Dtn 6 4 17

THE

DAILY

TIMES

NIGERIA INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. EST. 1926 WWW.DAILYTIMES.NG https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

NSE QUICK BITE

dailytimesng

Why disbursement of recovered looted funds is delayed, by AGF

ÏÏÏ The Attorney General of the

Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Wednesday, opened up on why the disbursement of recovered looted funds is delayed.

According to him, the failure of the National Assembly to pass the ‘Proceed of Crime Act (POCA) Bill’ pending before it accounted

for Federal Government’s inability to establish a body to manage the recovered funds.

Malami revealed this while participating in a programme: “Good Morning Nigeria” on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), according to a statement by hi spokesman, Salihu Isah, on Continued on page 7

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 336

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

GAINERS AS AT April 5, 2017 UNILEVER

32.00

33.49 4.66%

WAPCO

38.85

N150

LOSERS AS AT April 5, 2017 39.00

0.39%

UACN

13.30

13.00

-2.26%

GUINNESS

60.80

60.00

-1.32%

Buhari: We’ll pursue economic recovery plans with vigour

Ï d ƕ èôƣ ƍƆƏƅƆ Ɛ Ə ƓƐ Ə ƐƆ ƅ ƈƆƒ ƄƋƆô Ï ôM ƋƐƆƏ ƐƈƒƆ Ɛ Ɨ Ɔƅ ƌƈƅ ƄƋƑƆƍƏƈ Ɛô Ï ^ƋƆƗ Ɔ Ɛ ƇƑƋƇƈƋƋ ƅ ƌƍ ƈ ƍƏ ƌƈ Ɔ ƌ ƗƆ Ɛ Mƈ ƆƏƈ Ï nƏ Ɔ 1 ƒƆƏ Ə Ɛ ƗƏ Ɠ ƈ ƍƈƏ Ɛƈ Ɨ ó ƐƏ ƐƆ ƈƅ ƗƈƏƆƅƐƈ ô ƇƏ ƌ &`1^

Tony Ailemen Abuja

ÏÏÏ The new economic recovery plans

of President Muhammadu Buhari took off on Wednesday with assurances from the President that his administration will pursue the Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plans Continued on page 6

Graft: Court acquits, discharges Justice 6 Ademola, wife, lawyer 12 PDP crisis: Jonathan meets Sheriff, Makarfi, stakeholders today 7 UTME 2017: Candidates take to streets, protest inability to register Gé`ë yƈƅƆ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛè Ɔƌƈ R ƈ Ƅ Ɖ ì ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ LƑ ƌƌ ƗƑ Ƒ Əƈì dƆ ƐƆ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛè ƑƊ Ƌ d Ə Ɗƈì dƍƆ ƊƆƏè 6 Ƒ Ɔ Ƈ `ƆƍƏƆ Ɔ Ɛ ƐƈƒƆ è ƊƑƄƑ # Ə ì ƈƏƌ è Mƈ ƆƏƈ 1 ƒƆƏ Ə ô 0 ƏƑƌƃ1 ƒƆƏ Ə Ƈ ƌƇ Ə dƐ ƐƆè Ƌ Ɖƈ ƄƗƑƋ ƖƈƖ Əƈ Ɨ Lƈ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ƈ 0ƈ ƅƆè LƏ ê EƆƌƈ ƗƆ Ƒ è ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ƌ Ƒ ƅ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ 1 ƒƆƏ ƌƆ Ɛô &ƅ ƌƈƅ `Ɔƅ ƒƆƏƕ Ɨ 1Ə ƓƐ ^Ƌ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ dƐ ƐƆ 6 Ƒ Ɔè ƄƑƉ Č zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕê

Reps reject bill empowering NASS to remove govs, deputies Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The House of

Representatives on Wednesday rejected a bill seeking to empower the National Assembly to impeach state governors and their deputies from office in appropriate circumstances.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Edward Pwajock from Plateau State

and Rep. Ali Isa from Gombe State sought to delete and amend Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution which empowers the National Assembly to assume the functions of a state house of assembly in times of crisis.

Sponsors of the controversial legislation had barely ended their opening remarks that the bill be read a second time before the hawks in the House signified

their intention to kill the bill.

In their opinion, granting such enormous powers to the National Assembly would make it too powerful and would create unnecessary tension in the country.

Rep. Ayo Omideran from Osun State set the tone for the bill’s opponents when she said it was a waste of time debating such an Continued on page 12

Banks non-performing loans hit 14% in 2016 12 - CBN

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

3

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

CCT chairman over rules Saraki objection on recross examination Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎSaraki’s

counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN) yesterday crossed examined the witness Mr. Samuel Madojemu on his evidence in chief but objected to recross examination by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

The Federal Government is prosecuting Saraki over allegations bordering on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.

In his re-examination yesterday when the matter came up, counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) asked the prosecution witness, Mr. Samuel Madojemu to clarify his evidence during cross examination that contradicts what was said in his evidence in chief and durin cross examination.

Rotimi specifically asked the witness, who is

the head of Intelligence and Investigation Unit of the CCB to explain what he meant by saying that the column in the form prepared by the Code of Conduct Bureau for assets declaration does not include mortgage, debit card, credit card, cash lodgment.

Upon asking the question, Paul Erokoro (SAN), who led the defence team for the Senate President objected to the line of questioning, adding that, “The witness cannot be asked to explain, to add to, to contradict or to vary the content of CCB 1 (the assets declaration form).

He said the CCB 1 prepared by the Bureau amounts to official proceedings being reduced to a form of evidence as contained in Section 128 (1) of the Evidence Ac and added that the wording in the asset declaration form of the defendant, which was tendered as exhibit is clear and unambiguous.

5 News

SON gives ultimatum on certification of liquified natural gas storage Tony Ailemen, Abuja

ÎÎÎAs part of measure to

enhance security of lives, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued a two-week ultimatum to all owners of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks nationwide to commence the process of SON certification or have their facilities shut down.

A statement from the office of the Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, in Abuja disclosed that SON has observed a sharp rise in the installation of LPG storage tanks in Petrol filling stations across the country many

of which have been unable to provide evidence of SON certification of the vessels.

The Director General then directed all SON State offices to intensify the surveillance of all installed LPG storage tanks in their areas of coverage to ascertain those that have undergone SON certification before installation as required by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) regulation.

Mr. Aboloma disclosed that all imported and locally fabricated LPG storage tanks are required to undergo SON certification to assure conformity

to the requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) 419:2000, Specification and Testing of Unfired Pressure Vessels for the storage of liquified petroleum gas (LPG). These, he said, include safety and performance requirements.

According to him, locally manufactured vessels are required to undergo certification under the SON Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), while imported vessels are required to undergo the off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certification.

The SON Director Gen-

eral appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any installation of LPG storage tanks in their vicinity to the nearest SON office for verification of compliance to standards requirement in the interest of public safety.

He warned that Nigerians should not suffer from avoidable gas explosion occasioned by the use of sub-standard LPG storage tanks. “The time has come to put our acts together and end the nightmare. We are commited to the full implementation of the policy against the use of substandard LPG storage tanks” he said.

Judiciary workers’ strike violation of court order -Enugu govt Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÎÎÎThe

Enugu state government has described the industrial action embarked upon by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria’s (JUSUN) the state branch as illegal and a contravention of a binding and subsisting order of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

In a press statement issued by the secretary to the state government, Dr. G.O.C. Ajah, noted that the court had restrained the union from going on strike without fulfilling the preconditions outlined in the Trade Dispute Act. The government explained that it is instructive that the judiciary union did not appeal against the NIC’s judgement, and there is as yet no order staying the execution of the order restraining the union and its membership from carrying out a strike action on the basis of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), which the court had declared to be a

non-binding recommendation.

According to Ajah, “sometime in 2009 or thereabouts, the Body of Chief Judges of the various states of the federation recommended an enhanced salary structure for the judiciary staff known as CONJUSS.” The statement further noted that the union in state had issued a communique threatening to call out its members on strike if the CONJUSS was not implemented, prompting the state government to file a suit (NIC/EN09/2010) in 2010 against JUSUN at the NIC praying, among other things, that the communique the members of JUSUN issued was unlawful and that it cannot embark on strike on the basis of CONJUSS without a recourse to due process.

The state had also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the union members from embarking on strike on the basis of non-implementation of CONJUSS.

Members of the Inter Agency Standing Committee of Gender Base Violence Gombe State at 2-day interactive session organised by United Nation Population Fund…on Wednesday.

Two men sentenced to death by hanging, woman to 21 years in prison Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎTwo

men, Etenbom Udoh and David Udoh, both 32, were on Wednesday sentenced to death by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court while Eno Victor, a 30-year-old woman will spend 21 years in prison.

Ipaye handed down the 21-years sentence to Eno for kidnapping and Etenbom and David who, though unrelated but share the same surname, to death sentences for armed robbery and 21 – years in prison each for kidnapping.

Eno was acquitted of the charge of armed robbery after Justice Ipaye found no evidence linking her to the crime.

The convicts were charged on July 31, 2013 on a three-count

charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery, for which they pleaded not guilty to.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Ipaye noted that the stiff punishments should send a signal to the streets of Lagos that there will be zero tolerance for such heinous crimes.

“The first, second and third defendant were all part of a criminal enterprise, instead of choosing a honest living, they chose a path of extreme violence leaving a trail of grief and pain in their wake.

“It also came to the notice of this court during the trial that the defendants were serial offenders specialising in kidnapping.

“Eno Victor, Etenbom Udoh and David Udoh are hereby found guilty of kidnapping.

“They are sentenced to 21-years

in prison for the charge which is contrary to Section 269 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

“Etenbom Udoh and David Udoh are found guilty of armed robbery contrary to Section 295 (2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

“You are both to be hung by the neck till you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on your souls,” Ipaye said.

According to the state prosecution team led by Mr Akin George, the convicts kidnapped Mr Olurinde Ojerinde, a 45-year old financial adviser from his home in Okota, Lagos.

“Eno’s husband, Sunday Victor was the ringleader of the syndicate which specialised in kidnapping individuals within the Lagos metropolis and demanding huge ransoms from their loved ones.

12

8

9

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè ƍƏƈƋ Õè ƾƠơƣ

Buhari: We’ll pursue economic recovery plans with vigour Continued from page 1 (ERGP) with vigour.

The President, who opined that there is no alternative to good economic blueprint that will aid quick turnaround of the ailing Nigerian economy, said proper implementation of the ERGP will bring a solution to the country’s economic challenges.

The President, while assuring that he will fulfill his campaign promises made to Nigerians, said the economic recovery war will be prosecuted with the same zeal his administration has deployed to tackling the war against corruption and insecurity in the country.

The economic recovery and growth plan which is the brainchild of the Budget and National Planning Ministry, is aimed at

bringing together all sectoral plans including those of agriculture and food security, energy transport infrastructure, industrialisation and social involvements together in a single document.

The ERGP also involves strategic implementation plan that targets 7percent growth rate by the year 2020 setting out an ambitious roadmap to return the economy to growth, within the shortest possible time.

According to the President, the aim of government is simply to optimize local content and empower local investors and not just to get the country out of recession.

The President said his administration has taken cognizance of the difficult situation Nigeria

was in and the need to bring positive and enduring change, adding that “we remain committed to our electoral promise to change our way of doing things and change Nigeria for good.”

“We are committed to delivering on the three key areas that we promised, that is improving security, tackling corruption and revitalizing the economy. Security in the northeast and other parts of Nigeria is significantly better today than when we came in.

“I want to assure all Nigerians that we’re approaching the solution to our economic challenges with the same will and commitment we have demonstrated in the fight against corruption and in the fight against terrorism and militancy. We seek not to just take the Nigerian economy out of re-

9 ƍƆƅƐ Ə 1Ɔ ƆƏ Ƌ Ƈ ^ ƋƈƅƆè 9ƄƏ ƈƌ 9ƗƏƈ ƈ æƋç Ɨ #91 d Ƒ ƈƄƑ 1 ƌƄ æƏç ƗƆƅ Ə Ɛƈ ƆƓ ƌƌƈ ƈ ƆƏ Ƈ ^ ƋƈƅƆè C # ƈƆƋ ƌ Ɨƈ Ɛ ^ ƋƈƅƆ 6Ɔ ƗƎƑ ƏƐƆƏ è ƄƑƉ Č zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕê

^6RjRë j&L9jR^& GR1nMê

cession but to place it on a path to sustainable, inclusive and diversified growth.

“We are determined to change Nigeria from an import dependent country to a producing nation. We must become a nation where we grow what we eat, and we consume what we produce. We must strive to have a strong Naira and productive economy,” he said.

The President also charged State Governors to draw inspiration and “strategic direction from the Plan to articulate their economic programmes, particularly in the development of the real sector.”

The growth plan which targets to restore the economy through sustained growth between 2017 to 2020, seeks to grossly reduce inflation rate from an all-time high of 19 percent to a single digit. It also targets to restore growth by ensuring the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) improves significantly to 2.19 percent in 2017, and 7 per cent at the end of 2020 especially through agriculture.

The new plan also aims to boost the power situation in Nigeria with 10 GW of operational capacity by 2020 as well improve the energy mix, including through greater use of renewable energy.

It also projects that the country will become a net exporter of refined petroleum products by 2020, amongst other things.

In his goodwill message at the event which had the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun and other dignitaries in attendance, Chairman of the Governor’s Forum, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazziz Yari, pledged that the governors of the

36 states “will take ownership and ensure the implementation of the plan at the sub-national level.”

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, who supervised the birthing of the plan, in his remarks, said the broad objectives of the plan is to restore growth, invest in the people and build a globally competitive economy.

Noting that the ERGP is a fulfillment of the president’s promise to reinvigorate the economy, he explained that the document is the compilation of all the government’s plans in one place.

He said the plan articulates up to 60 interventions and initiatives that must be executed or completed within the next four years, to tackle and remove impediments to growth; to make markets function better, and to leverage the power of the private sector.

However, the growth pursued must be achieved without compromising the core values of the country such as discipline, integrity, social justice, self-reliance, and patriotism.

All the initiatives of the plan will be implemented in such a manner as to continue to strengthen and promote national cohesion and social inclusion.

Stating that the president has approved the creation of a special delivery unit in the presidency to monitor the implementation of the plan and remove all bottlenecks, Udoma said, “this is one plan that will be implemented with vigour, focus and success.”

In their respective goodwill messages, Saraki and Dogara pledged the unalloyed support to follow through with the plan and ensure that it is implemented.

Graft: Court acquits, discharges Justice Ademola, wife, lawyer Ïd ƕ è ó Ə Ɔ ƈ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔƌ ƈ Ƌƕ ƍƆƅƑƋ ƐƈƒƆè ƓƈƐ ƑƐ ƌƆƏƈƐô

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The High Court of Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Wednesday dismissed all the 18-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi. Trial Judge, Justice Jude Okeke also discharged and acquitted the three defendants on grounds that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

Justice Okeke in a ruling which spanned over two hours on a no case submission filed by the defendants, described the charges brought against the defendants by the Federal Government as highly speculative and without merit.

Justice Okeke in arriving at the decision ruled that the prosecution in its plethora of evidences could not establish any ingredients of conspiracy among the three defendants on count one.

“I have read the addresses of the parties and examined all the exhibits and found that the prosecution has not proved any of the essential elements of crime against the defendants, neither did it provide sufficient evidence to prove prima facie case.

He stated that section 97 of the Penal code under which the defendants were charged did not provide for ingredients for conspiracy but punishment.

“No person shall be punished for an act not provided for in the law. Therefore section 36(a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria renders the

charges incompetent and it is hereby struck out,” Justice Okeke ruled.

Justice Okeke also ruled that the 19 witnesses called by the prosecution did not link the N30 million transferred by Agi to the second defendant to the first defendant, neither were they related to the garnishee orders made by Ademola for three companies in Cross River.

Justice Okeke stated that none of the prosecution witnesses from the Guarantee Trust Bank, who testified were able to disclose the purpose for which the N30m was transferred.

The judge added that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses which turned out to be in favour of the defendants were true, essentially as the prosecution counsel, Segun Jegede, did

not declare the witnesses hostile.

On charges 6, 7 and 8 which alleged that N10m was transferred from Agi to the second defendant, the Judge said he did not establish how the second defendant influenced the first defendant in his official function.

“The third defendant ought not to be called to put up his defence when the counts do not meet the constitutional standard”, he said.

On the monies recovered from the residence of Ademola, the judge held that there was nothing to show that they were proceeds of illegality, adding that the prosecution witness from the Federal High Court in his testimony disclosed that Ademola earns over N500,000 as salaries and another N300,000 as allowances in addition to estacode of about 1.2m in foreign currency.

He stated that Ademola in his statement further stated that being a son of a former Justice of the Court of Appeal and a grandson of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, he received a vast wealth from his parents’ inheritance.

“It cannot be said that a man who earns salaries and derived benefits from his father’s estate cannot possess capacity to muster such amount of money in his house.”

The court also reasoned that no person had claimed that the money found in Justice Ademola’s residence is missing or belong to him.

On the issue of arms and ammunition charges, Justice Okeke stated that while one belongs to Justice Ademola, the other beContinued on page 7

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè ƍƏƈƋ Õè ƾƠơƣ

Why disbursement of recovered looted funds is delayed, by AGF Continued from page 1 Wednesday.

“If Proceed of Crimes Act had been promulgated, we would have had in place an agency that would formulate policy on the management of recovered loots,” Isah quoted Malami as saying.

He said the Act was intended to midwife the Recovered Asset Management Agency (RAMA), with a board comprising a chairman, with 20 years of cognate experience and representatives would be drawn from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National

Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies and civil society groups.

According to the Malami, RAMA when established will also generate income for government from local and international sources.

He said there is a robust collaboration between states and Federal Government in the fight against corruption, adding that the collaboration informed why the Federal Government granted fiat to states’ Attorneys-General to prosecute federal offences with corruption connotations in the various states.

Graft: Court acquits, discharges Justice Ademola, wife, lawyer Continued from page 6 long to Justice A. R. Mohammed. He noted that the charges which read with valid licence took it out of the case of the Robbery and Firearms Act. “It is the humble view of this court that the charge is inconsistent with the Robbery and Firearm Act. No evidence to show that the DSS requested for valid licence which the defendant did not provide at the time his house was searched”, he said.

According to him, the Robbery and Firearms Act provides for suspects to produce licence and that within that reasonable time Justice Ademola had provided the licence, therefore there is nothing more for him to explain.

On the charge that he gave false information to a DSS official, Babatunde Adepoju, that one of the guns belongs to Justice A.

R. Mohammed, the court held that the evidence of Justice A. R. Mohammed was vital and noted that the prosecution could have called A.R. Mohammed or tender his statement in evidence to prove its case.

On the alleged car gift of a BMW car bought by Agi for Ademola’s son, Ademide, so as to influence Justice Ademola, the court ruled that Ademide did receive the car as an agent of his father.

According to the judge, Coscharis from whom the car was bought from had testified that Ademide is the owner of the car as voucher was issued in his name and even licencing was done in his name.

Justice Okeke therefore ruled that the case was built on speculation and highlevel of suspicion fuelled by the zeal to fight corruption and therefore dismissed all the charges and acquitted the defendants.

Banks non-performing loans hit 14% in 2016 –CBN Continued from page 6 three or more bilateral exposures.

“Overall, the result indicated the potential for high contagion risk through unsecured interbank exposure as three banks (including two Systemically Important Banks) failed CAR after a 100 per cent default shock,” the report said.

Enhancing supervision of Domestic Systemically

Important Banks (D-SIBs), the report revealed that eight banks earlier designated as D-SIBs retained their status during the period under review.

“These banks were required to meet more stringent prudential regulations to reflect their systemic importance.

“At end-December 2016, the D-SIBs accounted for N20.87 trillion (69.06per cent) of industry total assets of N30.22 trillion.

7 News

PDP tells Zamfara Gov. to resign over comments on meningitis ÏnƏ Ɔ 01è Əƈ Ɛ ƋƆ ƒƆ 1 Ɨ ƑƐ Ƈ Ɛ ƆƈƏ Ƈ ƈƋƑƏƆ Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Abdulazeez Yari, over his comments on Tuesday that the recent outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria is as a result of God’s punishment to Nigerians for their disobedience and fornication.

The NCC of the PDP specifically told the Governor to leave God out of his (Yari’s) failures and that of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The NCC of the PDP, in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity

Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also urged Federal Government to stop playing politics with the outbreak of the disease and do everything within its power to end the menace.

It expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of all those that lost their lives to the scourge within this period.

The NCC further urged all Nigerians to drink more water, sleep in a ventilated environment and report symptoms to the nearest health center within their areas for quick medical attention.

The statement reads: “The news of the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the country and the apathetic attitude of both the Zamfara State and Federal Government to curtail the Scourge is disheartening and preposterous.

“For the record, the pri-

mary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens and the APC-led Government has remained insensitive, careless and adamant to the plight of Nigerians in all ramification.

“This Government wasted so much funds on the State House Clinic with no tangible result but neglected other health centers and clinics across the Country that have capacities to manage the health challenges of other Nigerians.

“As of Tuesday, April 4, 2017, about 336 Nigerians have lost their lives due to the outbreak of type C Cerebrospinal Meningitis and the Federal Ministry of Health has not taken any concrete step to contend with the spread. It is on record that the PDP Government in sixteen years did not allow such mindless

display of insensitivity as seen by this APC Administration.

“More worrisome is the Statement credited to the Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdullaziz Yari in which he attributed the outbreak of Meningitis to God’s making. This is shameful and very unfortunate as the APC has run out of reasons to blame previous PDP administration but it’s now blaming God for its failures.

“Governor Yari should not blame God for his failures but that of his Party, the APC, to avoid incurring God’s anger on their crass ineptitude in governance.

However, we wish to advise him to resign immediately for making such statement as a state Governor and the Chairman of Governors Forum who is supposed to bring hope to the people and not despair.

Gé`ë 0 ƏƌƆƏ 1 ƒƆƏ Ə Ƈ Ə `ƈƒƆƏ dƐ ƐƆè # ƋƗ #ƑƊƆì E ƗƑ dƐ ƐƆ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè M ƈƏ &Ƌé`ƑƇ ƈì #ƆƍƑƐƕ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè Ƌ ƐƆƔ Ɨ dƍƆ ƊƆƏè E ƗƑ dƐ ƐƆ 6 Ƒ Ɔ Ƈ ƆƌƄƋƕè Ƌ Ɖƈ ƌƈ Ƒ d Ƌƈè Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ E ƗƑ &ƅ ƌƈƅ Ɨ 9 ƒƆ ƐƌƆ Ɛ ƑƌƌƈƐ ƈ E ƗƑ Č zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕê

UTME 2017: Candidates take to streets, protest inability to register Edem Edem, Calabar

ÏÏÏ Few days to the closure

of registration of candidates for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, prospective candidates have staged a protest in Calabar, the Cross River State capital disrupting free flow of traffic.

The protesting candidates who carried green leaves, blocked many roads and streets in Calabar on Wednesday, singing war songs and preventing people from doing their normal businesses.

The candidates, who took to popular streets in Calabar, lamented their inability to register for the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted

by JAMB which is the gateway to getting admission to various higher institutions in Nigeria.

Some of the candidates told The Daily Times that they left their houses by 4am on Wednesday to ensure that they registered, yet they could not.

“The JAMB officials asked us to come as early as 4am given that the crowd was large, unfortunately,

they were not here. Most of us leave in an area where security was a challenge; in some places, there were gunshot and we maneuvered our way to come, still we were unable to be registered, what do they expect from us? They said there will be no extension, are they going to close the door against us? That is why we protested,” one of the candidates said.

The Daily Times gathered that there are only four banks licenced to register candidates in Calabar.

These banks are Sterling Bank, Union Bank, FCMB and Unity Bank.

Also, only Cyber Café with more than 20 computers were allowed to register candidates. At a private café at No 1 Barracks Street, over a thousand candidates were seen struggling to register. Many of the candidates were seen at Marian, Target, and Barracks roads stopping vehicles and other road users from having good ride.

Recall that The Daily Times had published how several thousands of prospective candidates of UTME conducted by JAMB who besieged various banks to obtain pin for the registration at various

News 8

ÏÏÏ The Lagos state govern-

ment has begun the fulfillment of its promise to preserve cultural and historical sites across the state with the staging of Echoes from Tinubu Square project where pupils of the state public primary schools were entertained with folklores and cultural display.

In his welcome address at the event inside Madam Tinubu Square Fountain, Lagos Island, Special Adviser to the governor on Central Business Districts, Agboola Dabiri jaid Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is desirous of using public education to touch and redirect the minds of young children towards becoming agents of positive

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 6, 2017

change in the society and inauguration of the project by the Central Business Districts is a step in that direction.

He enjoined the pupils to be good listeners as information gathered on the prowess of heroes and heroines of yesteryears in the state will enhance their studies for good, adding that the event which will be on monthly basis will be rotated among pupils of the state primary schools as well as students of higher institutions.

According to the Special Adviser, “maintenance of historical monuments should equally be the concern of Lagosians whenever they visit on leisure and recreation,” saying that the renovation of the Tinubu

Square Fountain is a pointer to the judicious use of tax payers’ money by government in the state.

He advised that “Lagosians should cultivate the habit of keeping the historical monument tidy and neat whenever they visit for leisure and recreation, as that will go a long way in assisting the government in its quest of better preservation and maintenance of all historical sites in the state.”

In the story telling session at the event which witnessed the presence of members of Lagos State Traditional Whitecap Chiefs, captains of industries and notable Lagosians who have contributed meaningfully to the growth and development

of the state, Mr. Shina Thorpe took the pupils from St Mary Girls Catholic School, Olowogbowo Methodist and Holy Cross Primary Schools through informative and educative rendition of Madam Tinubu’s prowess and meaningful contributions that blazed the trail to the modern day Lagos State, which is now 50 years old.

Managing Director, Suntory Beverage and Foods Nigeria Limited, Mr. Chinedum Okereke who spoke on the topic “Good Values and Impact on the choices we make”, lauded the state government for the programme “particularly now that the psyche of young people in Nigeria need resurgence to drive home the quest for unity,

growth and development,” saying that the renovation of the edifice cited in Lagos Island, the heart of Africa’s fastest growing mega city attest to the enormous recognition by government of the contributions of the legendary woman who stood tall in her days despite huge challenges.

Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Ganiu Sopein, advised the young minds to aspire for greatness in life through hard work, dedication to studies, self-discipline and willingness to be useful to parents, the state and country in general.

How Nigerians are de-branding Nigeria in the United States ÏÏÏ Despite government efforts

Stands at the opening of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Trade Fair in Lagos… recently.

Federal legislator beaten to coma in Minna Saka Bolaji, Minna

ÏÏÏ A serving member of

the house of representatives Hon. Salihu Adamu (Boss and Paiko Federal Constituency), in Niger state narrowly escaped death last Monday when aggrieved youths in his constituency beat him to a point of coma.

It was learnt from very reliable source that following the assault on the federal lawmaker during which he sustained serious injuries, he was first admitted at a private medical hospital in the Tunga area of the state capital before being withdrawn and taken for further medical attention in Kaduna.

According to findings the vehicle in which the lawmaker was traveling was also dam-

aged by the angry youths.

It took the intervention of men of the Niger state police command who were invited by some good Samaritans several minutes to save the lawmaker from the clutches of his attackers.

Trouble was said to have started for the lawmaker when he drove into one of the villages in his constituent to attend a political meeting.

The youths who were said to have nursed anger against the politician took exception to his attending the meeting because he had failed to visit them since he was elected almost two years ago.

It was further gathered that immediately he arrived for the meeting the youths advised him to leave in his own interest but the lawmaker ignored the

threat.

“One of the youths first slapped him, another hit him in the stomach making him to fall to the ground,” an eyewitness said.

“It then became a free for all as every youth there tried to take their pound of flesh from the politician,” it was further learnt.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the story.

“It was a politically motivated attack,” Elkana said adding that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The police spokesman also confirmed that the legislator was admitted at a private hospital in Minna before being moved to Kaduna.

aimed at re-branding Nigeria and place the nation in the good books of the international community, some Nigerians are hell bent on de-branding our nation, by devising crooked means of livelihood abroad.

This is the story of a Nigerian family in the United States, sentenced to long terms of imprisonment recently for various degrees of fraud.

According to our source, a United States District Judge, Paul W. Grimm, has sentenced one Gbenga Ogundele, aka Benson Ogundele, aged 58, of Laurel, Maryland to 234 months in prison, and his wife, Moji Popoola, aka Mojisola Oluwakemi Tin Popoola/Moji T. Popoola, aged 42, also of Laurel, to 18 months in prison each followed by three years of supervised release.

They were jailed for conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering arising from a scheme to defraud vulnerable victims of millions of dollars.

Ogundele was also convicted of aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.

Judge Grimm ordered that Mojisola Popoola’s supervised release is to be served in home detention. He also ordered Ogundele to forfeit $2,195,103.36, and ordered Mojisola Popoola to forfeit approximately $165,000 and to pay restitution of $34,100.

On March 20, 2017, Judge Grimm sentenced Moji Popoola’s brother, Babatunde Emmanuel Popoola, aka Emmanuel Popoola/Tunde Popoola, age 34, of Bowie, Maryland, to 12 years

in prison, on the same charges.

He ordered Babatunde Popoola to pay restitution of $465,170.76. Ogundele and the Popoolas were convicted on November 18, 2016, after a 17-day trial.

In a related case, Funmilayo Joyce Shodeke, age 67, of Burtonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty on March 22, 2017 to conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business, and was sentenced to 13 months’ probation, and ordered to forfeit $29,900.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, and co-conspirators’ plea agreements, from January 2011 to May 18, 2015, members of the conspiracy searched online dating websites to initiate romantic relationships with vulnerable male and female individuals.

They phoned, emailed, texted and used internet chat messenger services to form romantic relationships with the victims, who lived in Maryland and around the country.

Members of the conspiracy used false stories and promises to convince the victims to provide money to the conspirators, including fake hospital bills, plane trips to visit the victims, problems with overseas businesses and foreign taxes.

Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

s

Recall Ndume within one week, else…., Civil society organisations tell Senate

.....Says apex chamber fast losing integrity

Sen. Ndume

of Senator Ali Ndume came as though the Senate was on a vengeance mission.

“Rather than this clear case of witch hunting, Senator Ali Ndume should be commended for drawing that attention of the Senate to issues that are fast eroding the integrity and sanctity of the upper house.

“Consequently, the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria hereby demand that the Senate recall Senator Ali Ndume within one week of this press statement. We as Civil society Organisa-

Nigeria doesn’t need new parties, but good governance, says DPC Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Lateef Ibrahim , Abuja A group, the Network of Civil Society Organisations (NCSO), has faulted the recent suspension of former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume by the upper legislative chamber, with a call for his immediate recall.

The NCSO, which made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, has given the Senate one week to recall Senate Ndume, with a threat that if the call is not heeded, it will be compelled to take other measures against the upper chamber.

Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was last week suspended for six months by the Senate for making some allegations that he could not substantiate.

The Network of Civil Society Organisations, in the statement signed by its Chairman, Ali Abacha, noted that the Senate is fast losing its integrity and bringing the entire country into ridicule.

According to the NCSO, “It is worthy of mention here that there is no section of the Senate rules that requires the Senator to do due diligence on any matter before bringing it to the floor of the Senate.

“Importantly also, the fact that the Senate did not rule Senator Ndume out of order means that it is the entire Senate that should take the blame and not Senator Ndume only.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is fast losing its integrity and bringing the entire country to ridicule as we wonder and ponder if the Senate is for a few interest or for the entire nation as their activities lately are tantamount to a near anarchy situation. The suspension

tions would be compelled to take other measures if the Senate does not comply with our demand,” it said.

The NCSO pointed out that the suspension of Ndume implied that the entire electorate in Borno South have been deprived of any representation in the Senate for the next six months, stressing therefore that the democracy, which the Rule of Law is hinged on is now grossly being violated as the votes of the entire electorate in the Borno South Senatorial District would be of no effect for the next six months.

The Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), one of the registered political parties in the country, has said that what Nigeria presently needs is good governance, strengthening of the democratic process and visionary leaders that will lead the people to the Promised Land.

To this end, the DPC has made case for the process of registration of more political parties to be made more cumbersome, while period of verification of new parties to be extended from 30 days to six months.

The party said this in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Rev Olusegun Peters.

The party, pointed out that in this period of economic recession, political uncertainly and insurgency, Nigerians need security and dividends of democracy, not more political parties.

The existing political parties, the DPC maintained, should be supported and encouraged to develop to meet the yearnings of the populace for a decent, progressive and prosperous democratic society.

It reasoned that the nation’s political space has been liberalised with the registration of 40 political parties that will accommodate Nigerians of various political persuasions.

The DPC has thus proposed the amendment to section 78 subsections 3 and 4 of the Electoral Act which stipulates, “Any political association that meets the conditions stipulated in the constitution and this Act shall be registered by the Commission as a political party within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application and if after 30 days the association is not registered by the Commission it shall be deemed to be so registered.”

Vote of no confidence sends Plateau Deputy Speaker parking Chijioke Kingsley,Jos Eighteen members out of the 24 in the Plateau State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence on the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, forcing him to step down as the number two man in the House.

A motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Henry Yenkwap, based on a letter of no confidence signed by the 18 members requesting the removal of Gagdi was read at the floor of the House after which the impeachment took place.

Consequently, the member representing Quapan North Constituency, Eric Dakogol immediately moved a motion for the replacement of the former Deputy Speaker with Hon. Sale Yilmong as the new Deputy Speaker, which was also seconded by the impeached Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gagdi.

Reacting to the development, the impeached Deputy Speaker said as a politi-

cian, the impeachment was expected as it could happen to any principal officer in the House, adding that as a religious person, everything happens in good fate.

His words, “from the day I was elected, I saw it coming and knew it will happen any day and time, after all when I was elected into the House as a member, I did not envisage that I will be the Deputy Speaker, so if I did not see it that one day I will be removed, then I am not a politician.

“I am not bitter with anybody even those that signed the impeachment letter, more so that they did not accuse me of anything; so it is the decision of the majority in the House and I see it as an act of God,” he said.

However, the new Deputy Speaker and member representing Dengi Constituency Hon. Sale Yilmong said, his emergence was not expected, but hold the view that the decision was the collective view from the majority of the House.

9

On his part, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Henry Yenkwap while speaking with Journalist said the impeachment was also connected to other issues that cannot be made public at the moment.

According to him, “As the Majority Leader I only presented what the members asked me to do and I have done my job as the Majority Leader; apart from the vote of no confidence there are many issues that calls for the impeachment, but I will speak out when the time comes,” he said.

It would be recalled that the impeached Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gagdi defected five months ago from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Times gathered that PDP members in the state are celebrating the impeachment of the Deputy Speaker having dumped the party for the ruling APC, thinking it was a political strategy to retain his seat as the Deputy Speaker.

Hon. Gagdi

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6. 2017

Tackle more important issues, politicians tell Senate

Sen. Melaye Some politicians have advised the Senate to give attention to enacting laws that would improve the lives of Nigerians instead of spending time on less important issues.

The politicians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that some issues being pursued by the Senate were not important to the average Nigerian.

They spoke against the backdrop of the Senate’s investigation of Sen. Dino Melaye’s academic qualification and its request for resignation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali. Alhaji Musa Umar, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano State

Ali chapter, expressed dissatisfaction with the activities of the Senate in recent times.

“Issues that are of no importance are brought to the front burner in the legislature at the expense of urgent and sensitive matters.

“Nigerians should condemn this,’’ Umar said.

The National Chairman of National Conscience Party, Dr Yunusa Tanko, appealed to the upper legislative chamber to come up with bills that would tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic problems.

He noted that the recession in the economy was biting hard on the masses and that enactment of relevant laws should be of interest to the legislators.

Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party, said that she was

Magu not satisfied with the performance of the Senate in recent times.

“I hope Nigerians are watching and taking note of the happenings in the Senate,’’ she said.

Sonaiya called on the lawmakers to make good governance their primary concern.

The 2015 Presidential Candidate of National Conscience Party, Chief Martin Onovo, also criticised the Senate.

“The legislature represents the people and must defend its constitutional authority,’’ Onovo said.

Chief Ola Apena, the Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, said that the issues being attended to by the Senate were important.

“Issues about Ibrahim Magu,

Comptroller-General of Customs and Dino Melaye are no flippant issues. They are all serious issues, as important as the budget.

“The major challenges confronting our nation are absence of institutions and institutional norms needed for nationbuilding,’’ Apena said.

He noted that Magu was screened twice by the Senate and that, on each occasion, the Department of State Services wrote an indicting report against him.

According to Apena, senators should not be blamed for not confirming Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“They have simply done their job,’’ he said, adding that Melaye’s certificate issue also needed to be addressed.

Akeredolu warns new caretaker chairmen in Ondo against indiscipline, corruption Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has appointed caretaker chairmen for the 18 local councils, of the state, charging them against indiscipline and corruption, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olusegun Ajiboye.

Sixteen of the appointees are men and two women.

A High Court in Akure on Friday, annulled the election of the former chairmen of the councils on the grounds that the Peoples Redemption Party( PRP) and its logo were excluded from the election. The sacked chairmen were elected in April 2016.

The caretaker chairmen are: Mr Aworetan Fayowole (Ilaje), Prince Odimayo Gbadebo( Irele), Mrs Morenike Alaka ( Okitipupa), Prince George Adenikinju ( Odigbo), Mr Temidayo Akinsuroju( Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo), and Mr Bekewe Olowu (Ese-Odo).

Others are: Mr Ebenezer Akinsulie (Ondo West), Mr Rafiu Akinkuolie (Ondo East), Mr Biyi Ayinnuola (Idanre), Mrs Atere Margaret (Akure South), Mr Segun Oluyede (Akure North), Mr Dipo Ajibola (Ifedore), Mr Gani Omoluka (Owo), Mr Agboola Ajike ( Ose) Mr Adeyemi Akinniyi ( Akoko South/East), Mr Augustine Oloruntogbe (Akoko South/West),

Gov. Akeredolu

Mr Rafiu Eniayewu (Akoko North/East), and Arc. Moradeyo Ajayi ( Akoko North/West) .

However, the governor has said that his administration has zero tolerance for indiscipline and corruption, charging appointees of the government at all levels to be careful with their conducts.

Akeredolu said this during the swearing-in ceremony of the interim caretaker committee chairmen in the 18 local government councils of the state.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, warned the new appointees that his administration would not tolerate indiscipline or compromise on anything.

He appealed to the chairmen to carry out legitimate revenue drive to run the councils effectively.

“Your appointment is critical at this time of economic recession because the local government is the closest to the people. I enjoin you all to key into the cardinal points set up by this government to drive the administration.

“In the next two weeks, we will embark on massive construction of primary school buildings across the 18 local governments.

“Go to your councils and implement projects to touch the lives of the people; do your best.

“I advise you, the local government is the most sensitive, so you go there to promote yourself or ruin yourself,’’ the governor said.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Gani Omoluka, the Owo Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, expressed his appreciation for the present administration.

He pledged to work hard to justify his position and work together with the people to move the local government forward.

Anambra: Gov’t, opposition parties at odds over posters’ fee The new policy introduced by the Anambra State government, compelling governorship aspirants to pay N9 million each to display their posters is raising dust in the state.

The policy comes as Anambra State gets set to go to the polls on Nov. 18 to elect a new governor.

The incumbent, Mr Willie Obiano, is seeking re-election.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA), Mr Jude Emecheta, vowed that politicians slugging it out with Obiano, must have to pay N9 million each to display their posters.

He described the payment of the charge as sacrosanct, saying that the money would be used to clean-up the environment after it must have been littered with election posters.

“The N9 million fees will be used to clean-up and repaint the city after the election.

“ANSAA will ensure that posters and other campaign materials did not deface strategic locations in the state.

“Election posters are not permitted to be pasted on public building, traffic lights, poles and at roundabouts.’’

He noted that politicians must direct their aides to post their campaign materials at the approved backing boards to avoid prosecution.

Emecheta argued that the aim of the fee was not to witch-hunt any governorship aspirant but to ensure that things were done properly.

The ANSAA chief explained that aspirants were expected to pay N3 million for each of the three senatorial zones in the state.

According to him, any aspirant, who fails to comply with the directive, will have his bill board and posters removed and will also be made to face the wrath of the law.

But opposition politicians in the state have reacted angrily to the levy, describing it as outrageous, unnecessary and illegal.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr Emeka Ibe, described the fee as exploitative, saying that the levy would be resisted in

court.

His colleague, Mr Mattias Emeke, Chairman of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), said that the agency was becoming afraid of Obiano losing in the election.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6 2017

APC to Fayose: The law must take its course Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti Following the outcry of Governor Ayo Fayose that the opposition are planning to remove him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has insisted that the law will take its course over the way and manner the Constitution and Electoral Act was subverted in the June 21, 2014 governor ship election.

The party told Fayose to be ready to face justice and stop playing to the gallery on his allegation that his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was plotting to use the Judiciary to remove him from power.

The state APC deputy chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, who spoke on Tuesday at a rally organised by the party for members in Ado Ekiti Local Government said Fayose was being haunted by crimes allegedly committed against the Constitution.

The APC deputy chairman however promised a level-playing field for all aspirants jostling for its ticket ahead of the 2018 governorship poll describing the APC as “the most popular party in the state waiting to chase Fayose out of power.”

Mrs. Olaleye warned Fayose to leave Fayemi out of his travails as Judiciary has the power to look into any infraction committed against the law, especially when fresh evidence is put at the disposal of the court.

She said: “Fayose has been saying that he is about to be removed from office and we in the APC are saying a resounding amen to his prayer. We are taking over power from him and we are determined to chase him out of office. He is afraid of his own shadow.

“If he likes let him call thousands of press conferences. Ekiti people are tired of his government, civil servants, artisans, market women, youths, students, all of them are tired and they are waiting

Gov. Fayose

Dr. Fayemi

for APC to give them better life.”

APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said no amount of blackmail and propaganda by the governor would dissuade the party from seeking justice against the alleged use of military and other instruments of coercion to rig the 2014 poll.

The party spokesman said the APC is embarking on a fresh membership mobilisation drive, describing the PDP as “a rejected party in Ekiti.” He said the popularity of the APC is giving Fayose headache and causing hullabaloo in the PDP camp.

Olatunbosun said: “Fayose is jittery and he is being haunted by his past as regards to the 2014 election which he knows was manipulated through the muzzling of civic power of the people, using military apparatus and enemies of democracy to foist himself on Ekiti people.

“If he has any strong position on the belief of the party to continue to seek justice on behalf of the people, he can’t be a judge in his own case.

“Fayose is an agent of destabilisation in the Nigerian federation; his past is haunting

him. You will recall that he took on the judiciary in the past by beating up judges in the temple of justice, tearing court record.

“He should leave the judiciary alone on whatever issues that border on electoral robbery, electoral raid and electoral manipulation to the appropriate body to deal with that. He should allow the matter to run its course.

“Although we are preparing for the 2018 governorship election, nothing stops us from taking our case to the court to revisit the infractions that marred the 2014 poll from the latest evidence available.

“We have the right to seek justice in the court of law, so Fayose should allow the judiciary to perform its constitutional duty.

He can’t be the judge in his own case and whoever that advised him to be making such ranting is paranoid.

“No amount of blackmail or propaganda can dissuade us from seeking justice for Fayose’s attack on the nation’s law, subversion of our people’s electoral will and brazen coup against the people of Ekiti whose mandate was stolen in broad daylight,” he said.

11 Politics

Youth groups, commend Senate on Electoral Act, PIB Olatorera Dickson, Abuja The organisers of the monthly Youth Dialogue, in collaboration with the Ecuador Embassy in Nigeria, Young Journalists Forum (YJF) and Africa Youth Welfare Advocacy Initiative, have commended the commitment of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the review of the Electoral Act and the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill amongst others.

In a joint statement by the YJF and AYWAI Secretaries, Comrade Ene Okon and Ekasa Benson, the group commended the 8th National Assembly calling on Nigerians to support the 8th Senate, under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki, “who has brought to bear, a more transparent and pragmatic leadership to the entire National Assembly.”

“As youth organisations, in a country where about 70 percent of our young people are not engaged, we identify with the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Youth Affairs, Barr. Oscar Obi, who is fostering youth inclusion in the Annual Budgeting for Nigerians and commend especially the quick review of salient aspects of the Electoral Act, so we can have more credible elections, which literally means more dividends of democracy.

“We appreciate the fact that the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, which was hitherto ‘no go area’ is almost being concluded by this Senate, attracting healthy debates amongst legislators, because of its importance to the revival of the economy of Nigeria.

“Worthy of note, is the fact that Senators have passed more bills in this legislative year than in the previous one, when within three months 14 bills were passed, compared to the same number of bills that were passed throughout the previous year.

“We also urge public institutions to always be willing to submit themselves and activities, for scrutiny and instructions from the National Assembly in line with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, being the most organised gathering of all Nigerians, evident in the spread of representation.

“We call on all legislators to ensure that the independence of the three arms of government, especially the National Assembly is not compromised for any reason,” the group added.

INEC says decision on Kogi 2015 governorship election not influenced

Prof. Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said its decision on the Nov. 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State was not influenced by any external force.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this while responding to issues at a stakeholders’ conference organised by the commission to validate its 2017-2021 Strategic Plan in Abuja.

Yakubu said that it was untrue that INEC’s decision to allow a particular political party to contest the election without a running mate for its candidate was at the instance of Attorney-General of the Federation.

He said that the election held on a Saturday had already been declared inconclusive before the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Abubakar Audu, died on Sunday.

He explained that the commission waited for the report on the situation from its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi State before getting into a meeting.

“We had the meeting on Monday and we looked at the laws, sought for the advice of the Legal Service Department and that of our legal consultants.

“We then took a decision on Tuesday, but it came via press release which coincidentally came after the statement from the Attorney General.

“But the decision we took was actually supported

by Supreme Court in its landmark judgement after the election.

“We did not take a cue from anybody in arriving at the decision that we took.

“We will never take such directive in arriving at our decision. We will take our decision and live by the consequences,’’ he said.

Yakubu pledged that the commission would continue to conduct elections in the country with courage and honour, saying “we will never let the country down.’’

On prosecution of elections offenders, he said that the commission had recorded some level of success in recent times by working with security agencies in line with its constitutional powers.

These, according to him, include successful prosecution of 40 offenders after the disruption of the April, 2016 re-run elections in a constituency in Minjibir Lo-

cal Government Area of Kano State.

The chairman added that after the 2015 general elections and re-run polls in 2016, INEC received 120 case files from the police for prosecution.

He said that 61 of the cases were successfully prosecuted as a result of the cooperation with the security agencies.

He also explained that after the Dec. 10, 2016 re-run polls in Rivers, 23 staff of the commission indicted of election malpractices were on interdiction and were being prosecuted.

Yakubu said that another 202 staff of the commission indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were also undergoing investigation.

“While we continue to do this, my position has been that it is very difficult for one to prosecute itself. INEC has been saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting election offenders but with challenges.

“One, you have to make arrest but INEC has no power to make arrest. Second, you have to investigate before prosecution; we have no power to investigate.

So, how do we successfully prosecute?

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè ƍƏƈƋ Õè ƾƠơƣ

Banks non-performing loans hit 14% in 2016 –CBN Motolani Oseni

ÏÏÏ Due to macroeconomic chal-

lenges including increase in inflation rate, negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among many other factors have contributed to the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) to gross loans at 14 per cent in 2016, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) latest Financial Stability Report (FSR) has revealed.

The report showed that depreciation of Naira in commercial banks NPLs to gross loans in 2015 closed at 5.3 per cent from five per cent in the second half of 2015.

The apex bank in its new financial stability report disclosed that ratio of core liquid assets to total assets increased by 2.3 percentage points to 16.3 per cent in 2016 from 14 per cent recorded at half year ended June 2016.

It further noted that the ratio of core liquid assets to short-term liabilities increased by 2.9 percentage points to 24.5 per cent in 2016, compared with 21.6 per cent in second half of 2016.

“The increase in the ratio of core liquid assets to both total assets and short-term liabilities reflects improved buffers to absorb short term obligations,” the financial stability report of CBN explained.

According to the report, the banking industry stress test carried out in 2016, covered 23 commercial and merchant banks, to evaluate the resilience of the banks to credit, liquidity, interest rate and contagion risks.

The financial stability report noted that the banking industry was categorised into large assets with greater than or equal to N1

trillion; medium banks with assets greater than N500 billion but less than N1 trillion and small banks with assets lesser than or equal to N500 billion.

The report considered a baseline Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) for the banking industry, large, medium, and small banks stood at 14.78, 15.47, 12.75 and 3.14 per cent, respectively The report stated that, “The economic headwinds have adversely impacted bank borrowers, resulting in rising NPLs which required additional provisioning by banks, thereby reducing the banks’ CAR. “The decline of the CAR of small and medium banks did not weigh significantly on the industry CAR because large banks hold a significant proportion (88.02per cent) of total banking industry loans.”

“The ratio of non-performing loans net of provision to capital for the banking industry increased to 38.4 per cent in 2016 from 28.4 per cent as at second half of 2016.”

Explaining further on banks solvency stress test, the report said: “The post-shock stress test results showed that a 100 per cent increase in NPLs will lead to a CAR of 10.55, 12.01, 10.34 and -27.03 per cent for the banking industry, large, medium and small banks, respectively.

“The results revealed that all the groups except small banks can withstand a 100 per cent increase in NPLs. However, none of the groups could sustain the impact of the most severe shock of a 200 per cent increase in NPLs as their post-shock CARs fell below the 10 per cent minimum pruden-

Reps reject bill empowering NASS to remove govs, deputies Continued from page 1 issue on the floor of the House.

“We don’t need to waste our time on it. This bill wants to make National Assembly members to be omnipotent. Anybody that has problems with his governor should go home and settle it,” the lawmaker stated.

House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila described the bill as ineffective, declaring that it lacked moral and legal sense.

“This bill must fall on its own sword. Why is this bill before the House? To allow us impeach a governor?” he asked.

Rep. Nkeruika Onyejocha from Abia State, in her contribution, said that the National Assembly had no business removing state governors or their deputies from office or stop them from discharging their duties.

According to her, Section 11 (4) of the constitution which gives the National Assembly powers

to take over state houses of assembly in times of crisis has not worked well enough.

The lawmaker added that: “I say it without mincing words that we don’t have business with the states. We had the issue of Kogi State, we were handling their matter and they went ahead to be doing their own.”

Also, another House member, Rep. Jagaba Jagaba from Kaduna State, said: “This bill is going to create serious issues and a lot of members will have issues.”

Rep. Mohammad Zakari from Kwara State, said that Nigeria was practicing federalism and not a unitary system of government.

Confronted with the level of opposition to the bill, Rep. Ali Isa, one of the two lawmakers who sponsored the amendment bill, informed the Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lasun, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, that they were withdrawing the bill.

tial requirement.

“The impact of the severe shock scenario will result in a decline of CAR to 5.87, 8.25, 7.80 and -84.50 per cent for the banking industry, large, medium and small banks, respectively.

“The banking industry and the peered-groups showed a high level of credit concentration risk as their respective CARs fell below 10 per cent under the shocks of deterioration in the quality of the risk assets.

“If the five biggest corporate obligor credit facilities shifts from Substandard to Doubtful, the CARs fell to 7.89, 8.84, 5.16 and -8.93 per cent for banking industry, large, medium and small banks, while if the five biggest corporate obligor credit facilities shifts from Doubtful to Lost, the CARs fell to -0.21, 1.09, -3.88 and -24.44 per cent, for the corresponding categories, respectively”.

According to the report, banking industry total credit by sector showed that Oil & Gas sector

constituted 29.59 per cent of total banking industry credit, while Manufacturing, General, General Commerce, Government and Others, constituted 13.41, 8.71, 6.25, 8.34 and 33.70 per cent, respectively, in 2016.

“The stress test result of a 20 per cent default in oil and gas exposures will lead to CARs of 13.98, 14.67, 11.87 and 2.63 per cent for the banking industry, large, medium and small banks, respectively.

“However, with a more severe shock of 50 per cent default in exposure to the sector, only the large banks will have CAR of 10.17 per cent which is above the regulatory threshold. This showed that medium and small banks have more oil and gas credit concentration risk than the large banks, despite their smaller proportion of exposure to the sector.”

The report noted that liquidity stress tests were conducted using the Implied Cash Flow Analysis (ICFA) and Maturity Mismatch/

Rollover Risk methods, to assess the resilience of individual banks and the banking industry to both liquidity and funding shocks.

According to the financial stability report of CBN, “The tests revealed that after a one-day run, the liquidity ratio for the industry would decline to 30.2 per cent from the 44.4 per cent pre-shock position and, to 9.73 per cent and 6.76 per cent after a five-day and cumulative 30-day run, respectively.

“Similarly, a 5-day and cumulative 30-day run on the banking industry would result in liquidity shortfalls of N2.1 trillion and N2.3 trillion, respectively.”

While giving details on unsecured interbank banks exposures, the report revealed that one bank was central in the network, as it was exposed to more than two counterparties in the system, while a review of secured transactions showed that five banks were central in the network as they had Continued on page 7

Gé`ë ^Ə ƉƆƅƐ #ƈƏƆƅƐ Əè ƕƓ Ɛƅ 1Ə Ƒƍè LƏê EƈƄ Ɗ ƋƆì G dƐ ƐƆ #ƈƏƆƅƐ Ə Ƈ ƅƅ Ƒ Ɛè RƇƇƈƅƆ Ƈ & Ɛ ƄƋƈ ƌƆ Ɛ è jƏ ƈ ƈ Ɨ ^Ɔ ƈ è LƏê #ƆƉƈ E Ɗ ì G dƐ ƐƆ ƌƌƈ ƈ ƆƏ Ƈ Ə & Ɛ ƄƋƈ ƌƆ Ɛ è jƏ ƈ ƈ Ɨ ^Ɔ ƈ è #Əê Ɗƈ Ɛ Ƌ Ɔ RƊƆì #ƈƏƆƅƐ Ə Ƈ jƏ ƈ ƈ è RƇƇƈƅƆ Ƈ & Ɛ ƄƋƈ ƌƆ Ɛ è jƏ ƈ ƈ Ɨ ^Ɔ ƈ è LƏê ƕ ƗƆƉƈ ƏƑ Ɨ Ɛ ƆƏ ƍ ƏƐƈƅƈƍ Ɛ è ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƾ Ɨ Ɔ ƈ Ƈ ƾéƗ ƕ Ɠ ƏƊ ƍ Ɛ ƆƗë & ƈ 1Ƌ Ƅ Ƌ Ɔ Ɛ ^Ə ƅƐƈƅƆ Ɛ #ƆƋƈƒƆƏ y ƋƑƆ ^ƆƏ &ƔƅƆƋƋƆ ƅƆ ƈ G Č jƑƆ Ɨ ƕê

PDP crisis: Jonathan meets Sheriff, Makarfi, stakeholders today Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ As part of the political solution to the leadership crisis bedeviling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as being canvassed in some quarters, the immediate past President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has summoned a crucial of major stakeholders of the party for today (Thursday) in Abuja.

The meeting, it was learnt, is part of ongoing efforts to proffer a solution to the crisis rocking the opposition party.

The meeting is scheduled to

hold at the Shehu Musa Yar ‘Adua Centre in Abuja and is expected to be attended by leaders of the party across the country.

Those expected at the meeting include: the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and members of his National Working Committee (NWC), members of the party’s National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Senator Walid Jibrin.

Also expected at the meeting are state governors elected on the platform of PDP, the party’s

caucus in the National Assembly, former ministers who are still members of the party, former PDP governors who are still members of the party.

As that press time on Wednesday, the former President had sent a formal notice to the two warring groups in the leadership crisis rocking the PDP. The Media Adviser to Jonathan, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, confirmed this in a telephone chat on Wednesday, stressing that both parties (Sheriff and Makarfi’s camps) have expressed their commitment to be present.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

s

13

PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Alarming destitution among Nigerians

I

t does not take anyone to look far to see and feel the increasing desperation and destitution among Nigerians. Definitely, the present economic meltdown is daily forcing many citizens to the fringes of human existence. While the economic hard times may have preceded the Buhari administration, the present administration should also take the blame for being too slow in coming up with clear-cut policies on the way out of the situation.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), more than 100 million Nigerians now live on less than $1 per day out of an estimated 170 populations. That is far below the United Nation’s benchmark of at least $2 per day for the least deprived persons. Invariably, Nigeria’s vast oil wealth has not influenced positively on the well being of her citizens. Moreover, in spite of revenue from oil, 70 percent of Nigerians still live within the poverty bracket, which means that the present and successive governments are unable to translate the country’s huge natural resources to the improvement of the citizens’ living standard.

All indices point to the fact that the alarming increase in poverty is attributable to poor governance. Evidence of terribly poor governance is palpable, as it manifests in the corrupt, inept political leadership and weak civil institutions to dilapidated infrastructure. We deplore the increasing destitution in the country. It is sad that while many Nigerians are living in grinding poverty in an oil-rich country, a privileged few wallow in opulence. We call on the government to take mitigating action and bring the alarming situation under control.

A scenario where only a few are benefiting from the common pat-

Publisher/Editor in Chief

rimony while the vast majority is excluded may likely breed social discontent if not well and quickly addressed.

It is a truism that inadequate economic growth is the main cause of poverty in Nigeria, as the economy has a very narrow and weak base, depending mostly on exportation of petroleum crude oil for revenue, even as the agricultural base has been frustrated and marginalised.

In addition, growing unemployment has also exacerbated the level of destitution among Nigerians, while other factors include problems in the productive sector, widening income inequality, social conflict, including gender, intersectoral and environmental issues. There is no gainsaying the fact that poverty especially in the urban area has been made severe by low labour absorption capacity of the nonagricultural sector, especially manufacturing, which is because of limited growth of investment and technological innovation.

Arguably, enough is not being done to fight destitution, even as efforts to give Nigerians the opportunity to earn decent and honest living remain a tall dream.

The embarrassing paradox of destitution in Nigeria suggests the compelling need for a single-minded pursuit of the objective of poverty reduction and its eventual elimination. We therefore call on all governments to step up the template for true development by re-energising all the poverty alleviation programmes geared towards improving the living standard of the less vulnerable. In this way, millions of Nigerians would move out of poverty and wanton lack and to a more productive engagement in which all the necessities of life are met.

Ag. Head, Operations Sunny Chikwe 08023335777

Managing Editor Rose Moses 08051000448

News Editor Kelechi C. Ogbamgba 08050220561

Group General Manager Olisa Egbunike 08034004224

Group Head Administration/ Special Project Geraldine Uba 07064933209 Business Development Manager Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714

Editor, Daily Sam Nzeh 08050220692

Deputy Editor, Special Projects Lateef Ibrahim 08037872585

Abuja Bureau Chief/Nations Capital Editor Tony Amokeodo 08038099089

Features Editor Gbubemi God’s Covenent Snr 09095489889

Northern Circulation & Business Development Manager Lanre Asuni 08033228839

Deputy Editor, Daily Ken Madueke 08059100364

Ag. Head, Graphics/Design Sunday Gabriel Idagwu 07030881423

Group Head Commercial & Business Development Konnie Agu 09033765031

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614

More info: www.dailytimes.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

L-R: CEO, AFOREVO, Mr. Amawana Afamefuna Clive; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Ms. Ijeoma Onah and Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, at the AFOREVO stand during the 2017 MIPTV in Cannes, France… on Wednesday.

Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees and Migrants, Hajiya Sadiya UmarFarouq (2nd r), inaugurating the distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in host communities in Maiduguri… on Wednesday.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Deputy General Manager Northern Operations Tony Ailemen 08036073601

L-R: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Engr. Segun Adesegun and Elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, during the 8th day Fidau prayer of Alhaji Safin Atanda Awofeso at the St, Paul’s Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Ijokun, Sagamu, Ogun State... on Wednesday.

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Nelson Mandela

Obafemi Awolowo

Nnamdi Azikiwe

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

“Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!

“There is plenty of room at the top because very few people care to travel beyond the average route”.

14 Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Governor Ambode’s template on PSP Operators and corruption

L

Sunday Alade

agos State, the centre of excellence, may experience health hazard if Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his machinery of government could go ahead with their plan to relieve the private waste collectors or waste disposal contractors [that are addressed as PSP Operators in Lagos State] of their duties.

All plans have been concluded by the government to bring in foreign investors thereby sending the 350 PSP Operators in partnership with LAWMA packing in July, 2017.

Let it not be forgotten in a hurry the Yoruba and Hausa adage that says: “OBA MEWA IGBA MEWA” and “SARKI GOMA ZAMONI GOMA” literally means ten kings with different policies which also translates into whoever governs when the citizens enjoy will never be forgotten and likewise who governs to cause hardship to the citizens would not be forgotten, too.

It would be recalled that LAWMA ,the agency of government is responsible for the collection and disposal of Municipal, Industrial and tenements’ wastes in Lagos State.

Edict No. 55 of 1977 created the Refuse Disposal Board which later metamorphosed to LAWMA in 1992.

The Environmental Sanitation Law of 2000 empowers LAWMA to provide commercial services to the State and Local Governments.

In 2007 another law was reenacted to reestablish LAWMA to provide general waste management to State and Local Governments.

Generally, the overall goal of Waste Management in Lagos State is to effectively collect, sort, transport, store and dispose wastes generated by all populous groups, commercial, industrial and socially responsible manner using the most economically sustainable means available hence, the partnership with private sector called PSP Operators that have been playing an increasingly significant role in Waste Management till date.

It would be recalled, also, that these PSP Operators have been in partnership with LAWMA since 1999 during the administration of the then Lagos State, Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Interestingly, over one thousand people showed interest in the Waste Management Business before it was pruned down to about 350 PSP Operators that actually met the requirements of the State Government standard or conditionality, as at the moment many of them are still wallowing in the oceans of debts in order to maintain the standard of having compactor trucks and befitting offices. Because they all started with hiring of trucks, tippers and even trailers with no office as a reference point.

Supposing those that scaled through the huddles of screening are not hard working, definitely,

they would have been shown the way out before now.

The then Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola [SAN], never compromised with excuses for not doing the right thing at the right time hence, he initiated annual Awards to the most hardworking PSP operators as a form of encouragement.

It would be recalled again, that since the participation and collaboration of these dynamic PSP Operators, every one of them has been striving very hard to get the Award, too; in spite of the bad roads that contributed to wear and tear of the trucks, inadequate dump and land filled sites that caused damages to their vehicles and this also, compelled drivers to stay on queue for days waiting to discharge their waste thereby slowing down the pace of work with no clear cut solution till date yet the job must move on.

All over the world governments are getting reinvented for the sake of concretizing the democratic imperative. This imperative, of course, goes beyond the electoral necessity of procedurally voting a group of people into government on the contrary the ethical import of democracy demands that those so voted into power use their constitutional authority to ensure that the citizens trust in their governing capability that is translated into definite plans of action that are transformative in socioeconomic terms.

Let it not be forgotten in a hurry that the association of these PSP Operators supported the government in power particularly during their electioneering campaign and generally sensitized their households to massively vote these groups of people into government.

And the only way to pay this association back is to send its members packing without due consideration

of their workforce and the effect on their families at large. Let it not be forgotten also, that one good turn they say deserves another. They actually deserve a preferential treatment in all ramifications.

The Governor should be advised not to stain or destroy the template his predecessors from 2nd Republic have built over the years of which he supposed to build on, particularly, for posterity and legacy.

Instead of a strong fixation on foreign investors, the Local investors [PSP] should be encouraged, too.

The idea of empowering the National Road Union Workers and its counterpart with 5000 brand new buses though on lease to own basis in the name of withdrawing yellow buses called ‘Danfo’ from the Lagos Roads is highly commendable but the question is what would be the likely empowerment for the 350 PSP Operators to be disengaged from their duties other than using veto power of hiring and firing?

Should it not be a case of what is good the goose is good for the gander?

This cannot be the hallmark of an executive with the fire of reforms.

However, the approach adopted by Governor Ambode in going ahead with 80% domestic for foreign investors, 20% for local investors and subjecting the indigent households to pay yearly for service “rendered” leaves much to be desired.

Since there was no proper consultation and no opportunities to engage alternative view points; just a unilateral announcement which has elicited an expected response, it then means that the Governor is in a bid to satisfying his friends and political empire all in the name of adding value to the clean environment of Lagos State.

Let us imagine a bridge that is built to connect all the resources

to keep Lagos clean which purpose is also to create job opportunities.

This bridge only succeeds in identifying the already known challenges peculiar to these refuse collectors and thus fails to help them.

The foreign investors by the name VISION SCAPE were given red carpet treatment as against local investors [PSP] for instance; LAWMA’s corporate offices at Mushin, Ojodu, Oshodi, Simpson etc were taken from LAWMA by the Government and gave to a foreign company [VISION SCAPE] whereas the local investors [PSP] were compelled to borrow money from banks to build their offices/ garages.

This clearly shows that this Government has a deep seated hatred for these PSP operators. The idea of Government wanting to pay for waste service by the use of weigh bridge is a clear indication that there is no proper guide for the Government on this issue because this system was used before but it was characterized by fraud as the corruption of the first order.

Also, the idea of “Public Utility Levy” whereby the people will pay a yearly refuse disposal fee as against the current practice of bi monthly billing will be a huge burden on the citizens because a sizeable number of Lagosians are salary earners. What can we say of Mr. Martins Adeyinka Badejo of 121, Ogba Road, Ikeja, Ifako – Ijaye, Lagos; who is the Chief Executive Officer of MUREWA INTEGRATED AND IDEAL COMPANY and the current Personal Assistance to an Honourable Commissioner in Alausa using his position as a civil servant and the aforementioned private company to milk LAWMA? The question that arises from this; is it in the civil service commission rules and regulations that a serving government official could run a private company while still in service let alone using same to amass ill gotten wealth from the government he claims to be serving and still be qualified for gratuities and pension at his retirement age?

Allied to this fact, this man and others whose names are not mentioned here should be the right guests of EFCC if the corruption must be fought to a standstill. The government is continuity, the structure and institution he met when ascending the mantle of leadership should be maintained. However, any PSP operator that is found wanting on his/her job should be sanctioned but not to “push them to commercial” thereby rendering them useless.

Since the Government has given the following responsibilities to VISION SCAPE: [1] Recycling of wastes generated plant [2] Building landfill sites [3] Marine waste [4] Building transfer loading stations [5] Building material recovery facilities [6] Drainage clearing and [7] Street sweeping.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6 , 2017

CSOs commend Senate over response to meningitis outbreak Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÎÎÎA coalition of over 40

civil society organizations (CSOs), that work to ensure equitable access to vaccines in Nigeria, has commended the Senate for its resolution calling for meningitis vaccination to be made free in public healthcare facilities across the country.

In a statement signed by the national convener of the coalition - Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA) - the CSOs, Dr. Chizoba Wonodi, “noted with pleasure, the motion on the floor of the Senate calling for free Meningitis C vaccination for all Nigerians.”

The group noted that the timely response of the Senate and its readiness to approve a supplementary budget to enable the executive tackle the

menace shows that all relevant stakeholders are “responding to the epidemic by ensuring adequate coordination, awareness creation, social mobilization, case management, infection prevention and control, active surveillance, and reactive vaccination in the affected states.”

Dr. Wonodi said: “My heart bleeds for all Nigerians who have lost loved ones or have been hospitalized following the meningitis outbreak in the country.

“We at WAVA are however, consoled by the fact that all arms of government are working together to deal with the outbreak decisively. The resolution by the Senate to support free Meningitis C vaccination and supplementary appropriations to procure the vaccines is highly commendable.

15 News

Delta govt intervenes in poor power sector with N1bn Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÎÎÎThe Delta state govern-

ment said on Wednesday that it has intervened in the continued poor power sector across the state with the sum of N1billion.

As part of the measures to improve power supply, the state government, through the Commissioner for Energy, Barr. Newworld Safugha, confirmed to journalists in Asaba that the money was spent within one year to ensure improved power supply to the people of the state, adding that within the period under reviewed, the Ministry of Energy had resolved lots of crisis and challenges bedeviling the power sector.

At the official commissioning of the Nigerian

*As BEDC injects 200, 000 pre-paid metres Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Asaba forum office, the commissioner called on the commission to find lasting solution to the outrageous bills by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and incessant electrocution of persons across the country, adding “I urge the NERC, to find a lasting solution to the outrageous bills and incessant electrocution of persons, it is part of the problems affecting the power sector at present.”

Stressing the need for BEDC to carry out sensitization on the dangers of illegal connection, Barr.

Safugha disclosed that the state government will deal decisively with anybody

found in illegal activities in the power sector and congratulated the BEDC on cooperating to resolve some of issues between its officials and the customers.

Also speaking to journalists, the Commissioner Consumer Affairs, NERC, Dr. Moses Arigu said that electricity distribution companies have been facing many challenges, adding that the NERC forum office in Asaba will help to resolve all pending crisis and challenges customers are faced with.

He said that NERC, through BEDC, has injected 200, 000 pre-paid metres to the Benin Disco network as an annual intervention for the next five years and warned against vandaliza-

tion of power installations as the forum would entertain genuine complaints from members of the public.

According to him, the customers’ forum would also address power challenges/ complaints and urged members of the forum to ensure that justice prevails in all cases before them.

In another development, residents of Osakwe Street, off Tony Umeh/Goshen Road in Okwe, a suburb of Asaba, have called on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), to effect repairs on the faulty transformer servicing the area or give them new one.

NSCDC trains 500 personnel on fire arm Chijioke Kingsley, Jos

ÎÎÎNo

fewer than 500 personnel of the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were trained on professional handling of fire arms aimed at sustaining the survival of democracy and security, the Commandant NSCDC Plateau State Command, Solomon A. Olasupo, has said.

Olasupo stated that the 500 personnel were drawn from the 1,500 officers and men of the Corps mandated by the National Command to be trained on arms handling in 2017.

Speaking at the occasion of the passing out parade in Jos, the Corps Commandant reiterated that the effort becomes necessary as democracy cannot survive in an environment of riot, disorder, revolt, strikes, religious unrest, political gangsterism and interparty squabbles.

His words, “the survival of our democratic development cannot be attained in a situation of economic saboteurs and vandals; it is as a result of this that the corps is hell bent in eliminating or put a final stop to

power transmission lines and oil pipeline vandalism rampant in our country.

“The corps is poised to expose any form of corruption inimical to growth and development in the country,” he said.

He charged the trained personnel not to violet the basic safety rules relating to or concerning arms handling, saying that all laid down and approved standard operating procedures which are necessary for the effective handling and usage or application of arms shall be duly adhered to.

In his part, state governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, commended the effort of the Command, charging them to master their weapons, adding that The weapons should not be used to harass innocent citizens.

Represented by the Coordinator of the state owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow, Major General Steven Goa’r, the governor said the weapons would be used to tackle insecurity in the state and the country at large.

L-R: Project Director, Baywatch Group, Mr. Kibo Bankole; Lagos State Director of Account, Office of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mr. Deji Koko; Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke; Director of Training, Office of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mr. Ayodeji Aruna and other participants, during the 2nd session of 2-day workshop tagged: Engaging Global Best Practice to Deliver Value Per Excellence in Lagos … on Tuesday.

Gov Ahmed flags 0ff KWASU agric campus at Ilesha Baruba Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÎÎÎKwara

state governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has performed the groundbreaking for the campus of the College of Agriculture of the state university in Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten local council at the contractual cost of N907 million.

Ahmed explained that the siting of the college in the area was strategic to its agricultural practices especially in the area of livestock and crop farming.

According to him, the agrarian nature of the area will provide students the opportunity to gain more insight into agriculture.

“As we battling the issues relating to food insecurity and unemployment, it is important we provide cutting edge education to ensure we produce knowledgeable young commercial farmers and professionals as well as to provide all private sectors with required research for innovation and growth.

“Specifically, the institution will also equip the ag-

ricultural sector with the knowledge, tools; wealth for farmers, input for industries and food security for all.

“Having moved away from the sustenance and social service agriculture to more market driven approach, agric business is more than ever knowledge based and technology defendant,” he said.

The governor asserted that agricultural sector has the potential to curb unemployment, build growth and create food security.

“Based on this recogni-

tion, we have put in place strategy to promote agriculture business in Kwara state.

“Our Offtaker demand driven agric scheme and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) have provided farmers opportunity to access capital, tools and expertise for their businesses at affordable rates,” Ahmed said.

He pledged that his administration would continue to provide various incentives to enhance ability of farmers to compete at production market and increase their earnings.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

17

18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Features

s

How SMEs can survive under recession

Upre

Nduka Uzuakpundu

T

oday’s economic challenge of a deep recession has brought about some far-from-positive developments. They include shedding of work force by some companies, budgetary astringency on the part of government and the organised private sector (OPS), a disturbing rate of mortality of small-and medium-scale enterprises and the growing weakness of the naira, compared to the American dollar and euro.

In effect, the recession has come with a natural and telling high cost of living, with inflation or consumer price index (CPI) close to 30 percent. Within this cheerless matrix, economists and entrepreneurs are concerned with just what should be done – on both short and long-term bases – for the survival of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, in recognition of their backup roles in the architecture of the country’s political economy.

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos-based Institute of Entrepreneurs (IOE), Dr. Rotimi Oladele, offered that

DG SMEDAN, Dr. Umaru

there was a pressing need for the federal government to formulate and implement, in spirit and letter, economic policies that would be favourable to the development and growth of SMEs. The

survival and sustainability of SMEs, at a time of recession, he says, calls for strategic investment at the micro-level of the national economy, in a classical economic fashion, so as to help the ugly

effects of the doldrums.

Oladele’s offers also included such components of enabling milieu as single-digit interest loans, with fairly long moratorium to SMEs, the provision of such incentives as steady power (electricity and petrol) supply, good roads, railways, water etc., so as to boost the confidence of SMEs’ skippers as emerging employers of labour, creators of wealth and boosters of the macro economy.

Their role, within the context of Oladele’s thinking, becomes relevant, at a time the Nigerian government is bent on the diversification of the economic base – well away from oil, which has, in recent years, suffered a rebellious dip in its price at the international market.

In addition to government’s loan for SMEs, Oladele did say, at the quarterly capacity building conference of the IOE, with the theme: “Survival of SMEs Under Recession”, that it was necessary for prospective beneficiaries of government loans to have trackable identity with synchronised collaboration with banks, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Road Safety Commission

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

How SMEs can survive under recession (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) and amongst others, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The charge of government and banks, to whom SMEs’ skippers owe a duty of loan repayment, is to ensure that they are individuals with integrity and are, indeed, utilising their loans for the agreed purpose.

Even so, truth is that, lately, some beneficiaries of government loans have been a huge disappointment. A human and financial resource specialist, Mr. Jide Majiyagbe, who represented the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, retailed, at the IOE gathering, an unreadable story of a man, who had access to about N10 million. The married man, whose name was not disclosed, did just one good thing with a fraction of the fund: he hired an office, somewhere in Lagos, where he hoped to start his business. The rest of the fund he expended on buying a new Toyota Camry for his lass, with whom he lived in a hired apartment. It took the complaint of his abandoned wife to his creditors to expose him. He was jolted

by Majiyagbe’s threat that he should choose which prison he would like to spend the next five years for his criminal conduct. Thereafter, he started calling Majiyabge, regularly, to negotiate his way out of the looming crisis. That was the same married man, who wanted to be an entrepreneur, but refused to pick Majiyagbe’s calls or call him, soon after he got the first tranche of the government’s funds.

Many, perhaps, are such unreadable tales of the mismanagement of funds meant for the development of the SME sector, especially during the Jonathan administration. That, too, explains why, in agreement with Oladele, the first profile of an entrepreneur should be integrity. It embodies such profiles as character development, discipline, customer relations, regular payment of tax and, where applicable, regular servicing of loan.

It was posited at the IOE gathering, during which some entrepreneurs where inducted, that these traits, amongst others, were crucial for the survival of SMEs during a period of recession.

It is of integrity that a true entrepreneur “is a brand that has to be analysed before any attempt is made to offer him for sale (scrutiny) or promote him for consideration and acceptance.”

It is of integrity, further, that a true entrepreneur survives a recession. As an animate object, he speaks, as an “attractive personality”, who’s a “bank of ideas”; “a team leader”, who’s “an impactful story-teller” about the market,

but mainly with reference to his product and services.

It is such disciplined entrepreneurs, Oladele observed, that such skippers of industry – the likes of the late Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, who was the first fellow of the IOE and Dr. Christopher Kolade, and former governor of the defunct Western Region – Brigadier-General Rotimi Oluwole, who needed a Dr. Victor Olunloyo to provide him with a four-bedroom bungalow – would probably like to associate with. That is in recognition of his profile as someone who has, in pressing the Blue Ocean theory of entrepreneurship, created a new market, a cluster of customers and a fairly elastic demand for his products and services.

Put tersely, integrity, in the management of an enterprise, attracts venture capitalists, who are willing to partner with an entrepreneur based on his record of achievement and reputation. It is therefore binding that government and fiduciary institutions that are offering preferential funds to entrepreneurs should monitor, very closely, their beneficiaries with the active involvement of SMEDAN. It also calls for entrepreneurship education and skill acquisition under the supervision of the IOE. While it may require a partnership involving the universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) etc., the intent is to curb the gargantuan waste of funds meant for entrepreneurial endeavours for which tertiary institutions are very notorious.

At a time of recession, an entrepreneur who’s a faithful payer of tax, in Lagos State, say, may have a fairly easy access to SME-related funds, for that is the first prerequisite to enjoy any state-fund facility.

But, since government would seem to be scrounging, on account of recession, Dr. ’Folu Olagunju, who’s the Head of Administration at the IOE, suggested crowd funding for SMEs, under a very strict supervision of government, with the identity of benefactors publicly known. Crowd funding is akin to an equity, in which the public is enjoined to provide a cousin of counterpart funds for the running of a promising enterprise. It could also be a form voluntary contribution to that effect.

In some instances, it attracts interest for contributors. In the Middle East, where crowd funding is quite popular, it attracts little or no interest. The snag here, in Nigeria, is the unshifting public distrust of the exercise; it having failed in the past – for lack of integrity on the part of the managers – and is now a subject of a rather protracted litigation.

Small-Scale Ethanol Fuel Generation

Features 19

20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Crime

s

Fulani Herdsman’s killings in Tiv land- Group seeks redress

Baale Monsuru Oluwaseyi

Joy Anyim The Mdzough U Tiv, also known as the Mutual Union of Tiv (MUT), Lagos State Chapter, has appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to stop the blood shed in Tiv land, Benue State.

The call, which was made recently during a world press conference addressed by the Union at the Ikeja Club in Lagos, wanted the government to take deliberate steps to end the incessant killings of persons in that region.

It would be recalled that there had been incessant clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the area over the last few months, the latest being the one that occurred few days ago, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties,including farmlands According to the state president General Prince Aondowase Ikyernum ,who addressed journalists at the conference, the need to speak out was necessitated in order to register the displeasure of the union over the continued slaughtering of her people by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

The chairman stated that statistics available to the union revealed that between 2013 - 2016, 1,878 persons comprising of men, women and children were killed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen, while 99, 427 households were said

to have been affected by the incessant attacks with properties worth billions of naira destroyed.

He also noted that barely three months into 2017 the killings and destructions in Benue State have increased by 60%.

He said, “ Tiv land is literally under siege from ferocious invaders who the Federal Government severally claimed are faceless, but the victims of their dastardly acts continually said are. Fulani herdsmen. “ we are disturbed by these ceaseless unprovoked killings of our people by these unidentified gunmen who are invading and occupying our ancestral homes and grazing on our farms and graves, whosoever these attackers may be, we want the Federal Government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting her citizens from their unwarranted attacks. The Federal Gov-

ernment should not let them turn Benue Valley into a valley of blood and dry bones”.

“The truth remains that our common security concern in the Benue Valley for long has been the menace of Fulani herdsmen. They have constituted over 70% of the security challenges within the state. But, if today, the government claim through intelligence gathering that it has identified another cause of our security challenges within the state, we urge the government to deal with the situation decisively and professionally, not politically.

In his opinion, Aondowase stated that the Buhari-led administration is capable of protecting the people and that such faith in the government, has made the youths to continue to heed the plea of the Benue State Governor , Sam Ortom, to remain calm.

He, however warned that if the killings continued unabated with the same lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government alongside the unpatriotic and unprofessional conduct of some of the security officers deployed to the affected communities, the youths may be forced to resort to the first all of nature which is self defence.

Lending his voice to the purported plan of the Benue State House of Assembly to cede 42,500 hectares of Benue land to Fulani herdsmen as contained in a bill said to be at the final stages, the MUT State Chief stated that the union was not in support of the said action.

In his submission, the State President General noted, “The Federal government must protect us now or else we will protect ourselves, if it continues paying lip service to our plight. We cannot continue dying on our farms for cattle to graze”.

Man rapes a14 year old co-tenant

Ismaila Oguntade

A twenty two-year-old man, Ayobami Akindele, who allegedly raped his co-tenant’s 14-year-old daughter, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, a co-tenant with the mother of the victim, at No.28, Apesin St., Mushin, a Lagos suburb, is facing a charge of rape.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ajayi Emmanuel, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 23 at No. 28,

Apesin St., Mushin.

According to the prosecutor, the accused forcefully had carnal knowledge of the minor.

Emmanuel said the accused lured the girl into the bathroom and had sexual intercourse with her.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

ONJAH ABIBAT HELEN Formerly known and addressed as JOHN ABIBAT HELEN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONJAH ABIBAT HELEN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EKUNDAYO OREOLUWA BILIKISU

xx ELIZABETH OGUNS Formerly known and addressed as ELIZABETH AYUBA, now wish to be known and addressed as ELIZABETH OGUNS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MR SALAMI OLATUNDE JOHN ABIODUN

Formerly known and addressed as BAKARE ESTHER OWATE, now wish to be known and addressed as EKUNDAYO OREOLUWA BILIKISU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Mr Salami Babatunde Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Salami Olatunde John Abiodun. My BSc Certificate of Olabisi Onabanjo University,NYSC Certificate and all former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, FCMB,Union Bank and the general public take note.

MURITALA SODIQ AMOO

AFAGBON ALBERT CHUKWUKA

TONY DOROTHY Formerly known and addressed as MATTHEW DOROTHY, now wish to be known and addressed as TONY DOROTHY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Public Notice 21

OLUWASESAN PHEBE OLUWATOYOSI

Formerly known and addressed as OBISESAN MARGARET TOYOSI and ORIOWO MARGARET TOYOSI, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASESAN PHEBE OLUWATOYOSI. All former documents remain valid.

National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the general public take note.

FOLASADE SADIAT OYEBOLA

DAYYABU GARBA

Formerly known and addressed as MISS FOLASADE SADIAT SOMUYIWA, now wish to be known and addressed as FOLASADE SADIAT OYEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DAYYABU KANE, now wish to be known and addressed as DAYYABU GARBA. All former documents remain valid. UNITY BANK and the general public take note.

ADEBISI ADEOLU VICTOR

xTEKEREBOH NAOMI ONYEKA Formerly known and addressed as NWOSU NAOMI ONYEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as TEKEREBOH NAOMI ONYEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OLAYODE SODIQ DAMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MURITALA SODIQ AMOO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AFAGBON ALBERT, now wish to be known and addressed as AFAGBON ALBERT CHUKWUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI JAMES ADEOLU, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBISI ADEOLU VICTOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLUADE COMFORT ARINOLA

FAMODIMU KIKELOMO BLESSING

Formerly known and addressed as OLATUNJI COMFORT, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUADE COMFORT ARINOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MARY ILIYA

Formerly known and addressed as AKINOLA KIKELOMO BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as FAMODIMU KIKELOMO BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MARIA ILIYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MARY ILIYA. My date of birth is 25 December 1989. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ODUTAYO YETUNDE OLUWASEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEGUNWA YETUNDE OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OBINWA ANTHONIA OGONNA

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

GWAZA-EMMANUEL, RAHAB FAITH

UMENWANIRI OBIAGELI LUCY

Formerly known and addressed as OBINWA OGOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OBINWA ANTHONIA OGONNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as GWAZA RAHAB EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as GWAZAEMMANUEL, RAHAB FAITH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO OBIAGELI LUCY, now wish to be known and addressed as UMENWANIRI OBIAGELI LUCY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. ADEOYE AMINAT AFOLASHADE

MRS PEACE EDET EMEM

OGUMAH FRANCA ISHESHE

OFOMATA CHISOM FAVOUR

Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL FRANCA ISHESHE or FRANCA EMMANUEL now wish to be known and addressed as OGUMAH FRANCA ISHESHE. That my date of birth is 14/02/1984. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Nnadi Chisom Favour now wish to be known and addressed as OFOMATA CHISOM FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nasiru Aminat Afolashade now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeoye Aminat Afolashade.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABDULLATEEF NOIMOT

AJAYI ABIMBOLA ADENIKE

IBIKUNLE DOYINDOLA OMOBOLANLE

Formerly known and addressed as IKEOLUWA NOIMOT, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLATEEF NOIMOT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADAOBI VERONICA NJEMANZE Formerly known and addressed as ADAOBI VERONICA OKORIE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADAOBI VERONICA NJEMANZE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS OLATUNDUN OLASUNLOYE AINA Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLATUNDUN ADEYEMO AINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLATUNDUN OLASUNLOYE AINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EZEKIEL JOHN LUMI I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZEKIEL JOHN. BUT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZEKIEL JOHN LUMI. FORMER DOCUMENTS SHOULD REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS ADEGUNWA YETUNDE OLUWASEYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Peace Friday Asuquo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Peace Edet Emem. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABDULRAHMAN SUEBAT BOLANLE

MRS. CHERRIE CHINASA IROEGBU

Formerly known and addressed as MISS CHERRIE CHINASA NJOKU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHERRIE CHINASA IROEGBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that OKOLI NKECHI FRANCISCA is the same person as OKOLI FRANCISCA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS LANRE MONSURAT ADEWUNMI

Formerly known and addressed as MISS TAJUDEEN MONSURAT ADEWUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS LANRE MONSURAT ADEWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/DATE OF BIRTH This is to certify that my correct name is SUNNY ISAIAH AKPAN and not MATTHEW CHRISTOPHER EKARIKA. My date of birth is 29 April 1981. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. MORILEOLA IDOWU DORCAS

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF BIRTH DATE Formerly known and addressed as GOODNESS IFEJIRIKA OKORIE, now wish to be known and addressed as CHINYERE IFEJIRIKA OKORIE. That my date of birth is 30 June 1973 and not 16 June 1973.

All former documents remain valid.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public take note.

YAOMOLERE RUTH IDOWU

Formerly known and addressed as AKINSANYA RUTH IDOWU, now wish to be known and addressed as IYAOMOLERE RUTH IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MICHAEL PETER EGBE

Formerly known and addressed as MICHAEL PETER DESMOND, now wish to be known and addressed as MICHAEL PETER EGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWAFOR ADANMA CHARITY Formerly known and addressed as UDE ADANMA CHARITY, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR ADANMA CHARITY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MBADUGHA MAUREEN IFEOMA

Formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE IDOWU DORCAS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MORILEOLA IDOWU DORCAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ANIAGBOSO MAUREEN IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MBADUGHA MAUREEN IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AFONNE CHIDOZIE PRINCE

TIJANI MOSUNMOLA ADEOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as AFONNE PROMISE CHIDOZIE now wish to be known and addressed as AFONNE CHIDOZIE PRINCE. My correct date of birth is 15/3/1984 as against 19/3/1984. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as DANIELS MOSUNMOLA ADEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as TIJANI MOSUNMOLA ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SHOLA ADETOUN ADENIKE

MADU NGOZI

Formerly known and addressed as OLUKOTUN ABIMBOLA ADENIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as AJAYI ABIMBOLA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MAJEKODUNMI DOYINDOLA OMOBOLADE, now wish to be known and addressed as IBIKUNLE DOYINDOLA OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Adefowope Suebat Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdulrahman Suebat Bolanle.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OSHIKOYA ADETOUN ADENIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as ISHOLA ADETOUN ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known as addressed as NDUKWE NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MADU NGOZI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGUNJOBI RASHEED OLAWALE

NWAMAKA HARRIETH AMADI

IKWUAZOM UZOAMAKA MAUD

NSIKAN BASSEY

NWOYE UCHENNA AUGUSTINE

Formerly known and addressed as NWAMAKA HARRIETH ECHEFULE, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAMAKA HARRIETH AMADI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as IKWUAZOM UZOAMAKA MAUDLINE IFEANYICHUKWU DOROTHY, now wish to be known and addressed as IKWUAZOM UZOAMAKA MAUD. I. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JESULANKE OLUWAKEMI DEBORAH

CORRECTION OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME I, OGUNJOBI RASHEED wish to add OLAWALE to my existing names. Henceforth, my names are OGUNJOBI RASHEED OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALADE AMINAT ADUKE Formerly known and addressed as ALADE AMINAT OMOTANWA, now wish to be known and addressed as ALADE AMINAT ADUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AGWABI DOOSHIMA UCHE THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT NNACHI DOOSHIMA UCHE IS THE SAME PERSON AS AGWABI DOOSHIMA UCHE. I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AGWABI DOOSHIMA UCHE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID .THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as SOLANKE OLUWAKEMI DEBORAH, now wish to be known and addressed as JESULANKE OLUWAKEMI DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MR. ATANDA PETER OJO I, formerly known as Mr. Asimiyu Hammed Ojo now wish to be known as Mr. Atanda Peter Ojo. All former documents remain valid; General public to please note.

My name was wrongly written as DINAYU LILYA instead of DINATU LILYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TEMITOPE KEHINDE I, formerly known as BASHIRU YUNUS now wish to be known as TEMITOPE KEHINDE with date of birth 4/4/1993. All former documents remain valid; General public to please note.

Formerly known and addressed as PROMISE OTU BASSEY, now wish to be known and addressed as NSIKAN BASSEY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EMIATOR EUNICE OSHOIKPOR Formerly known and addressed as EILUORIOR EUNICE OSHOIKPOR, now wish to be known and addressed as EMIATOR EUNICE OSHOIKPOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHISOM CORDIS-MARY NDU I, formerly known and addressed as CHISOM IMMACULATA CORDIS-MARY NWOSU now wish to be known and addressed as CHISOM CORDIS-MARY NDU. All documents bearing Chisom Immaculata Nwosu or Chisom CordisMary Nwosu remains valid and refers to one and same person. General public and banks please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as NWORE UCHENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOYE UCHENNA AUGUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS GLORIA MOZOR Formerly known and addressed as GLORIA NWOKEFORO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GLORIA MOZOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS. GRACE ALOLO OKWEJIE

I, formerly known as MISS GRACE ALOLO ABUO now wish to be known as MRS. GRACE ALOLO OKWEJIE; All former documents remain valid; General public to please note.

22

Public Notice

FRIENDS OF THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED FOUNDATION

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

ESELU OBA AKINTUNDE CHARITY ORGANIZATION

SOUNDFAITH WORSHIP CENTRE

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts 2004

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration to the corporate affairs commission, Abuja under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1, Elder Dr. Ini-Ibeghe Udonnam.

2, Pastor Mrs Favour Udonnam.

3, Mrs Idara Ernest Inyang.

4, Aniekwe Udoh.

5, Ndifreke Udoh.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration to the corporate affairs commission, Abuja under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

Board of Trustees: 1. HRM OBA AKINTUNDE AKINYEMI. 2. OLORI OLAJUMOKE TEWOGBADE AKINYEMI 3. OLUSESAN LEKAN OLATUNJI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) PST. MRS. OLUCHI CHUKWUONU 2). EVNG. MOMOH OLUMIDE 3).BRO. ALEX AHIKIBI 4). SIS. TYNA ADEBOWALE

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To promote the independence and dignity of person’s with Disabilities, Socially, Economically, Educationally, Materially and Medically, thereby helping them become contributing members of the society

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To render charity humanitarian and hospitality service to the less privileged 2. To assist the less privileged in education 3. To carry out trading enlightenment and awareness program.

4. Enhance psychology intellectual and social wellbeing of mankind.

Any objections to this this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 PAYLOAD of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Mrs Idara Ernest Inyang (Secretary)

Signed: Secretary

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

AIVINHENYI IZEVBIGIE FOUNDATION

ST. MOSES AND AARON MY GOODNESS JOY HAS COME SPIRITUAL CHURCH

REGAL STAR SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration to the corporate affairs commission, Abuja under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

The general public is hereby informed that above-mentioned Foundation has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees Are: (1)Capt. Dr. Bolaji Olufunmilayo O. (2)Apostle Adenuga Adesola Solomon.

(3)Prophet Oke Emmanuel .O (General sec) (4)Lady Evang Adekoya Itunu Oriyomi (5)Snr.Ap Odusina Adedoyin Daniel (6)Snr.Apostle Olagunade Idowu Emmanuel (7)Mother-In-Israel Kolade Shade Faith

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AIGBIREMOLEN CECILY EFUA 2. AIGBIREMOLEN MIKE EROMOSELE 3. AIGBIREMOLEN CECILY EFUAOSE 4. AIGBIREMOLEN MIKE OKOSODO 5. IKUENOBE ADOLPHUS 6. IKUENOBE ELIAS PILOT 7. ODIBO OFURE MONALISA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ENGR. ODEMWINGIE AIVINHENYI - Chairman 2. DR. UHUNWAYE OSA 3. BARR. NEKPEN AIVINHENYI 4. PHARM. OSAGIEDE AIVINHENYI 5. MR. OROBOSA AIVINHENYI 6. MRS. KATE OKUNWA OKORO 7. MR. UWAGBOE AIVINHENYI - Member 8. MRS. UVBI OMOREGIE 9. MRS. IMUETINYAN OMORUYI

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To provide support for Regal Star Schools, Badore, Ajah, Lagos State.

2. To raise funds and develop infrastructure for Regal Star Schools, Badore, Ajah, Lagos State.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: To assist the less privilege in the society especially, poor orphans, widows and physically challenged.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, PMB 198, Wuse 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Signed: Sam Eleanya

SIGNED: BARR. ISAAC ENAMUDU

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 .EMMANUEL NWACHUKWU AGHOLOR 2. DARE FAGBEMI 3. AYOKUNLE FATOKU AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO MOBILIZE THE YOUTH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SOCIETY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLOMUKORO CYRIL - CHAIRMAN 2. IYASERE JOHN RICHARD - MEMBER 3. AZAKA CHUKUDI PAUL - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER YOUTHS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND LIVE THEIR LIFE TO THE FULL MAXIMUM. 2. TO HELP THEM IMBIBE VALUES, PRINCIPLES, ATTITUDES AND HABITS THAT BUILD GOOD CHARACTER, VIRTUES AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. 3. TO HELP THEM DISCOVER, DEVELOP AND DEPLOY THEIR TALENTS, GIFTS AND STRENGTHS FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND THAT OF THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ZACHÁRY OKEAH

CHRISTIANA ONYINYECHI NNODIM

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ZACHARY UWAKWE PETRÓUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ZACHÁRY OKEAH WITH BVN 22165029511 AND ACCOUNT NUMBER 0065672761; ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID; GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. CHRISTIANA GODDY NNODIM now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. CHRISTIANA ONYINYECHI NNODIM. All former documents remain valid; General public please take note.

KATI OKON EFRUTEL

OLANIYI RAMON ASHAMU

I, formerly known as OLANIYI RAMON Now wishes to be known as OLANIYI RAMON ASHAMU. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

GOSPEL STARS INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MARY AKEM - VINGIR 2. OLIVE AKEM - VINGIR 3. STEPHANIE OOJA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) PASTOR SOLOMON ALFRED OYAISI 2) PASTOR RACHEAL OKUNROBO 3) PASTOR EGHOSA JOSEPH OGBEMUDIA 4) EVANG. BENJAMIN ONYEKA ONYEUKWU 5) DR. MAERO ORIGHO 6) MR. DONALDSON BIACHI

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN OUR SOCIETIES ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

EVANGELICAL AND FIRE MINISTRY

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. JOSEPH YUSUF OLANREWAJU (CHAIRMAN) 2. OLUWAKEMI ANN GBELEYI (SECRETARY) 3. ENITAN ESTHER GBELEYI (MEMBER) 4. ADEYEMO ADEMOLA RYTCHAD (MEMBER)

FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE FOUNDATION ISSUED

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS, HEALING THE BROKEN HEARTED AND SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE

NO.80848 IS DECLARED MISSING. ALL EFFORT TO

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

ISAH LAWAL ABDULRAZAK

ONI BABATUNDE JOHNSON

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUHAMMED MUSA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISAH LAWAL ABDULRAZAK. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known as JOHNSON ONI now wish to be known as ONI BABATUNDE JOHNSON with date of birth 8/5/1985; All former documents remain valid; General public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

MRS OTUBOGUN ADERONKE OLUWAKEMI

I WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DANIEL MARY BLESSING NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AS DANIEL ENO BLESSING WRONG DATE OF BIRTH 20 NOUEMBER 1990 CORRECT 20 NOVEMBER 1995. General public should please take note.

THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ISAAC TO THE ORGANIZATION BY CORPORATE AFFAIRS

SIGNED: OZIOMA OFOHA, ESQ.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

I, formerly known as KATE OKON BASSEY Now wishes to be known as KATI OKON EFRUTEL All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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

I, formerly known as ELIAS ADERONKE OLUWAKEMI Now wishes to be known as MRS OTUBOGUN ADERONKE OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

COMMISSION WITH REGISTRATION NO CAC/IT/ TRACE IT HAS PROVED ABORTIVE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC PARTICULARLY CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

DIRO HASSAN

I, formerly known as AHMED HASSAN AJANI Now wishes to be known as DIRO HASSAN all former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THAT BASHORUN SHERIFF OLUMUYIWA AND LATEEF BASHORUN SHERIF OLUMUYIWA IS THE SAME PERSON. General public should please take note.

ADAMS OLUFUNMILAYO OLUWATOSIN

I, formerly known as ODERINDE OLUFUNMILAYO OLUWATOSIN Now wishes to be known as ADAMS OLUFUNMILAYO OLUWATOSIN; all former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

IBRAHIM AHMED I, FORMALY KNOWN AS IBRAHIM FOSKA AHMED NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS IBRAHIM AHMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

23 Public Notice

OLATUNDE OLUFUNMILAYO

MRS. OTTIH UCHECHUKWU THERESA

MRS. IJEOMA PERPETUA NNEJI

AKINLEYE ESTHER OLAMIDE

TINUADE FUNMILAYO GBEMISOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as OLADELE FUNMILAYO, Now wish to be known and addressed as OLATUNDE OLUFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UCHECHUKWU THERESA ANAWANA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OTTIH UCHECHUKWU THERESA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IJEOMA PERPETUA EMEREONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IJEOMA PERPETUA NNEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

. I, formerly known and addressed as AKINLEYE OLASUMBO ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINLEYE ESTHER OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JOKOTOGUN FUNMIAYO GBEMISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as TINUADE FUNMILAYO GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

BAGBE ABIODUN ASISAT

ABAH BLESSING

NWEKE VERONICA NWAKAEGO

EMMANUEL OGWA

I, formerly known and addressed as ABUBAKAR SOPIYANI, now wish to be known and addressed as GARUBA SUFUYANI MUHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

My name was wrongly written as IWARE ODUNAYO MICHEAL instead of IWARERE ODUNAYO MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as SOYEYE ABIODUN ASISAT and in some of my document my name was written as BAGBE ABIODUN ASISAT (AZIZAT), now wish to be known and addressed as BAGBE ABIODUN ASISAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ATTAH BLESSING OJOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABAH BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as VARENKE NKWEKE, now wish to be known and addressed as NWEKE VERONICA NWAKAEGO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, FORMALY KNOWN AS JULIET EMMANUEL OMADA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS JANET EMMANUEL OGWA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS. OMONKHEGBE MONICA EBANEHITA

OTUMUNYE NICHOLAS DILIM

ANELE JENNIFER C.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ANELE OHIMODI CELESTINA, now wish to be known and addressed as ANELE JENNIFER C. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that OKOH PRECIOUS CHRISTIANA is the same person as OKO CHRISTIANA AMOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to confirm and certify that EZEANI HENRY IZUCHUKWU is the same person as EZEH HENRY IZUCHUKWU. My date of birth is 05/05/1985 All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLATUNBOSUN GANIYAT OYEKEMI I, formerly known and addressed as OLAOYE GANIYAT OYEKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as OLATUNBOSUN GANIYAT OYEKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

ECOBANK and general public should please take note.

GARUBA SUFUYANI MUHAMMED

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OTOIDE MONICA EBANEHITA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMONKHEGBE MONICA EBANEHITA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OTUMUNYE ANTHONY, now wish to be known and addressed as OTUMUNYE NICHOLAS DILIM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as INNOCENT OZIOMA MICHAEL and ANUGO CHUKWUDOZIE MICHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as INNOCENT ANUGO OZIOMA. My correct date of birth is 20th March 1986 and not 10th March 1982. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that GODFREY SHARON DEBORAH is the same person as OMENKA DEBORAH FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS MASHA NIMOTA KIKELOMO

BANKOLE OMOTOLANI YEKINI MUYINOT

AYEDUN PEACE AISHAT

MR. SHODE ADEWUNMI SOLOMON I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR. ADEMOYE ADEKUNLE SAMUEL, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR. SHODE ADEWUNMI SOLOMON. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ADDITION OF NAME:

I, formerly known and addressed as BANKOLE OMOTOLANI MUYINOT, now wish to be known and addressed as BANKOLE OMOTOLANI YEKINI MUYINOT. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BIOBAKU PEACE AISHAT, now wish to be known and addressed as AYEDUN PEACE AISHAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

DABORAH AYOMIDE ADENUGA

DABORAH AYOMIDE ADENUGA

JOSEPH OKECHUKWU MICHAEL

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS MASHA KIKELOMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MASHA NIMOTA KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as DEBORAH AYOMIDE ADEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as DABORAH AYOMIDE ADENUGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS AGBAMUCHE NKWO MARY

I, formerly known and addressed as DEBORAH AYOMIDE ADEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as DABORAH AYOMIDE ADENUGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGBAMUCHE MARY IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGBAMUCHE NKWO MARY IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH ODO AYOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH OKECHUKWU MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

EBUKA GEORGE EZOLU

MRS. LAWAL RASHIDAT ADEYINKA BOLANLE

MRS EMMANUEL FAITH LILIAN

OLABISI ODUNAYO SEGUN

MRS CHIKAODIRI ROSEMARY ODINAKA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BALOGUN RASHIDAT OLAYINKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. LAWAL RASHIDAT ADEYINKA BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

LAWAL: Formerly Known As MISS LAWAL FAITH LILIAN now known as MRS EMMANUEL FAITH LILIAN. All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note.

AZEEZ TESLIM AYOADE

OGECHI BELLA JACOB

HUSSEINI MUSA RICHARD

I formerly known as Azeez Teslim Legacy wish to be known and addressed as Azeez Teslim Ayoade and corrected Date of Birth is I7th September, I970. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as COMFORT OGECHI DURU wish to be known and addressed as OGECHI BELLA JACOB. .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as RICHARD MUSA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as HUSSEINI MUSA RICHARD. That I was born on 19/7/1982. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. ADEWALE ZAINAB ATINUKE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS GBADEBO ZAINAB ATINUKE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ADEWALE ZAINAB ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Con-

NELSON OFONIME FRIDAY I, formerly known and addressed as, HAPPINESS NELSON FRIDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as, NELSON OFONIME FRIDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. General public should take note.

MRS. UGO ANASTASIA OKUH I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UGO ANASTASIA NNOROM, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. UGO ANASTASIA OKUH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME that I Orjiakor chukwunonso Joseph my name was wrongly written as Orjiakor Chukwunoso Joe and Orjiakor Joseph chukwunonso wish to be known and addressed as Orjiakor chukwunonso Joseph .

All Documents /Credentials bearing these names remain valid, general public please take note.

OGUNDANA: Formerly Known As OGUNDANA GBENGA JAMES now known as OLABISI ODUNAYO SEGUN. All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note.

ADEWALE ADEDEJI OLUWASEYI MOLADE I, formerly known, called and addressed as ADEDEJI OLUWASEYI MOLADE, now wish to be known, called and Addressed as ADEWALE ADEDEJI OLUWASEYI MOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

COMFORT OLUTOYIN BAMGBOSE

MRS. CHUKWUWEKE PRETTY IJEOMA

I formerly known and address as Osolaja Comfort Oluyemi Olutoyin,now wish to be known and address as Comfort Olutoyin Bamgbose. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EKAMADU PRETTY IJEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. CHUKWUWEKE PRETTY IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MAKWE EMEKA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

GLORY BENSON AKPAN

I formerly known as DON EMEKA MAKWE wish to be known and addressed as MAKWE EMEKA .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

THIS IS TO CONFIRM AND CERTIFY THAT SO SHINE ALIMSON DANIEL AND ALIMSON SODIQ ABIODUN IS ONE AND SAME PERSON. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID.BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as, GLORY BENSON, now wish to be known and addressed as, GLORY BENSON AKPAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

MRS. HANNAH NYA PROMISE OLLOR

CHRIS SAMSON ASONYE

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. HANNAH NYA JIJI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. HANNAH NYA PROMISE OLLOR. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, CHRIS SAMSON NWAULO, now wish to be known and addressed as, CHRIS SAMSON ASONYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

NWORGU JOSEPH ECHEFULLACHI I, formerly known and addressed as, NWAOGWU JOSEPH SATURDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWORGU JOSEPH ECHEFULLACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AKINPELU OLUWADAMILOLA MARY ETTI, now wish to be known and addressed as OKUK OLUWADAMILOLA MARRY ETTI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADEBO KING DAVID I, formerly known and addressed as ADEBO KING STEPHEN, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBO KING DAVID. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AMAKUBA: Formerly Known As AMAKUBA ONYEKA GEORGE now known as EBUKA GEORGE EZOLU .All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note

OKUK OLUWADAMILOLA MARRY ETTI

NWENE: Formerly Known As MISS NWENE ROSEMARY ODINAKA now known as MRS CHIKAODIRI ROSEMARY ODINAKA. All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Take Note.

KOLAWOLE KUDIRAT ADUKE I formerly known as Komolafe Kudirat wish to be known and addressed as Kolawole Kudirat Aduke .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

OZOKUDU NKEIRU

I, UGBO SOLOMON is still the same Person as UGBO NKEM SOLOMON.All Document Remain Valid General Public Note EMMANUEL EJII ADA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, MR. EMMANUEL EJIIADA ADA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, EMMANUEL EJII ADA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

OLASOJI BOLANLE FATIMOH I formerly known as OLASOJI AJOKE wish to be known and addressed as OLASOJI BOLANLE FATIMOH .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

TIMOTHY OLUSHOLA FASHINA

I formerly known as AGBA NKEIRU wish to be known and addressed as OZOKUDU NKEIRU .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS TIMOTHY OLUSOLA FASINA WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TIMOTHY OLUSHOLA FASHINA .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

DAMOAH KWESI

MRS. GRACE JOSEPH DICK

I formerly known and address as Aise Sunday, now wish to be known and address as Damoah Kwesi. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EDEM GRACE UDOH, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. GRACE JOSEPH DICK. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AMEH SUNDAY

EDNA CHIBUIKE EWOH

I, formerly known and addressed as, JEREMIAH OJORNEE ICHEMEH, now wish to be known and addressed as, AMEH SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, SANDY FRANK EWOH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, EDNA CHIBUIKE EWOH. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 20TH NOVEMBER, 1990, NOT 28TH NOVEMBER 1991. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

Public Notice 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

GREAT PEACE APOSTOLIC CHURCH

This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part c of the company and allied matters act 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. ARCHBISHOP DR. OLUSOLA JAMES 2. PASTOR MRS OLUSOLA GRACE 3. PASTOR SOLAPO OLUSOLA 4. MRS AKINDE FATIMAH A. THE AIMS AND ABJECTIVES 1. To address problem of mankind through Holy Spirit direct prayer.

2. To bring Christian ethic to all nations of the world as way of avoiding impeding destruction.

3. To preach the university of Christ in the world.

4. To show love of God upon human race.

5. To pray for economic and political stability and progress of the country and general welfare of the people.

Any objection to the above should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed BABATUNDE A. FABUNMI ESQ SOLICITOR for Great Peace Apostolic Church

NUDEK ISA FOUNDATION

ROYAL BEE ISLAMIQUE AIDE FOUNDATION

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

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the company Allied Matters Act of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Aboh Uduyok Johnson 2. Ekong Etesin Umorok 3. Udo George Wilfred 4. Ekwere Archibong Isaiah

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 SHEFIU MISBAH UDDEEN 2 TIJANI KABIRU BOLANLE 3. MACAULAY OLAMILEKAN 4 BALOGUN TOIBA ABOLORE 5 OYEBANJI MUSILI ASAKE 6 TIJANI SAKEEB AYOOLA

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1. To focus on Agriculture and human capacity development Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tiqgris Crescent, Off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this Publication.

- PRESIDENT - VICE PRESIDENT - SECRETARY - FINANCIAL SECRETARY - TRESURE -P.R.O.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 To proclaim the doctrine of Allah 2 To promote the general welfare of Muslims I accordance to Quran 3 To make provision for the less privileged through the establishment of a well efficient foundation for the service of Islam and humanity Any objections should be forward to the Registrar General corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

Signed: Chairman

SIGNED SECRETARY

YOU ARE NOT ALONE FOUNDATION

AL BAYAN ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

AL-IQRA ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part (c) of Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustee Members are 1.ALH. (BARR.) ALATOYE FOLORUNSO ABDULAZEEZ 2.ALH.(DR.) HASSAN BELLO ABDUL MAJEED BOLADE 3.ALH.(DR.) TIMEHIN SAHEED OLUROTIMI 4.ALH. LAKUNLE-BELLO MUSA OYETAYO 5.ALHAJA ABDULAZEEZ FATIMAH ATINUKE OBJECTIVES. Cater for moral academic and spiritual educational development of Muslim children and all other children who share or wish to benefit from excellent Islamic philosophy.

Any objection to registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420,Trigs Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria within 28 daysof this publication.

Signed ALH. LAKUNLE-BELLO MUSA OYETAYO

TREASURED POSSESSION CHURCH INT’L The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the company Allied Matters Act of 1990 TRUSTEES ARE:1: Nduka Chukwuemeka Conquer 2: Nduka Ada Conquer 3: Ekezie George 4: Aliu John Oshoioneya 5: Omokaro Dora 6: Onyeocha Ijeoma Will 7: Pere Divine 8: Egbucha Chinyere Stella

-General overseer -Assistant General overseer.

- Secretary.

-Financial secretary -Treasurer.

-Administration -Evangelism.

-Hospitality.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To preach the word of God to people through various media, television, online, radio, blog, social platforms.

Any objections should be forward 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

x

GOD THE REAL SOLUTION CHURCH

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the company and Allied Matters Act of 1990

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the company Allied Matters Act of 1990

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

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pedro Alafla Oluwasorefunmi - President 2. Bolujoko Olaoluwa Omotayo - Vice President 3. Adeyeye Abisola Oluwatobi - Secretary

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Shuaib Toyeeb Babatunde 2. Shuaib Mujeeb Olanshile 3. Jimoh Fatihu Abiodun 4. Oloruntele Nurudeen Atanda

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) ADAMOLEKUN GEORGE FEMI (2) BABATUNDE ELIZABETH TAIWO (3) TITILOYE JEJELAYE. O. (4) POPOOLA OLUSAYO MOSES (5) AMEH JOHN

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Empowering Individuals to acquire the needed skills and identifying metal and emotional related issues.

Any objections should be forward to the Registrar General corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

Chairman Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To help build Mosque and Arabic Centre 2. To engage in dawah activities: like visiting old people home and helping sick and poor with hospital bills.

3. To help build – learning platform for teaching Arabic Languages Any objections should be forward 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

- PRESIDENT - SECRETARY - TREASURER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ through out the world.

2. To counsel and deliver humanity from spiritual bondage through prayer.

3 To plant churches for worship in Nigeria and abroad.

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

SIGNED BY SECRETARY

SIGNED SECRETARY

ONYEKWU-IHIE WEMENE SOCIAL CLUB

ALL FOR GOD OUTREACH MINISTRY

1992- SET BISHOP LASBREY GIRLS IRETE FOUNDATION

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

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

NO. 88, IDUMEKO STREET, EKPON, IGUEBEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE This is to inform the General Public that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act , 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Doris Obiageri Ofokansi 2. Fortune Chibuzor Ofokansi 3. Chikezie Nwachineke Nwaigwe

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. ANUSIEM DELPHINE ONYINYE 2. NWOHA BARBARA UCHE 3. ONWERE UCHECHI CHIDINMA 4. OHALEM CLARA NWAKAEGO 5. OMEZE BLESSING OGECHI

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. ISEKI SATURDAY - President 2. ELOKE ABRAHAM - Secretary 3. NWANIJU CYRIL CHUKWUEKU 4. ADOGHE FREDRICK OKOGWA 5. OKOLO MATHIAS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2.To evangelize, prophesy the word of God and win souls for Jesus Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED BY Barr. Mary Bodede, 08064165811

OGUDU BROOKS ESTATE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Iyke Edomobi - Chairman 2. Mr. Steve Idornigie - Secretary 3. Dr. Adesegun Paul Adeyinka - Member 4. Mr. Oghenekaro Akene - Member 5. Mr. Olufemi Adeneye - Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1. To promote development and peaceful co-existence in the estate 2. To encourage community development and social work in the estate 3. To make periodic publications and organize seminars and workshops that are geared towards the advancement of the aims and objectives of the Association 4. To do all such other things as may be considered to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

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

SIGNED: JurisMechnix Attorneys Solicitors

6. NWANEHIUDU ONYINYECHI 7. ODII ALICE NNENNA 8. MADUKAIRO UJU LILIAN 9. DIKE NGOZI EUPHEMIA 10. DIKE FELISTAS AMAECHI 11. ONYEKWERE CHINWE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. Provision of humanitarian aid and support to the less privileged 2. Provision of essential services ( healthcare & education ) to the needy 3. To provide skills acquisition and empowerment is society Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1.To foster love, unity and harmonious living relationship among members.

2. To provide economic empowerment, promote sports and mass literacy among members by providing educational scholarships to deserving members, sponsoring sporting activities and organizing skills training and acquisition programmes and centres.

3. To promote any other educational, charitable and religious purpose and in particular the acquisition of knowledge, the advancement of Arts and Culture, the furtherance of health and the relief of poverty, disease and sickness.

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

SIGNED BY SECRETARY

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT I JULIET OSHOMAH IS ONE AND THE SAME PERSON AS UMORU JULIET ADIZAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. CONFIRMATION OF NAMES/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH That on my Bank Account, my name appears as OFFIA I. SAMSON, while on my other documents, it appears as OFFIA IDEBA SUNDAY SAMSON. That I am the same person bearing all the names mentioned above. That my date of birth was wrongly written on my Driver’s Licence as 16th day of September, 1976 instead of 15th day of August, 1977. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

SIGNED BY SECRETARY

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

MRS. SUNDAY ANTHONIA CHIEBONNAM

That on my BVN registration form, my name appears as IKECHUKWU CHIMANKPA ESHI, while on my Bank Account documents, it appears as RICH CHIMA ESHI. That I am the same person bearing both names mentioned above. All former document bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NWODO ANTHONIA CHIEBONNAM, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. SUNDAY ANTHONIA CHIEBONNAM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

BRIGHT KELVIN

AKUJOR KINGSLEY

I, formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR-BRIGHT KELVIN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BRIGHT KELVIN. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc, general public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU KINGSLEY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AKUJOR KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

ABDULAI RABIU I, formerly known and addressed as ABDULLAHI RABIU MUHAMMED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABDULAI RABIU. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

ABIODUN JURADAT MUSTAPHA I, formerly known and addressed as ABIODUN JURADAT BAKARE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABIODUN JURADAT MUSTAPHA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

OSASAH ONYEDIKA OBOSEIYE I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ECHENUM ONYEDIKA OBOSEIYE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS OSASAH ONYEDIKA OBOSEIYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

DANIEL KALU OGBONNAYA I, formerly known and addressed as, NNANNA ALLISON OGBONNAYA, now wish to be known and addressed as, DANIEL KALU OGBONNAYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

AKOMEHEN ISEMEDE HOPE I, formerly known, called and addressed as ISEMEDE HOPE, now wish to be known, called and Addressed as AKOMEHEN ISEMEDE HOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

22

Public Notice

WILLIAMS ADA HAPPINESS

MRS. OLEDI CHARITY UCHENDU

AIMALOHI AHIMIE OKPIDI

OMEMAEKWE ESTHER VICTOR

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, JOY ADA WILLIAMS, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, WILLIAMS ADA HAPPINESS. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS, 5TH JULY, 1977, NOT 5TH OCTOBER, 1992. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. OLEDI CHARITY OKORIE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. OLEDI CHARITY UCHENDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, AHIMIE AIMALOHI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, AIMALOHI AHIMIE OKPIDI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as, NTUEN ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as, OMEMAEKWE ESTHER VICTOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

BRANTHLEY CHUKWU

CORRECTION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as, BRANTHLEY ONISOTOYIN CHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as, BRANTHLEY CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, IBITOYE ADEKUNLE AYODELE, wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as, IBITOYE IBITOYE, instead of, IBITOYE ADEKUNLE AYODELE, in my BVN details. I now wish to be known and addressed as, IBITOYE ADEKUNLE AYODELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, JOHNSON RACHEAL, wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as, JOHNSON RACHAEL, instead of, JOHNSON RACHEAL, in my bank details. I now wish to be known and addressed as, JOHNSON RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, IYIACHA ALBERT MADUABUCHUKWU, wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as, IYIACHA ALBERT MADU, instead of, IYIACHA ALBERT MADUABUCHUKWU, in my bank account details. I now wish to be known and addressed as, IYIACHA ALBERT MADUABUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, UMEOKORO CHIOMA GLORIA, wish to add, GLORIA, to my bank account details which was formerly, UMEOKORO CHIOMA. I now wish to be known and addressed as, UMEOKORO CHIOMA GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. General public should take note.

IMOKE IGNATIUS BASSEY

MRS KHADIJAT OLUWATOYIN YUSSUF

OLADOKUN ABDULLAHI ADEMOLA

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS KUBRAT TOYIN IBIYEMI YUSUF NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS KHADIJAT OLUWATOYIN YUSSUF DATE OF BIRTH-10TH JULY 1971.

ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEMOLA ABUDULAI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLADOKUN ABDULLAHI ADEMOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, TUBONEMI JUDITH KOROBO, AND TUBONEMI KOROBO JUDITH TONYE, REFER TO ONE AND SAME PERSON BUT, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS, TUBONEMI JUDITH KOROBO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BASSEY IMOKE IGNATIUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IMOKE IGNATIUS BASSEY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

SALAKO BRIDGET SUSAN FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MAMUDU BRIDGET SUSAN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SALAKO BRIDGET SUSAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

DAMILOLA ESTER OGHENEKEVBE AKPOFURE I formerly known and addressed as DAMILOLA ESTER FRIDAY now wish to be known and addressed as DAMILOLA ESTER OGHENEKEVBE AKPOFURE.All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

ASUQUO ESTHER ADIDI I formerly known and addressed as OKON ETIM ESTHER now wish to be known and addressed as ASUQUO ESTHER ADIDI.All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

MICHEAL OLUCHI MARY. I formerly known and addressed as OBOH MARY RITA now wish to be known and addressed as MICHEAL OLUCHI MARY. My correct date of birth is 10/10/1994.

All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

JAMES DAMILOLA FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DAMILOLA SENAMI GBALEKUMA NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAMES DAMILOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

FRANCIS KOBBINA FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS FRANCIS SUNDAY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS FRANCIS KOBBINA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABIMBOLA TAIWO HALEEM

BILIAMINU KAFAYAT BUSAYO

I formerly known and addressed as ABIMBOLA TAYE HALEEM now wish to be known and addressed as ABIMBOLA TAIWO HALEEM. My date of birth was wrongly written as 15/10/1990 instead of 10/10/1990.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BILIAMINU KAFAYAT BUSAYO TEMILOLA now wish to be known and addressed as BILIAMINU KAFAYAT BUSAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

ADEGUNLE MAURICE ADEWALE

ADENIYI UWAGBALE CHARITY

OGUNBAYO AKWA CHRISTIANA

ADESUYI ELVIS DASHO

TAIWO TEMITAYO ESTHER

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEGULE MARK ADEWALE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEGUNLE MAURICE ADEWALE.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I formerly known and addressed as UWAGBALE CHARITY NGOZI now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI UWAGBALE CHARITY.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OGBU AKWA CHRISTIANA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OGUNBAYO AKWA CHRISTIANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I formerly known and addressed as ELVIS ARIBIGBOLA DASHO now wish to be known and addressed as ADESUYI ELVIS DASHO.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AFOLABI TEMITOPE ESTHER NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TAIWO TEMITAYO ESTHER.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ADDITION OF NAME

MR. JESUIREKHA OSIGA IMOUDU JAHMAN

NZEBE ARINOLA GLORY I, formerly known and addressed as SHOBONA ARINOLA GLORY, now wish to be known and addressed as NZEBE ARINOLA GLORY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MOHAMMED SANUSI IBRAHIM

I formerly known and addressed as MR. ELLIS IMOUDU OSIGUE, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. JESUIREKHA OSIGA IMOUDU JAHMAN all former document remain valid general public take note

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

LUCKY AYOBAYO CALEB

ADEOJO ABIODUN TITILOPE

MODE OLAWUNMI-IRETI

MRS. AJIDELE COMFORT BOLA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AMUSAT ABIODUN MARY TITILOPE AND AMUSAT ABIODUN TITILOPE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEOJO ABIODUN TITILOPE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as ALABI OLAWUNMI-IRETI, now wish to be known and addressed as MODE OLAWUNMI-IRETI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. EKUNGBA COMFORT BOLA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. AJIDELE COMFORT BOLA. THAT ON MY BVN MY DATE OF BIRTH WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1959 INSTEAD OF 15TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1959. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

JOSHUA EDET OBOT

WAKILI GANIYAT OMOBOLANLE

ODUJOBI YEWANDE OLAMIDE

I formerly known and addressed as Wakili Ganiyat Apeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Wakili Ganiyat Omobolanle. All for documents remain valid. General public take note

I, formerly known and addressed as ODUJOBI YEWANDE FLORENCE, now wish to be known addressed as ODUJOBI YEWANDE OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid; Banks and general public should take note.

OBI NKECHI RITA

MRS. OPARA LINDERLINE NNEAMAKA

In some of my documents my name was written as ONWUBIKO CHIDINMA and I wish to add ELIZABETH to my name.Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ONWUBIKO CHIDINMA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

AMUOBI VERAAH KUDIRAT I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS STANLEY KUDIRAT VERA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AMUOBI VERAAH KUDIRAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. NKIRU PROGRESS ONWUGHARA I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NKIRUKA OBOMA OKOI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NKIRU PROGRESS ONWUGHARA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as ADENIYI AYOBAYO CALEB, now wish to be known and addressed as LUCKY AYOBAYO CALEB. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHARLES UGONNA OPARA I, formerly known and addressed as Ugonna chidiebere Opara, now wish to be known and addressed as Charles Ugonna Opara . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABUBAKAR ADENIKE RAMOT

SHERIFFDEEN BILIKISU FOLASHADE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SHRIFFDEEN ADENIKE RAMOT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN ADDRESSED AS ABUBAKAR ADENIKE RAMOT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID; BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as SHRIFFDEEN FOLASHADE ADETUTU now wish to be known addressed as SHERIFFDEEN BILIKISU FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid; Banks and general public should take note.

MRS. IGWE PATIENCE UGOCHUKWU I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWU PATIENCE UGOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IGWE PATIENCE UGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUNTADE OLADUNNI MAGRAET

I formerly known and addressed as OGUNYINKA OLADUNNI OLATUNDUN MULIKAT. Now wish to be known as OGUNTADE OLADUNNI MAGRAET. All former documents remain valid. General public and authorities concerned should take note.

ISA GAVEN LOVETH My name was wrongly written on my voter’s and First Bank BVN registration as ISEGAVEN LOVETH and GAVENISA LOVETH instead of the correct name as ISA GAVEN LOVETH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc for BVN and general public take note.

TEMITOPE ABIDEMI YEMISI AJAYI ONASANYA AWE I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TEMITOPE ABIDEMI ONASANYA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS TEMITOPE ABIDEMI YEMISI AJAYI ONASANYA AWE. ALL DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES BEARING MY FORMER NAMES REMAIN VALID RELEVANT AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS ADEPOJU ADEDAYO NOSIMOT

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADELANWA ADEDAYO NOSIMOT. Now wish to be known as MRS ADEPOJU ADEDAYO NOSIMOT . All former documents remain valid. General public and authorities concerned should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JOSHUA OBOT, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSHUA EDET OBOT. All for documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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

ILIASU AMINA AINA I formerly known and addressed as ISIAKA AMINA AINA. Now wish to be known as ILIASU AMINA AINA . All former documents remain valid. General public and authorities concerned should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MAMMAN MOHAMMED SANUSI, now wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMMED SANUSI IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODIH NKECHI RITA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS OBI NKECHI RITA ALL DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES BEARING MY FORMER NAMES REMAIN VALID RELEVANT AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MOSES AYOOLA SHODIYA I formerly known and addressed as AYOOLA SAMUEL now wish to be known and addressed as MOSES AYOOLA SHODIYA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

In some of my documents my name was wrongly written as ROBINSON CHINYERE ONWNEMEBILA instead of ROBINSON CHINYERE GIFT.All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

MRS. BADMUS OLADUNNI IBIRONKE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINTOYE OLADUNNI IBIRONKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BADMUS OLADUNNI IBIRONKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BELLO IDAYAT OMOWUNMI I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SANUSI IDAYAT OMOWUNMI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BELLO IDAYAT OMOWUNMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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

MRS NDUJI JOSEPHINE ONYEBUCHI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWOKOLO JOSEPHINE ONYEBUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NDUJI JOSEPHINE ONYEBUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

asassa

26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6 , 2017

Health

s

Increased funding, personal hygiene will check Meningitis, Experts say Angela Onwuzoo As the new strain of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Neisseria Meningitides type C continues to spread in epidemic proportion for the first time in Nigeria, some concerned practitioners in medicine have listed proactive and practical ways the federal and state governments could adopt to arrest the situation.

Statistics from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) states that as at April 3, 2017, a total of 2,997 suspected cases of CSM have been reported in 16 states in the country, with 336 deaths and 146 laboratory confirmed cases.

The current meningitis in Nigeria broke out in Zamfara State in November 2016 and has now spread to Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Nassarawa, Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, Kano, Osun, Cross River, Lagos and Plateau states.

According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole: “This is not the first time or the worst epidemic we are facing in Nigeria, but this round of the epidemic has come with a difference, as all previous epidemics were caused by Neisseria Meningitides type ‘A’, but this year, we are recording Neisseria Meningitides type C in epidemic proportion for the first time.”

The states mostly affected are said to be in the upper parts of the country, which fall within the African Meningitis Belt.

Although other countries, such as, Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Togo, and Burkina Faso, are said to be facing similar outbreaks at the moment, that of Nigeria according to Chief Executive Officer of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has assumed a worrisome dimension, considering the number of deaths and the size of the outbreak amid vaccine shortage.

Listing ways of curtailing the spread during an interview with The Daily Times, a former Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Innocent Ujah, said the immediate measure is for the Federal and state governments to urgently release sufficient fund for robust vaccine procurement and then carry out massive vaccination of the vulnerable groups, including children.

His words: “This will require political commitment of both the Federal and State governments through allocation of huge fund for the treatment and prevention and capacity development of service providers, as an urgent priority” “Massive, extensive and aggressive public health awareness through all the effective channels of communication such as radio,

Vaccination for meningitis

The most velnerable

television, print media and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should up-scale public awareness campaign on preventive measures.

“Let governments and Civil Society Organisations deploy the strategy used during the Ebola outbreak of 2014. The strategy used in the containment of Ebola which received world acclamation should be deployed to reduce the avoidable deaths in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the long term measures, Ujah advised that the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Units of the Ministries of health and Environment be fortified both at the Federal and state levels.

He further said the epidemics of Meningitis has epidemiological circles, “And we know that from De-

CEO, NCDC,Dr. Ihekweazu

cember to May of each year, there will be outbreak of varying proportions - and this calls for preparation to prevent the epidemic by mounting extensive and aggres-

sive public health awareness and campaigns and also vaccination of the vulnerable groups which should commence about the month of October of each year. This will prevent the epidemics and therefore, avoidable deaths. Allocation of huge funds to this component of public health be given priority.”

Ujah who is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department Of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Jos/Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, also enjoined the private sector to support the government in the fight against meningitis as they have always done in Polio eradication.

On what the public can do to protect themselves against the bacteria, Ujah said: “The Nigerian public must take health education and campaigns seriously. The public should observe strict personal hygiene like hand washing practices with antiseptic soaps and observe environmental hygiene as well as effective ventilation (keeping windows and doors open) and avoid over-crowding in a room.”

He further advised that they should avoid self-medication, traditional healers and superstitions and report to the nearest health facility (Health Centres and Hospitals) as soon as they feel unwell.

“Children particularly cannot withstand meningitis, as they die very quickly. Their parents should immediately take them to the hospital when they notice that they are unwell.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is said to cause severe brain damage and

is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated.

The most common symptoms, WHO says, are a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting.

Corroborating the views of the former NIMR boss, Director of Surveillance at NCDC, Mrs. Olubunmi Ojo, said immunisation is key to the prevention of meningitis.

She explained: “Between 20112014, the MenAfriVac vaccination campaign against the predominantly circulating Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A in Nigeria, led to a major reduction in cases recorded from that strain.

“We now see an outbreak caused predominantly by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC).

While reactive vaccination helps to curtail outbreaks, a vaccination campaign against NmC with a long-lasting conjugate vaccine is sorely needed in the region.”

On his part, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, urged members of the public to acquaint themselves with at least the basic knowledge/ understanding of CSM and how it is transmitted and prevented.

Former NIMR DG, Prof. Ujah

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

27 Health

About 600 million children will live with limited water resources by 2040 - UNICEF Stories by Angela Onwuzoo A recent report by UNICEF titled “Thirsting for a Future: Water and children in a changing climate” looked at the threats to children’s lives and wellbeing caused by depleted sources of safe water and the ways climate change will intensify these risks in coming years.

According UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, “Water is elemental; without it, nothing can grow. But around the world, millions of children lack access to safe water - endangering their lives, undermining their health, and jeopardizing their futures. This crisis will only grow unless we take collective action now.”

According to the report, 37 countries including Nigeria are currently facing extremely high levels of water stress, which occurs when more than 80 per cent of the water available for agriculture, industry and domestic use is withdrawn annually. Warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, increased floods, droughts and melting ice affect the quality and availability of water.

For Nigeria, the challenge is not a lack of water resources such as rainfall or ground water; it is the availability of physical infrastructure to harness these water resources effectively. There are major differences in rainfall between the north and south, making it all the more important to better plan and manage water resources to minimise the impact of flood and drought.

“As we work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of reaching every Nigerian with access to safe, functional, affordable and accessible water, we must manage water resources more efficiently to meet the needs of Nigeria’s growing population and economic development,” said Kannan Nadar, UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Digging deep for portable water

Population growth, increased water consumption, and higher demand for water largely due to industrialization and urbanization, are draining water resources worldwide. Conflicts in many parts of the world also threaten children’s access to safe water.

All of these factors force children to use unsafe water, which exposes them to potentially deadly diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.

Many children in drought-affected areas spend hours every day collecting water, missing out on a chance to go to school. Girls are especially vulnerable to attack during these times.

The poorest and most vulnerable children will be most impacted by an increase in water stress, as millions of them already live in areas with low access to safe water and sanitation, the report stated.

In search of portable water

BENZOIC ACID: Expert validates safety of Nigerian soft drinks

Mr Toye

Until recently when the Federal Ministry of Health came to clear the air and certify that some popular soft drinks in the country are safe to drink, there had been lots of unfounded rumours in the social media concerning their safety.

Going by the position of the Federal government on the matter, coupled with the confirmation of the safety of these soft drinks by food scientists in the country under the aegis of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Nigerians have been urged to disregard such rumours as they lacked scientific backing and evidence.

Speaking at a sensitisation exercise in Lagos on Tuesday aimed at raising awareness on the importance and safety of benzoic acid as a global food preservative, First Vice National President of NIFST, Mr. Oluwole Toye, said benzoic acid is globally certified by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) as a safe preservative used generally in food and beverage products

around the world.

Toye stated that Codex, an organ established by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to set international standards, codes of practice and guidelines relating to food production and safety, recommended 600mg/kg as international standard in the use of benzoic acid in soft drinks.

The food scientist reiterated that benzoic acid all over the world, is an acceptable food preservative used to ward-off bacteria and limit growth of microbes on foods.

He noted that with reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the standard setting body in the country, in consultation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders, elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at 250mg/kg based on the national climatic and storage conditions.

Throwing more light on the safety of the soft

drinks in question, Toye pointed out that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which regulates food products in the country, has done its work well by ensuring that manufacturers of the soft drinks adhered to national and international standards in the amount of benzoic acid used in its products.

Contrary to speculations, Toye revealed that even the amount of benzoic acid in the soft drinks in question was below 200mg/kg which was still in conformity with the Nigerian standards, stressing that the amount of benzoic acid in Nigerian soft drinks is not poisonous to health.

According to him, that the United Kingdom used 150mg/kg quantity of benzoic acid in its soft drinks and Nigeria used 250mg/kg does not make that of Nigeria poisonous to health as both countries were guided by their respective climate conditions and were also within the 600mg/kg limit recommended by Codex.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 6, 2017

Lagos to establish agency to manage health insurance scheme

Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ The Lagos state government revealed on Wednesday its plans to establish an agency by law to manage the state’s health insurance scheme expected to be rolled out soon.

Briefing Government House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the AXA Mansard Insurance Group with the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Am-

bode, Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, said the state government would provide the enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the scheme with the view to increasing access to healthcare delivery.

Mansard Group, he said, had already indicated interest to be part of the state’s health insurance scheme, adding that government would also appoint health insurance agents who would act

between government and the people to ensure the success of the scheme.

“They (Mansard Group) have expressed their interest to partner with us on our health insurance scheme which we are rolling out very soon. It is a financing scheme for the system and a way of introducing reforms, re-jig the system and make it better.

“We have provided that enabling environment in the sense

that we are going to have an agency by law and every resident of Lagos is going to contribute to that purse. We will be using both public and private health providers and that is where AXA Mansard comes in with healthcare facilities.

“Also to enable us process the programme properly, we are using what we call health insurance agents. Those ones will act between Government and

the people with respect to providing the health insurance scheme,” Idris said.

The commissioner also said that AXA Mansard Insurance Plc would also be partnering with the State Government to deliver affordable and quality health care service to the people and transform the State into the medical tourism centre not just for Nigeria but SubSaharan Africa.

Cultists gun down two in Rivers state

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ Two young men suspected to be cultists were on Tuesday shot to death by members of a rival cult group in Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

An eye witness account revealed that the incident which occurred in Omoku town last night, along MRS. NDUKAUBA AMAUCHE MILLICENT I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. IHESY AMAUCHE MILLICENT, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. NDUKAUBA AMAUCHE MILLICENT. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWAKAEZE ELIJAH ONYEKACHUKWU I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKONKWO ELIJAH EMMANUEL, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWAKAEZE ELIJAH ONYEKACHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

UYAH MERCY ETIM

Ahoada Road, was carried out by some gunmen who specifically went for their targets and gunned them down.

According to the eye witness, “The incident happened around 11.pm, last night. Some young men shot sporadically for a while to scare aware people from the area before moving to get their targets.

They approached the house and found their way inside

and shot the two young men and escaped unchallenged.”

He continued: “They shot randomly as they made their way out of the area. We can’t say for sure what caused them to attack these young men. There hasn’t been any cult clash of recent. So, we were taken aback when we heard gunshots last night.”

Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Riv-

SHALOM OKEY OVAT

NWELECHI SUNDAY

I, formerly known and addressed as, OJEN OKEY OVAT, now wish to be known and addressed as, SHALOM OKEY OVAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, WAELECHI SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWELECHI SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

MRS EKWEAGU GLORIA NWAUKA

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

NWAFOR HELEN NKECHINYERE

ODOCHA EBERECHUKWU CHIBUZO

UGWUANYA CHARLES CHIZITERE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBODO CHEKWUBE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBODO CHRISTIAN CHEKWUBA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BVN AND FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGBO ONYINYECHI CECILIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONUORAH ONYINYECHI CECILIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ASEBERECHUKWU CHIBUZO BENNETH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODOCHA EBERECHUKWU CHIBUZO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as UGWUANYA CHIBUIKE CHARLES, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUANYA CHARLES CHIZITERE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

EKEH ADAEZE LOVINA

NWADIARO OSMUND UDOAMAKA

IJEOMA NZOPUTA UBESIE

I, formerly known and addressed as NWADIARO OSMUND IBEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as NWADIARO OSMUND UDOAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as IJEOMA NZOPUTA AKPUCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA NZOPUTA UBESIE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

NNAMANI EMMANUEL OZIOMA

UGWOKE THERESA NGOZI

JOHNSON JOSEPH

MRS OGOKE PRECIOUS NNENNA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISIAKU THERESA NGOZI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UGWOKE THERESA NGOZI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NWANAMA NNENNA PRECIOUS, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OGOKE PRECIOUS NNENNA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

AGBO KYRIAN CHIZOBA

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name AGATHA CHIELO OKWUDILICHUKWUwas wrongly written during BVN Registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed as AGATHA CHIELO OKWUDILI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

tack, saying that it was cruel and uncalled for.

Chief Ejimba, therefore, called on all cult members who have not embraced the state government amnesty programme to do so before it became too late for them.

MRS ONUORAH ONYINYECHI CECILIA

I, formerly known and addressed as NNAMANI JUSTICE EDECHIME, now wish to be known and addressed as NNAMANI EMMANUEL OZIOMA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as KYRIAN CHIZOBA JESSE, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBO KYRIAN CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank, BVN and General public should please take note.

Gov. Wike sitioned in strategic areas in the town to make sure there was no reprisal attack that might lead to a breakdown of law and order in the area.

An ex-militant leader in the state, Chief Johnson Ejimba, also known as Don Wani, condemned the at-

OBODO CHRISTIAN CHEKWUBA

I, formerly known and addressed as NWAFOR HELEN NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR HELEN NKECHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MERCY NNAMANI CHUKWUEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as UYAH MERCY ETIM. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

ers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, saying that the remains of the victims have been taken away by the police and deposited in a mortuary which was not disclosed.

The police spokesman stated: “The Police can confirm that what happened at Omoku is a cult-related incident. The bodies have been taken to the mortuary.

We have commenced investigation into the matter.”

The state police image maker said that all the different operational units of the Rivers State Police Command have started trailing the killers of these young men, adding that policemen have been po-

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name NWODO BLESSING IFEOMA was wrongly written during BVN Registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed asODO BLESSING IFEOMA.. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EKEH ADAEZE NANCY, now wish to be known and addressed as EKEH ADAEZE LOVINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

MRS OKEKE AMARACHI SOPHIA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKEKE AMARACHI SOPHIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKEKE AMARACHI SOPHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name VICTOR DONATUS was wrongly written when opening account but now wish to be corrected and addressed as SUNDAYDONATUS OKORIE. My correct date of birth 10th June 1993. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS IFEOMA CECILIA AJULUCHUKWU-OGUGUA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS IFEOMA CECILIA NZEKWE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS IFEOMA CECILIA AJULUCHUKWU-OGUGUA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

NKWUO FAVOUR NKIRUKA I, formerly known and addressed as REUBEN FAVOUR NKIRUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as NKWUO FAVOUR NKIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to certify and confirm that WILLIAM SUNDAY KALU and WILLIAM ELIBE KALU refer as one and the same person All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

This is to inform the general public that the Deed of Assignment belonging to MRS IHEOMA CHIZOBA AMAJUOYI (NEE ACHARA) of Plot 18-20 Block 56 Asata Enugu File No LEN: 7056., Registered as 11/11/1038. Land registry Enugu. All effort to trace the said document proved abortive. If found return to the Ministry of Lands Enugu.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

29 News

NCC receives platinum rating from BPSR for institutional work processes Tony Nwakaegho ÎÎÎThe Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) said it considered very strong business organizational structure, policies and practices that facilitate effective and efficient service delivery as some of the high points it identified in naming the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) tops in institutional work processes in the country.

Director general of BPSR, Dr. Joe Abah, presented the

report and plaque to the executive vice chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

The BPSR boss also listed accountabilities and responsibilities for set Standardized Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals of the Commission’s 19 departments in arriving at this conclusion.

Accurate measurement of Responsibilities and Performance assigned to staff were the parameters for the evaluation of the Commission.

In terms of governance,

the Bureau said “NCC strategic objectives are prioritized for potential impact using standardized principles including the balanced score card”.

NCC’s understanding of stakeholders needs and contributions are quite robust.

The Bureau said NCC’s vision, strategy and impacts complement other sectors organizational direction, adding that: Staff can articulate what the Commission wants to achieve, its role and purpose; Strategy is considered by the management

team regularly throughout the year because; NCC has a sense of where it is going and how it should get there.

The Bureau also rated NCC very high in procurement processes saying the Commission “has adequate systems, processes and experienced personnel responsible for executing its procurement activities in line with extant provisions of the Public Procurement Act”.

The Bureau also commended the establishment of NCC central store at Mbora, Abuja where all procure-

ment records are archived electronically from loss.

The Bureau also listed in its report that “NCC demonstrates that formal performance management processes are clearly understood, constantly applied and seen by all staff to be a valuable activity, that individual performance targets are clearly assigned with the team, business unit and overall organizational performance targets”.

The report that was presented to Prof. Danbatta by Dr. Abah took 15 months to

Police Commissioner orders transfer of 25 officers in Obudu LGA

Alao remains Head of C&S Unification Church ÎÎÎThe Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria has appealed the Lagos High Court judgment in favour of Most Elder Apostle Adebayo Abiola claiming the headship of the church.

The Church has stated categorically that His Most Eminence, Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Adegboyega Alao remains the Supreme Head (Olori) of the church.

A press statement signed by the Secretary General of the Church, Apostle (Dr.) Tunde Ogunkunle, stated that the clarification became necessary because of surreptitious moves by some people to cause disaffection among the faithful without waiting for the conclusion of the legal processes.

He said it was known to all that a State High Court is not the final arbiter in any dispute, and that the Notice of Appeal filed on behalf of the church by its Solicitors, Messrs Wale Taiwo and Co, has since been served on all parties.

The appeal notice, Ogunkunle said, clearly spelt out eight weighty grounds why the judgment delivered by the Hon. Justice L. B. Lawal-Akapo on March 23, 2017 should be set aside by the Court of Appeal. There is also pending before the Court a Motion to Stay the Execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Ogunkunle said, “We are known to be a law-abiding church and will not do anything to cast aspersion on the sanctity and integrity of the judiciary but that the judgment was not only totally erroneous but also ridiculous, and that is the main reason for the appeal.

go through evaluation during which period the BPSR team had a meeting with the Human Capital Department (HCD) team of NCC. Based on the approval of the EVC, the evaluation of the work processes took place thereafter whereby top management, senior and junior management staff were nominated to assess the work processes of the Commission under nine main areas covering 117 questions supervised by officials of BPSR.

Officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau State Command, during a shooting competition at the passing out ceremony of NSDCD training on weapon handling in Jos… on Wednesday.

Lagos alerts residents on cerebrospinal meningitis Benjamin Omoike

ÎÎÎ.The Lagos state govern-

ment has alerted members of the public on recorded cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in some states in the country and the need to report suspected cases to the nearest public health facility.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the spread is caused by a new strain of CSM causative agent, known as Neisseria Meningitides type C, which is slightly different from the causative agent of the seasonal CSM and that the disease is a dangerous and a life threatening one because it affects the thin layers of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord of an infected person.

He further explained that Cerebrospinal Meningitis is

an epidemic-prone disease that spreads from person to person through contact with discharges or droplets from nose and throat of an infected person. It can also be transmitted through kissing, sneezing and coughing especially amongst people in close quarters, hotels, refugee camp, barracks, public transportation and areas with poor ventilation or overcrowded places.

The Commissioner noted that though seasonal Meningitis outbreak usually affects mainly the Northern States that fall within the meningitis prone belt of the country, it is not impossible that outbreaks can occur in other parts of the country, Lagos inclusive, in view of the phenomenal climatic change as well as the high human migration.

He, however, maintained that no case of CSM had

been recorded in Lagos, contrary to what has been published, adding that, “But as a responsive government, we deem it fit to alert the public on the inherent danger of the disease”.

Dr. Idris explained that the symptoms of the disease include high body temperature, pain and stiffness of the neck, headache, vomiting, restlessness and confusion, stressing that it may result in the death of the victim if not promptly and properly managed.

The Commissioner, therefore, emphasized the need for the observance of high standards of personal and environmental hygiene as a preventive measure against the disease. He also noted that such measures should include washing of hands with soap and water frequently, avoiding direct contact with the discharges

from an infected person and covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

“It is strongly advised for people to avoid overcrowding in living quarters, provide cross ventilation in sleeping and work-rooms and other places where many people come together and get vaccinated with CSM vaccine when traveling to areas where Meningitis outbreaks have been reported”, he added.

Dr. Idris noted that health workers in the State, the State Epidemiology team and the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) in all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas have been placed on high alert in order to intensify the disease surveillance and monitoring activities.

Edem Edem, Calabar ÎÎÎAggrieved by the persistent crimes committed in Obudu local government area of Cross River state, the state Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, has ordered the transfer of 25 policemen out of the area.

The mass transfer followed complaints by several residents of the town that some of the policemen who have spent close to two decades in Obudu have become accomplices to criminal gangs that have been terrorizing the town.

It was gathered that there was only one police station in the local government area. Obudu has a landmass of 453 km² and a 2016 population census figure of 161,457.

Our source revealed that police station has about 99 police personnel with only a Pitman typewriter which was purchased for the station by the LG Administration of Barrister Vena Ikem of SDP, over 25 years ago.

Residents and even community leaders have repeatedly pointed fingers at some of the policemen in the station as arrowheads and kingpins of some of the gangs operating in Obudu but previous police commissioners have kept a blind eye to those complaints.

The complaints heightened the latest string of kidnappings and robberies incident that jolted the town.

News 30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 6, 2017

Reps probes Multichoice operations over increase in subscription rates Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The House of

Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate the operations of Multichoice Satellite Television Company over alleged exorbitant subscription rates charged its customers and the refusal by company to adopt the Pay as you Go package option.

The House therefore mandated its Committee on Information and Culture, National

Orientation, Ethics and Values to interface with the Nigeria Communications Commissions, Nigerian Consumers Protection Council and other relevant agencies to address the issue.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna/ APC).

Moving the motion, Rep. Abbas said that increasing subscription rates for the various bouquet on offer by Multichoice and its refusal to offer the pay as you go option to its

customers is unacceptable and exploitative.

He said that it has become a practise for the digital television service company to increase the subscription rates of its various packages annually.

“In 2013, the monthly subscription increased by seven10 per cent; in 2014 by 10-15 per cent and in 2015 by 10-22 per cent and just recenltly, the company sent a notification of another price increase with effect from May 1, 2017.

“DSTV does not have a pay as you go plan like most similar communications companies around the world, thereby making its subscription plan to expire at the end of the monthly subscription period, whether or not the subscriber uses its services,” he stated.

The lawmaker further added that the regular increase in the subscription rates of the various bouquet on offer and the refusal to adopt a pay as you go option was against all known and fair business practices all

over the world.

Rep. Abbas expressed concern over the seeming inability of the regulatory agencies to exercise their authority in the communications industry.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, who presided over plenary.

The committees charged with the investigations are expected to report back to the House in eight weeks for further legislative action.

Fayemi sues Ekiti Assembly, demands N500m damages over arrest warrant

EFCC arraigns 3 INEC officials over Diezani’s $115m fraud Peter Fowoyo

Gbenga Sodeinde,

ÏÏÏFor allegedly receiv-

ing money from former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani AlisonMadueke, for the purpose of manipulating the outcome of 2015 general election, three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The trio were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy, gratification, money laundering, and making cash payment exceeding the amount authorized by law without going through financial institutions.

The three INEC Officials are: Christian Nwosu; Yisa Olanrewaju Adedoyin, and Tijani Inda Bashir.

EFCC in charge marked FHC/ L/106c/2017, alleged that the three INEC Officials alongside Dr. Diezani AlisonMadueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resource,were said to have on March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves to directly take possession of total sum of N500, 760 million, which formed parts of proceeds of unlawful act.

Ado Ekiti

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha-Baba Shehuri; Commissioner for Works, Land and Housing, Mr. Abubakar Jatari; Project Manager, Triacta Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Eid and others, during the inspection visit to the rehabilitation work on the Ningi-Yadagungume-Fuskar Mata Road project in Bauchi State…recently.

UNILAG students storm Lagos House, protest rustication, detention of union leaders Alade Tasma

ÏÏÏHundreds of University of Lagos students on Wednesday stage a peaceful protest to the Lagos state House over an alleged illegal detention and rustication of their colleagues by the Police and the university authorities respectively.

The protesters who were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘Nigerian students say no to repression,’ ‘Free our students today,’ ‘We demand the removal of Fatai Owoseni,’ ‘Nigerian students say no

to rustication of students’ leaders in Unilag,’ and ‘Free rusticated Unilag 13’ chanted different solidarity songs which attracted the attention of Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Juwon Sanya-Olu, alleged that the students’ leaders were beaten, arrested and remanded for protesting against the high handedness of the school management.

Sanya Olu, who is the Secretary, Save Unilag Coalition, called on Governor Ambode to intervene and ensure the release of

the affected incarcerated students union members as well as reinstatement of those rusticated.

“We know Ambode as a scholar and alumnus of Unilag, he should not be silent on this injustice, he should intervene “Two of us were rusticated for no just cause, and some of our members, who went to TVC to hold a press conference on this injustice, were arrested and detained when they returned to school.

“Since Saturday, our colleagues have been kept in Kirikiri prison with thugs and hired assassins.

Why should innocent Nigerians who are asking questions on fundamental rights of students be detained?”

“This is bad, we request the governor to break his silence and come to the aid of the students who were asking questions on inadequate hostels, accommodation fees and others,” Sanya Olu stated.

Also speaking, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Lagos state chapter, Moses Adewale, said: “We so much have confidence in Gov. Ambode as a man of character.

ÏÏÏFormer governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, has urged a Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him by the state House of Assembly.

The state House of Assembly had earlier called on the Inspector General of Police to give effect to the warrant to bring Fayemi to the legislative chamber to defend himself against allegation of misappropriation of state Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) funds totaling N852 million.

Aside this, the lawmakers also accused Fayemi, of fraud in the award of contracts during his administration between 2010 and 2014.

Apparently miffed by this, Fayemi in a suit filed by his counsel, Rafiu Balogun, copies of which was made available to reporters on Wednesday said the action of the lawmakers was politically motivated and done in bad faith.

Fayemi is demanding from the plaintiffs the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) as general damages for the embarrassment, odium, contempt and public ridicule the issuance of the summons and arrest warrant has caused him having been widely circulated in the print, electronic and online media.

Wednesday, April 6, 2017

EXTRATIME

31

NFF: Rohr makes case for Aina, Akpom

S

Aina

uper Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is set to hold talks today with the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Bitus Bewarang, regarding his programme for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in two months’ time and the possibility of capping Chelsea de-

fender Ola Aina and Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom.

According to an NFF insider, one of the main topics to be discussed is the choice of players that will prosecute the game against the South Africans.

“Rohr called the Nigeria Football Federation that he will have a meeting

ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

be represented by a compact team which will be adequately prepared to do better than its previous outings.

“Our plan is to send a compact team of Athletes to the 2018 Games with the hope of surpassing our outing at the previous Games in terms of medals. Government will not renege in its role of ensuring that the athletes are equipped with adequate resources for training and participation in the competition. I, therefore, urge our sportsmen and women, coaches and other officials to intensify preparations for the Games so as to guarantee victory at the competition “.

Earlier, the leader of the Queen’s Baton Relay team Sam Gideon thanked the federal government and the good people of Nigeria for their warm hospitality and urged the federal government to do all it can to prepare the athletes ahead of the games.

FG to equip C’wealth Games athletes P Ojo

Ojo, Ejaria in contention for Reds Players’ Awards

resident Muhammadu Buhari has promised to support the 2018 Commonwealth Games bound athletes with adequate resources for training and participation in Gold Coast, Australia.

The President made the remark at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos where he received the Queen’s Baton Relay team.

Speaking on the occasion, President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung expressed gratitude that such event has provided a unique opportunity for Nigeria to share in the excitement of the Commonwealth Games.

The President added that Nigeria will

“There are several players born overseas eligible to play for Nigeria, but the NFF are concentrating on the players based in England.”

Akpom and Aina have played competitively for England youth teams and their paperwork must be processed by Fifa before they can be allowed to play for the Super Eagles.

The Principal of Excel College, Ejigbo, Lagos, Lady K.O. Oke (centre) flanked by Nwokolo Kossy, captain of Orange House (left) and Elvis Gabriel, captain of Green House(right) at the schools’ Inter House sports recently. The Orange House emerged the overall champions.

Declare state of emergency on sports in Anambra, Ezeonwuka tells Obiano Philip Balepo

L

iverpool fans have been invited to vote for the Player of the Season and two England youth internationals of Nigerian descent, Sheyi Ojo and Ovie Ejaria, have been nominated along with other first team players.

The voting for the 2017 Players’ Awards, will be held on Tuesday May 9 at Anfield.

Ojo and Ejaria qualified to be included on the list because they have played up to one minute for the first team this season.

The former MK Dons talent has 104 minutes of game time under his belt in the current season, while ex-Arsenal superkid Ejaria logged more than 429 minutes in eight games prior to his spell on the sidelines.

Other categories include Goal of the Season, First Team Players’ Player of the Season, Liverpool Ladies Players’ Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Academy Player of the Season.

with the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation,” the top source told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“They will discuss the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa, and whether the Britishborn players he met in London ( Ola Aina and Chuba Akpom) will be called up for the match.

T

Ezeonwuka

he proprietor of Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has called on Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to declare a state of emergency on the sports sector. Ezeonwuka made the call when he was addressing the leadership of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter, at the stadium in Oba, Idemili South on Tuesday.

He said sports administrators in the state had failed the youths because of their inability to conceptualise and implement programmes that are amenable to sporting excellence.

The ace sports facility investor said the N10 billion Rojenny complex was underutilised because such activities as inter house sports, school sports, state sports festival and other organised games were no more.

“I am calling on Gov. Obiano to declare state of emergency on sports and sports development In Anambra.

“I declare my lack of confidence

in those that are in charge of sports management and administration in Anambra and hereby call for their sack and replacement with vibrant, creative, proactive and talented sports administrators.

“The youths of Anambra have been exposed to unbearable neglect, the sins of our various commissioners against them are unforgivable.

“Those that could have given this country gold at the world stage and make our state proud have been denied the opportunity to develop their potentials by our sport managers.

“I also call on the youths to forgive the governor because he has the youths at heart but his lieutenants in the battle field are weak and have not much to offer.

“Anybody who sees Rojenny Games Village which was built with over N10 billion lie idle and is not moved is an enemy of sports and youths. I invested in sports because I wanted to develop the youths and help government manage them, but today you can see the degree of ne-

glect,” he stated with a tinge of regret.

Ezeonwuka enjoined SWAN in Anambra to work for the revival of sports in the state through effective and objective coverage of events as they remain the only hope of the people.

In his remark, the chairman of SWAN in Anambra, Anthony Oji, lauded Ezeonwuka for building one of the biggest sports complexes in the country since in 1986 in the interest of youth development. He added that SWAN decided to visit and inspect the facility to draw the attention of the world to it.

Also speaking, a veteran sports writer, Ikem Asika, wondered why Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has not been honoured by the Federal Government for his genuine contributions to sports development because most of the players of the 1993 Golden Eaglets started their football careers at Rojenny, yet government has not shown appreciation to him.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD,

email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 08050220692.

Editor Daily: SAM NZEH

Wednesday, April 6, 2017

VOL. 2. NO. 336

Price: N150

NFF: Rohr makes case for Aina, Akpom P 31

News Hotlines: 08050220561 Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

Dalung hails Kanu’s charity match

Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr.

Solomon Dalung.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

T

Afolayan

P

he Nigerian Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has thrown his weight behind the Legends of Africa Charity/ Peace football match to be held in Lagos later this month.

The charity match will bring African legends of football together under the auspices of Kanu Heart Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation.

According to a press release signed by Onyebuchi Abia, the minister applauded the efforts of the Kanu Heart

Foundation and organisers of the charity match when he received Nwankwo Kanu and the secretary general of the Local Organising Committee of the charity match, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia in Lagos on Monday.

The minister who officially endorsed the legend game said the match and calibre of African legends coming will be a very big opportunity to reduce the xenophobic tension in Africa as well as impacting positively on our football.

He promised to use the goodwill of his office to mo-

Leicester, Swansea chase Afolayan

remier League duo Leicester City and Swansea City are mulling over a move for Oladapo Afolayan, according to foreign reports.

Representatives from the Foxes and Swans have scouted the attacker in recent weeks, while Barnsley, Grimsby, Blackburn, Derby, Birmingham and Sheffield United are keeping tabs on his situation.

Afolayan has caught the eye since he joined Solihull Moors in February, with 4 goals from 11 appearances.

The 19-year-old is studying for an Engineering degree at Loughborough University and trains once a week with the Vanarama National League club.

He played for the youth team of Chelsea before continuing his football education in Canada with Toronto.

bile support for the game.

Responding Kanu thanked the minister, saying that the match is one way the Legends of Africa as a body, is also helping charities observing that the Kanu Heart Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation will be beneficiaries of funds raised.

He also said African legends will use the game to make a statement on the need for unity and peaceful coexistence in Africa.

Meanwhile, not less than 46 African football legends have confirmed their participation in the event holding in Lagos on April 29 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Among the galaxy of stars will be two former world

footballer of the year and European Award winner George Weah of Liberia and Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew of Ghana.

Other expected legends include: Roger Milla (Cameroun), Patrick Mboma (Cameroun), Benny Mc Carthy (South Africa), Anthony Baffoe (Ghana), Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Austin Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria), Mark Fish (South Africa), Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroun), El-hadji Diouf (Senegal), Samuel Kuffour (Ghana), Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria), Garba Lawal (Nigeria), Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria), Taribo West (Nigeria), Uche Okechukwu (Nigeria), Peter Rufai (Nigeria), Emmanuel Amuneke (Nigeria) and Samson Siasia (Nigeria) among others.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Power supply fluctuates as Abuja Disco targets 0% accident for 2017 Page B2

FG targets N135b through bonds auction next week – DMO Page B3

Obaseki urges farmers to see agriculture as business venture Page B7

KPMG calls for innovative approach to Nigeria’s economy Bonny Amadi The KPMG, audit and tax advisory services has called for innovative and unconventional approaches to effectively navigate Nigeria’s economic environment in this turbulent times.

The guide, contained in the “KPMG Nigeria’s economic 2017

outlook” released recently in Lagos, pointed that though 2017 provides opportunities, yet the persisting headwinds impacting macroeconomic front could mar such prospects.

Such headwinds, including internal and external rests among other factors, on fiscal and monetary policies, structural policy, governance and po-

litical, among others.

The report, signed by Kunle Elebute, National Senior Partner KPMG in Nigeria and made available to Daily Times Nigeria, re-emphasized need for the country’s monetary policy to drive growth with the ability to provide clear signal for investment, hence promotion of FDI inflow remains critical to the

economy.

According to the report, monetary policy direction will be critical, must focus on growth through reduction of monetary policy rate (MPR) and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), while liberalizing foreign exchange to encourage lending, increase money supply and stimulate aggregate demand.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside flanked by the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Mr. Ronny Berg (R) and the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Jens-Peter Kjemprud (L) when the Norwegian delegation paid a courtesy visit to the NIMASA Headquarters in Lagos.

AFBTE supports FG on safe consumption of Fanta, Sprite Motolani Oseni The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) has corroborated the position of the Federal Ministry of Health on safety of Fanta and Sprite for consumption in the

BUSINESS TIMES Head Business Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

country, saying their production meets national set standards by relevant regulatory agencies.

The statement from the Secretariat of the Association in Lagos said, “the level of benzoic acid and ascorbic acid in Fanta as well as the benzoic content of Sprite produced and sold in the country by the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) are in compliance with standards approved by all relevant national regulations and the international standards set by Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), a body established for the purpose of setting internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines re-

lating to foods, food production and food safety by the United Nations through the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It stated that there was no truth in the claim that Fanta becomes poisonous when taken with Vitamin C, saying that for the risk factor to formally occur, the benzoate level must be above the Codex level of 250mg/kg in the presence of metal ions that act as catalysts with Vitamin C. AFBTE pointed out that the level in contention here with regard to the said products was Fanta (188.64mg/kg; and Sprite

Thursday, April 6, 2017

(201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg respectively, noting that the rejection of the Fanta and Sprite that were exported to the UK in 2007 was not because they were unsafe for human consumption as they met the Nigerian regulatory standard which, itself, was within the international food safety limit of 600mg/kg set by Codex at the time.

Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited & Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo had in 2007 filed a suit at the Lagos State High Court against the Nigeria Bottling Company Plc (NBC) over rejection of the soft drink products they had proCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

The report further posited that government’s ability to secure, stabilize and develop the North East & the Niger Delta, as well as ability to quicken the implementation of the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP), would further drive economy in 2017.

The KPMG Nigeria’s economy 2017 outlook ‘ report showed that government’s Implementation of the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERPG) to stabilize current macroeconomic headwinds, coupled with ensuring inclusive economic growth by 2020, will improve ease of doing business in Nigeria to place the country in the league of top 100.

Reps want Arik Air liquidated to avoid waste of public funds Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The House of Representatives yesterday in Abuja expressed serious concern over the quality of loans that were acquired by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from Eligible Financial Institutions (EFIs) in the country and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Finance among other regulators to immediately ensure that all wrongly declared loans by commercial banks are clawed back to enable AMCON cover its funding gap.

A statement from AMCOM spokesman Jude Nwauzor said the House also stated that loans without proper documentation or which are unrecoverable due to packaging or state of the collateral should be reloaded back to the Financial Institutions since they are now making profit.

This declaration was made when the House Committee on Banking and Currency led by its Chairman, Hon. Sir Jones Chukwudi Onyereri JSP, visited AMCON’s head office in Abuja as part of its oversight functions to review the Corporation’s 2016 budget performance.

During his welcome remarks, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AMCON while welcoming the Committee in company of its top CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Reps want Arik Air liquidated to avoid waste of public funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Management Staff, informed the Committee that for AMCON to survive and meet its obligations, the root causes of some of the loans that ended with AMCON need to be revisited.

Kuru reiterated the fact that AMCON was dealing with obligors that have the financial capacity to engage AMCON from court to court in their plot to evade repayment and thereby sabotaging the effort of the federal government to resuscitate the economy, adding that there was need for all the relevant government agencies especially the legislature to rally round AMCON because the failure of AMCON would mean that the gains Nigeria recorded in 2010/2011 when AMCON was created would be lost and the economic difficulty, which was avoided then would eventually befall the nation.

Deputy Commissioner, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), George Onokhena, Partner/Head, Financial Risk Management, KPMG in Nigeria, Thierry Mbimi and the Director, Financial Services/ Industrial Market, KPMG South Africa, Gerdus Dixon, during KPMG insurance conference 2017, held in Lagos recently.

Power supply fluctuates as Abuja Disco targets 0% accident for 2017 Simon Ugwu

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has said it would target to achieve a zero per cent electrical accident occurrence in 2017, as against few cases of electrical accidents it recorded in 2016.

The Disco stated this at the commencement of its health and safety sensitisation programme recently, amid the increasing frequency of poor supplies to its

customers in the federal capital territory (FCT).

“The previous statistics of electrical accidents necessitated that customers must be sensitised to completely eradicate such occurrences in its network,” said the Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya.

“Despite the Disco’s award by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) as the safest network in November 2016, it however had a number

of electrocutions, which attracted inquiries and fines from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).”

One of such electrocutions was in Lugbe area of Abuja where about three persons died, and a couple others injured from poor electrical connections.

However, the Disco’s Director of Risk and Compliance, Collins Chabuka, said at the event, which was held in Mpape area of Abuja, that AEDC would engage commu-

FG pledges commitment on STI to diversify economy Tony Nwakaegho The Federal Government has pledged its commitment to put Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as a priority of its development agenda in a move to diversify the economy.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, made the known at opening of the Technology and Innovation Expo 2017, in Abuja, adding that “It has been indisputably proven that any nation that desires true development and a better life for its citizenry must put science and technology on the front burner of its development

agenda.”

The president said that the Federal Government would double its effort toward diversifying the national economy by employing STI to harness the country’s abundant natural resources through the improvement of locally made products to meet international standard.

“It is pertinent to underscore that the theme adopted for this Expo: Science Technology and Innovation for Nigeria’s Economic Diversification is not only timely but very apt.

“As we all aware, reliance on fossil fuel is becoming less fashionable by the day due to its negative effect on the environment.

“With the growth of Nigeria’s economy tied to oil, it stands to

reason that unless we embrace STI and employ it for economic development, our country may not fully attain its economic potential.

“It is my hope that the outcome of this expo will provide the needed platform for the advancement of science and technology in the country with the intent to industrialize and revolutionize the economy,“ he said.

He stressed that the forum would provide a platform for interaction between researchers, research institutes and organizations, inventors, innovators and other brilliant minds with the ultimate aim of bolstering the science and technology sectors.

nities on the best safety practices in their use of electricity.

He noted that this became necessary following reports that 69 per cent of the electrical accidents it recorded in 2016 were on account of third party (customers) poor handling of electricity.

Chabuka urged customers to desist from patronising illegal and unauthorised electricians whom he described as ‘NEPA 2’ to get supplies from the Disco’s network.

He also advised house owners to often run earth lines on their building to absorb power in the event of a power surge in the network.

“This will help to reduce cases of electrical accidents and electrocutions in the network,” he said.

He also spoke on vandalism of the Disco’s assets, and begged its customers to help identify suspects.

On by-pass of meter and energy theft, he stated: “If AEDC finds out that this is what you have done, we will prosecute you immediately. It is either you pay a huge fine or go to jail after all court processes.”

AFBTE supports FG on safe consumption of Fanta, Sprite CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

cured from the NBC by the United Kingdom (UK) Food Inspection Authority and making claim of N3,000,000.00 ( Three Million Naira) only as the cost of instituting and prosecuting this suit against the Defendant but the Court in its Judgement delivered on the 15th of February, 2017, dismissed all claims against NBC and held that the Company had not breached its duty to consumers and that there are no proven case of negligence against it (NBC).

The Court however, directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to mandate the NBC to include a warning on its bottles of Fanta and Sprite that its con-

tent cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same become poisonous if taken with vitamin C. NBC has since appealed this order.

It stated that the NBC does not produce for export as its products are produced within the guidelines of the Nigerian Industrial Standards in conformity with global food safety standards. It added that since NBC products are produced and consumed locally, it did not need to produce to the specification of UK standard as every country has its Codex standard.

Earlier the Federal Ministry of Health had said that NBC’s products Fanta, Sprite, and Coke manufactured in Nigeria, are safe for consumption.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Stories by Motolani Oseni The Debt Management Office (DMO) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria plans to raise N135 billion ($429.25 million) in nairadenominated bonds at its April 12 debt auction.

Debt Management Office disclosed on Wednesday that it would raise 35 billion naira in bonds due to mature in 2021, 50 billion naira maturing in 2027, and 50 billion naira due in 2037, using a Dutch auction system.

It further noted that settlement was expected on the day following the issue, however, the bonds are re-openings of previous issues, except the 2037 bond which is a new issue.

However, Nigeria auctions sovereign bonds on a monthly basis to help fund its budget deficit, support the local debt market and maintain a benchmark for companies

B3 Money Market

FG targets N135b through bonds auction next week – DMO to follow.

The anticipated one would make the fourth in the year as the biggest economy in Africa expects a N2.36 trillion budget deficit for 2017, with half of it funded through domestic borrowing.

Meanwhile, the last two auctions, the debt office sold more bonds than expected due to an increased demand for the local debt by investors.

Just recently, DMO introduced savings bonds for retail investors which is offered in Two- and three-year maturities, with interest paid quarterly.

According to DMO, “The bonds will be good for savings towards retirement, marriage, school fees and house projects.”

The nation’s debt office explained that savings accounts at Nigeria’s commercial banks pay up to 5 percent in interest, but the country’s inflation is running at more than 18 percent annually.

The bond offer will open on March 13 and end after five days, the debt office said. New issues will be sold every month.

The minimum subscription will be 5,000 naira ($16) and the maximum 50 million naira. Nigeria’s government depends on local borrowing to fund more than half its budget deficit, which is expected to reach 2.36 trillion naira this year.

It issued a $1 billion Eurobond last month and is now seeking approval from parliament for an

additional $500 million Eurobond. Last week, it said it would offer a 20 billion-naira “green bond” in April.

The government also plans to sell a $300 million diaspora bond abroad this year and its first sovereign sukuk in the local market.

Meanwhile, the 8 fold over- subscription of the recent Eurobond orders in excess of US$7.8 billion compared to a pre- insurance target of US$1bn is a strong indication that international investment community are confident in Nigeria economic reform agenda, the federal government has said.

The federal government position was contained in a bulletin of the Aso Villa, “Government at Work,”

DMO DG, Abraham

released, in Abuja, Tuesday.

According to the report, the nation’s economy is already on its road to recovery as showed in the marginal non-oil sector growth rate of 0.03 percent in 2016 Q3 (after two quarters of consecutive

negative growth.

It further explained that agriculture grew by 4.54 per cent in the quarter under consideration, with growth in crop production recording nearly 5 per cent, its highest since the first quarter of 2014.

Ecobank MD extols financial literacy day initiative

EXTERNAL RESERVES Date %

Gross

Liquid

DTN EXCHANGE RATES

Blocked 5/4/2017

4/4/2017

30,318,307,727

29,651,631,569

666,676,158

2.20%

4/3/2017

30,307,152,708

29,639,272,802

667,879,906

2.20%

3/31/2017

30,297,945,682

29,626,470,651

671,475,030

2.22%

3/30/2017

30,297,668,330

29,624,917,258

672,751,072

2.22%

USD

GBP

EUR

CBN RATES (4-4-2017) 306.25

380.94

326.19

INTERBANK

315.99

394.09

336.52

LAGOS

395

485

415

The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie, has lauded the Financial Literacy Day initiative, saying it would go a long way to sensitizing and educating pupils and youths across the country early in life on financial matters.

The Financial Literacy Day is being jointly organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), in partnership with Bankers Committee.

It is celebrated annually as part of the Global Money Week.

According to Kie, the programme is playing a vital role in the financial inclusion strategy of the apex bank, stressing that, apart from learning savings culture, the students would also know about money management in general.

“This whole idea of setting aside one day in a year to tutor students and youths on financial matters is quite welcoming.

This will enhance their financial skills and planning. Apart from a life time impact, it would also facilitate financial inclu-

sion of the un-banked.”

He stated.

In all, Ecobank top management staff taught students in schools spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.

During the teaching session at Government Girls Unity College, Damaturu, Yobe State, Cluster Head, Personal Banking, advantage segment, Borno/ Yobe, Ecobank Nigeria, Babagana Kyari advised the students on the need to imbibe savings culture and investment.

Kyari, took the students through what financial literacy entails; like saving your money; budgeting, how to grow money and how to save money as a student, among others He emphasized that “To become financially independent, you must learn as much as you can about financial literacy and your economic rights and responsibilities. Save as much as you can by setting savings goals and sticking to them to earn as much as you can by working hard to maintain good grades and developing skills in high demand by present and future employers.”

Capital Market B4 Afolabi Adesola on the Nigerian Stock Exchange reversed the negaWednesday as investors com-

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Stock market reverses 3 day negative trend

Report counsels FG to borrow in FX against local bond …As Herdsmen attack cost 3 states $14b in 4 years

lion lost on Tuesday when invesand market capitalization added tively, compared to previous ses-

Top traded stocks were Fideli-

trillion, thus reducing the year

an indication of improved mar-

-

est gainer with an increase of

-

Bonny Amadi

Next on the gainers list was Oando with a share price appre-

On the flip side Transnation-

has urged the federal government

The report which cut across developments across the country -

maceuticals followed with a de-

Lafarge Wapco came second on -

-

-

leader impending judgment, Boko Haram onslaught, financial systems challenge and herdsmen attack among others, called for further strengthen cohesion, sta-

L – R: Dr. Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC; Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive (Africa Regions), Standard Bank Group; Mr. Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC at Closing Gong Ceremony to introduce the newly appointed CEO of Stanbic IBTC Holdings to the capital market stakeholders.

The herdsmen attack, the doc-

Daily Times Nigeria, acknowl-

and from multinationals as these provide lower interest rates than ernment, many states are also used to fund non-income generaton

successive

administrations -

E-Tranzact reports 57 percent decline in 2016 Profit …As Unity Bank’s profit sheds 53 % Afolabi Adesola national Plc, has announced a profit after -

The company recorded for the review period from rising cost of sales coupled with increased expenses decelerated operating prof-

ognizing opportunities for partnerships, improved product focus, continued innovation, drive and comvision of making payments simple helped our company navigate the challenging macroeconomic strategic investments we Niyi Toluwalope, Chief Financial Officer said,

The company thus re-

ensure it maximizes the value of its shareholders

-

continue to invest in our core infrastructure to po-

FMDQ supports housing expansion through Debt Capital Market Bonny Amadi

sition the company for the expanding opportunities ing; making key changes to mission, products and people helping the company take advantage of various The company also made efforts to align its processes and operating standards

recognizing service delivcertifications were testamitment to a world-class, customer-oriented service

The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange‘s Listing , Markets and Technology committee has approved listing of the Mixta Real cent fixed rate Senior Guaranteed Bond or the Mixta Bond, under Mixta Real Estate PLC, a real estate developer, providing advisory services, and taking on special medium to large scale development proj-

This was coming shortly after the OTC Ex-

-

change granted listing approval to Lagos State OTC Exchange, in an unBy listing on FMDQ, the Mixta Bond enjoys not limited to, enhanced investor confidence in the Mixta Bond, transparent information disclosure, effective price Surveillance site and FMDQ e-Maring

of its funding from internally generated revenues, these states will rely on their federal allocations to The report identified prevailing challenges facing Nigerian environment and high interest confident that they can loan out

and

ing planned to formally welcome the Mixta Bond onto the platform in the coming weeks, in honour of the issuer, Mixta Real

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

25,471.69

DEALS

3,048.00

VOLUME 158,705,354.00 VALUE

1,127,251,161.62

CAP

8,813,506,136,937.01

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6 , 2017

B5

D aily M ark e t Ro u n d U p B e nc h m a rk In d e x Re b o u n ds as M i d -C a ps R Th e e q uity m ark e t re b o un d e d fro m a stre a k o f losses as th e bro ad er in d ex a p precia t ed 0.8 % to close a t 25,471.69 p oin ts, p arin g YTD loss to 5.2 % w hile m ark e t ca pit aliz a tio n a d d e d N71.1b n to se t tle a t N8.8tn. Th e u p tren d in t h e A ll Sh are In d ex w as larg ely as a result o f re n e w e d b uy se n tim e nt in mid-cap co un t ers in t h e Industrial a nd O il & G as sect ors - W APC O (+10.2 %), M O BIL (+10.3 %) a n d O A N D O (+10.1%) - as w ell as b arg ain h u n tin g in G U AR A N T Y (+1.4 %). M ark e t activity level h o w ever so ft e n e d as volum e a nd valu e tra d e d dip p ed 11.9 % a n d 30.4 % t o close a t 158.7m u nits a n d N1.1bn resp ectively.

A ll Se c t o rs Cl ose i n t h e G r e e n It w as a b ullish p erform a nce across sect ors as all indices closed in t h e gre e n. The In d ustrial G o o ds ind ex (+4.4 %) t o p p e d t h e ch art o n accou n t o f g ains in W A PC O (+10.2 %). Th e O il & G as a nd Bankin g in dices f ollo w ed, ad din g 3.3 % a n d 1.2 % o n th e b ack o f m axim u m g ains in M O BIL (+10.2 %) a n d O A N D O (+10.1%) as w ell as b arg ain h u n tin g in G U A R A N T Y (+1.4%) a n d ZE NIT H (+1.4 %). M O BIL w as rece n tly f ully divest ed by Exxon M o bil a n d th e n e w m ajority sh are h old er is m an d a t e d by t h e Investm e n t a n d Securities Act t o m a k e a t a k e-over bid to all minority sh areh old ers a t acq uisitio n price o f N417.12 p er sh are; t h us, w e exp ect m ark e t price t o co nverg e w it h t h e acq uisitio n price in t h e n e ar t erm. Similarly, th e Co nsu m er G o o ds a n d Insura nce in dices a dva nced 0.1 % a piece, drive n by re n e w e d b uying in t erest in 7 UP (+10.2 %) a nd

To p 10 G ain ers Tick er M O BIL W APC O 7UP O ANDO N A HC O UBN AIRSERVICE LIVEST O CK C O NTINSURE STERLN B A N K

To p 10 Tr a d es b y V olu m e Price (N) 347.28 47.62 95.89 5.78 2.31 5.25 3.91 0.69 1.16 0.73

Price Ch g % 10.2 % 10.2 % 10.2 % 10.1 % 5.0 % 5.0 % 4.8 % 4.5 % 4.5 % 4.3 %

Tick er FIDELITYBK ZENITHB A N K UB A G U ARA N TY TRA NSC ORP A CCESS STERLN B A N K UC AP U A CN N A HC O

Price (N)

Price Ch g %

Tick er

0.91 0.95 13.87 1.18 8.05 0.84 0.89 0.91 1.17 0.55

-8.1 % -5.0 % -4.9 % -4.8 % -4.6 % -4.5 % -4.3 % -4.2 % -3.3 % -1.8 %

To p 10 Losers Tick er TRA NSEXPR FIDSO N PZ NPF M CRFBK ETI NE M C A VERT O N M A YB A KER FC M B AIIC O

ZENITHB A N K G U ARA N TY UB A U A CN A CCESS NESTLE W APC O NB FIDELITYBK FO

V olu m e (m) Price Ch g % 49.4 0.0 % 24.3 1.4 % 10.5 1.7 % 10.4 1.4 % 7.2 0.0 % 6.9 2.6 % 6.2 4.3 % 4.6 0.3 % 3.5 -0.7 % 3.3 5.0 % To p 10 Tr a d es b y V alu e V alu e (m)

Price Ch g %

351.8 252.9 55.2 53.0 43.4 42.6 41.9 41.9 39.1 25.4

1.4 % 1.4 % 1.7 % -0.7 % 2.6 % 0.0 % 10.2 % -0.2 % 0.0 % 2.2 %

Naira Value (m)

100,000

NSE A ll Sh ar e In d e x

29,000

NSE All Share Index

28,000

80,000

27,000 60,000

C O N TINSURE (+4.5 %).

26,000 In v est o r Se n t i m e n t i n t h e Posi tiv e Re g i o n Investor se n tim e n t im prove d as m ark e t bre a d th (a dva ncers/d eclin ers ra tio) advanced

40,000 25,000

t o 1.6x (fro m 0.9x yest erd ay). A t th e su m mit o f t h e g ain ers ch art w ere M O BIL (+10.2 %), W A PC O (+10.2%) a nd 7 UP (+10.2 %) w hile TR A NSE XPR (-8.1 %), FIDS O N (-5.0 %) an d

20,000 24,000

PZ (-4.9 %) w ere w orst p erf orm ers. V alu e investin g in st ocks tra ding a t a t tractive prices, as a g ainst sh ort t erm sp ecula tive m oves, prom p t e d t h e stro n g g ains record e d an d w e

-

23,000

exp ect t h e se n tim en t t o prevail in su bse qu e n t tra din g session. W e dra w our co nclusio n

N A SD O TC Exc h a n g e M a r k e t A c t ivi t i es

22,000

`

(20,000)

17-Jan 20-Jan 23-Jan 26-Jan 29-Jan 01-Feb 04-Feb 07-Feb 10-Feb 13-Feb 16-Feb 19-Feb 22-Feb 25-Feb 28-Feb 03-Mar 06-Mar 09-Mar 12-Mar 15-Mar 18-Mar 21-Mar 24-Mar 27-Mar 30-Mar 02-Apr 05-Apr

fro m t h e im pressive m ark e t bre ad t h a nd stron g ord er flo w .

In th e N ASD O TC exch a ng e, t h e t o t al volu m e a n d valu e o f tra nsactio ns tra d ed w ere 10,160 u nits a n d N1.4m resp ectively w hile o nly 3 cou n t ers tra de d. Th e volum e a n d valu e tra d e d d eclin ed by 75.0 % a n d 2.6% resp ectively.

M a cr o e c o n o m ic G ist Th e Nig erian St ock Exch a n g e (NSE) rece n tly rele ase d a re p ort on D o m estic & Foreign

Term of t h e d a y D e m u t u aliz a tio n is w he n a m u t u al com p a ny o w n e d by its F o r ex S w a p users/m e m b ers co nverts in t o a com p a ny o w n e d by A typ e o f foreign exch a n g e sw a p co nsisting o f t w o p arts, com ple te d a t t h e sa m e tim e. sh are h old ers. In ef f ect, t h e users/m e m b ers exch a n g e t h eir O n e p art is a f oreig n exch a n g e spo t tra d e, an d t h e o t h er is a f oreign exch a n g e for w ard rig h ts o f use f or sh ares in t h e d e m ut u aliz e d com p a ny tra nsactio n. Forex sw a ps are most o f t e n used by investors f or eit h er h e dging or

sp ecula tio n p urp oses.

p ort f olio p articip a tio n in e q uities tra din g f or Fe bru ary 2017. Th e re port sh o w e d t o t al tra nsactio ns d ecre ase d M-o-M f or t h e first tim e since N ovem b er 2016, se ttlin g a t N74.1b n, a 22.1% M-o-M d eclin e fro m N95.3b n record e d in Ja n u ary 2017. Th e fig ure also ca m e in 36.8 % lo w er Y-o-Y co m p are d to t h e N117.3b n record e d in t h e sa m e p eriod in 2016. A se gm e n t e d a n alysis o f t h e m o n thly tra nsactio ns d a t a sh o w e d t h a t d om estic p articip a tio n (53.4 %) in t h e m ark e t o u tstrip p ed f oreig n p articip a tion in Fe bru ary (46.6 %) t o ext e nd t h e d omin a nce o f do m estic investors in eq uities m ark e t tra nsactio ns.

Brands & Marketing B6 Stories by Godwin Anyebe Over the years, out of home advertising in Nigeria has contributed immensely to the economic growth and development by creating brand awareness and building brand visibility and popularity. In the last couple of decades, outdoor advertising has become prominent but more than that, technology has enhanced it further so that consumers can get the best out of it. The efficacy of outdoor advertising in bringing about growth in the nation’s economy cannot be overemphasized. This truth has been grasped by advanced countries with obvious results in their economic GDP. Meanwhile, analysts believe that the out of home advertising sector in Nigeria appears to be at the verge of collapse. For these analysts, one of the reasons for the setback in the sector is due to its numerous regulations and multiple taxations. The analysts also posited that, this statement seems ironic considering the fact

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Is it end of Era for Out-of-Home Advertising in Nigeria? that this same regulatory body and other similar bodies are partly responsible for this situation, as they are in position to make the outdoor advertising industry in Nigeria conducive for advertisers and business owners.

Daily Times also learnt that one of the reasons for the challenges in Nigeria outdoor advertising business is the current economic recession that has turn to a torn in the flesh of most \concern Nigerians. For example, one of the major spenders in the sectorNigeria Breweries has slashed its outdoor budget from hundred to forty percent. Source close to the company told Daily Times that this could be due to the current economic challenges in the country.

In another development, Daily Times also gathered that most

telecom brands in Nigeria hardly place their advert on some of the digital billboard due to economic reasons. As a matter of fact, one of the billboards along Anthony Mobolaji Bank way Ikeja has been vacant for a while now. In attempt to find out reasons behind that, a source close to the agency that owns the billboard told Daily Times that, business has not been good in the sector that is why the side has been vacant for a while.

The source further reveal that maintaining that side along coast them more than five million naira Speaking on this issue, former president of Outdoor Advertising Association Nigeria (OAAN), Mr Charles Chijide stated that lots of businesses have suffered and died as a result of the hostile nature of the environment in which they operate. This is very harmful to

an industry that is still growing and struggling to survive amidst challenges posed by the nation’s economy and other competing media such as Radio, Television and the growing online advertisement.

On his part, the former chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) said, “The situation is worrisome, there was a time we held a forum to discuss the irregularities and issues facing the outdoor industry. We also made a commitment to modify the existing laws in the industry and enact new laws that will be beneficial for all stakeholders within the industry. Two years later, we still see various acts of misconduct and unnecessary taxation still prevailing in the advertising sector. Street Urchins (touts) still

Abifarin confirmed TPT Media head

From Left: Ms. Omotayo Azeez, Public Relations Manager, Power Oil; Mrs Veronica Onogura; Mrs Elizabeth Paul; Mrs Rejoice Harrison and Ms. Ijeoma Opara, Brand Communication Officer, Power Oil .During the Power Oil #Mummy Dearest Party to Celebrate Mother’s day recently in Lagos.

Experts task Nigerian banks on institutional relevance Banking and communications experts have called on Nigerian banks to reappraise their priorities and prove their institutional relevance by contributing to the economic development of the Nigerian ecosystem.

The call was made during a topical discussion at the first edition of BRANDish Meeting of Minds held recently in Lagos with the theme: “What Nigerian Banks Should Do Differently”.

In their x-ray of the banking industry, the discussants submitted that the current modus operandi of Nigerian banks is not in sync with the society in which they operate, as they do not promote entrepreneurship which is

go about collecting money from billboard operators and nothing is done about it. Excess taxation and regulation from regulatory bodies and the government still hamper the successful growth of outdoor advertising in Nigeria.”

According to him, these regulatory bodies as well as the government seem to be so focused on what they stand to gain from board operators without seeing the negative effect it is having on the growth of outdoor advertising in Nigeria. When compared to foreign counterparts, we are lagging behind in Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising in terms of creativity and technological advancement. Excessive regulation has dampened the spirit of many advertisers and business owners, preventing them from exploring the endless possibilities.

needed for the development of the country.

Among the discussants where former APCON Chairman and founder of Prima Garnet Communications, Lolu Akinwunmi, Founder and CEO Proshare Nigeria Limited, Femi Awoyemi, President Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola Salako, Managing Director Quadrant Group, Bolaji Okusaga, Managing Director, TBWA Concept, Kelechi Nwosu, Managing Director 141 Worldwide, Bunmi Oke, and Director Corporate Communications Airtel, Emeka Opara.

In his paper at the meeting, Femi Awoyemi, pointed out that

Nigerian banking system cannot give what it does not have because the system was designed to be exploitative rather than developmental. He stated that these banks operate within “policies that are not in tandem with the wishes and needs of Nigerians.”

Hence banks target their best services at the “25% of Nigerians that have been empowered to be valuable to the banks.”

Suggesting ways forward for Nigerian banks, the discussants led by Awoyemi called for transformation of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Awoyemi, who is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, said CBN should be upgraded

from being a “mere senior banker to the banks”. According to him, Nigeria needs a CBN that will “allow disruption in the sector with policies that will make banks development oriented.”

As a matter of urgency, it was suggested that Nigerian banks should be more customer centric by investing in consumer insight which would enable them know more about their customers, communicate better and be able to tailor their services to meet customers’ needs. The discussants noted that failure of the banks in their customer insight and market understanding duties is part of the reasons why Ponzi schemes such as MMM

Tpt international a reputable PR Agency that has been rated among the best in the country, has promoted one of its best hands Mr Oluwasegun Abifarin as the new head of media department.

This announcement was made by the company chairman Mr. Adetokunbo Modupe in its corporate headquarters, recently in Lagos.

Abifarin who has been in acting capacity in running the affairs of the media department for the past few months has distinguished himself as being capable in pioneering the affairs of the department. With this recent official confirmation by the chairman of the company it has authenticate his position as the head of media department TPT International.

The newly appointed media head joined TPT international barely two years ago as a media manager whose experience has span over two decades in the media industry.

TPT international as an agency has been able to prove to other agency in the industries that it has all it takes to excel in the profession, having been around for over two decades and have work virtually in all the sectors of the economy including multinationals.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

B7 AgriBusiness

Obaseki urges farmers to see agriculture as business venture Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has urged farmers in the state to see agriculture as a veritable business that can be used to grow the state’s economy.

The governor gave the advice on Tuesday when he received members of the state chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Benin.

Obaseki said that the state government was creating the enabling environment for farmers in the state to thrive and become millionaires through its agribusiness initiative.

“We want to help you improve your yields and reduce the challenges you are facing such as

lack of access roads and storage facilities.

“We are interested in structured cluster farming, where farmers can cultivate large hectares of lands via mechanisation.

“We are also rehabilitating the fertiliser plant in Auchi, so as to expand the farmers’ access to fertilisers to boost their productivity.

“So we want farmers in the state to see agriculture as a business with self-sustenance capacities,’’ he said.

Obaseki said that the aim of his administration was to make available about 200,000 to 250,000 hectares of land for agricultural purposes within the next four Obaseki

years.

“We have acquired lands in some local government areas and we are carrying out the pilot phase of our cluster farming.

“We have prepared about 2,500 hectares of land for maize production in some local government areas.

“We intend to replicate the model in other local government areas across the state,’’ he said.

Besides, Obaseki informed the farmers’ association of the government’s plans to curb the menacing activities of herdsmen in the state.

He said his administration was considering the establish-

ment of cattle ranches across the various local government areas in the state.

He said that the ranches would not only curtail the menace of the herdsmen at farms but would also serve as means of generating revenue for the government.

Earlier, the state Chairman of AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, commended the governor for diversifying the economy via investments in the agriculture sector.

Odigie said that the farmers’ association had over 80,000 registered members who were involved in full-scale crop growing across the state.

Ekiti set to raise 70m cocoa seedlings for farmers The Ekiti State Government says it has concluded arrangements to establish an additional five hectares of Cocoa Clonal Gardens across the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Kehinde Odebunmi, said this at a news conference in AdoEkiti.

He said that the gardens would be used to cultivate 70 million improved cocoa seedlings for farmers in the state in the next 10 years.

He said the move was part of the government’s renewed efforts to boost cocoa production in the state.

Odebunmi said that using the current market price of cocoa as an index, cocoa farmers in the state

would be able to earn about N18.9 billion within the 10year period.

He added that the state government was expected to earn about N135 million from cocoa grading and other sundry fees.

He said that the new gardens would complement the five-hectare garden that was established last year at Ado, Iye and Eporo Ekiti as well as the old three-hectare plot at Eyio and Ado- Ekiti so as to achieve the set target.

The commissioner said that the focus of the venture was to produce new cocoa hybrids with distinct generic capacity for high yield, in addition to being resistant to pests and diseases.

He said that the first

pod production could be achieved within 18 months of seedling establishment.

Odebunmi reiterated the commitment of the Gov. Ayodele Fayose’s administration to promoting food security as well as using the agricultural sector to boost the state’s economy.

He said that government was also determined to reduce its continued dependence on the dwindling income from the Federation Account.

He said that the state government had earmarked N230 million for land bank development in the 2017 Budget, while N45 million was set aside for cocoa farms rehabilitation and N20 million for cocoa seedlings production.

Protect small farms to meet growing global food needs – study As the world moves towards large-scale plantation agriculture, it’s crucial poor countries protect small farmers to meet the food needs of a growing global population.

Researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia said on Wednesday that more than half of the world’s food is produced by small and medium farmers, particularly in Africa and Asia.

While large-scale plantation agriculture is expanding, small farms with less than 20 hectares of land

should be protected because they produce more diverse and nutritious food, the study said.

“It is vital that we protect and support small farms and more diverse agriculture so as to ensure sustainable and nutritional food production,” Mario Herrero, the study’s lead author, said in a statement.

“Large farms, in contrast are less diverse.”

“Big farms larger than 50 hectares dominate food production in the western hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand, producing more than three quarters of the cereals, livestock

and fruit in those regions, the study said.

In South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, small farms produce about 75 per cent of the food, the study said.

Enshrining formal land rights for small producers is an effective way of ensuring they can continue farming, previous studies have said.

The world’s food production will need to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 with the global population forecast to rise to 9.7 billion by then, the study said.

Both big and small farms

Morocco Q1 growth rises on better farming output Morocco’s economy grew by 4.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to 1.7 per cent in the same period in 2016, the planning agency said on Wednesday.

The agency said in Rabat that the growth was helped by better agricultural output.

It predicted that the economy would grow 4.6

per cent in the second quarter of 2017. Growth was 1.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Agricultural output rose by 12.9 per cent in the first quarter this year, up from nine per cent last year, the agency said.

Due to greater rainfall, the country is on course for a favourable harvest with a 41 per cent rise in

the cereal harvest following a devastating drought last year that drove agricultural output down b y 70 per cent.

Agriculture accounts for more than 15 per cent of the Moroccan economy.

The non-agricultural sector grew three per cent in the first quarter from a year ago, the agency said.

FAO DG to visit areas facing crisis in Nigeria, Chad Mr Jose da Silva, the Director-General, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) will visit areas facing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and Chad Republic between April 6 and April 7.

A statement issued on

Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Emeka Anuforo, the National Communication Officer of FAO, said that da Silva’s visit was to support refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as their host communities.

“In North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, violence has driven millions from their homes and hampered access to agricultural lands and assets, creating massive humanitarian needs.

Motoring B8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6 , 2017

Lagos motor show: More firms show interest Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo This year’s Lagos Motor Fair & Autoparts Expo which will take place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos promises to showcase a good number of the leading brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, additives, financials and security gadgets with different classes of modern and innovative models, brands and services from their stables.

The Chairman organizing committee and the MD, BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu brought this to the fore while briefing journalist in Lagos on the forth coming 12th Lagos Motor Fair and 6th Autoparts Expo Africa. In what has become an Auto mundial and show of strength among the indigenous and foreign firms in the automotive business, more firms are confirming

their participation in the events. More indigenous firms have confirmed to join over 70 foreign firms that have confirmed their participation in the event scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos from April 24-29, 2017. They are going to display different types of world-class products and services from their stables.

He revealed that “virtually all the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are being expected and the response so far has not been bad.” According to him, some of the latest confirmed participants are: Toyota Nigeria Limited, PAN Nigeria, Mobil, A-Z Oil, Ammasco Oil, Add Oil, and C & I Leasing, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Mi-

chelin Tyres and National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). Over 70 companies from Turkey, China, India, Germany and United Arab Emirates are also participating”.

According to Mr. Agwu the Lagos Motor Fair remains the unparalleled gathering of established brands as well as new entrants ramging from passenger buses, cars, trucks, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, financials and many more, adding that the importance of continuously staging the show cannot be over-emphasized as all hands must be on deck to promote and support investments into the sector which he said occupies a strategic position in enhancing the economic development of Nigeria.

The Managing Director further noted that this edition is holding despite

the current challenges confronting the sector and the Nigerian economy to continuously utilize its platform to bringing the relevant stakeholders to a point where we can all forge a future for the growing sector. Over a decade now the event has played the role of a unique forum to access and assess the capacities and potentials of the nations’ automotive sector; and always Nigerians get this information hot and fresh mainly at the Lagos Motor Fair. It is a pillar of the future strategic goals for the automotive and other allied sectors.

Continuing, he said that part of their efforts in promoting investment into the automotive sector, strategies have been deployed to ensure that the fair more than ever before receives the needed attention from participants, institutional, trade, professional and indi-

2017 Red Dots awards: Kia wins triple design Kia has triumphed again in the Red Dot Awards, with another triple design win. The Optima Sportswagon, hybrid crossover Niro and the allnew Rio won in their respective categories. The Optima Sportswagon won the competition’s highest ‘Best of the Best’ distinction for ground-breaking design, while the Niro received praise for its attention to detail.

The Optima Sportswagon continues the success of its sedan predecessor, which also won the ‘Best of the Best’ award in 2016 – as did the previous generation in 2011. The 2017 trio of victories adds to Kia’s continuing success, having now won an impressive 18 Red Dot Awards since 2009. The awards follow on from Kia’s triple iF Design Award win earlier in the year.

“The design of the three models that have been honoured with the Red Dot Award was the result of the very close collaboration between our design centers in Korea, Germany and the United States. Our global design team has every right to be proud of this new triple triumph as it underlines Kia’s high design quality, which is unanimously recognized by experts”, says

Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation.

“The fact that we have succeeded in winning the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ for the third time in succession with the Kia Optima is proof of the continuity of these high design standards.”

The Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s first-ever D-segment tourer engineered exclusively for the European market, offers a striking exterior design and high quality interior, with the added practicality and appeal of a tourer bodystyle.

The all-new Rio also sees distinct changes to its profile, offering buyers a bold new design and a modern, efficiently-packaged cabin with the latest infotainment and safety technologies. The longer bonnet and more vertical C-pillar give the new car a more purposeful and aggressive stance, with a driver-orientated dashboard which provides an innovative and ergonomic design.

The Kia Niro marries the practical advantages and aesthetic appeal of a compact crossover with a sleek appearance, differentiating it from more conservatively designed hybrid models, and giving the car a unique

Kia Cars

presence as the world’s first hybrid crossover.

The Red Dot Awards: over 5,500 products from 54 countries submitted Since launched in 1955 by the Design Centre of North Rhine-Westphalia the Red Dot Awards has become one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide. The judging panel comprises of 39 expert independent designers, design professors and trade

journalists from all over the world.

The Red Dot Awards are presented in the three categories (Product Design, Communication Design and Design Concept), and are judged on criteria such as degree of innovation, formal quality, functionality and ecological compatibility. In 2017 companies from 54 countries registered more than 5,500 products.

vidual buyers as well as visitors. We have packaged a show that could effectively be used by the participants and visitors to maximize the benefits derivable from the fair. This edition will bring out all the potentials and investment opportunities that abound in the Nigerian automobile industry, which we know are very attractive so that the existing and potential stakeholders will utilise the opportunities offered by Lagos Motor Fair and Auto Spare Parts to get the best”.

“In our untiring efforts at making the Nigerian auto parts market the hub of the production, distribution and sales of auto parts in West, Central and East Africa with a view to covering the entire continent, we have invited using the good office of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture [NAC-

CIMA] extended invitations to trade and professional groups in the sub-sector from different countries and cities within the West and Central Africa regions to visit the Autoparts Expo.

So far the interest we are receiving are encouraging”.

With the cooperation of our partners in Turkey, United Arab Emirates, China and India over 70 Original Equipment Manufacturers and Dealers in auto parts and accessories are taking part in this edition which promises to be another remarkable edition. Strategically we are laying emphasis on the Spare Parts sector in this edition. This is as a result of our guided intention to enhance the development of cottage industries in the spare parts sub-sector of the automotive business sector of the economy with the attendant multiplier effects on the economy of the nation.

Mazda MX-5 RF shines at Red Dots design awards The all-new Mazda MX-5 RF has just been announced as a winner of the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” title at the 2017 Red Dot product design awards, while the all-new Seat Ibiza also took a Product Design 2017 accolade.

The MX-5 RF is basically the retractable fastback version of the current MX-5 roadster, which itself drove away with the exact same award back in 2015. The RF retains much of what’s made the MX-5 such a huge success, but it adds that hard top that takes just 13 seconds to retract at the push of a button and can be operated while driving at speeds of up to 6mph or 10 km/h.

The “Best of the Best” award is exactly what its name suggests as it’s the highest honour available from the internationally acclaimed annual competition, so a design has to

Mazda MX-5

be genuinely outstanding and groundbreaking to take the prize. According to the award organisers, designs named as “Best of the Best” winners are products created by design visionaries who manage to deliver a perfect balance of harmony of quality, desirability and usability.

For three decades now, the Ibiza has been the cornerstone of the Seat range, and the latest model is now able to stake a claim to being the best design the Spanish brand has ever delivered into the supermini segment. The design is about more than just looks, though, and the Seat won the award thanks to its dynamic behaviour and driving quality, its impressive on-road stability, significant improvements to its interior quality, safe and user-friendly technology, and its enhanced comfort.

The Edo Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Obaseki is a quiet operator –Oyegun

ET 4

Edo APC crisis: Our suspension is ill- ET 2 motivated, lacks merit –Ex Reps member Obaseki tips NIPOST on publicity, image promotion ÏÏÏGovernor

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki ((5th from left) with Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Zone G, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi and her entourage during a courtesy visit on Governor Obaseki at Government House, Benin City...recently

EDSG to domesticate National Health Act –Obaseki Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ

The Edo

T E A M

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, says his administration would in the next 60 days set up a committee to domesticate the National Health Act in the state.

Obaseki announced this while giving his remarks at a two-day workshop on Health organised by the state government in Benin which ended on Monday night.

He said the State House of Assembly should be able to examine the provisions of the Act and got it domesticated in the state within a 90 day period.

The governor also disclosed

that a health master plan would be finalised for the state based on the recommendations of the workshop.

He said a team would be drawn from the participants of the workshop to help formulate the health master plan for the state.

Obaseki commended the participants of the workshop for their contributions, noting that his administration was committed to remodeling of the state’s health sector.

He said: ’’We must begin to see our health system as an ecosystem where resources can easily flow between the public and private health sectors. ‘’We are ready to have consultations on how to collaborate

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondent Titus Akhigbe

private providers into our state’s health plan.

“I am prepared to open up the reconstructed central hospital in the state and give it to whoever will be able to manage the facility”.

He noted that his administration was also committed to strengthening of the state’s health institutions to allow for effective training of manpower to run health facilities in the state.

He said that accessibility of health care and who to pay for health care services were issues his administration was seeking ways of tackling.

He called on health practitioners to explore the potentials of traditional medicines as a way of supplementing conventional medicines.

In his remarks, chairman of the workshop, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said providing affordable

basic primary health care was necessary to reduce statistics of preventable deaths in the state.

Ehanire, the minister for state for Health, said that health care services should be made more affordable to rural communities, urging the state to implement a health insurance scheme.

The minister speaking on challenges confronting the country’s health system, proposed a new model to address shortage of health personnel in rural communities.

He said the model would involve providing scholarships to students and recruiting potential health workers from rural communities, training and deploying them back to their localities to work.

The workshop with the theme: Remodeling Health Care Delivery in Edo State: New Vision, New Horizon, held from 2nd to 3rd of April, 2017.

Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called on the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to sensitise the public on their services especially with the prevalent use of e-mails as he met with new Area Postal Manager of NIPOST, Edo Territory, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Egbesola, on a courtesy call at the Edo State Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The governor further noted that he would speak with the Solicitor General of the state to find out the state’s stance on stamp duty, adding that the ban on motorcycles in some part of the state did not affect such institutions as NIPOST, urging them to go to the Ministry of Transportation and get permit.

He, however, frowned at the use of their premises at Akpakpava and Airport roads as business places as the offices are overrun by traders, who have turned them into markets, even as he called on NIPOST to improve on the environmental standards around their offices.

Meanwhile, Egbesola thanked the governor for providing them with an agreeable environment to operate in the state.

On revenue generation, she noted that Edo State is next to Lagos State and that Edo State is important in terms of Express Mail Service (EMS) and Parcel Services in the country.

Egbesola revealed that the service had been experiencing challenges on effective delivery of services to customers because of the ban on motorcycles in the state, adding that wrong numbering of the house address compounded the problem.

The Edo Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Benson Obodeh killing: CP, pathologist testify in court ÏÏÏ

Investigating Police Commissioner and a medical doctor on Wednesday testified before Criminal Court Four, High Court in Benin City in the trial of five dismissed policemen over alleged murder of Benson Obodeh, a 26-year-old Benin based car dealer.

The two prosecuting witnesses are Dr. Godwin Abeng Boke and a Specialist Forensic Pathologist, a Commissioner of Police in-charge of Pathology for the police nationwide.

The accused, Adeleke Adedeji, Musa Oniyo, Abena John, Henry Shobowale and Joseph Omotosho are being tried on a seven-count charge of murder and stealing.

Recall that late Obodeh was murdered over an alleged car theft in Benin City in early May, 2015 by the dismissed police corporals attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Command.

Dr. Boke, a pathologist with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, told the court presided over

by Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele that he was appointed to lead a team to carry out a post-mortem on the deceased after he was identified by his senior brother, Mr. Solomon Obode.

He said the autopsy was carried out on September 30, 2015, four months and few days Obode was killed under a controversial circumstance.

According to Dr. Boke’s testimony, the deceased suffered multiple blood injuries inflicted by objects.

The pathologist also told the court that in his post-mortem exercise, he discovered that his heart was unusually large for his age which he explained was an indicative for a long standing heart problem.

Similarly, Commissioner of Police in-charge of Pathology, Dr. Wilson Akiu, who observed the post-mortem, corroborated the testimony of Dr. Boke.

During cross examination by the defence counsel, Daniel Abdullahi said he agreed to the report of the pathologists which indicated that his death was as a result of multiple injuries that triggered the heart to fail because the heart itself was already in precarious situation.

Standing before Justice Ovbiagele, the five suspects are accused to have, in May 2015, stormed Benin City from Lagos and arrested the deceased on allegation of purchasing stolen vehicles who later died in their custody.

EDSG to make Healthcare services affordable, says Dep. Gov. Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ

Edo State Government has said that it will make healthcare services accessible and affordable to the people, irrespective of their economic status in the society.

Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, stated this while speaking at a twoday Health Workshop organised in Benin with medical experts and the Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in attendance.

The workshop with theme “Remodelling the Health Care Delivery in Edo State: New Vision, New Horizons, was organised by Edo State government to get expert advice on the way forward in the health sector.

Hon. Shaibu, who represented the State Governor, Mr. Godwin

Obaseki, assured that the present administration is determined to give the health sector a new dimension, stressing that ending polio, malaria, malnutrition and other diseases were considered priority in the administration’s health programme.

“With the right policies in place, health related issues would be solved in the state, especially for the low income earners, the less privileged and the rural communities”, he explained.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who was workshop chairman, advocated for the domestication of National Insurance Scheme in Edo State to ensure easy access to health care services for the people.

Dr. Ehanire also implored the Federal Government to introduce social security programme in or-

der to adequately address the issues of social imbalances, illiteracy and diseases in the country.

The minister expressed worry over Nigeria’s health status with annual statistical figures of 2,300 under 5 years old children and 145 women of childbearing age bracket to ranking second highest contribution to child and maternal deaths globally.

He lauded Governor Obaseki for his leadership quality and steps taken so far since assumption of office.

In an interview with journalists, National President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof.

Mike Ogiri, also commended the state government for the workshop and sued for sustenance of such initiative, saying that the outcome of the workshop will no doubt contribute to the development of the health sector.

Edo APC crisis: Our suspension is illmotivated, lacks merit – Ex Reps member

ÏÏÏ Former Minority Whip of the

House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie, on Sunday, reacted to his purported suspension along with 30 others including Local government area executives and other notable leaders for alleged anti-party activities, saying it lacks merit.

Osagie said nothing can be more ludicrous and false, than for him to be accused of anti-party activities. “ Let me state clearly that as against my accusers particularly Charles Idahosa, I followed the governor and the entire state campaign team to campaign throughout Edo South Senatorial district and eventually worked hard to ensure that the APC won overwhelmingly in my Unit 4 at Egba and the entire Ward 6( Umagbae South) in Uhunmwode Local Government Area. Hon. Charles Idahosa, the mastermind of this suspension, did not win his own unit in his Community Ehor town.

The results are there for everyone to see.

Furthermore, Osagie said: “The State Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah (who constituted himself into the State Exco, because other State Exco members are unaware of the matter of who illegally ratified a notice of suspension knows the truth in the matter. It’s a fall out of the last gubernatorial primaries in which I played a prominent role in support of former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, as against the incumbent Governor. For him and his cousin, Hon. Charles Idahosa, it is payback time for daring to disagree

with them on who Uhunmwode delegates should support in the primaries. After the primaries, together with others, we worked for the party’s victory in Uhunmwode.

“It is important to let the public know that neither myself nor any of those allegedly suspended with me were ever invited by any organ of the party for the purpose of trial for alleged anti-party activities.

“This suspension is ample evidence of the reign of impunity that has taken over the running of the Party.

“It was done to massage the already deflated ego of Charles Idahosa who has completely lost the confidence of Uhunmwode people.

“I was the Senatorial candidate of the party in the 2015 National Assembly/Presidential elections. I was even a member of the Presidential Inauguration Committee set up by the National Working Committee.

Except for mischief and an attempt to pull me down, how can any right thinking person conceive that I could work against a party I defended so hard as its Minority Whip in the House of Representatives and its candidate for the Senatorial seat of Edo South? It is inconceivable. “ He therefore urged everyone to discountenance this illegal suspension as it is a ruse not having complied with Article 21 of the party’s Constitution.

“I wish to restate the fact that I remain committed to the APC and no amount of blackmail, trumped up charges and conspiracy can make me think or act otherwise.

Governor Obaseki of Edo State (3rd left) with his wife, Betsy Obaseki (3rd right) and other members of St Vincent De Paul Society of St. Paul Parish, Benin City, during the commissioning of a dialysis centre built by the society... recently.

…seeks partnership with NIS in re-settling returnees ÏÏÏTo provide support for return-

ees who are indigenes of Edo State and to facilitate their rehabilitation, Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to collaborate with the Edo State Government.

The governor made this request when he received the Zonal Coordinator of NIS Zone G, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi, on a courtesy visit at the Edo State Government House recently in Benin.

He explained that his administration was working tirelessly to curb youth migration and palliate anticipated discomfort that returnees from Europe, who were indigenes of the state, may experience.

On controlling emigration, Governor Obaseki said: “We are dealing with the root causes of migration and are creating opportunities for our youths to be gain fully employed.

We have added the teaching of vocational and technical education to

our schools’ curricula to equip our youths with the needed skills for selfreliance”.

He also sought the collaboration of the service to track increasing security threats brought about by foreigners posing as Fulani herdsmen to wreak havoc in some communities in the state.

On the challenges the state was facing in rehabilitating the foreigners, Governor Obaseki noted that the state did not have the statistics of those returnees and that was a challenge in the process of incorporating them back to the society.

“I am not comfortable with the way the issue of returnees is being handled. The state has no record or statistics of those that have come back; we don’t have the benefits of resettling them and we feel this should be corrected,” he said.

He therefore encouraged the service to furnish his administration with the statistics of returnees so

that better livelihood would be provided for them.

On the purpose of the visit, Dibi said it was to intimate the governor on the recent development of the service, adding that it would soon embark on electronic registration of all foreigners in the country in order to have a demographic record of them.

Already, she explained, the zone had issued 20,896 e-passports to citizens in the country between January and February this year through its passport offices.

In addition, Dibi also said that the service was doing a lot in tackling human trafficking and other related immigration issues in the states covered.

She thereafter solicited for the state’s government support in the provision of logistics to address the incessant cases of security challenges posed by some foreigners in the state.

The Edo Times 3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Okpekpe Race: Obaseki to run for orphanage

ÏÏÏEdo

Governor Godwin Obaseki (middle) with members of the Edo State Chapter of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs led by its Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Bako during their visit to Government House Benin City...recently

EDSG tasks civil servants on efficient service delivery Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏIn

its determination to continuously build the capacity of Edo State civil servants for effective and efficient service delivery, the state government has organised a twoday workshop for all categories of staff in the Government House, Benin.

The training programme with the theme, “Work Ethics towards Effective Service Delivery “, had Jonathan Nikori, a Lecturer with the university of Benin and Thomas Esiramen Esq, retired Permanent Secretary, Edo state civil service as facilitators, who stressed the need for change of attitude, discipline and adherence to the civil service rules and regulations.

Nikori in his lecture told the participants to try to understand their work environment and the goal or target of their employer, noting

that understanding the goal of public administration is key to effective service delivery.

Barrister Esiramen on his part, reminded the participants of the civil service rules, emphasising the characteristics of a civil servant which include discipline, nonpartisanship, loyalty, punctuality among other qualities, adding that one of the universally acceptable characteristics of any organisation is the ability to maintain a strict code of ethics, values and norms.

They both urged self-appraisal of the civil servants to be able to drive the process of change and innovative ideas of the present administration for effective service delivery in the implementation of government policies.

Earlier in an address, the Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, said the staff training is a continuous one that would be extended to all the ministries and parastatals

in the state. She urged the participants to learn and bring their experiences to bear on the performance of their duties.

“We observed that the capacity of workers in the state service is too low, hence the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki directed that such training programme be put in place”, she explained.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Barrister Steve Omorodion, who commended the state government for the capacity building, also explained that government decided to organise the programme to oil the wheels of Edo State Civil Service for effective and efficient service delivery.

Some of the participants who spoke on the programme including Duke Oshodi and Mrs. Uwaifo Vivian, commended Edo State Government for the initiative, saying that it will motivate them to work harder.

Key into Edo developmental policies, Obaseki urges Ecobank

ÏÏÏ Governor Godwin Obaseki of

Edo State has called on Ecobank Plc to key into the steps his administration is taking to develop the state.

“We see huge opportunities in Nigeria today. The recession has shown that oil is no longer going to play a major role in our economy and that we need to diversify. As a state, we are leveraging on the opportunities the recession has opened to us”, he said.

He added that the government was diversifying the state’s econ-

omy and that the aim was to take advantage of Edo’s strategic location to be a major player in the generation of electricity, agricultural production and human capital development.

He said that his administration was currently investing in the agricultural sector to boost value chain and create agricpreneurs.

“We have, so far, cleared 3000 hectares of land for maize cultivation, our target is 5000. We intend to expand it to soya beans and cassava production. We want to be

the number one state in cassava production within the next 36 to 40 months. We want to produce and process the cassava for industrial starch and ethanol’’, he said.

In addition, the governor informed the financial institution of the state’s ongoing registration of unemployed people, which has so far captured over 70,000 people, assuring them that the state would offer its first sets of jobs to between 5000 and 7000 of those captured in the database before the end of next week.

State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared his intention to run for an orphanage during the 5th Edition of the 10km Okpekpe Road Race slated for May 13 in the state.

Obaseki announced this while receiving the organisers of the race led by Mr. Mike Itemagbor at the Edo State Government House in Benin recently.

The governor revealed that he decided to run for the orphanage because he is a trustee of a Non-Governmental Organisation, ‘We Care Trust’, owned by the wife of the former governor of the state, Mrs. Lara Oshiomhole.

He said the NGO was involved in providing succour to orphans in the state and he would use the platform to raise a donation for the NGO. He also commended the organisers for ensuring that the race enjoyed more recognition internationally and was improved on a yearly basis.

Meanwhile, organisers of the Okpekpe race disclosed that more innovations had been added to the race, such as the use of transponders and trackers to eliminate cheats.

Itemagbor said the Okpekpe race is a bronze category of the IAAF event, which makes the state a tourist attraction, during the hosting of the event.

He said that athletes from 11 countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Turkey, Germany, Bahrain, Morocco, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi and Nigeria were expected to participate in this year’s edition.

He added that the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, would be made an honorary Grand Patron of Okpekpe Road Race for his contributions to the hosting of the race for four consecutive years.

The highlight of the event was the filling of the VIP participation form for the Okpepke race by the state governor.

...Preaches mutual tolerance ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki, has called on citizens of the state to respect the religious diversities in the state.

He made this call when he received members of the Edo State Chapter of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs led by its Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Bako at the Edo State Government House in Benin City.

Governor Obaseki highlighted the importance of religious bodies, urging them to meet regularly to help tackle security challenges in the state.

The governor frowned at the prevalent use of derogatory languages on students of Islamic faith at some public schools, saying his administration would prohibit that conduct.

On the area of job creation, Gov. Obaseki called on the Islamic group to help the government sensitise the unemployed on the need to register

for the Edo job employment opportunity.

“We have launched what we call Edo Jobs, we need to know the number of people who are jobless to enable us plan for them. People are not turning up as expected; the registration will help us know how many people need jobs in the state and their qualifications. It will help us know where to place them,” he said.

Obaseki informed the group that his administration is investing heavily in agriculture and collaborating with investors in the state.

Meanwhile, Bako called on the governor to address traffic congestion in Ring road and street hawking within the city centre, while also intimating the governor on some of the problems the Islamic body was faced with including lack of adequate praying space in Ikpoba Hill.

...Commissions dialysis centre in Benin

ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki, on Tuesday, commissioned a dialysis centre in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to provide affordable treatment for citizens in the state, especially those suffering from kidney related ailments.

The health centre, which has been called St Vincent De Paul Mercy Medical Centre, has 14 rooms and is an initiative of the St Vincent De Paul Society of St. Paul Parish in Benin City.

Obaseki, accompanied by his wife, Betsy, expressed satisfaction at the completion of the project, noting that it would not only benefit the poor or citizens of the state but of the world at large.

He commended the vision of the society for the success of the project, adding that he was ready to continue to support the centre.

“I met the group when I was campaigning to be the governor of Edo State. Discussing with the group, I realised this was beyond politics. I promised God that if I became governor of the state, I would commission the centre.

That promise has been fulfilled today”.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of the Metropolitan Sea of Benin City, Most Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Akubeze, thanked Obaseki, while he also appreciated the society for their initiative to undertake the project.

The Edo Times 4 National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in this interview with TITUS AKHIGBE, speaks on a number of issues in the polity. Excerpts: After several weeks of worry and speculations about the President’s health, he came back and resumed duties, how do you feel about that?

I feel very happy, very glad and a sense of relief that our President is back. Stability has returned to the polity, the deluge of most unfortunate rumours, some of it totally lacking in decorum has ended. The system is beginning to forge ahead. Obviously he was ill but we thank God he is back now.

We hope and pray that the system will not put unnecessary pressure on him again so that he can regain his full working strength.

But there is this worry in the North that Southerners are in the habit of choosing someone not too healthy for them as Presidential candidate, have you received such complaints?

I cannot have that kind of worry and nobody should try to play God. And if they are people who have that kind of thinking, then they are trying to play God and there is no such thing at all. So I don’t go into that area of speculation at all. It is unacceptable, it brings instability to the nation. When we are ill, it is God that permits it and probably it is all to teach us a lesson to prepare us for future challenges. We should not go beyond that to politicise ailment. I don’t think that is proper.

The naira is appreciating every day against the dollar, will you say that the economic plans of this administration has started yielding dividends?

First, the dividends have already started to manifest. It may not be very publicly perceptible now, but there is no question at all that the economy has picked up. As against the last two three years, before we came into office, work has started on national infrastructure, money is being pumped into the economy. Debts are being paid, contracts that have been stalled have started. And we now have additional huge investment in the railways and the power sector even though that has not started yielding result until transmission

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Interview

Obaseki is a quiet operator –Oyegun system is firmed up, until the threat to the supply of gas to our many generating stations is also minimized. So there is economic activities taking place now on a massive scale compared to the last few years and the flow of resources will pass through the various sectors of the economy. The naira appreciation we thank God, at least we have enough dollars to pump in to support the naira but it is clear even to the basic economics that we will reach that Eldorado when as a nation we start producing and when we as a nation starts exporting agriculture and solid minerals and in others products. We must earn additional dollars to support our hunger and our craving for dollars. And the dollars that we spend to import hopefully and prayerfully will be for the productive sectors of the economy not for consumption. Until we get there they cannot be a permanent solution. The Buhari regime is dedicated to moving us from a mono crop economy to a much wider economic base where solid minerals, either by producing agriculturally and exporting or by producing and consuming and cutting down the level of foreign exchange that we spend importing food like rice that we can produce.

So the President is moving on all fronts. Unfortunately these are not things that will just manifest in few months. But there is no question at all that the economy is now taking off on a very solid foundation.

The Senate is dominated by your party, APC, yet the President’s nominee for the EFCC job, Ibrahim Magu, was not confirmed. What is your reaction to this?

We still have all sorts of forces still at play in the system. All sorts of rivalry still at work within the system. To some extent all sorts of resistance within the system. But one thing is basic, as far as the APC government is concerned, there is no discrimination in the war against corruption. I have not gone into the specific reasons behind the Magu case but that we will do now. But what is clear is that the President is operating an anti-corruption war that does not discriminate whether you are in the APC or not. So there must be reasons for what is happen-

as long as the anti-corruption war is concerned.

Oyegun

Governor Obaseki is a quiet operator.

Very quietly you will notice that the portholes have disappeared and some roads are being fully rehabilitated. From the grapevine, I know about his forage into preparing for a major economic take off of Edo State in several facets ing which I have not gone into but we will do that now.

Are you not worried that those people joining the APC from the PDP are negatively affecting the party and what is happening in PDP may also happen to your party?

It does not give me worry. As a matter of fact, if you look at the positive side, you will realise that first, that people are to some extent penitent about their contribution to the damage that they did to the economic base of this country.

Secondly, we know we have a recession and if in a recession we are still able to win elections in Ondo, Kogi and other states without the need

to fake results that is a good sign. But the positive and the consolation is that there is no discrimination in President Buhari’s pursued anti-corruption crusade whether you are in the APC or not. But don’t forget, a lot of our problems today originated within the APC, the anti-corruption war started even within the APC. So it is not something that discriminates; so if you want to join the APC, you are most welcomed, but note that it is not something that will give you a cover, it will not give you protection if you have skeletons in the cupboard. If they catch up with you, they catch up with you and that is the end of the matter. And it happened recently where some people who joined us are now with the EFCC and they are in court. So joining APC does not give anybody cover or protection. For instance, look at the case of the former NNPC boss, Yakubu.

We were upset when he was removed, we were on his side but if tomorrow you find you were wrong and the persons need to be pilloried, you go ahead and do so. So it shows you the kind of anti-corruption war that is going on. I interpret people joining us is positive, they want to help correct the ills they also helped in inflicting on this nation. But if they are thinking otherwise then they will be disappointed. If they are thinking that it is going to give them protection then they will be very disappointed because there is no hiding place

You were one of the dignitaries that attended the burial of late Dr. Ogbemudia and you visited the family after that, how would you describe him?

It was a beautiful experience.

I first encountered him when I was still relatively young and he was one of the inspirational forces that made us very proud to be from Midwest, Bendel State and now Edo State. He was an inspiring force. I know even as a civil servant, we contributed to his campaign to be governor of old Bendel State, the administration that lasted for three months. He as a man of great achievement, great knowledge and great influence in the politics of this country. We maintained a close relationship even though we belong to different political parties. And of course, technically he was my predecessor in office and he was somebody we tried to emulate, whose achievement we tried to equal, unfortunately one was not there long enough. He was an inspirational achiever who has left indelible foot prints on the Nigerian political space. He has been immortalized in Edo State already and I don’t see why the Federal Government will not do the same.

How would you assess the administration Governor Godwin Obaseki so far?

So far, so good. Governor Obaseki is a quiet operator.

Very quietly you will notice that the portholes have disappeared and some roads are being fully rehabilitated. From the grapevine, I know about his forage into preparing for a major economic take off of Edo State in several facets.

Making sure that we have the power that we need, making sure that we contribute significantly to agricultural production in this nation and that we return to the prime place we use to be and of course in industry and the rest of it. He is making major policy and practical preparation for a significant take off, I know that. I wish him the very best, when his programmes hits the economic scene of Edo State, we will have a lot to smile about.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, April 6, 2017

New mum’ Mimi Orjiekwe recount labour room experience L2

P

Gist L2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Mimi Orjiekwe welcome first child Light skinned actress Mimi Orjiekwe has welcomed her beautiful baby girl with husband Charles Billions; the excited mother shared the news of the arrival which she hinted was without the aid of anaesthetic and epidurals. She shared the details of her natural child birth via her Instagram page noting that the keys to her pant are locked for now.

was still mum to be wishes.

Today is diff. Last night I became a mum 3/4/2017... And that was how I agreed to have a supernatural childbirth. No anaesthetic no epidurals... real gist.... Well bodies differ right...

We completed 40 weeks and 6 days... I wanted freedom jezz.

So I and jasmine started trying home induction and it worked... If u hear labour... Hmm not all these labourers carrying cement oh...

My sister labour started and escalated... I thought someone was uprooting my soul with

2Baba, Kelly Handsome, TEE-A headline Campari Distributor Awards More than twelve million naira in cash and prizes were handed out

Mimi held me... Ok I gave up. I wanted a pain relieve yeah I was seeing my shadow leaving... Well same time they checked my long time only 2cm dilated cervix.

That shit broke and it was already

Oh Lord I will buy keys for all my pants.

been staring at me like mum I have Thanks to my supermom and my fair hands white legs fair nose, dark LOVELY converted sister... They forehead etc.

Saidi Balogun congratulates Segun Runsewe on new appointment

foremost beverage alcohol wholesaler and sole distributor of Campari in the country held its Annual Distributors Award honouring key distributors for 2016 over the weekend.

Staged at the Renaissance Hotel GRA, Ikeja, the invite-only event was headlined by Campari Ambassador 2Baba, who thrilled the audience with an electrifying performance of non-stop hits, alongside equally scintillating sets

by Kelly Handsome and TEE-A who left the crowd in stitches with a smorgasbord of rib-cracking jokes. recognized and rewarded at the ceremony, with Mr Chigozie Anagwu emerging Distributor of the Year, and carting the star prize of Five million naira.

“I have no regrets working with Brian Munro all these years. This prize means a lot to me because it shows the company is aware of our efforts and loyalty towards

Tee A and 2Baba

harder so that next year I can be here again to celebrate with my fellow distributors, Brian Munro and Campari,” Mr Anagwu said.

Paul Wilson, Managing Director, Brian Munro Limited said: “These awards are a testament to the growing sophistication in Nigerian tastes and palates. In what is undoubtedly a highly competitive marketplace,

Campari Nigeria continues to record outstanding sales in the sector, buoyed by the hard work and dedication of our distributors. Therefore, tonight we will spare no effort or expense in recognising and honouring their tenacity.”

2Baba, Tee-A, Kelly Handsome were some of the prominent guests who came out to celebrate the Campari brand.

Kunle Afolayan reunites feuding actors reconciling top members of the Yoruba along professional association line, making good is promise by casting the currently ongoing in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Saidi Runsewe

Talented Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun has joined the

Life&

T E A M

send hearty congratulatory messages to Otunba Segun Runsewe on his appointment as the Director General Arts & Culture.

In his message, the Eti Keta star actor noted that the change that is been craved for in the entertainment industry has suddenly come to fruition with the appointment of Otunba

Runsewe as the Director General Arts & Culture. He said celebrating for those of us who know the worth of the highly cerebral Director General. His antecedent speaks volume when held sway in his former position; it is sure that a new life will be injected into Arts and culture in Nigeria and the practitioner will reap bountifully from their efforts.

Jimoh Aliu (Aworo), Lere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola), Wole Olowomojuore (Baba Gebu) and Olajumoke Ray Eyiwunmi Adebayo Salami, Caroline King, Zack Orji, Iya Awero, Kunle (Mama Ray), all of the Association of AFolayan and some other veterans actor Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) The star-studded estranged members like Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello) and Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero) who are now of the newly established Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

Recall that young Afolayan promised to reconcile the factions during the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the passing of his father, the iconic Ade Afolayan (Ade Love) which took place in Lagos and Agbamu, Kwara State, last December.

handled by Golden Effects Productions and directed

by Kunle Afolayan for

scheme.

Described by promoters and Oba” also stars top cross-over acts; Zack Orji and Tina Mba, including music sensation Chidinma

In what seems like an all-inclusive Nollywood production, Orji of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and Mba of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) are also in the fold. directed by Afolayan this year, coming shortly after

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, April 6, 2017

L3

Ejiro Onobrakpor

My journey to Silicon Valley through AFRIFF Early 2014, I got an invitation to attend a special meeting with representatives from Relativity Media U.S.A. At the meeting, I met Stephen Ozoigbo. Truth be said, he looked just like any other Nigerian that has lived abroad for too long. There at the rooftop of Four Seasons by Sheraton, V.I he shared a vision about building a media ecosystem using the Relativity platform. A system that form their craft and work internationally and across global standard.

My peers and I were sold! But a veteran this were all sweet talks and that Hollywood formed was short-lived. All was soon forgotten and everyone went back to their mill to keep grinding in “HOPE”.

Fast-forward to November 2014, the city, Calabar. Destination, Tinapa; venue of the RIFF). Unlike the year before when I attended as a student, this year I was invited of The Meeting) who reached out to me on Facebook as a potential game changer in the

you can imagine my joy that someone that for such a prestigious event that Actors and invited was, it was nothing compared to my rking with industry leaders at AFRIFF. In as much as I wanted to see all the movies shooting at the festival, the forums and industry sessions was where my heart was. I wanted to connect. I wanted to build relationships. So, I attended nearly all the session, almost missing all the movies. When we were told the Relativity media session was going to happen about the same time we were meant to go on tour of the city, a lot of people were weary, not forgetting what the veteran told us. When it was now mentioned that Relativity was going to be offering scholarships, our weary soul received strength.

The workshop sessions were very enlightening. There I met Step hen Ozoigbo again.

Impressively, he remembered my name. We talked about the industry and what plans he had. He gave me his contact and collected from this connection.

The festival ended and no Relativity scholarship was mentioned. selected for the Durban International Film Festival, I got a call from my friend, Linda

Ejiro

-

those going to LA for the Relativity Scholarship”, she screamed.

I froze. for the Relativity Media scholarship and my name was among. Stephen had come through, and to think I never called or even mailed him after AFRIFF to lobby for this was just... A BLESSING was surreal. All these while rumour had it that one selected to do special projects. I was just grateful I I was so grateful that I volunteered to do all the pictographic documentation of our time in LA even though Stephen had hired people to do these.

One year later, I would get another call from Stephen.

We all left LA high but there was no mention of

who was selected to do that special job. It was even whispered that it was just to get us serious

a documentary for the US state Department as part of Global Entrepreneur Summit, GES, in Silicon Valwas being picked up from LAX by Stephen.

The documentary was all shades of amazing, as it was a learning process for me, not in terms

meeting all the great people, and engaging the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Not to mention I was in the same space with President Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Brian Chesky and many others.

The documentary changed my life, and allowed me to tell the story of true Africa ingenuity.

AFRIFF made this happen, and I am forever grateful!

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 6, 2017