officer. Prior to his appointment, he had served in various capacities within the Verdant Zeal Group such as Group Director, Content, Strategy and Innovation; Chief Operating Officer, Brainbox iMedia, the Digital Marketing Subsidiary of the Group and Creative Director. Adesida had earlier worked at SO&U Saatchi & Saatchi, Lagos as a trainee copywriter and Immersion Marketing Strategies (IMS Group) Lagos as a Senior Copywriter.
g15
Group to empower one million girls in Kano, Benin Yakubu Salisu, Kano With over 15 million vulnerable girls living in Nigeria, a group known as Girls-Connect said there is a pressing need for scale interventions to reach and meaningfully engage this demographic and equip them with the capabilities to be able to find answers to their questions and access quality support system as the group launched a campaign in kano on Tuesday with the sole aim of empowering 1 million girls in Kano and Benin respectively. The Deputy Council Director (DCD), Girl Effect Girls Connect Hadeeza Haruna Usie, said, the girl connect is an innovative use of IVR technology(interactive voice response) that enables girls to explore and express their curiosities about growing up by providing girls with on-demand storytelling and one-on-one conversations with role models in anonymity. According to her, girls connect is in partnership with ISON group and 9mobiles in ensuring that the concept would give the girls the opportunities to practice what they learnt from stories and conversations they had with the role models for them to open bank accounts and enroll in apprenticeships that will lead them to start their own business. “Our pre- recorded stories include inspiring stories, entertaining and educational lessons about growing up” “Through such stories, the girl-child is able to address issues such as health, education, economic empowerment and safety” The Honorable Commissioner, Kano state Ministry of Women Affairs and social development, Hajiya Yar-Dada Maikano said, the state government accord special attention to the women in the state as it has embarked on different empowerment programs and issues such as education, health, shelter, economy etc relating to the girl child and women are adequately taken care of by the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje‘s administration. The Emire of Kano Alh. Sanusi II represented by the Chiroman Kano Nasiro Ado Bayero said the well being of the girl child and women in general, has been a major priority to the emirate and that any initiative geared towards the betterment of their lives is highly welcomed by the emir and that the Emirate is ready to support the group to achieve its goals in the state.
Business Times 16
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Promote culture to curb drug abuse, NDDC urges Ladesope Ladelokun The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has emphasised the need to promote the culture and ethos of the Niger Delta region so as to inculcate the right values to the young ones and curb drug abuse. The NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere, stated this at the 2018 Arts and Culture Festival which the Commission organised in conjunction with the Iwonwa Empowerment Initiative, a NonGovernmental Organisation, in Port Harcourt. Speaking on behalf of the NDDC Managing Director, the Deputy Director in Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs , Mrs. Mercy Mbata, said that the Commission would do all that was necessary to keep the youths away from illicit drugs and harmful practices. Mbata explained: “The NDDC believes in promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Niger Delta people at large and our host communities in particular. We, therefore, enjoin others to emulate this gesture as we will do our best as an
agency of development to collaborate and partner with other organisations that will be committed in promoting the culture of our people. “We should be proud to showcase our rich cultural heritage to the world at any given point, especially because the culture of the people of the region is
unique.” The NDDC Director lamented that the youths in the region were derailing and getting involved in nefarious activities, a situation she said prompted the interventionist agency to join in promoting a return to the region’s rich cultural values.
Mbata said that it was necessary to re-orientate the youths to get them to appreciate the core values of their forefathers. According to her, “we need to change the mind-set of our youths to take them away from criminality and thus improve the general security of the region.”
Asaba 2018: LOC caused delay, failed to secure online arrival visas Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Contrary to reports that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command seized and cause unnecessary delay of some athletes from Kenya, Burundi and other African countries on arrival in Nigeria, investigation has revealed that the athletes actually entered Nigeria without money to pay for their Visas on arrival. Investigations further revealed that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) was supposed to make arrangements for their easy passage into Nigeria through online visa payment before their arrival, but failed to do this, which led to their delay at the Lagos Airport. A source close to the immigration
service in Abuja confided in our correspondent yesterday that a lot of the athletes ought to have processed their Visas online and make payments before arriving Nigeria, but failed to so, a situation, which led to their temporary delay at the airport. The immigration source insisted that the command did not seize any of the athletes’ passports, but only collected them for issuance of sticker Visas on their passports, which was necessary for them to enter the country. At the Lagos Airport, it was gathered that the technical partner of immigration, New Works had to issue each and every one of the athletes ID and reference numbers, which is always cumbersome because of internet connectivity. This it was learnt was done immediately the payments were
made by the representatives of the athletes. The source insisted that immigration at the Lagos Airport were not responsible for the delay on arrival of the athletes to Asaba, Delta State, stressing that the officers carried out their duties professionally as expected from them. The source said: “A lot of them came in at once and none of them could pay for visa on arrival, which is a policy of the Federal Government. As you know, we don’t collect cash at immigration any longer. The local organising committee was not able to make the payment because it did not make enough preparation towards their arrival into Nigeria. They all came at once and New Works, which is our technical partner had to generate ID and reference number for each and every one of them to make the payment easier.”
NHGSFP set to become largest school feeding programme in Africa Mutiat Alli
The Federal Government has revealed that the National HomeGrown School Feeding Programme (NHGSF) is set to overtake South Africa’s as the largest school feeding programme in the continent of Africa. The NHGSF, launched in 2016 by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, currently feeds a total of 8,596,340 pupils daily in 46,247 public primary schools in 24 States of the Federation. In South Africa, a similar programme – National School Nutrition Programme launched 24 years ago (1994) – has reached estimated 9.2 million learners according to a 2017 report by South Africa’s Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, while speaking at a media roundtable on Thursday, August 2nd, in Abuja, explained that following NHGSF’s impressive adoption and growth in just two years of the launch of the initiative, it is evident that the social intervention programme will become the largest in Africa by the close of 2018. She added that the benefits of the NHGSF initiative include increases in school enrolments and improvement in the health and nutrition of pupils in all the schools where the initiative is being implemented. Uwais expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved by the programme and noted that
its goals, which include ensuring increased enrolment, attendance and improvement in the health and nutrition of pupils in schools are being met. She revealed further that through the NHGSFP initiative, total of 90,670 Nigerians have been engaged and empowered to be cooks, while over a hundred thousand farmers have also been linked to the school feeding programme to supply locally sourced farm produce to the cooks. “In other words, we have created a value chain with significant economic
benefits to the microeconomic development of the states. The value chain offers additional benefits of job creation and increased livelihood outcomes for both cooks and small holder farmers; hence improving livelihood and the local economies,” she said. She also stated that the NHGSFP implementation is guided by the five global standards for school feeding programmes of this nature. These are: the establishment of a policy framework, programme design and implementation, institutional
capacity and coordination, funding standards and community participation. “NHGSFP leverages on the institutional structures within the States to implement the programme. Each participating state has signed Memorandum of Association with the Federal Government, which defines the roles and responsibilities for the key programme deliverables such as cook recruitment, operational activities, delivery of meals as well as basic monitoring and evaluation of the programme,” she added.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Deputy Director, Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs Mercy Mbata, presenting a plaque the leader of Seleso Cultural Dance, Okrika, Mr Joshua Sam, during the 2018 Arts and Culture Festival in Port Harcourt.
Post-UTME: Abraka business centres record high patronage Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
Since the commencement of sale of Post-UTME form for candidates seeking admission into the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, for the next academic session, operators of business centres in Abraka, are currently making huge profits from the sale of forms by post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation ExaminationUTME candidates. It was learnt that after the completion of the second semester examination which has endeared many students to go on compulsory holidays, business centres operators in the town had continued to count their losses on daily basis until the commencement of the sale of Post UTME form for students seeking admission into 100 level. However, good fortunes has smiled on business centre operators as the candidates seeking admission into the university are currently in their large numbers trooping into the various business centres in the town to carry out their online registration exercise for the PostUTME scheduled to hold on a later date. This reporter who visited most business centres in the town on commencement of the registration exercise, observed students in their large numbers queuing in various business centres in the university town, especially those located inside and outside site One, Two and Three of the university, respectively. The Post-UTME form, this reporter gathered, sells for N2, 000, N1, 000 for bank charges while the registration fee is N1, 000 amounting to N4, 000 in total. Speaking to our reporter in an interview, a business centre operator on the ever busy Ivie Road, Mr. Eze John, expressed joy over the increased patronage by Post-UTME candidates in the area. He said: “Patronage has been wonderful for the past two weeks since the commencement of PostUTME registration exercise. All this while students have been away on holiday, our centres have been scanty and deserted but no that they are coming to register for Post-UTME, the proceeds from service delivery has skyrocketed. “In fact, I can hardly count what I made in the day, it is as if we should be having Post-UTME every other month of the year because of the enormous profit. We are grateful to God for the opportunity and I am planning to expand the coast of my business ahead of the next Post-UTME exercise”. Asked about the challenges they were encountering apart from the huge turnouts, Eze state: “the only challenges we are facing is network fluctuation but this cannot be compared to the profit we are making on daily basis”.
POLITICS times Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
g17
‘Experience in governance, key to good representation in legislature’ Ajibayo Adeyeye is Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Health; he was also a former Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and an aspirant for the House of Representatives to represent Ondo Federal Constituency of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 election. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE, Adeyeye speaks on his ambition and the achievements of the Akeredolu led government in Ondo State since assumption of office, among other issues. You were in the Lagos State House of Assembly for eight years, but now you are in the executive arm as Special Adviser to the Ondo State governor, how will describe the transition, do you miss the legislature? First, let me say that I am a natural legislator and having played my role as a legislator in the Lagos State House of Assembly, I understand how independent I can be in my views, opinions and actions and it is very different from being on the executive side where you have to work with the chief executive himself. You have to be able to convince him on why you are going in one direction or the other. On the legislative side you can hold a minority view, like I held a couple of times, even when I was Majority Leader in the Lagos State House of Assembly. You can hold a minority view and you don’t really care what others feel about it, but you cannot hold a minority view in the executive, you just have to run with the Chief Executive as much as possible, I think those are the major differences, but so far, so good, I have had very good relationship with the governor and we have been working very well together, we have been getting along very wel *You must have had some experiences in the Lagos State House of Assembly, how will you describe the impacts of those experiences now in your new role? Oh! Very great, as Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I sponsored a bill on the State Health Insurance and I took the same bill to Ondo, I introduced the bill in October last year and by February the bill was already law. I brought my experience as a legislator to Ondo State; I was able to convince the lawmakers why that bill should be passed urgently. It is not a small feat to introduce a bill in October and by February it is already accented into law, but I know exactly how to go about it if I want a bill to become law and that came because of my background as a former legislator. You gain a lot of experience by being in the legislature, you see everything that is going on in government, they bring them to you and if you are now on the executive side you can pre-empt how the legislators will reason and advise the executive not to go on the route they intended to go and rather go another route so that they can get things done faster. There was the Abiye Programme that was introduced by the last administration in Ondo State, I learnt there was an adjustment perhaps because it was not meeting its expectations, what really is the true position? This shows you have been following the trend of health services in Ondo State, the Abiye programme was a free maternal
so even the register they got from the residency programme was not a credible register, it is skewed because of people who come to register just because they want to enjoy free health service, but we have another way to ensure that only residents of Ondo State benefit from our free maternal care services and very soon, before the end of the year we will re-launch that programme and ensure the people again have access to it.
Adeyeye
and health programme introduced by the former administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. What they were doing is that they built two mother and child health care centers in Ondo City and Akure and they were treating pregnant women free of charge and also treating under five children free of charge. But, at the twilight of that administration, maybe six to eight months to the end of that administration, they ran into trouble, they could not fund that programme any longer, majorly because patients were trooping from neighbouring states into Ondo State to get treatment. For instance, if somebody has been diagnosed of needing a caesarean section in Ile Ife, she knows she is going to be needing between N70,000 and N100,000 for that operation, she quickly runs to Ondo State, registers in the card Igbeayo programme, pays N2000 and say she is a resident of Ondo State and goes to enjoy that facility. So, they were using the state resources to fund residents of other states, even people came from Lagos to have caesarian section done in Onde, people came from Edo, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, Ogun, so, they could not cope any longer, but in the present administration we studied the situation, we left it as we met it, the programme was not being funded, but we decided to understudy the programme and process. It was a good programme, but was not well conceptualised. So, we want to refaction the programme in such a way that only residents of Ondo State will benefit from such programme, we are coming up with an electronic platform to make sure
that we use it to regulate the beneficiaries of the programme. You don’t just wake up from Ile-Ife or from Ijebu and you rush to Ondo State and come and have treatment. We are really working at ensuring that we are coming back to that programme, but most importantly we want to ensure that it is only meant for residents of the state to make sure that it is not abused and we don’t start using our meager resources to subsidise other states that are our neighbours. Are you thinking of introducing the resident registration programme like was done in Lagos to ensure that none residents are shut out? The previous administration actually introduced the residency card which they called Card Igbeayo, but the shortcoming of that programme as instituted by that government is that people come to register as residents of Ondo State at the point when they require those services,
Going back to the health insurance, naturally it will cost money, to what extent have you sensitised the people towards this programme to ensure they fully buy into the programme of the state government? You see, the health insurance programme is a different thing from the free maternal programme. The way the health Insurance law, called the Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, law is crafted in Ondo State is to ensure that people don’t pay so much money out pocket at the point of requiring healthcare. That law envisaged that some members of the public in Ondo State that simply don’t have jobs, have no way of paying any money for health insurance, for such people, the law says the state government should designate them as vulnerable, it then presupposes that the state will now pay their own premium to the insurance commission. It is not that the state will say health is free, no, the state will pay the premium of such people to that agency and that agency will look after those people. So, what the state is about doing now is to designate pregnant women and under five children as vulnerable, so, that way the state provides the funds to treat them, so there is really no free launch anywhere anymore in Ondo State, somebody must pay for it, if the government is saying health is free for these category of people, then the government brings the money, pays the agency and the agency looks after those people, so, it is no longer a situation where the government will say it is free health, but you get to the hospital you buy syringe, you buy needle, you buy spirit and even cotton
You can imagine somebody who has never held any government position before, you will now say that person should go and represent a group of people at the Federal House, in the first place what does he know about lawmaking, how does he relate with his colleagues to get result for his people
wool before you are treated, no, there is nothing free about that and we are trying to depart from that in Ondo State. You are going back to lawmaking, by aspiring to represent Ondo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, what are the challenges you see in the constituency that you want to attend to? Ondo Federal Constituency is made up of two local governments, Ondo East and Ondo West local governments; I am an indigene of Ondo Kingdom, which comprises the two local governments. If you look at those that have represented us in Ondo Kingdom, well, they tried their best, but they tried their best to the extent of their experience. Majorly they were actually green horns by the time they entered the Federal Legislative House. You can imagine somebody who has never held any government position before, you will now say that person should go and represent a group of people at the Federal House, in the first place what does he know about lawmaking, how does he relate with his colleagues to get result for his people, does he really understand what it takes to lobby his colleagues for the benefit of his people? This much has eluded us as a people in Ondo kingdom and I have looked around and there are not a lot people of my age and caliber that have my kind of experience. It will be some kind of disserve to my people if I do not aspire to go to the House at this time, I mean looking at my experience as a former lawmaker in Lagos and having risen to the level of Majority Leader, it might not be a good thing for somebody like me not to aspire to represent my people at the Federal House, we have a lot of challenges and some of the challenges cannot even be done by the state government. We have a very serious erosion problem, we have people pack out of a whole street in our kingdom and the state government does not have the capacity to solve that problem, it requires very major dredging and very major work, it can only be undertaken by the Federal Government. It is not like the state government may not be able to do it, but will you spend the entire state resources to solve the problem? You wouldn’t want to do that, but for the Federal Government such projects are not too large for them to undertake, we only need a good representative to awaken the consciousness of the relevant government agencies to such problems, these are the reasons I think I need to move up to the Federal House to represent my people come 2019.
FEATURE TimeS Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
g18
Police will always be your friend, says CSP Dolapo Badmus Chris Onuoha Chief Superintendent of Police, Ifedolapo Badmus is the Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2, comprising Ogun and Lagos State. The amiable Force information officer is dogged in action but subtle in approach. Her sterling quality at work alongside her fashion-sense had projected her in a beam light through social media interactions, collaboration with Nigerian stars to fight crime and others. She has also been in the forefront of correcting the anomaly stemming from the over flooded social media hype on a Police unit called ‘Special Anti-Robbery Squad’ SARS. CSP Badmus who just returned from a work visit in China speaks on the outcome of the visit and other issues. What was the trip all about? Our trip to China was on a work visit. It is cultural exchange between China and Nigeria to understudy each others security matters, and to foster diplomatic ties we have with China. It was quite an enriching one that explored some technology advancement in combating crime in this new age. China is a county we have diplomatic ties with. Their people are all over Nigeria and our people live and trade there also. What these suggest to us is that we have common gound to relate diplomatically. Our visit is also to see what we have in common culturally and see how we can build upon it for a better relationship. We also checked their policing pattern and see what we can learn from them in terms of handling peculiar cases. It is noticeable that the Nigerian Police are doing well and working hard to rebrand. But with all the security measures on ground, crime seem to be on increase in the country, why is it so? Well, if I may ask, have you ever seen a country that is crime free? I don’t think there is any community or nation that is without crime. Crime, per se, is categorized. We have nonviolent and more violent ones. In Nigeria we are still having our crime challenges as a country just like any other country in the world. All security agencies in Nigeria including the police are working hard to ensure that the country is safe as the case may be. At the same time, we will be much unbiased to say that the police are doing very well. Although, people might want to differ with that assertion, but they would not understand the deeper impact police is making. The Nigerian Police Force has never left the country for a second. It will be a
Badmus
wild dream to see how the country can function without the agency. That’s why the law enforcement agency cannot go on strike. Our duty is very critical and demanding. It is not like any other organization that can embark on industrial action to press their demand from authority. I want to agree with you that the Police are doing well but the issue is tilted in terms of equipping the force with modern day technology and sophisticated gadgets to combat emerging crime. We are not there yet. Like I told you, I just came back from China; you can imagine the technology at work there. I hope sooner, we will get there when Police will be given everything needed to work in this era of sophisticated crime too. Well, we have started and we are getting there. At least before now, you can easily hear that Police cannot unravel crimes. But this day, there is no crisis or case that the Police cannot unravel even with speed that surpasses your expectation. At least you can attest to that with the recent armed robbery, kidnapping and murder cases that was unraveled swiftly in Lagos. That’s to tell you that we are on the right track. Despite all these, it is not yet enough. Nigerian Police still need more support from the public. You are the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Zone 2, covering Ogun and Lagos State. Can you in simple terms define the role of the Police in its relationship with the citizenry? The Police all over the world were established to provide security for the citizenry. They are the protector of the people and by this; I would say it is one organization by necessity is
desired by every society. What this portends is that it is an organisation no nation can do without. They are the true organization that belongs to the people and also ensure that people get adequate safety all time: an organisation that people can have confidence and trust. But do you think that the Nigerian public has trusted their Police enough? Well, I am not the public. I am a Police Officer and my comments are based on my understanding as a serving officer. To some extent, I would rather throw the question back to you “ to what extent has the public trusted the Nigerian Police’. I have been able to have conversation with many people on diverse opinion concerning what they think about the Police. Some would say, the Nigerian Police is trying, and would add that there’s no Police formation in the world that can withstand them in action. Literary, it mean in a simple analysis of manual and automatic car. When you are in a manual car, you need to apply several methods to get your car moving, while with automatic, you just kick your car then zoom off. By these, they are saying, they pity Nigerian Police because they are operating manual policing, while in abroad, it is automatic because everything is at their reach. This is why when an average Nigeria Policeman travels on foreign mission assignment; he comes back with medal of honours and various accomplishments because they combine the instinct of manual and automatic policing to excel. Then, when he comes back home, it now
seem he is not performing well. This can somehow be attributed to nonavailability of such automatic gadgets obtainable abroad. With what I have said so far, I leave to you to conclude what anyone in the country should think about Nigerian Police. Also, the Police we have now like you know are operating under the condition set by the Military regime era. I would tell you that the long rule of the military affected effective policing in the country. This is because, the country then failed to provide necessary training for the force. Effective policing was relegated while the Military was prioritized in terms of adequate welfare. So when we had democracy, the Police regained their position but before then, the force has lost touch of many things. We have to start afresh. If everything that needed to be fixed is done, I bet you, we will have the dream Police everyone desires without bias. The Nigerian Police Force have Operatives that work 24 hours daily as a result of the nature of our environment and the kind of people we are. I will tell anyone that doesn’t trust Nigerian Police to verify issues before running into conclusion. Have you taken notice of the Lagos State special unit called the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS Police) in Lagos? Everyone is talking about them, saying how nice they are: that they don’t operate like Nigerian Police they know. I tell you, these men are still the normal Nigerian Police you have. The only thing that makes them look and act differently is because of the Lagos State Police Trust Fund that powers them. The men at that department called RRS have everything to work with. All the facilities including logistics are donated by the Trust Fund. That’s what I am talking about. This is made possible by a State Trust Fund. If we can have such trust fund in the Federal department, the change will come fast. Another vital challenge is the issue of welfare. You don’t send a man an errand with empty stomach. The force needs adequate attention because their kind of duty is risky. Bringing it back home, there’s has been a public outcry about the activities of Special Anti-Robbery Squad called (SARS). Well, the issue of this squad called ‘Special Anti-Robbery Squad’ SARS and its operational model has been over flooded basically on the social media platform. The #EndSARS# started with some group of individuals that due to their own personal experience or encounter with the operation, seeing it from a peculiar perspective, started the campaign. They propelled it with social media, escalating the whole issue negatively.
For us to understand better, what’s supposed to be their duty? From the name, it is simple: ‘Special Anti-Robbery Squad’. Their duty is to combat violent crime in the society. So far, they are doing what is expected of them and also doing it well. They have been able to combat serious crimes. At least in the Lagos and Ogun State zone that I cover, there are notable incidents they successfully tackled. There’s this notorious criminal called TK in Lagos who terrorised banks and killed people around 2015 and thereabout. His reign of terror was very fierce. The SARS unit were able to bring him down. Since then, bank robbery has reduced under SARS watchful eyes. Another one was the case of Evans the kidnapper and the kidnapping era. With all his sophisticated model of operation, SARS subdued him and others. Now, with all these laudable deeds by SARS, no one has come up to say, improve SARS and its personnel. Nobody had also brought up #ThankyouSARS# campaign, but for a little blunder which we are also fighting to curtail within the organization, everyone is screaming ‘EndSARS.’ There are other crimes they are preventing from happening proactively. No one is talking about that. We are not saying that there are no issues within, but the truth is that social media users have over hyped the problem. All these are been addressed appropriately. A video trended on social media showing SARS over-bearing action towards a man on the street who resisted arrest. What’s your opinion? Yes, I saw that video. In my own opinion, that was uncalled for, especially the use of iron rod on someone. I felt it is not good. We are investigating the cause. But you know, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said, “it is only a madman that argues with a man carrying a gun”, because in any such situation, what should be at the back of your mind is safety. Why going confrontational. No matter how little the offence, you don’t engage in a violent confrontation with a Policeman. If a Policeman stops you, whether you are right or wrong, for safety of your life, cooperate first. You can’t prove any cogent point in such a situation. Only a wise man can argue his way out in a proper manner. Unruly behaviour in a presence of a Policeman is assumed offense. In such a situation, I advise that you remain wise and live to fight through legal means than be killed. If you lose your life, even when you are innocent, the life can’t come back. People may eventually rise against it and consequently, the officers involved will be dismissed, but cannot bring back life. So, the only option is to be wise.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Why we created Ward Devt. Committees – Obaseki The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration created the Ward Development Committees to spread developmental projects and improve the wellbeing of the people so as to discourage human trafficking and irregular migration. Obaseki disclosed this at an International Conference organised by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human ASHIEGBU PROSPER
FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IKWEDU PROSPER NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ASHIEGBU PROSPER CHIJIOKE.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
YESUFU JIMMY
Trafficking, to examine the root causes of human trafficking in the state. He noted that among the factors that have contributed to the incidence of human trafficking, are “lack of access to development. We found that areas prone to trafficking lack government presence and basic amenities to support decent living.” “We are working on a new paradigm as a government MRS OLOIDI ABIODUN
FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS SHOFOLAHAN ABIODUN TITILAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OLOIDI ABIODUN TITILAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE
JONATHAN IHEANYICHUKWU
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NDLAMINI JIMMY JOHNSON NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS YESUFU JIMMY EROMOSELE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE
JOY IFEOMA
because I was shocked when I went campaigning in some communities. Our response is to take government directly to people at the grassroots, cutting through those constitutional structures which have been in place but are not as effective as they should be,” he said. Obaseki explained, “We have the state government and local MRS OLOIDI ABIODUN
FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS SHOFOLAHAN ABIODUN TITILAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OLOIDI ABIODUN TITILAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE
MRS OKORO NKECHI
19
CASTLEPAYS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION government structures, but unfortunately, they have not responded as they should to changing the developmental narrative at the grassroots. MRS. OHALETE VIVIAN I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OSUJI VIVIAN NDIDIAMAKA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OHALETE VIVIAN NDIDIAMAKA . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. THOMPSON OKECHUKWU
FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ASTHOMPSON OKECHUKWU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS THOMPSON OKECHUKWU DANIEL .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
DABIYAK SHEHU
OFFICE ADDRESS : 1 OLAKUNLE ADEWALE STREET DIAMOND ESTATE COMMAND IPAJA LAGOS STATE. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AMADI MAUREEN IJEOMA -PRESIDENT 2. OKPARA REX CLEANUS -SECRETARY GENERAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND PROMOTE CHARITABLE AND MORAL EDUCATIONAL DRIVEN TEACHINGS GLOBALLY. 2. TO PROMOTE TEENAGERS, YOUTH RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY AND SOCIETY. 3. TO PROVIDE AND ASSIST IN THE CARE OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED TEENS AND YOUTHS IN OUR SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES.
ENWEREM CHUKWUNENYE
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ENWEREM AUGUSTINE , NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ENWEREM CHUKWUNENYE AUGUSTINE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JONATHAN IHEANYICHUKWU ABRAHAM NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JONATHAN IHEANYICHUKWU SAMUEL .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EDEH NKECHI CECILIA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OKORO NKECHI CECILIA . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DABIYAK MWANSAT ALI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DABIYAK SHEHU GUSOKOH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT NDUKWU JESSICA AKUYOMA AND AKUYOMA I. NDUKWU REFER TO ONE AND THE SAME PERSON NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NDUKWU JESSICA AKUYOMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
OMAH JENNIFER
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEYEMO BOSEDE ADESOLA AND BAMIDELE-DADA BOSEDE ADESOLA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOHAMMED BOSEDE ADESOLA . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
MOHAMMED BOSEDE
SODIQ KUDIRAT
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JOY IFEOMA LANRE-ONIGBANJO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JOY IFEOMA UDOGWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMAH JENNIFER MACHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMAH JENNIFER PRECIOUS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
SALAU OLAMIDE I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AFOLABI OLAMIDE AJIKE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SALAU OLAMIDE OLALERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC/AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD TAKE NOTE.
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMOROKO PRECIOUS AND ONOROKO PRICIOUS, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EGUONO PRECIOUS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
EGUONO PRECIOUS.
OZOKWOR FAITH I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKPALA FAITH CHIAMAKA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OZOKWOR FAITH CHIAMAKA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ENWEREUZO GABRIEL KOSISCHUKWU, WISH TO BE NOW KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEKELU GABRIEL KOSISOCHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBI AZUKAEGO SYLVIA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBI AZUKA SYLVIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
MRS NEBO-CHIGOZIE PATRICA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NNAMCHI PATRICIA IFEOMA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS NEBO-CHIGOZIE PATRICA IFEOMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
MRS EPHRAIM NNAJI I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NNAMANI IFEOMA ANGELA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS EPHRAIM NNAJI IFEOMA ANGELA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
MRS ANIGBO CHINYERE
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS UGWU CHINYERE LETICIA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ANIGBO CHINYERE LETICIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
ONYEBUCHI PATRICK
ADDITION OF NAME
ADDITION OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
THAT I WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODIL LAWRENCE, THAT I NOW WISH TO ADD OKORO TO MY FORMER NAME THAT I NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODIL LAWRENCE OKORO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTES.
Classified
THAT I WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODO ANAYO, THAT I NOW WISH TO ADD GODWIN TO MY FORMER NAME THAT I NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODO ANAYO GODWIN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTES.
PUBLIC NOTICE SOMETIMES IN 2015 MY SON GOT MISSING FROM AFTER HE WAS CALLED TO COME AND DO THE RITES FOR CORONATION TO TAKE THE PLACE OF HIS FATHER AT THE FAMILY SHRINE AFTER HIS FATHERS DEMISE, THEREAFTER I HEARD HE WAS IN KANO DRIVING A LORRY IN SABON-GARI FOR ONE MR EMEKA SAMUEL AGU WHO HE LATER RAN FROM DUE TO THE DEBT INCURED AND THREAT TO HIS LIFE AS THE TRUCK HE WAS RIDING WAS STOLEN, THAT SINCE THEN TILL DATE ALL SEARCH FOR HIM PROVED ABORTIVE PLEASE IF SEEN, CONTACT THE FAMILY OF GODWIN NNAJI OF ONITSHA NORTH LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE
ONYEKELU GABRIEL
THIS IS TO CERTIFY AND CONFIRM THAT IGWE ANTHONY .A., IGWE ANTHONY .O. AND IGWE AUGUSTINE NNOROMELE REFERS AS ONE AND THE SAME PERSON NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IGWE ANTHONY AUGUSTINE NNOROMELE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
OBI AZUKA
FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKETADE KUDIRAT OLAIDE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SODIQ KUDIRAT OKETADE DATE OF BIRTH DECEMBER 8,1998.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
RAHMAN ABDULQUADRI
IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS RAHMAN ABDULKADIRI INSTEAD OF RAHMAN ABDULQUADRI OLAYIWOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GTBANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
DUROJAIYE NAZRAH
UGONNA OGECHUKWU
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OFODIKE OGECHUKWU NKECHINYERE PROMISE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UGONNA OGECHUKWU NKECHINYERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
ABISOLA SOYINKA
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ABIOLA AFILAKA OLUWATOFUNMI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABISOLA SOYINKA OLUWATOFUNMI. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
AYANDARE - OKEOWO IYABO
THAT AYANDARE - OKEOWO IYABO TAIBAT AND AYANDARE TAIBAT IYABO IS THE SAME PERSON. NOW TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AYANDARE - OKEOWO IYABO TAIBAT.FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID.BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.
EZRA LEEDAN
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZUGBA CHINONSO LEEDAN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS EZRA LEEDAN EKEJIUBA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE TOKUNBO SAMSON
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEBUCHI PATRICK NWOYE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEBUCHI PATRICK IKECHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AGORO NAZRAH OLAWUNMI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DUROJAIYE NAZRAH OLAWUNMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADETOKUNBO ABAYOMI SHERIF NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TOKUNBO SAMSON OLAMILEKAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
MARTINS UCHENNA
BLESSING OGONNA
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ETEMFA EFOLI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PRINCE EFOLI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OGBUNIKE UCHENNA MARTINS. NOW WANT TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MARTINS UCHENNA UNSTOPPABLE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE
IZUNNA AND REMI UZOKWE FOUNDATION. OFFICE ADDRESS : 1 OLAKUNLE ADEWALE STREET DIAMOND ESTATE COMMAND IPAJA LAGOS STATE. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990. TRUSTEES. 1.DR. IZUNNA UZOKWE - CHAIRMAN 2. MRS. JULIA UZOKWE - VICE CHAIRMAN. 3. MR. WILLIAM UZOKWE - SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO EMPOWER THE LESS PRIVILEGED PERSONS IN OUR SOCIETY THROUGH TRAINING, SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. 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. SECRETARY
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BLESSING DECENCY UGWUECHE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BLESSING OGONNA UGWUECHE. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 17TH AUGUST 1973. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
ONUORAH PRINCE-FABIN
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONUORAH FREDRICK ANIEKE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONUORAH PRINCE-FABIN ONYEJI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
ANTHONY UZOCHUKWUAMAKA I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ANTHONY UZOAMAKA ONYEMAIZU LUCY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ANTHONY UZOCHUKWUAMAKA ONYEMAIZUCHUKWU. SAME AND ONLY ONE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, AUTHORITIES CONCERN AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
PRINCE EFOLI
WEKE EDUNNA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EDUNNA JOHN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWEKE EDUNNA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. NWAFOR EVELYN
I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWOLU EVELYN OBIAGELI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWAFOR EVELYN OBIAGELI. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 16TH AUGUST 1971. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
Times Wellness 20
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
Amazing benefits of watermelon The health benefits of watermelon include prevention of kidney disorders, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, heat stroke, macular degeneration, and impotence. What is Watermelon? Watermelon is a fruit that grows on a vinelike flowering plant native to Southern Africa. It was cultivated in the Nile River Valley, in Egypt, and eventually in China, roughly 1,000 years ago. Now, watermelon is grown around the world, and in 44 of the 50 states in America. It is specifically selected to grow larger and juicier, resulting in the huge fruits that many of us are familiar with. The green outer rind is hard and fleshy, and rarely eaten, while the interior is soft, red or pink flesh containing many seeds; this is the part of watermelon which is typically eaten. As for accessing the total medicinal benefits of watermelons, it is highly dependent on the variety of watermelon and the ripeness. Betacarotene and lycopene are usually available in high quantities once the watermelon is completely ripe, and don’t be afraid to eat the watermelon rind; there are quite a few nutrients in there as well, particularly roughage and fiber. Nutritional value of Watermelon The healthy or beneficial effects of watermelon are mainly derived from its unique nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds. These include significant amounts of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein, and a large amount of potassium. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and a wide variety of carotenoids and phytonutrients, including lycopene! The question is, why is there so much craze for watermelon? At first glance, it may seem like nothing more than a big ball of water. We all know that there is nothing more refreshing than a big, chilled wedge of watermelon on a hot, summer day and it does sport a stylish scientific name of Citrullus lanatus, but what’s the real reason so many people flock to grocery stores every summer to buy a big fruit like this one? Well, it is hard to narrow it down to a single reason; there are actually a lot of them. Health benefits of Watermelon All the above components of watermelons contribute to their major impact on health; let’s explore some more details of those benefits below. Treats Kidney Disorders Watermelons contain a lot of potassium, which is very helpful in cleaning out the toxic depositions in the kidney. Moreover, they are helpful in reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby reducing the chances of kidney damage and the formation of renal calculi. In addition to this, being high in water content, watermelons induce urination, which is again helpful for cleaning the kidneys. Also, the antioxidants present in watermelon ensure good health of the kidneys for a long time and reduce signs of premature aging like wrinkles and age spots on the skin. Prevents Heat Stroke Watermelon is effective in reducing both your body temperature and blood pressure. Many people in tropical regions eat this fruit every day in the afternoon during summer to protect themselves from heat stroke. The high amount of water in watermelons also stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools your body further during hot summer days. Regulates Blood Pressure The amount of potassium and magnesium present in watermelons is very beneficial in terms of lowering blood pressure. Potassium
Watermelon
is considered a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension on blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. The carotenoidspresent in these fruits also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis. Prevents Cancer Watermelons have gained a lot of attention in recent years, primarily because of their impressive level of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient compound that is increasingly being linked to cancer prevention. Lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anticancer fruit! Controls Diabetes Diabetics, who are supposed to have a low energy and low sugar diet, often complain about starving since they don’t get to eat their staple diets, which gives them the feeling of being halffed. Watermelons can be a good supplement for them. In spite of being sweet in taste, a thick wedge will give them very few calories, since ninety-nine percent of its total weight is composed of water and roughage. Moreover, the vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus lowering the blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetics can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from watermelon rinds, which are even lower in sugar. Heart Health Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions. Beta-carotene, known for its great antioxidant and anti-aging properties, keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in watermelon, along with vitamin C, carotenoids, and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from many dangerous conditions. Prevents Macular Degeneration Don’t worry about eye health and macular
degeneration if you eat plenty of watermelons. Thanks to the beta-carotene, vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, your eyes are well protected. They ensure the protection of your eyes from age-related blindness and degeneration and prevent your eyes from ailments such as drying up of eyes and optic nerves, as well as glaucoma. Prevents Heat Stroke Watermelon is effective in reducing both your body temperature and blood pressure. Many people in tropical regions eat this fruit every day in the afternoon during summer to protect themselves from heat stroke. The high amount of water in watermelons also stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools your body further during hot summer days. Regulates Blood Pressure The amount of potassium and magnesium present in watermelons is very beneficial in terms of lowering blood pressure. Potassium is considered a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension on blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. The carotenoids present in these fruits also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis. Prevents Cancer Watermelons have gained a lot of attention in recent years, primarily because of their impressive level of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient compound that is increasingly being linked to cancer prevention. Lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anticancer fruit! Controls Diabetes Diabetics, who are supposed to have a low energy and low sugar diet, often complain about starving since they don’t get to eat their staple diets, which gives them the feeling of being half-fed. Watermelons can be a good supplement for them. In spite of being sweet in taste, a thick wedge will give them very few calories, since ninety-nine percent of its total
weight is composed of water and roughage. Moreover, the vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus loweringCthe blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetics can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from watermelon rinds, which are even lower in sugar. Heart Health Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions. Betacarotene, known for its great antioxidant and anti-aging properties, keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in watermelon, along with vitamin C, carotenoids, and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from many dangerous conditions. Prevents Macular Degeneration Don’t worry about eye health and macular degeneration if you eat plenty of watermelons. Thanks to the beta-carotene, vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, your eyes are well protected. They ensure the protection of your eyes from age-related blindness and degeneration and prevent your eyes from ailments such as drying up of eyes and optic nerves, as well as glaucoma. One of our readers, Berrada Ali, wrote “I was travelling from Agadir to Marrakech in Morocco yesterday (August 8, 2008), and en cours de route, I bought a watermelon. During a hot day, I don’t feel good. I measured my blood pressure with a handy apparatus -a tension meter- the result was: 7.8/15.2 for diastolic and systolic pressure. Then, I ate half a kilogram of watermelon, of a variety well known in the region of Southern Morocco – a Mediterranean variety. Immediately, I measured my blood pressure and the result was: 8.2/12.3 for diastolic and systolic pressures! The drop in my blood pressure could not be the effect of any agent other than the watermelon!” Word of Caution: A new research study reveals pre-cut melons are a threat for the Salmonella outbreak. So, be cautious while consuming this otherwise healthy fruit. Source: www.organicfacts.net
FOREIGN TIMES
Daily Times Nigeria Friday, August 4, 2018
g21
Mnangagwa calls for unity, rival questions Zimbabwe election result President Emmerson Mnangagwa called on Friday for Zimbabwe to unite behind him after he was declared winner of national elections, but the opposition leader questioned the outcome and demanded “proper and verified” results be released. The election, the first since the army removed 94-year-old Robert Mugabe from office in November, passed off relatively smoothly, raising hopes of a break from a history of disputed and violent polls. But an army crackdown on opposition supporters in which six people were killed revealed the deep rifts in Zimbabwean society that developed during Mugabe’s decades in power, when the security forces became a byword for heavy-handedness.
After three days of claims and counterclaims, 75-year-old Mnangagwa — a former spy chief under Mugabe — secured victory. He polled 2.46 million votes against 2.15 million for 40-year-old opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced early on Friday. “This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity and love, and together build a new Zimbabwe for all,” Mnangagwa said on Twitter. But his efforts to rehabilitate the image of a country synonymous with political repression and economic collapse were also undermined by a police raid — in full view of media cameras — on the headquarters of Chamisa’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Chamisa, who earlier accused the ZEC
of trying to rig the vote, said on Friday it should release “proper and verified” results. “I thought the force of will would prevail over will of force,” he said in a tweet, without elaborating. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, current chair of the Southern African Development Community, urged all Zimbabweans to accept the poll results. The streets of the capital Harare were quiet early on Friday, with traffic thinner than usual. Water cannon and antiriot police remained outside the MDC offices, a reminder of the clashes between opposition and the security forces this week. “We were expecting that these elections will bring change because we are struggling. But as things stand, it will get worse,” one taxi driver told Reuters near the MDC offices.
...Chamisa rejects Mnangagwa’s poll win, vows legal action Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has rejected President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s election victory as fraudulent, saying he will pursue legal and constitutional means to challenge the result. His comments on Friday came as Mnangagwadenied the opposition claims, hailing “a free, fair and credible election”. In the early hours of Friday, the electoral commission said Mnangagwa, of the ruling ZANU-PF party, won 50.8 percent of votes in Monday’s presidential poll. Chamisa, of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, came in second, at 44.3 percent. “We are not accepting fake results. We are not accepting this fiction. We want a proper result to be announced,” Chamisa told reporters in the capital, Harare, on Friday. “We will pursue all means necessary - legal and constitutional - to make sure that we protect the people’s vote,” he added. The 40-year-old described the electoral body’s declaration of Mnangagwa, 75, as the winner of the first poll since longterm leader Robert Mugabe left office in November 2017 as “regrettable”. His press conference was delayed for more than an hour after riot police shouting “clear out” chased reporters who gathered at Harare’s Bronte Hotel. Mnangagwa, a former spy chief and a ZANU-PF veteran, denounced the opposition claim that the vote was rigged.
“We won the election freely and fairly, and have nothing to hide or fear. Anyone is free to address the media at any time,” Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter. In a press conference that followed that of Chamisa, Mnangagwa repeated that the election was free and fair and added that “our freedom and openness were there for all to see”. “In regards to accepting or not accepting the results, Zimbabwe is enjoying democracy. We have introduced comprehensive democracy. Any member of the public or any political party, can proceed in terms of the Constitution and the electoral act to challenge the result in the courts,” he said. “I believe that these leaders or individuals or organisations are free in my view to approach the courts,” added Mnangagwa. Elections observers from the European Union and the United States were allowed into the country and monitor the vote for the first time since 2002. Observers from the EU said there was “un-level playing field” in the poll and “intimidation of voters”. “These elections were seen as a critical test of Zimbabwe’s reform process,” Elmar Brok, the EU mission’s chief observer, said on Wednesday. “In some senses, up to this point, the conduct of the polls has had a number of positive features, but in other senses, serious concerns remain,” added Brok. Previous elections in Zimbabwe have been marred by intimidation and
threats, but Monday’s vote was relatively peaceful. Things however turned violent on Wednesday after Zimbabwe’s electoral commission said the ruling party had won the parliamentary election - also contested on Monday. ZANU-PF, which has ruled the southern African country since independence in 1980, won a clear majority in the 210-seat parliament by securing 145 seats. The MDC came in second with 63, while the National Patriotic Front and an independent candidate also picked up one seat each. Opposition supporters claimed the vote was rigged and took to the streets to protest. At least six demonstrators were killed in clashes with security forces and several others wounded.
Opposition candidate Moise Katumbi blocked from entering DRC Opposition leader Moise Katumbi has lashed out at the Congolese government after being banned from entering the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where he is expected to lodge his papers to participate in December’s long-delayed presidential election. In a Tweet posted on Friday afternoon, he said he would “fight” what he called an attempt to “withdraw from Congolese their right to real elections”. “The regime prohibits my landing and barricades the border ... My crime? Wanting to enter my country and lodge my candidacy,” he said. The wealthy businessman, who has been living in self-imposed exile since 2016, had originally planned to fly from South Africa to Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga province. But the city’s mayor said on Thursday that Katumbi was refused entry, while the public prosecutor’s office said the opposition leader had been charged with “harming the state’s domestic and external security” and would be immediately arrested if he returned. Katumbi, a former governor of Katanga province, was convicted in absentia in 2016 for alleged real estate fraud. He has also been accused of hiring mercenaries and possessing dual nationality, which is not permitted under DRC law. He denies all charges and says they serve to block him for participating in the election. On Friday, Katumbi told AFP news agency that he had arrived in the Zambian Copper Belt city of Ndola and was heading to the border post of Kasumbalesa. A journalist with the French radio network RFI said he had arrived there. Videos posted online by his aides and others showed him on the Zambian side of the border, greeting hundreds of supporters from his car. Salomon Della, a special adviser to Katumbi, posted on Twitter that after five hours they were “still blocked at the Zambian border crossing of Kasumbalesa. “The DRC has become private property where access is prohibited according to the whims of its owner,” the tweet read.
The DRC’s border authorities in Kinshasa said they were unable to confirm whether the crossing had been closed. AFP reported that at least two police checkpoints were set up to screen access to Lubumbashi’s airport on Friday while the main road to Zambia had been blocked by a truck. In March, 53-year-old Katumbi launched the Ensemble [Together] platform in South Africa to oppose President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001. Kabila is technically barred by term limits from standing for re-election after his mandate formally ran out in December 2016. But he has not clearly stated whether he will step aside despite appeals from the international community for him to clearly state that he will not seek re-election. Aspiring presidential candidates have until August 8 to submit their applications and need to physically be in the DRC in order to do so. Another rival of Kabila, former rebel leader and former Vice President JeanPierre Bemba returned home to DRC on Wednesday, after 11 years in exile and prison. He officially launched his bid for the presidency on Thursday. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bemba, 55, said he wants a solution to be found for Katumbi’s situation to prevent tensions from escalating. “I feel very sorry for Mr Katumbi who they don’t allow to come back to his own country,” he told Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi in the capital, Kinshasa.
SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Friday, August 4, 2018
Asaba 2018: Oluwatobiloba Amusan, Chkwuebuka Enekwachi win gold for Nigeria
Nigeria’s national anthem reverberated inside the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, as Oluwatobiloba Amusan won the first gold medal for the country in the women’s 100m hurdles. Amusan, who ran in lane 4, breasted the tape at 12.86 seconds ahead of Rikennete Steenkamp of South Africa in lane 6, who finished in 13. 18 seconds, while Rosevitha
Okou from Cote d’Ivoire placed third with a time of 13.39 seconds. Again, Nigeria’s flag flew high, courtesy of Chkwuebuka Enekwechi’s brave throw in the Shot Put event. Enekwechi, wearing bib number 38, hauled in the second gold for Nigeria, with an accumulated points of 21.08. The Shot Put silver went to Egypt’s Mohammed Khalifa, while South Africa’s
g22
Kyle Blignaut picked bronze. US-based Temilola Ogunrinde picked up Silver in women’s hammer throw with 67.39. In the women’s 100m event, Nigeria managed bronze medal through UdoGabriel Joy, who clocked 11.54 seconds. However, there was no luck for the host country in the men’s 100m event, as the gold, Silver and bronze went to South Africa and Cote d‘Ivoire.
NBBF sacks D’Tigress coach, Vincent
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has ended its relationship with the Head Coach of the Senior Women’s Basketball team, Sam Vincent. NBBF Media Officer, Afolabi Oni, in a statement on Friday said the decision was taken after extensive consultations and assessment of the team’s progress in camp ahead of the 2018 FIBA Women World Cup in Tenerife, Spain. A a letter signed by the NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida, said the decision was taken in the best interest of all parties involved and the long term interest of the D’Tigress. NBBF stated that the numerous conflicting commitments of the 55-year-old coach had affected his duties as the coach of the women
national team. It quoted the letter stating in part that, “The NBBF has been monitoring the situation in Atlanta closely and we are not satisfied with a lot of things. ”You left the National Women’s Team Camp in Atlanta since Friday July 27, 2018, without permission from anybody and you have continuously remained absent. ”Following investigations, the 2017 Afrobasket winning coach was found guilty of abandoning the team due to other conflicting professional engagements within the United States of America where the team is currently camped. ”In view of the importance of giving the team the best of preparation for the World Cup as to make a mark in Spain, the NBBF decided it needed a
coach who will spend more time in camp preparing the team. “Be informed that you are hereby relieved of your appointment as our National Women’s Coach, to allow you concentrate better on your other activities.” The NBBF thanked Vincent for qualifying the team for the World Cup by winning the 2017 Afrobasket Championship in Atlanta and wished him all the best in his future endeavors. The board has promised to compensate him for the services rendered while with the team. In the meantime, D’Tigress assistant coach, Peter Ahmedu will take charge of team’s preparation for the World Cup to be assisted by Sola Shomala until a new coach is appointed. (NAN)
SW Volleyball Legends to honour President, Coaches, Ex-players Ex-Volleyball internationals in the Diaspora under the auspices of SouthWest Volleyball Legends on Thursday, said its president and other officials of the federation, would be honoured at an award night on Saturday. The ex-Internationals said the legends would as part of their development projects, on Aug. 4, at Adamasingba SAports Complex, Ibadan, Oyo, aimed at bringing together the U-12 boys and girls from the zone to be groomed from grassroots to stardom. The Chairman of the ex-volleyball internationals in the Diaspora, Wasiu Ojuolape (Wasper), said the boys and girls would feature in exhibition matches where balls, nets and other volleyball
equipment would be distributed to facilitate their training. “This event will henceforth be an annual one and will dovetail into awards night where the contributions of the past and present presidents of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation will be appreciated. “Coaches and ex-players, both living and departed will also be honoured for their positive contributions to the growth of volleyball in the southwest of Nigeria. “Other members of the southwest volleyball legends are Tunde Omisore, Lola Aina, Edosa Aye, Antonia Akpama and the prolific setter of her era, Shakirat Afolabi,” they said in statement by the Coordinator, South-West Volleyball Legends, Kehinde Lamidi in Lagos.
Tiger Woods feeling ready to win again as PGA Championship looms Tiger Woods says he has improved enough after spinal fusion surgery to snap a five-year win drought just ahead of the season’s final major tournament, the 100th PGA Championship. Woods, a 14-time major champion, tees off next week at Bellerive after briefly leading last month’s British Open at Carnoustie. The former world number one boosted his ranking from beyond 1,200th last December to 50th. “I went from just hoping to be able to play the tour to now I feel that I certainly can win again,” Woods said. “Within a year to get down to 50 is a pretty good accomplishment. At the beginning of the year, if they had said you’re playing the Open Championship, I would have said I’d be very lucky to do that.” Woods, who hasn’t won a major title since the 2008 US Open, struggled with back pain the past two years but has served notice his shotmaking skills are returning to form. He shared second at the Valspar Championship in March and in June shared fourth at the National after his best final round in six years. “I’ve had an opportunity to win a couple times this year. I had a great chance at Valspar early in
the year and even (at Carnoustie) I had a great shot at it,” Woods said. “My game has gotten better and good enough where I feel like I can win again out here.” Woods has one last major before turning 43 in December. Only 14 times has a player 43 or older won a major and only two men have multiple wins beyond their 42nd birthday — Old Tom Morris in the 1864 and 1867 British Opens and Julius Boros at the 1963 US Open and 1968 PGA Championship. Woods has not won any event since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone
Invitational, but held the outright lead with eight holes to play at Carnoustie before a double bogey and bogey dropped him from the top for good. “It’s going to sting for a while because I had a great chance at it,” Woods said. “I played myself into a great position. I made a couple of mistakes there at 11 and 12, ended up costing me the tournament.” Woods shared sixth at the Open, his best major result since 2013, and will chase his first consecutive top-10 major finishes since 2010 at Bellerive.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, August 4, 2018
23 Sports Times
Asaba 2018: Athletes say bumpy tracks affect races Some athletes participating in the ongoing African Senior Athletics championships have complained of the state of the track at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba describing it as “bumpy’’. The athletes told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the tracks were not smooth enough and that the situation had affected their performances in the races. The championships are the first major event taking place at the just-completed stadium with 52 countries in attendance. Nigeria’s Seye Ogunlewe, who finished the Men’s 100m in fifth place with 10.45 seconds, said the tracks contributed to his failure to make a podium finish. “ The tracks are a bit bumpy. Sometimes, I just felt like I would stumble and other times I am
stable. We just need to do well with facilities. “Well, I tried my best but my best was not good enough to get a medal, but I hope to be back stronger,’’ he said. Cote d’ Iviore’s Ben Youssef Meite, who finished fourth with 10.36 seconds in the Men’s 100m, also alleged that the tracks were not good enough. “The tracks are not good. They are really hard to race on and you cannot control your race, so it is not so good,’’ Meite said. A 4x100m relay athlete, Innocent Bologo of Burkina Faso, told NAN he believed the tracks were not properly worked on. “The tracks are not so nice, maybe because they had to set up facilities for this championships late. Hopefully, after the event it may be worked on,’’ Bologo said.
South Africa’s Akanni Simbine, who won the men’s 100m race with 10.25 seconds, also said that though the tracks were not smooth, he expected athletes to look beyond it. “Yes, they are bumpy, but as an athlete, you can run on it. It should really not distract you, you just have to do whatever you can to race well,” Simbine said. NAN reports that Solomon Ogba, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the competition, had told a news a news conference that he was not aware of the tracks issue being raised by the athletes. Athletes emerging first and second in their respective events are expected to represent Africa at the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The championship which began on Wednesday will end on Sunday. (NAN)
Expert calls for improved security for referees Head of Referee unit, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Zubairu, on Friday called for improved security for referees, to guarantee unbiased officiating. Zubairu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that only through an environment devoid of fear of intimidation that fair officiating could thrive. He said that many referees had been placed under threat and brutalised by some unruly fans at different times. “If a referee feels insecure, he or she may likely be influenced negatively in making decisions,” Zubairu said.
The federation official described the security of referees and match officials as key to restoring confidence. According to him, fear is a demoralising factor capable of eliminating the quality of fairness in match officiating. He called on government at all levels to ensure that referees operate in a peaceful and secured environment for optimal service delivery. NAN reports that fans’ unrest and intimidation of referees have been common recently in most part of the world. (NAN)
Enugu Police Command lauds taekwondo team over performance at championship The Enugu State Police Command on Thursday lauded its taekwondo team for winning a bronze medal at the 7th Inspector General of Police (IGP) Taekwondo Championship held in Lagos. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danmallam, gave the commendation at the Police Headquarters in Enugu while receiving the contingent. Danmallam, who was represented by the command’s Sports Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, appreciated the taekwondo
team leader, Frank Ekwerike, for putting up an impressive performance. The commissioner also thanked the contingent for being good ambassadors of the command. “The command extols the skillful sports qualities of Taekwondo Master Frank Ekwerike, for leading and guiding Oguegu Collins of the command to win bronze medal for Police Zone 9 in the 63kg male category,’’ he said. Responding, Ekwerike thanked God and the Danmallam for the success
recorded, saying “we are also grateful to the command’s Sports Officer for his support and encouragement all the time to the team.’’ The championship featured athletes from the Police, the Armed Forces and para-military organisations like the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championship was held at the National Stadium in Lagos from July 26 and July 29.(NAN)
Argentina name Lionel Scaloni as interim coach
Argentina have named current under-17 coach Lionel Scaloni as interim boss for upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia. Scaloni replaces Jorge Sampaoli, who stood down last month after a disappointing World Cup in which Argentina were eliminated by France 4-3 in the round of 16. He is a former right back who also helped as assistant coach with the national side. “… After a meeting of the Executive
Committee, Lionel Scaloni will coach the future friendlies along with his assistants Pablo Aimar and Martin Tocalli,” the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said in a statement. The association’s president Claudio Tapia told reporters they were going to take their time to appoint a permanent coach. Argentina have had three different men in charge since Alejandro Sabella resigned in 2014 after taking the team to the final of the World Cup.
The South Americans lost to Germany in extra time. Since then Gerardo Martino, Edgardo Bauza, and Sampaoli have all had spells at the helm,but none have won any silverware and Argentina’s trophy drought now extends back to 1993, the last time they won the Copa America. The two-time World Champions meet Guatemala in Los Angeles on Sept 7 and then face Colombia in New Jersey four days later.
Anthony Joshua begins training for Alexander Povetkin bout Anthony Joshua is hard at work in the gym as he prepares to defend his world titles at Wembley in September against Alexander Povetkin. The unified heavyweight champion has signed a deal for his next two fights to take place at Wembley and speculation is already mounting on his opponent for the April date next year. Despite recently admitting he is looking past his Russian adversary by re-establishing his desire to face Deontay Wilder, it seems Joshua is still taking no chances and has begun intense training eight weeks out from the fight. The 28-year-old has done his
homework on Povetkin and has been sparring men of similar stature to prepare him for the smaller, bullish Russian. Joshua will enjoy a significant height and reach advantage on fight night and has predicted it could influence his 38-year-old opponent to go for the body. He has worked on how to nullify attacks downstairs and posted a video of him taking shots to the body during a workout this week. The Brit however, has already vowed to ‘walk through’ Povetkin in September and admitted he is looking to bigger names and fights next year.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things. Kenneth Branagh
https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts
dailytimesnigeria
www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr
FLASHBACK in Times: August 4, 1948
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018
VOL. 3
NO. 717
N100
Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS Plc. Corporate Office: 9 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja Email: info@dailytimes.ng; DTNcontent@gmail.com Managing Editor: BONAVENTURE MELAH, Tel: 08036062975, Editor: TONY AMOKEODO, Tel: 08111811228, Email: tonyamok@gmail.com