Dtn 31 8 17

THE

DAILY

TIMES

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

dailytimesnigeria

MƣƤƄ ƆƒƆƏ ƅƆ ƍ ƕë Ex-Nigeria Airways workers petition Buhari

Ï #ƆƅƏƕ ƍ ƓƆƏ ƐƑ ƋƆ ƄƆƐƓƆƆ dƈƏƈƊ è #ƈƊƓ Ï óRƒƆƏ ƣƠƠ Ɠ ƏƊƆƏ ƗƆ Ɨô Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, G

ÏÏÏ Worried by alleged face-off

between the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika and Chairman, Presidential Initiative on

Continuous Audit (PICA), Dikwa, over the disbursement of N78bn severance benefits, former workers of Nigeria Airways based in Accra, Ghana, Lome, Togo, Continued on page 6

01 Ɗ ƕ ǀêƣÖƾƄ Ƈ Ə L ƌƄƈƋƋ ƍƏ ƉƆƅƐ

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 437

N150

GLOBAL FINANCIAL/COMMODITY MARKETS

CURRENCIES/CBN: CBN: MƢƠǀêƤǀ ^&` #RGG `è Parallel Market: USD MƢÕƣ POUND Mƿƣƾ EURO MƿƢƿ NSE: d9 Ƣǀè ÕƾÖêơƢ MARKET CAP ơƾêƾƤ 0L#_ RƃM ơÕêƠƤ R ơǀêǀƠ COMMODITIES: Wheat nd ƿƠơêƿƠƃLj Rice nd ơƾêƿÕƃLj Cocoa nd ơèÖơƢêƠƠƃ Coffee nd ơƾÕêƿƠƃdƅ ƍ Cotton nd ƣơêǀƾƃn ƈƐ Sugar nd ơƢêÖƿƃRƑ ƅƆ METALS: Gold nd ơƢơƢêƤƠƃRƑ ƅƆ Silver nd ơƣêƿƠƃRƑ ƅƆ Copper nd ƢêƠÕƃRƑ ƅƆ ENERGY: Brent nd ǀơêƿƠƃ^ è N/Gas nd ƾêÖƿƃ

Magu gives account as EFCC recovers N434.7bn in 8 months Ï d ƕ Ɔ ƅƕ ƆƅƑƏƆƗ ơƢƣ ƅ ƒƈƅƐƈ Ï ó9 ƌƆ Əƌè ƒƆ ƈ ƑƆ ƓƈƐ ƕƄ Ɨƕô Ï z Ɛ Mƈ ƆƏƈ Ɛ Ɠ Ƈƈ Ɛ ƈ Ɛ ƅ ƏƏƑƍƐƈ

Mathew Dadiya and Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Acting Chairman of the Eco-

nomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, Continued on page 5

dƐƏƈƊƆë Osibanjo takes over, leads FG negotiating team with ASUU 6 82 days after, Evans pleads guilty to 5 kidnapping in court ƌƄƏ ƑƄƆƏë South East Govs meet Nnamdi Kanu, want him to 6 withdraw poll boycott

^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ LƑ ƌƌ ƗƑ Ƒ Əƈ æƌƈƗƗƋƆçì yƈƅƆ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ Ɔƌƈ R ƈ Ƅ Ɖ Ɨ ƌƆƌƄƆƏ Ƈ #ôjƈ ƏƆ è Ɛ Ɔ ƒƈƅƐ Əƈ Ƒ ƇƏƈƅ ƊƆƐƄ ƋƋ ƅ ƌƍƈ ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ ƆƈƏ ƏƆƅƆƍƐƈ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ dƐ ƐƆ 6 Ƒ Ɔè ƄƑƉ êêê zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕ

Olori Wuraola confirms marriage break-up with Oni of Ife 7

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

3

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

5 News

Magu gives account as EFCC recovers N434.7bn in 8 months Continued from page 1 has given an account of his stewardship, saying that the agency under his watch has recovered a whopping N434.76billion between January to August 2017.

Magu also stated that the EFCC has made a lot of achievements in both assets recovery and looted funds.

The EFCC boss made the disclosure on Wednesday during a luncheon with media executives in Abuja.

He also spoke on the area of prosecution of cases in court, saying that tremendous progress is being made despite the antics of some persons accused of grand corruption to delay trial.

Magu further disclosed that the agency has secured 137 convictions between

January and August.

He said that there was no gainsaying the fact that the media remains the most important ally of the EFCC in the fight against corruption.

He said: “We owe the media a debt of gratitude for whatever success we have recorded in the last two years”.

Magu also said with the aggressive drive to recover stolen wealth, the EFCC had between January and August 30, 2017 recorded certain monetary recoveries as converted in official rates as follows: N409, 270, 706,686.75billion; $69, 501,156.67 million (N25,055,166,979.53 billionat the rate of N360.50 to $1); £231,118.69 (N107,705,562.12 million- at the rate of

Magu N465.76 to £1); 610,816.20 (N262,532,589 million - at the rate of N428.51 to 1); Dirham 443,400.00 (N43,517,927.89 million at the rate of N98.5 to 1 dirham) and Saudi Riyal SR70, 500.00 (N6,777,038.68 million- at the rate of

N96.13 to 1 SR).

He said: “Two days ago, we got the court to forfeit to the Federal Government a sum of N7.6 billion which was hidden in a Nigerian bank by former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“Two weeks earlier, another court issued a temporary forfeiture order to seize properties worth $21,392,224 belonging to the same former minister.

Those properties are awaiting final forfeiture.

“Over a month ago, the Commission recovered over N329 billion from a group of oil marketers for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). These are major recoveries from a sector of the economy.”

A cross section of holiday makers boarding the free train ride organised by the Osun State Government from Ido Terminus, Lagos, of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, going to their various destinations for Eid-el-Kabir celebration …on Wednesday.

Speaking on the progress made in getting convictions from various courts nationwide, Magu said: “In the area of prosecution of cases in court, we are also making progress despite the antics of some persons accused of grand corruption to delay trial. Between January and August this year, EFCC recorded 137 convictions”.

Magu further noted that the potential for improvement are good as more cases would be brought to conclusion in the remaining four months of the year.”

The anti-corruption czar also said that he is optimistic that the media remains strategic for future success of the EFCC and the fight against corruption in the country.

He said: “This conviction inspired my decision to meet with you in this informal setting to interact and exchange ideas on the way forward in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“It would be naïve for anyone to expect the fight against corruption to be smooth; you should expect resistance and opposition which are expressed in various guises.

“From what we read in the papers these days, it is either somebody is fighting Magu or Magu is fighting other people.

“Instead of fighting ourselves, we should be united in fighting the common enemy, which is corruption.

“Personally, I am not af-

ter anybody and have no issues with anybody. Those who think they have issues with me will soon discover that I mean no harm. What drives me is the passion to do what is right by ensuring that we fight corruption to a standstill in this country”.

The EFCC boss also said: “Regardless of the challenges that we have faced and continue to face, I am happy to report that we are making progress.

“Many of you are aware of the achievements that we have recorded in the fight against corruption.

“Remarkable as this feat is, we are not resting on our oars. We believe there is still a lot to be done which is the reason why we are actively seeking the support of all stakeholders, including the media.”

He said that the EFCC did not pretend to have a monopoly of knowledge on how to win the war against corruption especially in the area of assets recovery.

“The anti-corruption campaign requires concerted efforts. I enjoin members of the public, including the media, to be part of this effort by reporting cases of corruption to the EFCC,” Magu added.

The Daily Times recalls that some of the convictions include the case involving ex- Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngilari, who was charged for N167, Continued on page 7

82 days after, Evans pleads guilty to kidnapping in court Peter Fowoyo, Lagos

ÏÏÏ

Eighty two days after he was arrested by the Police, the suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

Evans, who walked into the courtroom around 8:57 am amidst tight security was arraigned by the Lagos State Government before Justice Hakeem Oshodi alongside his accomplices on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping however, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Looking unperturbed yesterday, Evans was arraigned alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu

Nwachukwu who also pleaded guilty to the charges.

Others are Ogechi Uchechukwu, the only female amongst them, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba who all pleaded not guilty.

Justice Oshodi ordered that all the male defendants be remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison while the female defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, be kept at the Kirikiri Female Prison.

The prosecution team led by Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem asked the court for adjournment till October 19, 2017 to lay down facts before those who pleaded guilty and

subsequently sentence them. While trial will commence for those who pleaded not guilty.

Evans had raked in millions of dollars as ransoms paid to him by his victims’ families before his arrest on June 10, 2017, in one of his mansions at Magodo, Lagos State.

The notorious kidnapper had through his counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje filed for the abuse of his fundamental human rights before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

He had contended that his continued detention since June 10 without charge amounts to an infringement on his fundamental human rights.

He also argued that the respondents ought to have charged him to court in line

with Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

A 27-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Evans’ father, Stephen Onwuamadike, averred that the applicant had been subjected to media trial.

The father had said the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing and trial before a court of law.

Meanwhile Justice Abdulaziz Anka, of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos had on Tuesday adjourned till September 5 to hear arguments from Evan’s lawyer,Mr. Ogungbeje and police lawyers on why he should not deliver judg-

ment on the fundamental rights application brought by the kingpin.

The charge against Evans and his accomplices reads in part: “Chukwudidumeme Onwuamadike (M), Uche Amadi (M), Ogechi Uchechukwu (F), Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu (M), Chilaka Ifeanyi (M) and Victor Chukunonso Aduba (M) are charged with the following offences; Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, to wit; kidnapping contrary to Section 411 Criminal Law CAP C17 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

“Chukwudidumeme Onwuamadike (M), Uche Amadi (M), Ogechi Uchechukwu (F), Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu (M), Chilaka Ifeanyi (M) and Victor Chukunonso Aduba (M) on the 14th February 2017 at

about 7:45pm along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, in the Ikeja judicial Division conspired to commit a Felony to with kidnapping.

“Count 2: kidnapping contrary to Section 271(3) of the Criminal Law CAP C17 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

“Chukwudidumeme Onwuamadike (M), Uche Amadi (M), Ogechi Uchechukwu (F), Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu (M), Chilaka Ifeanyi (M) and Victor Chukunonso Aduba (M) on the 14th February and 12th April 2017 along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, in the Ikeja judicial Division while armed with guns and other weapons did capture, detain and collect a ransom of 223,000 Euros from one Dunu Donatus (M) for his release.”

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

N78bn severance pay: Ex-Nigeria Airways workers petition Buhari Continued from page 1 Yaounde, Cameroon, Benin and Gabon, have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over their plight.

The workers, Emetule Fina (Gabon); Eno Mao (Gabon); Ndoke Hannah (Cameroon); Bareng John (Cameroon); Afandomi Raymond (Benin); and Mensah Teteh (Togo) in a petition to President Buhari, commended him( President) for approving the payment of final entitlements of the ex-workers.

They, however, flayed the power tussle between Sirika and Dikwah, as the major cause for the delay, alleging that no agreement had been reached on who and what to pay.

They equally alleged that while the chairman of PICA is bent on reducing the N78b

approved to N43bn with N2bn interest as the paying body, the Minister of State for Aviation insists on the payment of the full N78b with one per cent to the paying body, describing what is playing out as greed in interest is the reason for the delay to pay the suffering staff.

They stated that it is against this backdrop that they are appealing for Buhari’s quick intervention to find a solution in what they described as power struggle for the Minister of Finance to release the funds in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since two years to the workers.

According to them,” We the west coast staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited; from Libreville (Gabon); Douala (Cameroon) Cotonou (Benin); and Lome (Togo), wish to thank God for your healing and

bringing you back to Nigeria to continue the good work you have for Nigeria, which other African countries may have to copy.

“We wish to thank you for approving the payment of final entitlements of the ex-staff of the defunct airline. What a great joy it was for a long awaited exercise. Your Excellency, sadness is already beclouding our joy, due to the prolonged delay to execute the payments.”

President, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Muhammed Safianu said recently that the union would officially write Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to intervene in the matter; and ensure that the final several packages of N78bn was paid to the workers.

He confirmed that an

inter-ministerial committee set up by the government to come out with the actual amount of money to be paid the workers, had come up with the N78bn to over 6,000 employees of the liquidated carrier.

The committee, he added, also recommended one per cent administrative charges, totalling N735 million to any government agency that would disburse the funds to the ex-workers.

According to him, PICA, in its recommendation to the government, reduced the sum to N43bn, but increased the administrative charges to N2.1bn without any recourse to percentage as recommended by the inter-ministerial committee.

He said: “The final severance packages to the former workers was N78bn; and the inter-ministerial

committee set up for that purpose recommended one per cent administrative charges to any government agency that would carry out the disbursement.

“But, all of a sudden, PICA showed interest in the payment and reduced the sum to N43bn. It, however, increased its administrative charge to N2.1bn.

What we want to do right now is to involve NLC. We want them to intervene in the whole matter so that people can get what they rightly deserved. In a matter of days, we will send our documents on the issue to NLC.” However, a source close to the Ministry of Transport has claimed that the power tussle between the Minister of State for Aviation, Sirika and the Chairman of PICA, Mr. Mohammed Kyari Dik-

wah, may be responsible for the delay in payment of the final severance packages to the former national carrier workers.

According to the source, Sirika, in a meeting with the former workers of the defunct national carrier earlier in the year, had promised that the beneficiaries would get their severance packages by last March, but regretted that the misunderstanding between the duo, is causing untold hardships on the workers, who had lost at least 700 of their members since 2003, when the carrier was liquidated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The source alleged that the non-payment is stalling the commencement of a new national carrier for the country as promised by the government in 2015.

Anambra guber: South East Govs meet Nnamdi Kanu, want him to withdraw poll boycott Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏ The South East Gov-

ernors’ Forum at Government House, Enugu on Wednesday met with the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and asked him to rescind his call on Anambra people to boycott the governorship election slated for November.

The South East governors told the IPOB leader that the group’s demands must not be absolute.

The Forum also promised to engage the entire leadership of IPOB in a dialogue to address their demands. The meeting, which commenced around 2pm, ended by 4.30pm.

The IPOB leader, Kanu arrived at the Enugu Government House around 1.30pm in company of foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof.

Ben Nwabueze, who is also the leader of Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT); and Evang.

Eliot Ugochukwu Uko, deputy secretary of ILT. Chairman of South East Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi; Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Anambra Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke were present at the meeting.

Imo and Abia governors; Rocha’s Okorocha and

Okezie Ikpeazu were said to be outside the county.

Umahi, who read the communiqué after the meeting said, “The meeting agreed that the these demands by IPOB should not be absolute rather the South East Governors shall immediately engage the leader of IPOB, Prince Nnamdi Kanu and the entire leadership of IPOB to further meetings and dialogue with a view to quickening the resolutions of all issues amicably,” The meeting with the IPOB leader may not be unconnected with the recent move by the federal government to re-arrest him on alleged violation of his bail condition over his treasonable felony trial.

Kanu is agitating for a Biafran state made up of the people of the South East and South South geopolitical zones of the country to be carved out of Nigeria.

Kanu

Members of the Movement against Corruption, protesting against corrupt practices and abuse of power, in public and private sectors in Nigeria held in Lagos… on Wednesday.

PHOTO: BABALOLA MUJEEB AND ATOLAGBETAWAKALITU.

Strike update: Osibanjo leads FG negotiating team with ASUU Augustine Okezie, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is expected to lead the federal government negotiation team meeting with striking university lecturers, rescheduled to hold today The Minister for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, told newsmen on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting, that Mr. Osinbajo will now lead the negotiations.

Recall that ASUU, have been on strike for about two weeks demanding implementation of previous agreements, full salary payments and improved

government funding of universities.

A scheduled meeting between the lecturers and the government could not hold on Tuesday as ASUU said there was no reason for it.

Meanwhile the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the parties to engage in constructive engagement with a human face to resolve the lingering issues that led to the declaration of the strike to save the education sector and the future of Nigerian Students in the interest of the Nation.

The Students Association which had given the Federal Government a 21 days ultimatum to resolve

the issues to enable students return to school failure which will lead to a total shut of activities across Nation by the Students, decried the incessant and prolonged strike as one of factors responsible for the falling standard of education in Nigeria apart from the attendant untold hardship to the Students and their Parents and Guardians.

According to the President of NANS, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, incessant strikes and stoppage of academic activities as a result of lack of agreements or lack of adherence and implementation of duly executed memorandum of agreements between the

Federal Government and ASUU does not reflect and demonstrate commitment to the sustainable development of the nation’s education sector and the development of the nation’s human capital development.

Obasi further stated that though the Association had called for an emergency Senate meeting to deliberate on the strike and other issues of critical national importance and take a position on the way forward before the Federal Government’s meeting with ASUU adding that the Association will await the outcome of the meetings before determining the next line of action.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

7

News

Olori Wuraola confirms marriage break-up with Oni of Ife

ÏÏÏ

After weeks of rumours and denials over the stability of the royal union between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his wife, Olori Wuraola, the curtain was closed on the royal wedlock on Wednesday as the estranged wife of the monarch walked away from the marriage.

She made public that the 17 month royal marriage has not only crashed, but she has already to her maiden name.

In an official statement on her instagram, the queen wrote of “the lies of infidelity and infertility

Ï Revert to maiden name leveled against her and the attempts to silence her,” a development, she said precipitates the need for women suffering in any relationship to take a walk.

Here is the official statement from the now Zaynab Otiti Obanor: “We have got to stop this culture of shaming and vilifying women with false stories of infidelity & nefarious behavior. The spreading of false information (through “sources” afraid to be identified) is the mark of cowards and a cover up for guilty parties to jus-

tify their horrific actions.

There is absolutely no truth to the media circulated lies of infidelity and infertilityon my end.

“What I can confirm, is that the Ooni and I are no more. I inhale love & exhale gratitude. My journey continues as a Humanitarian aiding women and victims of domestic violence & abuse with the United Nations. No matter how much time you’ve invested, no matter the use of media to silence & manipulate, no matter the circumstance, slander, embarrassment,

threats and lies: Get out and seek immediate help!

“We’ve seen this movie before: Women being dragged in the press & blamed for everything under the sun. This behavior is unacceptable. I urge those involved to be mindful of their actions for the eyes of our Almighty God are always watching. The seeds of slander are a cancer that harvests to eat away the souls of the planter.

“The throne is sacred and the attempts to tarnish the name of a Queen, in defense or on behalf of a silent King make all involved look terrible. Remain dignified in

Continued from page 5

FG okays $5.792bn for Mambilla project Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

Federal Government has approved the construction of Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power plant at the sum of $5.792billion (approximately N2.088trillion at the rate of N360.50 to a dollar).

The development was announced during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Minister of Power,

veiled soon, as the Ife tradition requires that the Ooni must not stay single for a long period of time.

Recall also that in June, 2017, Olori Wuraola spearheaded a walk against domestic violence alongside some Nollywood stars: Mercy Aigbe, Tonto Dike, Foluke Daramola, Monalisa Chinda, and Shola Sobowale amongst others through her 1in3 Africa initiative to show their displeasure at the high rate of domestic violence cases.

As at the time of filling this report, the imperial Majesty of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi is yet to respond to the statement released by his supposed ex-queen.

Magu gives account as EFCC recovers N434.7bn in 8 months

L-R: Publicity Secretary, Salako Kayode; Vice-President, Wale Bankole; Mrs. Bimbola Abiwon; Chairman, U.K chapter, Alhaji Fatai Alaka; President, Kunle Omisore Thomas and Patron, Prince Ade Dosumu, all of Elite 007 Club of Nigeria, during the presentation of certificate to Ade Dosumu, in Lagos... recently.

Mathew Dadiya,

all you do. It’s not the end of the world, but the start of a new chapter and you must turn the page with grace.

The world is watching.

“As I bid adieu to this chapter, my wish to you all is to step into your lives – boldly & fearlessly, the way God intended and live not just by words, but through example. The best chapter in our lives is the one we are writing now. Thank you for your love and support.

With peace, love & light, -Her Highness, Zaynab Otiti Obanor.”

The Ooni and Wuraola got married on March 12, 2016 at the former Olori’s state of origin - Edo state.

Meanwhile, reports have it that a new Olori will be un-

Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) disclosed that the project, which would take 72 months completion period, entails the construction of four dams and a railway project.

Fashola said that the power plant is designed to deliver 3,050 megawatt of power, adding that , “The productive output will be a function of water supply, because that is the major source of fuel, is a hydroplane.”

He said that 85 percent of the project would be funded by the Chinese government through its Exim Bank.

Eighty-five percent is supposed to be financed by the Chinese government and 15 per cent is our own counterpart funding while Nigeria is expected to provide 15 per cent counterpart funding in the joint venture agreement with China.

He said, “The award now triggers contract negotiations for the financing side and after that is concluded, the projects can now start.”

But while Mambilla power plant is to deliver 3,050 megawatts, the minister did not disclose when the project will begin.

The Mambilla hydroelectric power plant has been on the front burner since 1972, which is about 45 years ago.

Fashola noted that several efforts have been made to bring it to reality; saying that, “but I am happy to announce to you that this government approved the award of the contract today to a joint venture with a Chinese civil engineering company for the engineering contract including civil and electromechanical works for 5.792 billion dollars.”

812,500 fraud and convicted

by Yola High Court in Adamawa State. Although the conviction was later upturned by the Court of Appeal, the commission has approached the Supreme Court, asking it to uphold the ex-governor’s conviction.

There are those already serving jail terms such as the chairman of Ontario Oil and Gas, Walter Wagbatsoma and Managing Director of the company, Ada Ugo- Ngadi, who were tried and convicted for N1.9 billion subsidy fraud. Equally tried and convicted was one Rowaye Jubril, who was sentenced to 104 years jail term for N1.05 billion oil subsidy fraud.

Some other convictions includes a former Caretaker Chairman, Ogori/ Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, Gabriel Daudu, who was found guilty on 77-count charge of N1.4b fraud and was convicted accordingly.

Though the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Daudu, the convict has approached the Supreme Court, asking the final court to set aside his conviction.

Hanna Abraham also earned a 14-year imprisonment in court in the hand of the Commission for obtaining money by false pretence and Obinna Nnamdi two-year jail term for internet fraud.

Others are Uche Clinton

and Emmanuel Okanni who were sentenced for N.8m over BVN scam; Akintunde Abiodun for stealing and forgery to the tune of N7, 806, 093; Frank Nwaotule for criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N5 million. Usman Ahmed, Isiyaku Mohammed, Mohammed Badadi and Rilwanu Abdullahi were convicted for possession of fake Naira notes totaling N583, 000 and one Olugbenga Fabunmi for Advanced Fee Fraud.

Also convicted are Osagie Bliss for conspiracy, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretense; Jehu Kwasu for forgery and obtaining by false pretense about N5 million; Christopher Ngene for fraud; Abubakar Umar and Habu Dogo for currency counterfeiters, among others.

On the issue of recovery of stolen funds, Magu stated that the commission is being guided by pronouncements of the court.

He explained that forfeitures orders were made by high courts which can be challenged up to Supreme Court.

He said that so far, all the monies recovered through court processes and plea bargain are being kept in a recovery account with Central Bank of Nigeria, saying only the Federal Government has power to spend such monies through appropriation by the National Assembly.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, August 31, 2017

News 9

Return vehicles to Edo Assembly or face prosecution, Oshiomhole tells Ativie Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏ

L-R: Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Acting General Officer, Commanding GOC 3 Armoured Division Nigeria Army, Brig.-Gen Benjamin Ahanotu and Secretary to Plateau State Government, Mr. Rufus Bature, during the GOC’s visit to the Governor in Jos… recently.

Helicopter crash: Pilots, aircraft engineer incompetent- AIB Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏ

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), yesterday released reports on the Accident involving Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Bell 427 helicopter with registration 5N-POL at Kabong, Jos South LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria on the 14th of March, 2012.

The Bureau also released the report on the Serious Incident to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Tampico TB9 aircraft with registration 5N-CBC which occurred at Zaria Aerodrome, Kaduna, on the 6th of October, 2008; and A Bulletin on the Ground Collision incident involving two aircraft belonging to Air Peace Airlines Limited: Boeing 737-500 with registration 5N-BQR and

Boeing 737-300 with registration 5N-BQP, which occurred close to Bay 4 of the Domestic Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on the 20th of April, 2017 was also released at their headquarter at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) on Wednesday.

Analysing the probable causal factors of the accident involving the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Bell 427 helicopter with registration number 5NPOL, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Akin Olateru said the cause of the accident cannot be conclusively decided but that the investigation discovered series of discrepancies and non-compliance with Nig. CARs. On the Pilot, Engr. Olateru who addressed jour-

nalists in their MMIA, Ikeja headquarters stated that “the pilot’s medical had expired as at the time of accident; simulator recurrency had expired as at the time of accident.

The co-pilot was not type rated on the helicopter (Bell 427)”.

Giving reports on the engineer, AIB stated that “the engineer that released the aircraft prior to the flight had no type training and type rating on the aircraft type” Olateru added that three Safety Recommendations were made including that “NPF Air-Wing should provide the proper funding, conducive working environment, develop and implement a robust training programme for its technical/operational personnel, with adequate supervision and approved equipment to enhance

safety”.

Other safety recommendations, according to the commissioner are that “NCAA should ensure that NPF Air-Wing complies with its AMO requirements”.

The Bureau also warned that NCAA and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) should launch an independent inquiry into Aviation fuel quality in Nigeria.

The resulting report, it said should focus on the vulnerability and risk of each step in the distribution process.

“This should yield firmer regulatory oversight mechanism that ensures international quality of aviation fuel used in Nigeria”, AIB further stated.

According to Engr Olateru, both the Police and NCAA have accepted their Safety recommendations through their responses

Remove funding of education from LGA -Gov Ahmed Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has agitated for removal of funding of basic level education from local government councils to the federal government.

Governor Ahmed made this call yesterday while featuring on a Radio programme tagged: governor explains.

According to the governor, the continuous funding and payment of basic level teachers by the local

governments is hindering the growth of education at the foundational level.

“Education at the primary level is abysmally low and this is a serious concern to governments at state and federal levels.

I think it’s high time we separated the local government funding from State Universal Basic Education,” the governor said.

Gov Ahmed who assured kwarans of his government’s continuous support for education at all levels, especially SU-

BEB teachers, promised to pay counterpart funding to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) from the next tranche of Paris loan refund to enable the government access funds for major repairs of schools across the state.

“Our government would spare no effort at providing the necessary infrastructure in schools to guarantee conducive learning”, the governor said.

Speaking further, Gov

Ahmed said the state government has secured a Non-Governmental Organisation status for the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College, Ajaseipo to make the institution attractive to international organisations and ensure sustainability.

Governor Ahmed explained that the decision to change the status of the institution was to guarantee its capacity to drive recurrent expenditure on self-sustainable basis.

Immediate past governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday ordered the former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie to return her official vehicles to the new leadership or risk prosecution.

The former governor, who debunked the claim

by Mrs Ativie that he (Oshiomhole) gave the vehicles to her as a gift, asserted that “it was criminal for her to make such claim because she as a lawmaker knows that I don’t have such powers to do that. And if she is saying that she has sold the vehicles, that is criminal and she may face prosecution if that is true”.

According to him, “Ativie has to return those vehicles and I believe that the government, whether the executive or legislative branch, has to follow the legal procedures to recover those vehicles, and if she has privatised them, to charge her for stealing.

I had a meeting, incidentally, with the members of the House few days after the change (impeachment) and I pointedly reminded her that she had to return those vehicles.

“At the eve of the governorship election, the House had reasons to make a change which offset what we commonly refer to as the tripod.

But once they made the change, the thing was either she resigned when the House realised that they agreed with the party that we needed to make an adjustment or they impeached the Speaker.

“And they were not ready to impeach her because they said that it would not be fair to impeach her, though there were arguments that, after all, she was married to an Esan man and, therefore by marriage, she is Esan. One of the concerns she raised was that now she had the vehicles of the Speaker. If she had to resign and be made a Deputy Speaker, she would not be entitled to those four vehicles.

Four year old rescued from ritualist in Lagos Joy Anyim, Lagos

ÏÏÏA

suspected kidnapper cum ritualist identified as Aliu Bashiru has been arrested by men from the Lagos State Police Command for abducting and attempting to murder a four year old girl(name withheld) in the Denton area of the state.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni who paraded the suspect in Lagos, Aliu had allegedly abducted the four year old around White Sand Market, Ebute-Metta area.

The suspect was said to have been caught while he was about to slit the throat of the girl when a good Samariatan had rushed to the scene, rescued the girl and called the police who came almost immediately to the rescue.

Owoseni revealed that the girl had been reunited with her family. He said, “it is a straight forward case of kidnapping and murder, the girl was kidnapped when the mother had lost sight of her while at her shop at white sand in October, Ebutte-Meta. He was caught drawing the knife to slit the throat of the girl.”

Two other suspects, Akilu Isah and Abdulahi Sal-

*One suspect lynched

isu, who are brothers to the suspect were also arrested in connection with the case.

When asked to tell his own side of the story, Bashiru could not express himself in English.

Isah who is 36year old and claimed to be the brother to the suspect said, “we are all from Sokoto State.

I sell suya at Apapa Area.

Aliu is my brother he has mental issues from his childhood. It keeps coming at intervals but in the last five years he had been stable. He also sells suya at Otto. But it was very surprising that on that Friday, the illness resurfaced.

While we were trying to arrange the meats for the days business, he pushed the whole table away and took the knife and started acting funny.

“He dragged the young girl whose mother sells close to us and was about to slaughter her. That was when they rushed to call Salisu to come and see his brother. Salisu helped to rescue the girl and handed over the girl to someone for safety and took the knife from him. But people came to the rescue and quickly whisked the four year old girl out for safety.

10 News

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, August 31, 2017

Concerned Nigerians protest against corruption AtolagbeTawakalitu&Babalola Mujeeb

ÏÏÏ

A pressure group, the Movement Against Corruption (MAC), has condemned in very strong terms the level of corruption and corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors of the country.

The leader of the group, Dr. (Mrs.) Joe Odumakin and other members of its steering committee on Wednesday led other in a protest march from Ikeja under bridge, Lagos to the Lagos state House of Assembly Alausa, Ikeja holding red cards and carrying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Say No to Corruption,’ ‘If we don’t kill corruption, Corruption will kill us,’ ‘Enough is Enough,’ while singing different protest songs.

In an interview with media, Dr. Odumakin made it known to Nigerians that the mission of the protest is to eradicate total corruption in Nigeria by issuing red cards to all corrupt public officials.

She said “the movement against corruption is a coalition of over 70 civil society organizations.

People think that corruption is not their business but the business of the institutions.

“This is going to be different because we are not just protesting but want to eradicate corruption and make people know that it is their fight. This movement is one that will pilot all other movements across the country simultaneously.”

She further stated that corruption is cancerous and therefore urged Nigerians to stand up and fight for their rights which include improvements in the health sectors, education sectors, and reduction in the level of unemployment in the country.

Dr. Odumakin noted that if these damaged sectors are remedied, the rate at which people travel out for medical treatment and acquisition of higher education will reduce drastically.

The protesters marched into markets, motor parks and eventually the Lagos state house of Assembly where they demanded the see the governor or his representative for a lasting solution to the cause of their protest.

Alleged N15.2m fraud: Court to commence trial of businessman Nov 29

Peter Fowoyo, Lagos

ÏÏÏ

The trial of a businessman, Ikechukwu Odogwu, who allegedly forged documents and obtained N15.2 million from a fellow businessman, Calistus Okafor, pretending to sell a landed property to him has been adjourned to November 7 for trial.

When the case was called in court on Wednesday the defence counsel informed the trial magistrate of a publication of the matter in national dailies but the Magistrate was of the opinion that parties should concentrate on the case pending in court.

However the Magistrate said since the case was for mention parties should agree on a date for trial and subsequently adjourned the case to November 7.

Odogwu, who is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretense preferred against him by the Police, was ordered remanded in prison by Magistrate J. Adeyemi of Isolo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

The Police prosecutor,

Inspector Steven Molo, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime in 2009. He said the defendant obtained N15,170,000 from the complainant, under the false pretence that he has the power of attorney from a company, Demco Textile International, to sell 2.5 hectares of land situated at Lugbe 1, Extension Layout, Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Molo also alleged that Odogwu, and one other still at large, sometime in 2016, at Festac town, conspired among themselves to obtain money under false.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are punishable under Section 411, 314 (1) (a) and 287 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Adeyemi granted him N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

He said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government for the last three years.

L-R: Alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans and his colleagues, during their arraignment before an Ikeja High Court for masterminding series of high profile kidnapping in the State… on Wednesday.

Anambra Guber: Chidoka receives UPP flag Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏFrontline

contender and candidate of the pan-Igbo United Progressive Party (UPP) for the November 18, 2017 Anambra governorship election, Chief Osita Chidoka, has received the flag of his party for the poll; vowing to pursue its ideology of self-determination and restoration of the Igbo voice in the country.

Chidoka, who spoke while receiving the UPP primary certificate of return from the National Chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, said his emergence as the candidate of the party, signals a new beginning for the people and the resistance against the 5% relegation of the people of the southeast.

The former aviation minister said his candidature marks the end of an

*Vows to pursue party’s self-determination ideology, restore Igbo voice

ideologically vacuous and imprudent government that holds no hope for the people while kick-starting a new era where the people can now vote for a governor of their choice and not for persons sponsored by godfathers.

According to Chidoka, “today, Anambra state is about to start a new beginning in the pursuit of our ideology as a people; the ideology of the UPP, which is the ideology of hard work, creativity and the fear of God; the ideology of the restoration of our homeland and the rebuilding of our capacity as a people; the ideology of self determination and right to determine our role in Nigeria, where no man is oppressed.

“Indeed, it is the pursuit of the ideology of reenacting our people’s hopes and aspirations, the desire to be

recognized as a free constituent of the country and where they are not relegated to being a mere 5 percent in Nigeria.

“Let it be known that the UPP has come to restore the Igbo voice. No more would Anambra state be ruled by an ideologically vacuous and bankrupt party. In 2003, Chief Chekwas Okorie founded the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) on the idea that all the grievances of ndi-Igbo would be channeled through a political party to engage the other parts of the country. Unfortunately that dream was betrayed. APGA became an electoral vehicle meant for the election of people whose desires and interests are the maximization of their personal capacity and not the welfare of the people.

“That is why today, neither APGA as a party, nor

the government of Anambra state, has any position on the agitation for the actualization of Biafra by ndi Igbo. They have no position on the issue of restructuring. They have worked with PDP and they are willing to work with APC. APGA as a party is adrift and we want to send it to its final funeral, and on this mission we have the full backing of the Anambra people.

“Our greatest resource is human beings and I will continue to stand by them.

The banner I receive today is the banner that will do away with all that is wrong with us and promote all that is right. It is a banner that will question the history that makes us a people who though renowned globally as hard working people, are here in Nigeria, struggling to exert ourselves in our various endeavors,” he said.

IGP tasks police officers to sustain the unity of Nigeria Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÏÏÏ

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday task Police officers to ensure that the unity of Nigeria is sustained at all cost, saying that the unity of the country rests on the shoulder of security agents.

Speaking on the occasion of the Graduation Ceremony of Operational Leadership and Command Course (OLCC), the IGP said “as Police officers, we have an onerous task of sustaining the unity our great nation has enjoyed over the years and also to defend its corporate existence and ideals for the mutual benefit of all its citizenry.

“We must build on the solid foundation of unity in diversity, as envisioned by our pioneering fathers; all the security agencies within the Country are working assiduously towards this laudable goal and the Nigeria Police Force is certainly not an exception”.

He added that the policy thrust of the Force is anchored on the change mantra of the incumbent leadership of the nation, adding that, the change should be evident in the discharge of duties and in line with the community policy, charging officers to ensure that their host community feel the impact of the training acquired from the institute.

In her remark, the Com-

mandant, Police Staff College, AIG Dorothy Gimba, said with the skills quired by the graduating officers, the recent trend of hate speech will be nip the bud.

Gimba said the officers have acquired skills in different fields of policing, such as, Respect For The Rule of Law and Human Rights; Management Leadership and Human Behavior, Intelligence Led Policing, Statistical Methods For Crime And Criminal Justice System, among others.

She challenged officers to raise the bar and justify the confidence repose on them by the leadership of the Force.

“Exhibit a great measure of discipline, tact, accountability, fairness, justice and

resourcefulness as alumni of this nobel training institution and allow all the virtues to pass through you as middle level managers”, she said.

Our correspondent gathered that the Operational Leadership and Command course is a robust course owing to the fact that it covers all aspects of policing from criminal investigations and prosecution, to Human Resources Management, Inter-agency cooperation and other sundry issues such as Human Rights and Cybercrime.

Daily Times also reports that 37 course participants (Police Officers) was elevated to the rank of Superintendent of Police within the duration of the course.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Politics

11

s

Aregbesola’s performance will give PDP governorship seat in Osun come 2018- Ayanwale Let’s look at the last election in Osun West Senatorial District where PDP won despite the fact that APC controls the state, how do you see that election?

Actually, the election is a message to those in power, those in government, especially Governor Rauf Aregbesola that the business is no longer as usual and that people have spoken through their votes.

Their votes were not determined by money or deceit any longer. The election was very good and clean, free and fair, and a victorious one for PDP across the board. So, all in all, the electorates through their votes have pointed to the direction they are going in the coming election in the state. PDP won in nine local governments out of 10, that is what is called hands down and by this it is unchallengeable in any court of law.

Although it is a constitutional right for any person to challenge the election if the person is not satisfied with the result, but I don’t think any person from anywhere in this world will challenge the result of this election.

By next year, there will be governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

What is your expectation from those elections?

In Britain people decide and look at how election will be through opinion poll, the last Osun West Senatorial by-election is a symbol of opinion on what to expect in the governorship election in 2018 in Osun. As a politician, publisher and journalist, I do sample people’s opinion across the state, the feeler is that people are tired of APC in Osun State, a state that cannot pay salary and pension. Series of abandoned road projects despite the fact that it received Paris Club refund twice. The pensioners are suffering, the governor was commissioning uncompleted projects despite the huge amount available to the state in the last quarter. Lots of PDP members are now performing government’s responsibilities as social responsibility and community development services. Even a councillorship seat from Aregbesola’s Ward will be won by PDP in any election in Osun presently.

How united is the PDP in Osun State?

Under the leadership of Soji Adagunodo, Chief Gbenga Owolabi in Ife, Chief Odekunmi in Gbongan, Fatai Akinbade in Ogbagba, Lere Oyewumi in Ikire, Senator Akinlabi in Ode-Omu, they have united the party and they have been able to take the party to higher level and this made us victorious in the last Osun West Senatorial election.

Honestly, there were two factions of PDP before the election, both factions united for the election and came victorious. After the election, the Supreme Court judgement solidified the unity. So, there are some who have moved to SDP, Labour, Accord or even APC but with the recent victory and the judgement, many are coming back while leaders are working seriously with all possible means available to them to bring others back into the fold. And I can assure you, all of them will be back to PDP before the next year’s governorship election and 2019 general elections.

Mr Kehinde Ayanwale, a lawyer is a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State and the publisher of London based Entertainer International Magazine. In this interview, he speaks on issues as they affect the PDP in Osun State and Nigeria. He also speaks on other sundry issues. PATRICK OKOHUE reports People are tired of APC in Osun State, a state that cannot pay salary and pension. Series of abandoned road projects despite the fact that it received Paris Club refund twice.

The pensioners are suffering, the governor was commissioning uncompleted projects despite the huge amount available to the state in the last quarter. Lots of PDP members are now performing government’s responsibilities as social responsibility and community development services. Even a councillorship seat from Aregbesola’s Ward will be won by PDP in any election in Osun presently AYANWALE

Do you nurse any political ambition?

I am a PDP man, PDP member and a solid and full PDP person to the core. I can’t say I am going for a particular position, if the party decide that my responsibility should be within the party Secretariat I will abide by the decision of the party leadership.

Presently, what interest me most is to work tirelessly to ensure that all aggrieved party members return to the PDP fold.

PDP ruled the country for 16 years, and APC has been in the saddle in the last two years, how will you compare the government of the PDP and APC? When you are comparing the government of the two parties, you are not being fair to the PDP because there is no government in this country that can match the success of the PDP government in terms of performance, development and policies.

We all know the exchange rate during the 16 years of PDP, we all know what it is now, what of the price of food stuffs, and others.

So those in the best position to judge both is the masses, and I think one of the judgement was the outcome of Osun West Senatorial election.

Sometimes I am amused when I hear the Transport Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi boasting that he has done this, he has done that, all the projects he is boasting about were started during Jonathan’s government. This government is yet to start any tangible project of its own. And mind you, apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, Babatunde Fashola, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and few others, 80 per cent of the present executive members, including Senators, members of House of Reps and even APC party executives are part of PDP 16

years rule. So this present government is an extension of PDP government under a new platform, which is APC. So, I can assure you most of them will be back in the PDP before the 2019 election and as such the PDP will come back to power to correct some mistakes this When you were mentioning PDP leaders in Osun State you excluded Senator Iyiola Omisore. Why this omission and who are the people that are in the forefront of getting the gubernatorial ticket of the party in next year’s election?

The issue of party leadership is quite different from gubernatorial aspiration. Don’t mix the two. As far as PDP is concerned in Osun, Omisore is one of the leaders. He is not the leader but one of the leaders but for him to say he want to contest the governorship election again on the platform of our party, I am totally against that. We cannot keep recycling a single person as if there are no other competent or qualified persons. Do you think we are so daft in Osun PDP that we will continue to present a candidate that people have rejected in the past.

Do you know why we lost the gubernatorial election the last time, it was because of the candidate and I believe that PDP is not going to make such mistake any longer.

Omisore is a strong party member, very serious party leader, but for the governorship ticket of the party in 2018, please forget it and more so the gubernatorial ticket is not zoned to his senatorial district.

Has the PDP zoned the gubernatorial ticket and which zone will produce the governorship candidate now?

Osun West

And who are the people from that zone that you think can carry the ticket and successfully deliver for the party in the next governorship election?

We have two prominent people that are very good and I am also a factor that they cannot do away with.

Who are these two prominent people?

To be honest with you, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi from Ode Omu, a former Minister is there. So also is the former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade from Ogbaagba . These two people are committed party members.

The National Assembly has refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the EFCC, but the Presidency is adamant that he should be the chairman. How will you react to this development?

You know in Nigeria we are not of good mind. If any institution is doing brilliantly and its performance is affecting another institution, the institution that is affected will not be happy with that particular institution. The President as far as I know as a lawyer has the power under the constitution to appoint either in acting or substantive capacity anybody to head the EFCC and mind you, do you think the National Assembly is doing well or performing brilliantly, that is not true.

Magu is doing well and he is helping the country, you people are not looking at the damages that corruption is causing the country, you are only looking at the personalities involved. If they know that they are clean and have no skeletons in their cupboards, they should allow Magu to be doing his job. Confirmation or no confirmation to me is a ceremonial matter.

12 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Constructive criticism, tolerant govt and a nation’s gain President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 25th, August, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, met with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during which the PDP made it clear that opposition must not be equated with madness. Our Group Politics Editor, LATEEF IBRAHIM took a critical look at the meeting and highlighted what the nation and its people stand to gain from a robust relationship between a tolerant ruling party and a constructive opposition party.

PRESIDENT BUHARI

MAKARFI

ODIGIE-OYEGUN

A virile opposition, it is universally agreed, helps to keep the party in power or in government constantly on its toes.

It assists a reasonable governing party to know when it is derailing from its manifestos as well as promised made during campaign and electioneering processes. The government in power, no doubt, needs a robust and constructive opposition to actualise its vision and mission to the people who freely elected it into power. Where this is lacking however, the reverse becomes the case.

This is why the only thing that can come from an opposition party that is unreasonably antagonistic is nothing other than a destructive criticism or suggestions that does neither the party in power nor the opposition party itself any good. Where the opposition does its job constructively, without any selfish consideration, and the ruling party cheerfully sees the suggestions as such and quickly swing into action, the nation profits from such with its people happy.

It was therefore very heartening when the leading opposition party in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by its National Caretaker Committee (NCC), Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa and offered to help the All Progressives Congress (APC), led government in some critical areas of national interests.

Makarfi, in his address, made it pointedly clear that, “this PDP firmly believes that opposition is no madness; it will therefore never wish ill of anybody, let alone the person saddled with the responsibility of leading our country.

“Mr President, you will agree with me that the PDP has more than a fair knowledge and experience of the weight of that responsibility.

“Mr President, having welcomed you back and prayed for you, let me seize this opportunity to assure you, and through you, the

entire country, that the PDP having assumed the leadership of the opposition in this country, is poised to play that role energetically, vibrantly, but very decently and with all sense of responsibility.

“This we shall do by giving you a good run for your money and constantly keeping you on your toes as we all strive to make this country better,” he said.

Speaking further, Makarfi offered to support the President Buhari-led Federal Government in its fight against corruption, terrorism and other crimes in the country.

The Chairman of the NCC of the PDP, while speaking on behalf of the party, suggested that the institutions saddled with this onerous task of fighting corruption in the country needed to be given necessary encouragement and independence to do the right thing.

This, he reasoned will help in further strengthening the concerned institutions with a view to insulating them from undue political interferences.

In the words of Makarfi, “We identify with, and will continue to support the fight against terrorism as well as other crimes that have sneaked into our consciousness like kidnapping and banditry, as well as farmers/herdsmen clashes and other crimes camouflaged as such and all other anti-social vices that slow down our nation’s wheel of progress “We also offer our support for the fight against corruption and appeal that the institutions saddled with this onerous task be given a necessary encouragement and independence to do the right thing.

“This will help in further strengthening our institutions and insulating them from undue political interferences. It will also help give them a more credible outlook in the eyes of the public.

“There is no way we can have a respectable voice in the comity of civilized nations until we rebuild our institutions and imbue them with the necessary independence and confi-

dence that will improve both their visage and standing with the citizenry,” he said.

Makarfi further assured that the PDP, as a great believer in the unity of the country, will also partner with the government in any way(s) that will strengthen the historic bond.

President Buhari, in his own speech made it clear that the unity of Nigeria transcends political parties, stressing that opposition in any government does not translate to hostility, enmity and antagonism.

Buhari described the visit by the two main political parties, APC and PDP, as signifying the unity of the country, pointing out that a democracy needs a vibrant but responsible opposition.

He thanked all Nigerians for praying for his recovery and asked them to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

According to Buhari, “This visit signifies the unity of Nigeria. It is not a party occasion. It is not a political gathering. It is a symbol of our national unity. It is also an expression of the maturity of our democracy.

“Multi-party democracy is a very tried and tested form of government; opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant, but responsible.

“I am very pleased to see you assemble here all shades of opinion in Nigeria.

Please convey to our countrymen and women in your respective states my deep gratitude to all those who prayed for my recovery. I am imploring all Nigerians to continue praying for peace and prosperity in Nigeria,” he said.

There is therefore no gainsaying the fact that if the PDP truly and genuinely matches its words with action and the President on his part gives the opposition party a chance to assist as promised, Nigeria and Nigerians will definitely be the gainers of it.

Osun 2018: APC chieftain passes vote of confidence on Aregbesola, party leadership Patrick Okohue, Lagos As the crucial governorship election in Osun State is at the door, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun State, Ogbeni Mukaila Adesoye Oni has expressed confidence in the leadership ability of the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

Oni, who is an elder of a socio-political organisation, Community Youth Development National Networks, Osun State chapter, also affirmed his unflinching loyalty to the party under the leadership of its state chairman, Hon. Adegboyega Famodun, saying, the great party still has more dividends of democracy for the people of the state.

In a chat with newsmen, Oni, expressed optimism over APC’s victory in the next year’s governorship election, saying,

“when the time comes, the people themselves will analyse the gains of Aregbesola’s government viz a viz the meagre allocations to the state from the Federal Allocation and vote for APC again.

“If we enumerate the achievements of this administration under Ogbeni Aregbesola with open minds, we will all agree that Aregbesola is a God sent to the good people of the state of Osun. Since the advent of this government in 2010, we have discovered that the governor has been squeezing water from stone for us to enjoy.

“Nobody can accuse him of fraud as he spends every available kobo on beneficial projects. In fact, his ability to turn stone to gold in the state is unequalled,” he submitted.

When reminded of the event of July 8, when the opposition won a senatorial by-election, the Telemu born politician

admitted that it was really a sad event reminding however that, “politics is about ‘win some and lose some’ occasionally,” adding that, “what happened was just a temporary setback from which a lesson has been learnt.”

The party stalwart was of the strong conviction that, the party is still very strong and in charge in the state, stating that, “it was the votes of the APC members and supporters that gave victory to the newly inaugurated Senator Ademola Adeleke.”

According to him, the 2018 poll will be a different ball game entirely “as our loyal members, who have reinforced their confidence in the governor and party leadership will vote en masse for an APC candidate.”

While stating that war strategies are not disclosed in the media for the enemies to know, Oni expressed assurance

that, “the coming governorship election in the state will be a different ball game entirely from the July 8 senatorial byelection.

ONI

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

s

Editorial

13

PHOTO TIMES

Much ado about Buhari’s speech and rodents invasion

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja House in London on 19 August for Nigeria after a 104-day medical vacation. On arrival, all nooks and crannies of the country were lighted up in euphoria.

Pirouetting and funfair particularly at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and All Progressives Congress, APCcontrolled states were massive. His arrival irrefutably changed the moods and created unusual cavalcades right from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the Presidential Villa akin to where Nigeria successfully dared Argentina or Brazil in a World-Cup competition. Indeed, it was a heroic welcome to the President. Unfortunately, no sooner had the President concluded his national address as scheduled than people started the raucous attacks simultaneously as robots fighting over nothing, fumingly misconstruing every lines to either a blunder, gaucherie or misused opportunity.

The truth is that President Buhari’s return disappointed many malicious deceptions, how much more resumption. Interestingly, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo since inauguration has been the chairman of the economic team of the administration which indicates that if President Buhari didn’t embark on the medical vacation, the same policies Professor Osinbajo continued with as the Acting President would have been in progress.

Emphatically, the presidential address was principally designed for gratitude to the people over prayers, inspirations and love extended to him while out of the country. Overwhelmingly, the President didn’t mince words to state that while in London, he was following events at home. Indeed, this is the most silly, immature and childish opposition in the history of the nation.

The evil alliance is worse than that of cantankerous, pugnacious and primitive women at the village markets.

How does rat invasion of Presidential Villa amount to issues of national importance that a President worked from home office rather than main office will be blown out of proportion? Did Americans run away when similar incident; rats at the Whitehouse was re-

Publisher/Editor in Chief Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Publishing Executive Enyinne Onwunwanne Group General Manager Olisa Egbunike 08034004224 Head, Operations Isaiah Udo 08033230673

ported some years ago? The tracing of 56 exquisite houses in highbrow areas to a public officeholder and many other aberrations meant nothing to them.

In a nutshell, these desperate tetchy doomsayers; from ill-health to speech, now rat invasion, requires maturity and perseverance to handle.

Seemingly, ignorance is responsible for the irritating dispositions particularly, the distinction between a Vice President standing in for the President when on official trip outside the country and the Vice President operating as the Acting President; thus, leading to the pandemonium over the medical vacation. Clearly, the two scenarios are not the same. When a Vice President is representing the President by informal arrangements albeit on official matters, he cannot perform the key functions of the President such as signing or endorsing documents requiring presidential assents. He can only act as any other government officials mandated by the President to represent him. However, where the Vice President stepped into the office of the Acting President in compliance to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the Acting President, has unfettered powers to perform all the functions of the President. By implication, no vacuum existed in the office of the President throughout the period of Buhari’s vacation. The Constitution consciously and proactively paired the duo in view of such developments.

Thus, the Vice President serving the nation for 3 months as Acting President is constitutionally no strange development.

The brief address presented by the President was not only apt but unique.

If after the handover and briefing

by Professor Osinbajo, the President alongside the Federal Executive Council, FEC, after evaluating developments, have cause to modify some policies, certainly, the nation will be abreast of them. The greater but bitter truth is that anyone that has not come to terms with the present administration’s determinedly laudable efforts in fixing the rotten system is either naïve or biased irrespective of his prominence.

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 General Counsel: ELIAS MORDI & CO 08068613825

Editor, Daily Tony Amokeodo 08038099089

Deputy Editor, Special Projects Lateef Ibrahim 08037872585

Managing/Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh 08050220692

Features Editor Gbubemi God’s Covenent Snr 09095489889

News Editor Kelechi C. Ogbamgba 08050220561

Ag. Head, Graphics/Design Sunday Gabriel Idagwu 07030881423

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

Dr. Leena Hoffmann (right), presenting New Chatham House Report to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, during a courtesy visit at the Government House Port Harcourt… on Tuesday.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) (2nd left); his wife, Betty (middle); Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi (2nd right), in photo session after the swearing in ceremony of Commissioners and Special Advisers in Akure, Ondo State… on Wednesday.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike Group Head Finance/ Administration Tobi Oyeniyi 07060528139

L-R: Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the opening of the 15th National Council on Transportation meeting in Sokoto...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”.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Lagos:Centre of excellence in the face of challenges

L

AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef

agos is a great state.

It is great not because there are no challenges on the path to its dream. The network of lagoons, beautiful coastlines, alluring beaches and the skyscrapers that shade the setting sun to tint the skyline with gold lining at dusk are magnificent, but those are the least that make Lagos beautiful.

One major reason that Lagos is regarded as the Centre of Excellence is the peaceful coexistence of over twenty million vibrant and forward-looking people of diverse culture, race, nationality, religion and social status, who know that though they have to compete to achieve personal goals, only in unity would they realise their collective dream of building one of the greatest cities in the world. Any other yardstick devised to assess Lagos would therefore yield a result unacceptable to Lagosians.

No doubt, in these past five decades of its existence, Lagos has gone through different challenges peculiar to most cosmopolitan cities, but it has always come out stronger, more united and ever determined to build one of the best cities anyone, from anywhere in the globe, would be proud and delighted to live in. Every city in the world, including those in first world countries once a while record ugly incidences that might persist for sometime, but this do not determine how great they are; rather it is the way the systems respond that describes what they represent. Sophisticated cities in the western world with high security systems still record terrorist attacks. World economic powers still exhibit to the world a perfect example of paradox by having destitute in street corners of their beautiful cities.

Lagos has not finally arrived at its destination, but it is certainly on the path of its destiny. A city of intense dynamic mix of humanity in a race for successes and opportunities would definitely have its downsides. It is therefore unfair for any sincere assessor to neglect the strengths

of Lagos, its many successes and huge prospects, only to focus on its challenges.

To set the records straight, it is important to make it clear that Lagos is not infested by Boko Haram as claimed. To Lagosians in particular and Nigerians in general, this assertion is laughable. It only shows that the source was embarrassingly ignorant of happenings in Nigeria, and not in touch with the true situation in Lagos. The report was certainly not worth the paper on which it was printed. In this information age, where a dropped pin in Lagos literally makes a distinct sound in Los Angeles, it is an embarrassment to the intelligence of readers for anyone to publish such blatant lie. Lagos State is not treating criminality with kid gloves and Governor Akinwumi Ambode has always assured Lagosians of his readiness to sacrifice his sleep for their safety. A few months ago, when kidnapping was imported into the state, at the height of its escalation in some parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North Eastern and Niger Delta states with which it shares a coastline, the Lagos State Government swung into action and arrested the situation. In the few recorded cases in Lagos, all victims were successfully rescued, most of the kidnappers were arrested and lots of kidnapping attempts were indeed nipped in the bud.

Lagos State also shares the belief that human minds are the fundamental resources of any nation that wants to be great. Lagosians are enlightened, exposed and highly educated people who place premium on education and would sacrifice even their comfort to see their children through school. To fuel this drive, the State Government has invested heavily in education with its free Primary and Secondary Education Schemes, among others. However, we cannot deny the fact that there are several young people who migrate to Lagos from other states and neigbouring African countries in search of greener pastures. We are aware that most of them barely finished secondary school. We know it well that they could mount pressure on the system, but Lagos choose to show them care and make them be-

lieve that despite their limitations, their own Lagos success stories are possible too. The report that Lagos has high rate of school dropouts by merely advancing national average figures to represent Lagos is not only wrong and misleading, but can be quite disparaging. However, we are not going to be discouraged, as our caring hearts and accommodating spirits are as strong as a steel.

Lagos has Primary Health Care centres in all the Wards of the state and a General Hospital in every Local Government Area. Health care is affordable, accessible and of high standard. Infant maternal mortality has gone down drastically. Free medical care is available to the elderly and the very young.

Health care delivery is improving, contrary to the report hinged on assumptions and hasty generalisations.

Lagos, as all its residents can confirm, has continued to witness huge infrastructural transformation.

New inner roads are simultaneously being built and many of the old ones have been rehabilitated in all the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, to the delight of the residents who now have easy and better access to their homes and whose properties have appreciated in value.

Through the construction of major road networks in most parts of the state, many communities have been linked and opened up for accelerated socio-economic development.

Lagos-Badagry expressway is witnessing a transformation that has never been seen anywhere in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Lagos is the hub of African entertainment. The enabling environment and unflinching support for art and creativity qualify it to host Nollywood, one of the three renowned names in the World Film and Entertainment Industry.

Greater percentage of new businesses and multinational organisations citing their operational bases in Lagos attests to the fact that the state is fast-emerging as one of the world’s biggest commercial centres. Lagos rewards hard work, creativity and excellence - the reason why young Nigerian graduates are trooping to the state knowing that

their own Lagos success stories are quite possible.

Every system, no matter how efficient, is subject to criticism, and Lagos could not have been an exception. But irrespective of how and why critics arrive at their findings, Lagos city is striving and the future can only get better. Whether they could not access facts and correct information or they choose to ignore them to hurriedly arrive at their pre-determined judgment, Lagos is rapidly growing and Lagosians have no reason to believe otherwise. Although, the so-called findings of these armchair analysts do not truly represent Lagos, their faults are pardonable. It could be an honest mistake borne out of incompetence or lack of resources to analyse large data and process the pool of information required in elaborate research of this nature. But if the study was to intentionally distort the facts for dubious motives, it calls for absolute condemnation from all wellmeaning Lagosians.

Expressing opinions in the public domain is neither the exclusive preserve of privileged individuals and prestigious institutions nor that of journalists or communication specialists of multifarious disciplines.

It is the absolute right of everyone.

We are all protected by our fundamental right to express views in public arena unfettered, but what distinguishes professional opinion moulders is the expertise they ought to apply through their knowledge, skills and access to mass media channels. Therefore, if they must truly provide moral leadership, professionals are duty-bound to constantly enhance their knowledge, sharpen inquisitive skills and jealously guide the trust that people repose in them by operating with all sense of responsibility.

The various achievements of the Akinwumi Ambode-led Lagos State Government are clear testimonies that Lagos is flourishing and no concocted opinion can constitute a destructive clog in the wheel of our progress.

since the Tijani Umar led board was the board in place before the June 13 elections.

2. Just because Tijani Umar is ineligible to run for a 3rd term according to FIBA statutes, does it automatically legitimise the Musa Kida led board?

3. Why didn’t FIBA order another election or pick a side as opposed to giving an ultimatum for both sides to resolve their issues seeing that it was their inability to resolve their differences that brought them before FIBA in the first place.

After sending 2 teams to a 3x3 tournament, which disqualified

Nigeria from the tournament and releasing two lists of players for the Women’s championship, they settled on a system. The Umar board runs the League and the Kida board is in charge of the National teams but for how long will this go on.

FIBA taking a political stand instead of giving a straight and direct judgement may have prolonged this wasteful and unnecessary distraction but the factions that have put personal interests above basketball development are the biggest culprits. So just like the Charles Dickens book, it is the best of times and the worst of times in Nigerian basketball.

Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef is the Commissioner for Ministry of Home Affairs, Lagos State .

Basketball: A tale of two factions

T Tega Onojaife

he Nigerian basketball women’s national team is in Mali defeating every opponent they’ve faced and chasing the ultimate prize; to be champions at the FIBA Women’s Afrobasketball 2017.

The awesome talents and skills displayed, the team spirit, determination and ambition, you would think that these players represent a functional system and you would be wrong.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, is divided into 2 houses; the Tijani Umar led board and the Musa Kida led board.

After the June 13 elections which saw the 2 factions conduct separate elections, Umar in Kano and Musa in Abuja, the case was then transferred to World governing body, FIBA as the ultimate body to deliver a verdict.

FIBA responded with the letter below, leaving a head scratching dilemma for most basketball lovers and a subtle but very debilitating power tussle between both boards.(attach letter here) Several questions arose: 1. If FIBA does not recognise either one of the elections, on what basis are they communicating with the Musa Kida led board

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

15 Column

JAMB and the politics of cut-off marks

Times Columnist REUBEN ABATI

I ‘

The Obaseki Auditorium was filled up at this meeting, which was attended by over 1, 600 stakeholders in the education sector.

In other words, it was a meeting of stakeholders and the decisions were decisions taken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is therefore wrong to accuse JAMB or report that it is JAMB that is fixing cut-off marks for university admissions.

’

have followed with keen interest the controversy over the announcement of cut-off marks for Nigeria’s admission processes for the 2017/2018 session, with many commentators and the general public insisting that it is unwise, insensitive and retrogressive, to reduce the cut off mark for admissions into our tertiary institutions: 120 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and monotechnics, and a tentative 110 for Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEIs). Whereas the complaint has been that there is a dumbing down and lowering of standards, which is of course an obvious reaction, I argue that there is need for a better understanding of the context in which the decision was taken in the hope that this would shed some light on this controversial matter.

I write as a reporter and as a stakeholder who attended the 2017/2018 Policy Meeting on plans and modalities for the conduct of admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium, National Judicial Institute in Abuja, on August 22. The meeting started on Sunday, August 20, 2017. On Monday, August 21, there was a special session for admissions officers of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. There are 524 tertiary institutions in Nigeria (minus the IEIs) and every institution was represented on Monday and again on Tuesday, when a special policy session was held and decisions were taken at a combined session of Registrars and Vice Chancellors, Provosts and Rectors. The Obaseki Auditorium was filled up at this meeting, which was attended by over 1, 600 stakeholders in the education sector. In other words, it was a meeting of stakeholders and the decisions were decisions taken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is therefore wrong to accuse JAMB or report that it is JAMB that is fixing cut-off marks for university admissions.

I recall that at the meeting, when we were about to go into the policy making session, the Minister of Education had to excuse himself on the ground that he had other commitments; all JAMB officials were also asked to leave the hall.

The JAMB Registrar explained that he wanted the heads of tertiary institutions to be the ones to take the decisions, not JAMB, not the Minister, and he didn’t want either the Minister or his own staff in attendance so nobody would turn around to accuse JAMB or the Ministry of Education of imposing decisions on the tertiary institutions.

There were other stakeholders in attendance, the heads of the National University Commission (NUC), TETFUND, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), NECO, NYSC and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) – all as observers. The heads of IEIs stayed away from this particular meeting because they had earlier informed JAMB that the heads of other tertiary institutions are in the habit of out-voting and outnumbering them at policy meet-

Prof Ishaq Oloyede, (JAMB Registrar) ings and they would rather have their own separate meeting to serve their own interests. I concluded, there and then, that students’ admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria has become big business and politics, with stiff competition between public and private institutions.

This clarification is necessary because as I see it, some of the participants in that meeting have since gone on a holier-than-thou expedition to distance themselves from it. At the meeting, the JAMB Registrar repeatedly pointed out that the University of Ibadan had made it clear that its cut-off mark would never go below 200. There are other universities like that, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Ilorin. I am surprised however that there has been so much uncomfortable hypocrisy from some universities that attended the meeting. The Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti were both in attendance and the former spoke enthusiastically in support of the decisions. Yes, the ABUAD VC was there, but curiously, his employer, the proprietor and founder of the Afe Babalola University was the first person to denounce the decisions. We should take special notice however, of the intervention of the Vice Chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade, and Professor Femi Mimiko. Out of over 1, 600 participants at a policy meeting, only two persons are standing up to report the truth?

The objectives of that policy meeting were inter alia, to brief the Degree, National Certificate in Education and National Diploma-awarding institutions on the plans and modalities for the conduct of the 2017/2018 admissions exercise, introduce the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), seek the cooperation and understanding of stakeholders, discuss and agree on submissions of estimated intakes and compliance with the current prescribed quota from the NUC, NCCE, and NBTE, adherence to institutional/programmes cut off marks, compliance with entry requirements, procedure for selection of candidates who may not be admitted at their first choice institutions, adherence to admissions schedule as approved at the Policy meeting and implementation of the science-arts ratio. These issues were tabled, discussed, voted upon and decisions were taken. The states and private tertiary institutions were exempted from the last criteria, to be determined by their proprietors.

It is important to understand the three main backgrounds to this policy meeting. At a similar policy meeting held on June 2, 2016, the various stakeholders at this same 2017 meeting, had adopted 180 as the minimum cut-off mark for admissions to all

tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The regulator’s subsequent discovery is that most of the tertiary institutions did not respect this decision. They admitted students who scored below 180 and never reported same to JAMB; they introduced all kinds of back-door schemes and programmes under which admissions were offered.

In effect, the admissions process into Nigerian tertiary institutions was compromised; standards were violated. JAMB therefore decided that every institution must declare a lowest cut off point for its programmes and that every admission must be properly reported and documented, and brought to the notice of the regulator in order to enforce standards and have accurate statistics for educational planning. I got the impression for example, that some higher institutions must have been admitting all kinds of persons who did not have basic qualifications and never passed through the central admissions body. It is curious, isn’t it, that the same schools that voted for 180 in 2016, are now asking for 120, 110 and 100?

Secondly, the evidence was provided to the effect that many tertiary institutions do not respect the admission quota in line with the Federal Character prescribed by the Constitution. Most universities simply admit students from their catchment areas and ignore students from other parts of the country. Bayero University, to cite a notable example, admits over 50% of its students from Kano State, and yet it is a Federal University. Even when students from other parts of the country who apply to such universities have high, qualifying scores, they are ignored.

Thus, every year, many qualified students from different parts of the country are left stranded. They miss the opportunity to go to university not because they are not qualified, but because they have been shut out by the politicisation of education in Nigeria. To correct this mischief, JAMB has now created a second tier admissions platform called the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). It is an admissions-market where students who have been rejected by their first choices can seek alternatives, where JAMB can help rejected candidates seek other offers, and every institution can go in search of qualified candidates who may have been rejected elsewhere. This is to help increase the admissions ratio in the country, reduce the politicisation of admissions, check the exodus of Nigerian students to foreign universities, create more opportunities and ensure greater equity. The only ouster clause in this arrangement is that at the end of the day, the candidate is free to reject any offer that he or she does not find acceptable, and that has no limit whatsoever.

JAMB in its explanation further recognised that ordinarily, a school certificate result should be enough requirement for admission to tertiary institutions as is the case in many countries of the world. In order to raise standards, Nigeria has a system whereby secondary school graduates still have to sit for UTME conducted by JAMB and Post-UTME, further testing conducted by the tertiary institutions, and confront other unwritten hurdles. The higher education seeker in Nigeria is thus taken through greater rigour than similar applicants elsewhere. In 2016, the Policy Meeting on Admissions had banned further conduct of the PostUTME to reduce the burden faced by Nigerian students. At the 2017 meeting however, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu lifted the ban, noting that the tertiary institutions deserve the independence they have always asked for over their admissions process.

Indeed, this was the main point of the August 22 meeting. Tertiary institutions in Nigeria are the ones to determine their own admissions process. Cut off marks are to be fixed by the Senate of each institution, not JAMB. What JAMB has created through the CAPS is an open market that empowers admission-seekers, promotes healthy competition and provides an avenue for students to raise queries when they feel they may have been short-changed. The insistence on reporting is to aid transparency and data collection, we were told.

If this works, in no time, every tertiary institution will establish its own brand equity. As is the case elsewhere, the labour market in Nigeria will soon begin to differentiate between the students who graduated from a school that admits with 100 over 400 marks and another school whose cut off mark is as high as 250, in the same manner in which there is a marked difference in the UK between a graduate of Metropolitan University and a graduate of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

This differentiation in quality and standards is perhaps long-needed in the Nigerian education market.

That is as far as the meeting went, and the report of what I saw and heard. My real concern, and a probable justification for the outcry over the reduction of cut–off marks below the average score is, however, traceable to the fact that Nigeria’s education system is now terribly commercialised and unequal. The law of supply and demand is probably at the root of the politics of cut-off marks.

We have more than 524 institutions looking not for students but customers! Ordinarily, most students want to attend elite schools and the Federal institutions, which charge subsidised fees. For instance, Federal Universities charge as low as N35, 000, the state universities about N150, 000-N200, 000, and the private universities as much as N750, 000.

The competition for space in the schools with lower fees is much higher, often leaving the ones with expensive school fees with fewer applicants. While the more economically attractive schools can afford to have high cut off marks, it is not impossible that lower cut-off marks would attract more students to the less patronised schools! The implication is not far to seek. Beyond the policy meeting of August 22, and all expressed good intentions, and regardless of the choice of the stakeholders, therefore, JAMB’s next and biggest challenge, in my view, is to ensure that market forces do not ultimately subvert quality and standards in the tertiary education sector. It is also up to parents to determine the kind of school that they want their children to attend, and for every institution to choose between mediocrity and excellence.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

17

18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

FEATURES

s

Need to identify the missing link in sustainable security architecture Concluding analysis by SBM Intelligence Crucially, the initial coordination in effort between the four Lake Chad countries has deteriorated, allowing Boko Haram to exploit the cracks within the differing operational strategies mounted against it. There has also been increasing friction between the Civilian JTF and the military on the one hand, and the military and international aid agencies on the other, eroding both the intelligence and avenues of building trust on the ground available for engaging with the insurgents.

Political scandals such as the one concerning the IDP Welfare Funds embezzlement for which the Secretary to the Federal Government was accused and suspended, have not done much to help matters in this regards.

In places that the military has won back, the government has failed to adequately step in with to maintain effective presence and efficient governance, leaving room for gaps which the insurgents have proved more than willing to exploit.

Finally, as supply lines have been stretched out, the military has appeared to cool off on its aggressive offensive and returned to a more defensive minded approach. This is reminiscent of the earlier approach which yielded little in results and allowed the insurgents to come within hitting distance of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, the largest population centre in the country’s North-East.

On May 10, the Nigerian Army announced a major shake-up which resulted in the redeployment of many of its most senior officers, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Leo Irabor who was appointed the Field Commander of the

Civilian JTF group

Military Lafiya dole men

Multi-National Joint Task Force. In his place, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed to lead the war against the terrorists.

The official reason given for these redeployments was to re-strategise the operations of the military. The redeployment of General Irabor came as a surprise to many close observers of the Boko Haram conflict, as he is highly regarded and credited with many of the successes of the army in pushing back the terrorists. There is some speculation that the rise in attacks could be attributed to the

redeployment, but we do not agree, given that General Irabor is still very much involved in the war by being the Field Commander of the MNJTF. The fundamental problem is the distinct shortage of manpower to effectively police the vast expanse of Borno State – the state with the second-largest landmass which borders three countries.

The military which is now deployed in 32 states across the federation is overstretched. In one sense, the military has accomplished what is militarily possible within this multi-faceted conflict.

The missing link in the construction of a sustainable security architecture for the region is intelligence-gathering, surveillance, community security and policing – all of which are outside of the traditional remit of the military. There is a need for other agencies such as the NSCDC, SSS, and the police to be more involved in the process of reclaiming the North East and have their operational capacities rapidly scaled up for the demands that will be placed upon them.

The result of this gap in the security chain is that even areas that have been liberated by the military are left fallow and ungoverned and risk falling back under insurgent control or serving as hideouts from where they can launch more hit and run attacks. In short, there are still far too many places where Boko Haram can hide in plain sight.

The military is being strained by the burden of having to carry out policing in addition to its orthodox combat role.

Certainly issues of the insurgent group’s funding and recruitment (whether coerced or not) are well within the sphere of intelligence-gathering and policing.

If other agencies pick up the slack and liberate the military to focus purely on combat, it could turn the tide decisively in the counter-insurgency campaign.

It is important that the government refrain from repeating the mistakes of the recent past by allowing an unhealthy suspicion of criticism, and a near concerted effort at spewing propaganda to guide its reaction to this situation. It is also imperative to study our recent successes if Nigeria is to begin to turn the tide again.

What is at stake is the lives of millions of Nigerians and we must commit never to return to a period when Boko Haram occupied Nigerian soil again.

-

Crime

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

s

Police community vow to curb jungle justice in Lagos Stories by Joy Anyim The Police in Lagos and members of the Eminent People Forum (EPF), Badia Division chapter have resolved to halt the menace of jungle justice in its jurisdiction, vowing that anyone caught in the act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Rising from its monthly meeting held at the Badia Police Divisional Headquarter, Ijora, they implored parents to caution their children and wards against the act, noting that many innocent persons have been killed in the act.

Speaking at the meeting, the Divisional Police Officer. CSP. Kayode Ayeni informed that the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni has directed all DPOs to pass the message of illegal jungle justice to community leaders and residents, adding that the command would not threat with kid gloves, anyone or group of people that are defiant to the warning.

According to him, anyone who fails to desist from act will henceforth be arrested and charged for murder no matter the influence or connection of such culprit in the society.

His words, “The importance of this meeting is to sensitise

IGP Ibrahim

the community through you, the members of the Eminent Peoples Forum, on the occurrence in the state in recent times as regard the issue of jungle justice because this amounts to people taking laws into their hands.

“Jungle justice should not be encouraged because many innocent persons have been killed for what they don’t know anything about. No matter the crime that may been committed by anybody, such person should be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution. Section 17 of the criminal code empowers members of the public to arrest suspected criminals, but they must hand over to the police for investigation and prosecution”.

Ayeni, who also harped on the importance of community policing, explained that it is the new

approach where police and the community partner in curbing crime and criminality in the society, adding that it assisted the command majorly in crunching the menace of Badoo in Ikorodu area of the state.

Pointing out that the area has been peaceful due to the support from members of the public, Ayeni specifically commended the chairman of the forum HRH. Mustapha Mohammed for his moral and financial support, imploring others to always give the police the needed assistance.

In his contribution, the EPF chairman Mustapha urged residents to cooperate with the police and give them the required maximum support to rid the community of bad criminals.

He added that the forum has concluded with the police to ensure that jungle justice does not manifest with the community, warning that anyone who attempt it would be apprehended and handed over to the police for prosecution.

Mustapha, who remarked that it the residents that are familiar with the nooks and crannies of their various communities and reside with the criminals, who are either their children or relations or tenants, urged them not to shed them from arrest or prosecution.

19

Driver attempts suicide over N90,000 debt A Uber cab driver, identified as Hammed Olojo, 31, was on Sunday afternoon restrained by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad on patrol of Third mainland bridge from jumping into the Lagoon.

Olojo, who drove himself to the Third mainland Bridge in a Uber Toyota Corolla saloon car had written a short note and left it in the car but was spotted by alert offers who caught up with him and restrained him before he could jump into the Lagos lagoon.

Olojo, an ex–convict, drove the grey Corolla with the registration number EKY 312 ES belonging to Kalejaiye Oluwaseyi to the bridge before attempting to leap into the Lagoon.

During interrogation by RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu on why he contemplated suicide, Olojo explained that he was owing N10,000 in Court 3, Ikeja High Court and the owner of the vehicle N80,000:00.

He stated that things have been too difficult for him and that he had tried all possible means to survive with no success.

Olojo also disclosed that his wife persuaded him from going ahead with his plan, but his mind was made up and was fed up of everything.

The suicide letter, it was gathered, was written in Yoruba and translated into English.

The letter read in part “I killed myself because of the challenges I

Olojo

have been facing in life. I tried my best but everything has come to nothing”.

He also added in the letter that he was owing a creditor N10,000 in Court 3 of Ikeja High Court and N80,000 to the owner of the UBER car he was driving.

Kalejaiye who was at RRS office in company of his wife said that for two weeks, he had not remitted N40,000 per week lease to him yet and he Kalejaiye, has been paying for the service of the car.

He noted that although, he told him to hand over the car last Thursday, at no time did he force him not to drive the car.

He noted that he was aware that he had a court case, at no time did he put him under pressure about the car.

In the note which was dated 27th August, 2017 and signed by him, Olojo indicated his phone number and the car owner’s number.

Two dismissed military personnel arrested for robbery in Lagos

The suspects Prince and Ebri

Two dismissed military personnel have been arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command for robbery and the unlawful possession of fire arms.

The suspects, Uba Ebri and Ofen Prince, both from Cross Rivers state, were allegedly dismissed from the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy respectively, but still went parading themselves as personnel of the military to rob unsuspecting members of the public.

The duo allegedly robbed a major hotel in the Egbeda area of Lagos in 2016, where they had dispossessed their victims of Laptops, mobile phones, cash and other valuables.

Although arrested and charged to court where they had served a six month jail term, the duo however, didn’t learn their lesson as they restrategised and continued their criminal activity upon their release.

The bubble however bust when Ebri allegedly robbed a young lady of her mobile phone in Ikorodu and had subsequently trailed the lady to her house for a follow up attack, but unfortunately, a man of Op’Mesa came to the rescue.

The accused, Ebri said in his statement that he is 24 years old and used to be an army personnel. “But I was dismissed in July 2016 for mistakenly firing at the arms

store. Since then, I have been leaving in my village in Cross Rivers State where I farm for a living.”

On his part, Prince who was the one that led Ebri to the Egbeda area where a woman had helped them obtain a fake military identity card said he was not a party to whatever crime Ebri committed except for the identity card.

He said he was dismissed in 2013 after he had been diagnosed a mental illness.

The 23 year old prince said, “I was in church the day I was arrested and had gotten a call firm my neighbour who told me he needed to see me. I told him I was in church and he said he will come catch up with me there. When he called me he was at the Junction of my church, I rushed out to go and meet him only for me to see him with two military police men. Immediately two Op’Mesa men came in and they were with Ebri.

“They asked me if f I knew him and I said yes that we are from the same village.

I was also whisked away. I am innocent of this while issue. I don’t rob or do anything against the law with the identity card. It is just that I missed being in the navy.”

SARS operative told The Daily Times that investigations is still ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court soon.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

AKWA IBOM EGG NUTRITION AWARENESS INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named initiative has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Decree No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ELDER MOSES THOMAS AKPAN 2. DR. UTIBEABASI HILARY UDOH .

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1. To Promote and Mobilize the Society for increased Production, Consumption and useful application of the Egg Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

Public Notice

LAMBANO WORD MINISTRY

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

TRUSTEE 1. Prophet Collins Mbata 2. Saint Stan Obinna 3. Pastor Michael Eze

-- Chairman --Secretary

Objectives 1)To raise and establish the dispensation of men and women through the revelation of God’s Word.

2)To unveil the unsearcheable riches of Christ through the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3)To train up other faithful men and women to teach the truth of the gospel by establishment and Lambano Bible College in Nigeria.

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

CHRIST SACRIFICE FOR THE CHURCH 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.IHEOMAEMELA ABRAHAM CHIDI 2.NWANKWO NWANYISUNDAY CHI 3.NWANKWO CHINEDU KINGSLEY

ROBOGLOBAL STEM FOUNDATION

-CHAIRMAN -SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach the word of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registration-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Chairman

Signed The President

Signed: Chairman

21

THE HEBRON GOSPEL OF GRACE AND LOVE MISSION

PRACTICAL LOVE SEED INITIATIVE

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.

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

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. DAVID OLADIRAN WILLOUGHBY 2. OLUREMI WILLOUGHBY

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE ADIGWE JOHN NDIDI 2. APOSTLE CHINWEIKE IFEANYI ALLEN 3. EVANGELIST AKPABIO MAURIC EMMANUEL 4. PASTOR EDOMWONYI ANTHONY AYODELE 5. EVANGELIST SAMUEL CHIMELA HOLLIS 6. EVANGELIST MATUIWE KENNETH

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE ADEBAYO (2) EHIZOJIE OMOBOLANLE AFUSAT ( 3) ADEOSUN TOLULOPE OMOBOLANLE ( 4) OKOTIE AKPOVI

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide STEM and hands-on education for all pupils by assisting Teachers to get funding to execute STEM projects in their Classrooms through Robotics STEM Initiative’s Assist-A-Classroom Community Project.

2.To provide educational leadership training, organize teacher training and professional development workshops, conferences and Seminars.

3. To increase STEM literacy for all Students including those who do not pursue STEM-related careers or additional study in STEM disciplines 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 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: FEMI KOLAJO ESQ. SOLICITOR

ABUBAKAR KABIRU SUCCESS

MISS MOSES NKECHI SUSSAN

-PRESIDENT -TREASURER -GENERAL SECRETARY -FINANCIAL SECRETARY

Aims and Objectives: 1. TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST JESUS 2. TO PREACH THE GOSPELAS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28days of this publication.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) TO PROMOTE THE VIRTUES OF LOVE AMONGST MEMBERS. (2) TO EMBARK ON HUMANITARIAN RELIEF PROJECT THE ORGANIZATION FINDS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE PLIGHT OF ANY VULNERABLE GROUP IN THE SOCIETY. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of the publication SIGNED BY:SECRETARY

SIGNED: GENERAL SECRETARY

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

MR. ODIGWE EMMANUEL

AFOLABI MOSUNMOLA MODUPE

EZIKE MILLICENT UJUKA

I formerly known and addressed as MISS MOSES FAITH SUSSAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS MOSES NKECHI SUSSAN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and the general public should please take note.

This is to confirm that I, SONOWO EMMANUEL ADEGBOYEGA is the same person answering SONOWO EMMANUEL ADE, now wish to be known and addressed as SONOWO EMMANUEL ADEGBOYEGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as IKE OKAFOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ODIGWE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BABATIMEHIN DUPE SUNMOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AFOLABI MOSUNMOLA MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EZIKE UJUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZIKE MILLICENT UJUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS. ADELAKUN RISIKATU

MRS OSUJI IFEOMA ONYINYECHI

SHOLANKE HAKEEM

KOLAWOLE ABIODUN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEOGUN RISIKAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADELAKUN RISIKATU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known as MISS AMADI IFEOMA SALLY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OSUJI IFEOMA ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GBADEYAN FOLASHADE FOLAKE

SANTOS OLAYINKA ADEBOLA

MRS KAREEM OLUWATOFUNMI TEMITOPE

AKINKUNMI PAUL OLUSEGUN

I, formerly known and addressed as ADOGAH OGIEAGBEGAH KABIRU, now wish to be known and addressed as ABUBAKAR KABIRU SUCCESS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AFOLASHADE ADUNNI and AFOLASHADE ADUNNI BENOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as GBADEYAN FOLASHADE FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ESECHIE OKHUELEGBE JUSTICE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINTUNDE OLUWATOPE SUKURATU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KAREEM OLUWATOFUNMI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AKINKUNMI SEGUN PAUL now wish to be known and addressed as AKINKUNMI PAUL OLUSEGUN .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ESECHIE MONDAY JUSTICE now wish to be known and addressed as ESECHIE OKHUELEGBE JUSTICE .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OBISESAN EMMANUEL OLUWAKOREDE

BALA HASSANA

AIRIHENBUWA DIADEM OSAYI

I formerly known and addressed as OBISESAN OLUSEYE OLUWAKOREDE now wish to be known and addressed as OBISESAN EMMANUEL OLUWAKOREDE .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BALA HASSANA MUMMY now wish to be known and addressed as BALA HASSANA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NSA ELIZABETH FUNMILAYO

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

I formerly known and addressed as JACOBS FUNMILAYO ELIZABETH now wish to be known and addressed as NSA ELIZABETH FUNMILAYO .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

In some of my documents my name appears as ADEDOKUN KEHINDE While in some other ones it appears as ADEDOKUN KEHINDE ESTHER .The names refer to the same person. All documents bearing all the names remain valid.

General public to please take note.

HUMOR-GIWA FATIMA BISOLA

KOLADE IDAYAT OLASHILE

I formerly known as GIWA FATIMA BISOLA wish to be known and addressed as HUMOR-GIWA FATIMA BISOLA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as AZEEZ IDAYAT KOLADE wish to be known and addressed as KOLADE IDAYAT OLASHILE .

All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AIRIHENBUWA OSAYIMWEN AUSTA now wish to be known and addressed as AIRIHENBUWA DIADEM OSAYI .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MUSTAPHA AMINAH OLANREWAJU I formerly known and addressed as OLALEYE AMINAH OLANREWAJU now wish to be known and addressed as MUSTAPHA AMINAH OLANREWAJU .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

That I AVOSEH BABATUNDE GBOLAHAN my name was wrongly written as TUNDE AVOSEH in my B.V. N. wish to be known and addressed as AVOSEH BABATUNDE GBOLAHAN. All Documents /Credentials bearing these names remain valid, general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as IGINLA HAKEEM OLAMIJUWON now wish to be known and addressed as SHOLANKE HAKEEM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

DANIEL UFUOMA MONICA I formerly known and addressed as UGBUWE UFUOMA MONICA now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL UFUOMA MONICA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ISIAKA MOMOH JIMOH I formerly known and addressed as ENEBE MOMOH JIMOH now wish to be known and addressed as ISIAKA MOMOH JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OLUWASEUN ADELEKE AWOLERE

Formerly known and addressed as Abiodun Kolawole Olumide now wish to be known and addressed as Kolawole Abiodun. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KENNETH AWLLE

Formerly known and addressed as OLASUNBO SANTOS OLAYINKA now wish to be known and addressed as SANTOS OLAYINKA ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NTUKA OYINDAMOLA MARY

I formerly known and addressed as ILOBA BENNETH AWELE now wish to be known and addressed as KENNETH AWLLE .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as YUSUF OYINDAMOLA MARY now wish to be known and addressed as NTUKA OYINDAMOLA MARY .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CHUKWUKA IFEOMA CHRISTINE PAMELA

OLUWASEGUN PETER AJAYI

I formerly known and addressed as ONWU IFEOMA CHRISTINE PAMELA now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUKA IFEOMA CHRISTINE PAMELA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CHANGING OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Olusegun Peter Folarin, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwasegun Peter Ajayi. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OYE ALEX AWOLERE now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEUN ADELEKE AWOLERE. My date of birth is 22/08/1993. .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DELPHINA NGOZI OKOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as IGBODOILA PHINA NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

My name was wrongly written as OLAMIDE ALALUBARIKA ADEYEMI instead of the correct name as OLAMIJI ADEYEMI ALALUBARIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

MRS OBASI FLORENCE SOPULU

MRS OBOH MARYAM NNENNE

That I GANIYU- BALOGUN BUKOLA JELEEL my name was formerly written as GANIYU BUKOLA JELEEL want to Add ‘’ BALOGUN’’ to my name, wish to be known and addressed as GANIYU- BALOGUN BUKOLA JELEEL. All Documents /Credentials bearing these names remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU FLORENCE SOPULU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBASI FLORENCE SOPULU. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EKUMA MARYAM NNENNE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBOH MARYAM NNENNE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

22 Public Notice ONUOHA CHINEMEREM ERNEST

ONUDIOKE CHINEDU JOHN KINGSLEY

I, formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA CHINONSO ERNEST, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUOHA CHINEMEREM ERNEST. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NGWU JOHN KINGSLEY, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUDIOKE CHINEDU JOHN KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

TURUNDU AHUOYIZA ZARA

ILE KOSISOCHI KINGSLEY

I, formerly known and addressed as TURUNDU AHUOYIZA ZARAH, now wish to be known and addressed as TURUNDU AHUOYIZA ZARA. All former documents remain valid. GUARANTY TRUST BANKS General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ILE KASISOCHI .K.F., now wish to be known and addressed as ILE KOSISOCHI KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. GTB and General public should please take note.

TAIWO MERCY OKON

GINIKA CYNTHIA EZE

I, formerly known and addressed as EKPENYONG MERCY OKON, now wish to be known and addressed as TAIWO MERCY OKON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as GINIKA CYNTHIA ANEKE, now wish to be known and addressed as GINIKA CYNTHIA EZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS OGWUCHE ENE ELIZABETH

FAMILY CHANGE OF SURNAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UROKO ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGWUCHE ENE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

We, formerly known and addressed as DONATUS ANAMAUWA ANIODO, SCHOLASTICA IHEANACHO ANIODO and ONYEDIKACHI WISDOM ANIODO, now wish to be known and addressed as DONATUS UDOCHUKWU CHUKWUDO, SCHOLASTICA IHEANACHO CHUKWUDO and ONYEDIKACHI WISDOM CHUKWUDO. All former documents remain valid.

Universities, BANKS and General public should please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

MRS EDE JOSEPHINE CHINYERE

MRS AGBO OLUCHI SUSSAN LYNDA

JANE CHINONSO UWANAKA

MRS EZEUGWU EMMANUELA NONYE

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

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EYA OLUCHI SUSSAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGBO OLUCHI SUSSAN LYNDA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JANE CHINONSO IROHA, now wish to be known and addressed as JANE CHINONSO UWANAKA. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and General Public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGBUNGWU EMMANUELA NONYE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEUGWU EMMANUELA NONYE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS UKATA ESTHER EBERE

MRS ODUME NKECHINYERE VERONICA

MRS ONYIA VIVIAN CHINENYE

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

IGWE CYNTHIA NDIDI

I, formerly known and addressed as IGWE FAITH, now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE CYNTHIA NDIDI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EJIKE-ONUORAH JUSTICE IKECHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as NNATU JUSTICE EMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EJIKE-ONUORAH JUSTICE IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EZE JACINTA CHIZOBA

I, formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR JACINTA CHIZOBA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE JACINTA CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid.

BANKS and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDENSI ESTHER EBERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UKATA ESTHER EBERE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

MRS OKOYEH CHELSEA ADAOBI EKENE

MRS IHENYN ANTHONY BLESSING

MRS LIVINUS GLORIA CHIBUZO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHELSEA ADAOBI EKENE NNOLI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOYEH CHELSEA ADAOBI EKENE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AMAECHI BLESSING NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IHENYN ANTHONY BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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

MRS PETERS VIVIAN OYINYE

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public that building C of O which was registered as 79/79/1530 & another document registered as 26/26/1375 belonging to Mr. Eneje Leonard .C is missing. Property situated at Agulu Street Abakpa Nike and another situated at Independence Layout phase 2 Enugu. If found contact ministry of lands Enugu.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EDE NKECHINYERE VERONICA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ODUME NKECHINYERE VERONICA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as MISS ARINZE VIVIAN OYINYE now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS PETERS VIVIAN OYINYE All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Immigrations, Relevant Authorities and the General public Please take note.

This is to confirm that I am the same person bearing ABUDULLAHI RAHAMAT in my First Bank account and voters card and ADAMU RAHMAT in my Keystone Bank account. All former documents bearing the above mentioned name remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

JESSICA UZUNMA ONYEACHOM

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as PREYE GIFT OLALI instead of SAMPLE GIFT OLALI. That my correct name is SAMPLE GIFT OLALI. all former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JESSICA UZUNMA UBANI-UKOMA ;now wish to be known as JESSICA UZUNMA ONYEACHOM. All former documents remain valid. EMBASSIES, BANKS and General public take note.

MRS. FAMOSA OLAKUNBI

ONYAITERU RHODA BIMPE

I formerly known called and addressed as MRS LAWAL OLAKUNBI, now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS. FAMOSA OLAKUNBI. All former documents remain valid,authorities concerned and general public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE RHODA, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYAITERU RHODA BIMPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IVIE ERONWMON OKWUEGBUNA

MRS DARAMOLA OLAPOSI RUTH

MRS BLESSING ELOH IKUESAN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

MRS IWUABA UZOMA EUCHARIA

I , formerly known and addressed as Ivie Eronwmon Emokpae now wish to be known and addressed as Ivie Eronwmon Okwuegbuna. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I, Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ologundudu Ruth Olaposi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Daramola Olaposi Ruth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss BLESSING ELOH AKPOJISHERI now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs BLESSING ELOH IKUESAN . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to confirm that Okonkwo Michael Nwankwo is the same person as Enuani Michael Okonkwo.

Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Okonkwo Michael Enuani. All documents bearing these names remain valid and should be treated as one person.General public take note

I, Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mozie Uzoma Eucharia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Iwuaba Uzoma Eucharia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NOSA LOVEIAN OBAYAGBONNA now wish to be known and addressed as NOSA ADETUNJI AJAYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OKODUGHA CHIKODINAKA FLORENCE

BADUNG RUTH DALYOP

I, formerly known and addressed as NWACHUKWU CHIKODINAKA FLORENCE now wish to be known and addressed as OKODUGHA CHIKODINAKA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as RUTH NVOU AFAM now wish to be known and addressed as BADUNG RUTH DALYOP. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEYINKA OMOKEHINDE ELIZABETH I, formerly known and addressed as DADA OMOKEHINDE ADEYINKA now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYINKA OMOKEHINDE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHIKA AKAN ISREAL

OKEKE UCHE CAROLINE

ESTHER ADEITAN ATANDA

DANIEL SHARON MUNACHIMSO

DANIEL DANIELLA NKEMAKOLAM

I formerly known and addressed as JUDE SHARON MUNACHIMSO now wish to be known called and addressed as DANIEL SHARON MUNACHIMSO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JUDE DANIELLA NKEMAKOLAM now wish to be known called and addressed as DANIEL DANIELLA NKEMAKOLAM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BADMUS KAFILAT IYABO now wish to be known called and addressed as OLOKEDE GRACE IYABO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KINGSLEY ANGELA ITOHAN

UDELLE ENDURANCE AITUAJIE

I formerly known and addressed as OSAGIE ANGELA ITOHAN now wish to be known called and addressed as KINGSLEY ANGELA ITOHAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ORIABOR ENDURANCE AITUAJIE now wish to be known called and addressed as UDELLE ENDURANCE AITUAJIE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/ DATE OF BIRTH

ROMANUS EJIKE LEVI

AKEEM SHADE BUKOLA

Formerly known and addressed as ARAWU EJIKE LEVI, now wish to be known and addressed as ROMANUS EJIKE LEVI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AFOLAYAN BUKOLA SHADIAT, now wish to be known and addressed as AKEEM SHADE BUKOLA. My correct date of birth is 14/02/1982 and not 03/03/1982.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKINBOLADE OLUWOLE TAIWO Formerly known and addressed as AKINBOLADE OLUWOLE JACOB, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINBOLADE OLUWOLE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLOKEDE GRACE IYABO

SAIDU NATHAN MISRADA

I, formerly known and addressed as SAIDU HARUNA, now wish to be known and addressed as SAIDU NATHAN MISRADA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CHIKAODI RITA EZEALA now wish to be known and addressed as CHIKA AKAN ISREAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS JIMOH OLUWATOSIN BILIKIS

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ONANUGA OLUWATOSIN BILIKIS now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS JIMOH OLUWATOSIN BILIKIS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ONWUCHULUM UCHE CAROLINE now wish to be known called and addressed as OKEKE UCHE CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JIMOH LATIFAT ADEOLA

NOSA ADETUNJI AJAYI

I formerly known and addressed as JOKE ADEITAN LAWAL now wish to be known called and addressed as ESTHER ADEITAN ATANDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EZEUGO BELIEVE IBUKUN

I formerly known and addressed as JIMOH WAHEED now wish to be known called and addressed as JIMOH LATIFAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ANJORIN BELIEVE IBUKUN now wish to be known called and addressed as EZEUGO BELIEVE IBUKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

UGBONWA ANTHONIA

PETER OLUSEGUN AKEREDOLU

My name was wrongly written as AMUSAT OLAWOLE SIKIRU instead of AMUSA SIKIRU KOLAWOLE and my date of birth was wrongly written as 28/12/1965 instead of 12/06/1982. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EKHORAGBON ANTHONIA now wish to be known called and addressed as UGBONWA ANTHONIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as PETER OLUSEGUN OSAMUDIAMEN EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as PETER OLUSEGUN AKEREDOLU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BAMIDELE OPEYEMI, now wish to add AGBETOYE to my former name, That I now wish to be known and addressed as AGBETOYE BAMIDELE OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKANI ADIJAT OLUWARANTI

ABIOYE TAIWO RUKAYAT

MRS. ITORO AUGUSTINE ADEDIRAN

AJIBOLA ISMAHEEL AYINDE

I, formerly known and addressed as GBADGEHIN ADIJAT OLUWARANTI, Now wish to be known and addressed as AKANI ADIJAT OLUWARANTI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BABALOLA TAIYE RUKAYAT, Now wish to be known and addressed as ABIOYE TAIWO RUKAYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ITORO AUGUSTINE UDOH now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ITORO AUGUSTINE ADEDIRAN . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AJIBOLA ISMAHEEL OLANREWAJU, Now wish to be known and addressed as AJIBOLA ISMAHEEL AYINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Public Notice 23

24 Public Notice

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

VOICE AND VISIBILITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) UMUKORO ONAJITE 2) UMUKORO ERHIMEYOMA 3) MARY EJIROGHENE IMARAH 4) EBRUKE ONAJITE ESIKE

Public Notice 25

GOOD WOMEN ASSOCIATION AJEROMI RAILWAY LINE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLY TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES, ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES, AMENDMENT OF AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AND MEETINGS UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BIOLA OGUNYEMI - RETAINED. 2. AJIMUDA KEHINDE - RETAINED

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: UMUKORO ONAJITE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to notify the general public of the Loss of Original Original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. FCT/ ABU/MISC. 10.323 for plot No. 1013 situated in Utako District - Abuja with initial Title name Pil-Gani Nigeria Limited.

The said document belongs to Lassa Limited.

All efforts made to trace the document proved abortive.

AGIS, Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AWO-OMAMMA PATRIOTIC UNION, ABUJA BRANCH 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.

TRUSTEES 1. ENGR BERTRAN UCHEM OKECHUKWU 2. CHIEF DANIEL ONONGAYA 3. THEODORE MICHAEL NWAOKWE 4. LONGINUS CHINENYE MBUOM AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR ALL SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF AWO-OMAMMA RESIDENT IN ABUJA TO MEET AND FRATERNIZE AMONG THEMSELVES. 2. TO PROMOTE THE NORMS, VALUES AND CULTURE OF AWO-OMAMMA .

3. TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE MEANINGFUL VENTURES OR PROJECTS IN AWO-OMAMMA. 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: BARR KELVIN EMEKA OKORO 08037019162 (SOLICITORS)

AFRO-ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE DEVELOPMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BRO. OGHENEKEVWE JOHN OCHUKO - PRESIDENT/GENERAL OVERSEERS. 2. SIE. BLESSING OCHUKO - VICE-PRESIDENT. 3. SIS. VICTORIA ATANOMA - MEMBER. 4. BRO. NOBLE OCHUKO - MEMBER. 5. BRO JEFFREY EMOVON - SECRETARY.

ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. RAYMOND OLUGBENGA TEDUNJAYE - ADDED. 2. MS OHAERI VICTORIA IHUOMA - ADDED. 3. ADEBAYO WAIDI GBENRO - ADDED. 4. COM. AGBODEMU ISHOLA MUSBAU - ADDED. 5. DR AKINLADE BABAFEMI TAOFIK - ADDED.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE PEACE AND SOCIETAL STABILITY

OUTPOURING GRACE OF GOD CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

AIM AND OBJECTIVE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PLACE OF WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND FOR THE PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AND EDIFICATION.

REMOVED TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ZAINAB ZAKARI - REMOVED. 2. ROSEMARY EYIAROMI - REMOVED. 3. ABIODUN MEDUNOYE - REMOVED. AMENDMENT OF AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AND MEETINGS. 1. ARTICLE 3: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 2. ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS ADDITION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OMEIZA OVAKACHI IBRAHIM. ESQ

08038645688.

JANET AYINKE MONILOLA AKINLEYE 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ahmed Omolewa Yetunde, 2. Akinleye Abayomi, 3. Oladipo Temilade Oluremi, 4. Adewoyin Olajumoke Moromoke, 5. Akinleye Oluwabukola Abiodun, 6. Ahmed Abdulfatah Oluwadamilare.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. OYIBO ALEXANDER DAVID- PRESIDENT. 2. OMEDE GLORIA - SECRETARY. 3. OMATIGA JOY ELE. 4. IDRIS ADEJO.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the welfare of the less privileged in the society.

2. To promote the education and economic wellbeing of the youths and the less privileged in the society.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 daysof this publication

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: D.A MOMOH ESQ.

QORAL GROVEL LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ASSOCIATION

HONEY EMBASSY CHURCH WORLD WIDE

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.

TRUSTEES 1. CHUKWU NDUDIRIM 2. TOWE NATHANIEL OKIREMUETE 3. IJEH PETER NWACHUKWU 4. ABIODUN AKANBI 5. MOSES OLADELE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO MAKE QORAL ESTATE A DECENT, SERENE, TRANQUIL AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT WITH ADEQUATE SECURITY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL, AMENITIES FOR SOCIAL PURSUITS, AND GENERALLY TO FOSTER A SPIRIT OF GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP AMONG THE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. 2.TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST, WELFARE, SECURITY AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE ESTATE. 3. TO PROMOTE COLLECTIVE SECURITY ARRANGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF QORAL GROVE ESTATE. 4. TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ESTATE. 5. TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR RESIDENTS VIEWS, COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ON MATTERS WHICH CONCERN THE ESTATE, INCLUDING THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 daysof this publication SIGNED: EBERE OKONKWO FCIS 08091212084 SOLICITOR.

SOUTHPOINTE AND LAKEVIEW PARK 2 ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH 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.PASTOR OGBOGU VIANO AUGUSTINE - CHAIRMAN 2.MR DETUKE DENNIS - SECRETARY 3.MRS JOSEPHINE OGBOGU - MEMBER 4.DCNS OFIDE MONICA - MEMBER 5.MR OGHENETOJA OVIE ANDREW - MEMBER 6.DR BABARINDE JAMES DELE - MEMBER THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 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 28DAYSOF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

GENTLEMEN’S CLUB OWERRI IMO STATE NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Change Of Trustees under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

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

TRUSTEES 1. PROF ETANNIBI ALEMIKA 2. PROF PARMOD KUMAR 3. MR SATISH KUMAR SHARMA 4. DR BENSON OLUGBUO 5. MRS BLESSING ABIRI

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OMO OMORODION - REMOVED 2. OLUSEGUN ADEBAYO JOHNSON - REMOVED 3. OLUBUNMI ATINUKE AFOLABI - RETAINED 4. CHRIS ASIA - RETAINED 5. OSINUGA ADEKUNLE OSINUGA - RETAINED

TRUSTEES 1. ANUSIEM PRINCE ISAAC 2. OJIAKO IKENNA UMUNNAKWE 3. UKEGBU GODSON CHIBUZOR 4. UKPA SUNDAY JOHN 5. EZIRIM FRANCIS EBERE

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. TO ADVANCE JUSTICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY GENDER RIGHTS, ELECTION SYSTEMS AND GOVERNANCE FROM A MULTI-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE AND A SOUTH-SOUTH APPROACH.

THE NEWLY APPOINTED TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MICHAEL AKHIDENOR 2. OLUREMI ADEKOLA

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: ANAYO IKEAH ABUJA

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this Application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: Miss Toyin Ogedengbe Secretary to the Association

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 2. TO EMPOWER THE YOUTHS THROUGH SKILL ACQUISITION. 3. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 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: ANUSIEM PRINCE ISAAC

OYEDELE SHADE

OLDOGUN MERCY

NGOZI AGHEDO

CHUKWUMA ANUM

IBIOKU GABRIEL-WHYTE

ALOBA OLUWABUSOLA

I formerly known and addressed as SALAMI SHADE ADIMO Now wish to be known and addressed as OYEDELE SHADE AJMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLDOGUN MERCY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKPONE MERCY ITHON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as miss.

NGOZI IRON PRISCILLIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NGOZI AGHEDO PRISCILLIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, CHUKWUMA ANUM, now wish to be known and addressed as, ANUMUDU TITUS CHUKWUMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. IBIOKU GABRIELWHYTE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. IBIOKU WHYTE ENIA-HARRIS. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ALOBA OLUWABUSOLA OLUBUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. AKINDAYINI OLUWABUSOLA OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ALIU CHINYERE

UGWUANYA BLESSING

IBE FLORENCE

WHOSOWN EDWIN

ANYANWU LILIAN

ORODU PRECIOUS

I formerly known and addressed as ALIU USMAN CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as ALIU CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, UGWUANYA BLESSING ONYEWUCHI, and SUNDAY BLESSING ONYEBUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as, UGWUANYA BLESSING LUCY. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, IBE FLORENCE CHINURU, now wish to be known and addressed as, IBE FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as, WHOSOWN EDWIN OWAKWE, now wish to be known and addressed as, GODSOWN EDWIN CHUKWUBUEZE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ANYANWU LILIAN CHIKA, now wish to be known and addressed as, IHEDIOHA LILIAN CHIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ORODU PRECIOUS NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ROBINSON PRECIOUS NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

26 Public Notice GENTLEMEN’S CLUB OWERRI IMO STATE NIGERIA THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. ANUSIEM PRINCE ISAAC 2. OJIAKO IKENNA UMUNNAKWE 3. UKEGBU GODSON CHIBUZOR 4. UKPA SUNDAY JOHN 5. EZIRIM FRANCIS EBERE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 2. TO EMPOWER THE YOUTHS THROUGH SKILL ACQUISITION. 3. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

HONEY EMBASSY CHURCH WORLD WIDE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH 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 ABOVE NAMED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.PASTOR OGBOGU VIANO AUGUSTINE - CHAIRMAN 2.MR DETUKE DENNIS - SECRETARY 3.MRS JOSEPHINE OGBOGU - MEMBER 4.DCNS OFIDE MONICA - MEMBER 5.MR OGHENETOJA OVIE ANDREW - MEMBER 6.DR BABARINDE JAMES DELE - MEMBER

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BRO. OGHENEKEVWE JOHN OCHUKO - PRESIDENT/GENERAL OVERSEERS. 2. SIE. BLESSING OCHUKO - VICE-PRESIDENT. 3.SIS. VICTORIA ATANOMA - MEMBER. 4. BRO. NOBLE OCHUKO - MEMBER. 5. BRO JEFFREY EMOVON - SECRETARY.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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.

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 : ANUSIEM PRINCE ISAAC

SIGNED : SECRETARY

ALIU CHINYERE I formerly known and addressed as ALIU USMAN CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as ALIU CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS ZAINAB ABU

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. IYABODE ADEYINKA ONTIRI, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ZAINAB ABU Due to marital status. All former documents remain valid.

General public and authorities concerned should take note.

OYEDELE SHADE AJMOH

MRS AKPONE MERCY ITHON

I formerly known and addressed as SALAMI SHADE ADIMO Now wish to be known and addressed as OYEDELE SHADE AJMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLDOGUN MERCY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKPONE MERCY ITHON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS BAKARE GLORY EDORE

DANIEL OLUFUNMILAYO CLEMENTINA

FORMALLY JOSEPH GLORY EDORE, NOW TO BE ADDRESS AS MRS BAKARE GLORY EDORE LASG, LSNC AND GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID

OUTPOURING GRACE OF GOD CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

I, formerly known and addressed as SOTADE OLUFUNMILAYO ABISOLA CLEMENTINA, Now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL OLUFUNMILAYO CLEMENTINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public and authorities concerned should take note.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE. TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PLACE OF WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND FOR THE PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AND EDIFICATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

AYUBA SHEU BABATUNDE I, formerly known and addressed as LAWAL SHEU BABATUNDE, Now wish to be known and addressed as AYUBA SHEU BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LAWAL TAIWO ELIZABETH I, formerly known and addressed as OLAKUNLE TAIWO ELIZABETH, Now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL TAIWO ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. OYIBO ALEXANDER DAVID- PRESIDENT. 2. OMEDE GLORIA - SECRETARY. 3. OMATIGA JOY ELE. 4. IDRIS ADEJO. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: D.A MOMOH ESQ.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Health

One of the EU, UNICEF water projects in Akwa Ibom State.

27

s

Mrs Sarah Nathaniel washing hands under Tippy-Tap

Relief, jubilation as EU, UNICEF rescue Akwa Ibom communities from water challenge Stories by Angela Onwuzoo The people of Ikot-Esop and Ikot Ukpong communities in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, are full of gratitude to the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), for the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects carried out in their communities to end many years of water scarcity and its attendant consequences in the area.

Rolling out drums to celebrate the new lease of life offered them by both world bodies - in collaboration with the state government, the people,

especially the women, pointed out that their sufferings were over, as they now have more time to themselves and families.

Before the provision of potable drinking water to these communities, the people said they had no access to safe drinking water. The only source of their water supply was from a small river in the area which had no access road.

Trekking to the river, the residents told our correspondent, takes over 20 minutes, while school children were the worst hit as they were constantly faced with lateness to school as a result of delays they face in fetching water from the river.

For the women, household

chores and food preparation became a herculean task as a result of water scarcity. Worse still, many of the women were exposed to risk of violence and physical attack by wild animals, including snakes.

In their commendation to EU and UNICEF for the water project, the women said they no longer spend the whole day fetching water from the river. “Also, our children have stopped going to school late because they no longer go to the river to fetch water before going to school.

We are very happy for this project, We thank UNICEF and we thank the EU.” The potable water supply was among the various interven-

Lagos launches Alert Clinic to tackle disease outbreak As part of efforts to check the outbreak of Lassa Fever, polio and diarrheal diseases in Lagos State, its Ministry of Health and Primary Healthcare Board, in collaboration with EpidAlert will, today, launch a health technology known as AlertClinic.

AlertClinic, it was gathered, seeks to use technology to reorganise communities around disaster areas, prevent outbreak of diseases, and assist in warning, response and recovery during emergencies.

According to its founder/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Lawal Bakare, AlertClinic is a communication and notification system designed with algorithms around information flow and the persuasion of criti-

cal behaviours and choices.

Bakare said in its pilot phase, AlertClinic seeks to tackle malaria, Lassa fever, diarrheal diseases and polio.

“These four diseases stand as major threats to the disease control systems of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Board and indeed, the entire people in the state. AlertClinicwill provide two-way notification support to communities and households, and more importantly, the public health institution in Lagos where the Ministry of Health leads at the peak and the Disease Notification Officers of the Local Government Areas at the grassroots.”

He noted that AlertClinic is aimed at ensuring that the bur-

den of malaria, Lassa fever and cholera (and other diarrheal diseases) dropped in target communities.

“Notification will rise for the ‘notifiable’ diseases and the public health response time will drop when threats are identified, leaving communities healthier and more resilient”, he said.

Bakare also said after its launch today (31st August), AlertClinic will be experienced online and offline in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Lagos Mainland was selected to play the role for this phase as the Local Government presents the ecosystem for early uptake of technology innovations as well an environment that will benefit from it.

tions provided for these communities by UNICEF under its WASH programme, aimed at improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria especially in the rural areas.

It is also part of the rural component of the Niger Delta Support Project (NDSP) which seeks to mitigate the conflict in the Niger Delta by addressing the main causes of the unrest and violence, unemployment and poor delivery of basic services through the WASH intervention programmes as entry point.

Wife of the Village Head, Mrs. Sarah Akpan Nathaniel, who could not hide her joy, told our correspondent that now water is available within easy reach, cooking was no longer a difficult task for her. Before now, she recalled, going to the river alone would not only take her time, but would drained the energy she would have used to prepare food for her family.

“Everything about the kitchen is water,” she said with feeling, “And everything about bathing and washing is also water so, we are happy for the WASH programme. The benefit of this safe water supply is so great because there is nobody in this village that has not benefited from it. It has made life easier for everybody, particularly the older women and men who do not have anybody to go down to the river to fetch water for them.”

A mother of six among the jubilating women, Mrs. Ibiok Nelson, said the project has reduced the pain of her children and conflict among them occasioned by water scarcity.

“They always quarreled among themselves over who will go to the river to fetch wa-

ter. But since UNICEF and EU made this water available to us, my children no longer quarrel.

And they no longer go to school late like before,” she said gratefully.

The story of Mrs. Eno John was the same also; she urged the donors to spread the project to their neighbouring communities.

According to data from UNICEF, over 57 million Nigerians still fetch and drink water from rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and irrigation canals.

In his welcome address to journalists and UNICEF officials at his palace, village head of Ikot-Esop, Chief Akpan Nathaniel expressed his profound gratitude to UNICEF, “Because we had never had any safe water supply since the existence of this community.”

Speaking at a media parley on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Uyo recently at a programme organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Ministry of Information, UNICEF WASH specialist, Martha Hokonya, called for more investment in water supply, noting that availability of safe drinking water contributes to increased health status. Martha further stressed that poor water supply, sanitation and hygiene causes more than half of global diarrheal diseases, which remains the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five.

In his opening remarks, UNICEF Communications Specialist in Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, pointed out that water is critical to children and human survival and therefore, must be accorded a priority.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Imohimi replaces Owoseni as Lagos Police Commissioner

Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday appointed Imohimi Edgar, as the new Commissioner of Police incharge-of the Lagos State Command- replacing Fatai Owoseni.

This followed Edgar’s recent promotion to Acting Commissioner of police by the Police Service Commission.

Edgar, a seasoned police officer, who was until his promotion, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, in-charge-of Operations, in Lagos State, was instrumental in ending activities of the dreaded Badoo cult and militants carrying out kidnappings within Ikorodu and its adjoining communities.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of

Police, on February 2, 1986, serving in various commands and formations of the NPF within the country in several capacities, spending most of his days at the Lagos State Police Command.

A 1984 graduate of Arts at the University of Jos, who went on to bag a Masters Degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Lagos in 2004, Edgar is highly trained on Community and Intelligence Gathering Policing, enabling him in organising the first Community Policing summits in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.

It’s on record that Edgar, who served as the Divisional Police Officer of Shomolu Police Division, Seme Police Division, Ikeja and Surelere Police Divisions, between the year 2003 and 2011, as a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, before he was promoted and appointed the Assistant

Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge-of the Area A Command, Lagos, obtained a diploma degree in Police Science.

He also obtained a certificate of National Security for Nigeria Defense Intelligence, at the Centre of Strategic Studies, Galilee International Management Institute in Israel and the Defense Intelligence College, Abuja in 2015, which necessitated his appointment as the ACP in-charge-of the Intelligence at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

An expert in Community Policing, Edgar attended several courses organised by the Department For International Development, DFID, United Kingdom, in Lagos, Awka, Anambra States and Staff College Jos, Plateau State, making him Community Policing in Nigeria.

In 2010, Edgar, as DPO Ikeja Division, launched the first Community Policing in Ikeja,

Lagos State. He hosted security stakeholders in Ikeja, at Savoy Suite, GRA and lectured participants on how to assist the police on Community Policing.

Following his promotion to the rank of a DCP and his appointment as DC Ops Lagos State, Edgar through his community policing experience, mobilised a joint security operation, involving members of the Oodua Progress Congress, OPC, Ikorodu Local Vigilante, Onyabo, the Departments of State Security, DSS, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, traditionalists and some local chiefs in Ikorodu, in tackling the menace of the Badoo cult group, which has killed several persons in Ikorodu and Ogijo areas of Lagos and Ogun State. His efforts aided the discovery of a suspected notorious shrine which was used for ritual purposes.

Peace Corps deploy officers to Eidgrounds, to tackle crime in Nasarawa Augustine Kuza, Lafia

ÏÏÏ

As part of activities to tackle crime in Nasarawa state the commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Mr.Bala Joshua, said that the command had deployed its officers to mosques, Eidgrounds and flashing points in order to ensure Eid-elKabir sallah celebration in the state.

The commandant made this known on Wednesday in Lafia while addressing over 90 field training officers of the corps from the 13 local government areas of the state who are undergoing 3 days routine training with the command.

He said that the corp had deployed its officer to mosques, Eid-ground and other strategic places so as to assist other security agencies to ensured hitch free Eidel-Kabir sallah celebration across the state in the interest of peace and national development.

“As you are all aware that this training is a routine exercise of all the field training officers from the 13 local government areas of the state so that they can impact the same knowledge to officers in their respective duties post.

“We have decided to train you for effective service delivery so as to ensure peace through by assisting other security agencies in combating crime in the state and the country at large,” he added.

He urged members to use the knowledge gained in order to fight crime in their respective local government and development areas respectively.

According to him, “We are collaborating with other security agencies to sensitize the people on the need for them to behave well, shun crime and other negative tendencies in order to have a hitch sallah celebration.

He tasked the men of the command to maintain standard and adhere strictly to their professional ethics during and after the sallah celebration.

“I want to call on the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians to see Sallah celebration as a way of transforming our faith with God and their brothers and to live according to the teaching of the holy Quran which preaches peace, love and unity,” he added.

The state commandant called on Nigerians to be law abiding, and respect constituted authorities irrespective of their differences, adding that no meaningful development can be achieved in any society without peace.

Earlier, Commander, Field Officers Training of the command, Mr. Kakpo Ayen, stressed that the officers had been trained in different areas especially the Drill parade training for effective service delivery and to ensure peace in the state.

Sokoto releases N680m for LG pensions, severance gratuities past executive ÏÏÏGovernor Aminu immediate councils of the 23 local

L-R: Senate Leader, Senator,Ahmed Lawan; former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae; Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Vice President of Club De Madrid and former President of Mauritius, Cassam Uttem and Senator Shehu Sani, during a visit to the Senate President by the Club De Madrid’s delegation in Abuja… recently.

Nwadinobi Foundation partner Mrs Ikpeazu over VHF Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÏÏÏ

A non-governmental organization with national and international appeal, Nwadinobi Foundation has partnered the office of the Abia First Lady over the indigent in the state.

In a courtesy call to Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu in her office yesterday, the founder, John K. Nwadinobi informed the first lady that he and his foundation felt it necessary to visit, the foundation has long history of partnering with Abia State Government” over rural health, sports,

empowerment and so on by providing medical supplies and sports equipment to the government.

Nwadinobi disclosed that his foundation is currently on medical missions to various health institutions recalling that in 2008, eight rural hospitals received various supplies and in 2009, donated a 48-ft container with various medical equipments including ultra-sound equipment, x-ray machines, scanning equipment and other medical supplies which the government directed to General Hospital, Amachara, Umuahia.

He disclosed that he was

at the government house, Umuahia to also identify with and assist the pet project of the Abia first lady, stating “I realized your responsibility which include taking over of the responsibility and issues of the less-privileged through various medical checks that include the sickle cell anemia.”

The national and international medical Doctor based in the US used the opportunity to donate bags of rice, wrappers, toiletries, beverages and other drinks worth several millions of naira to assist the less-privileged through the office of the Abia

First Lady and VHF. He described the ideals of VHF as a “worthy project”, stating “we want to help bring all that the people need so that when you go forward, we will all support you.”

Responding, the wife of the Abia state Governor and the founder, Vicar Hope Foundation, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu thanked him and his foundation for the assistance he has so far given to Abia state Government and now her pet project, VHF, stating that it is the duty of the foundation to assist the less-privileged, pointing out that it is a task she cannot do alone.

Waziri Tambuwal has approved the release of about six hundred and eighty million (N680m) for the settlement of accumulated pensions for teachers, local government staff and severance gratuity for former Councillors in Sokoto state.

A statement issued in Sokoto Wednesday by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Alhaji Mannir Dan’Iya, said already, payments have started and all beneficiaries will receive their entitlements in due course.

“The breakdown of the funds released indicate that the sum of N504.2millionis to be paid to former teachers and local government staff as accumulated pension while the sum of N172.8 million has been released to former Councillors who served in the

government areas to settle their severance gratuity.

“These payments show that government is responsive to the needs of all former employees and elected office holders.We will continue to treat our present and former employees with all the dignity and respect they deserve,” Dan’Iya added.

The Commissioner commended workers in the local government councils for their commitment, and assured that government will continue to meet its obligations to workers at all times.

It will be recalled that in February this year, the state government released the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of accumulated gratuity from the year 2010 for the staff of local government councils of Sokoto state.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

29

News 30

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Ekiti Assembly suspends Fajana for 101 days Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏPolitical crisis between

Ekiti State Givernor, Ayo Fayose and his estranged political daughter, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, has taken a new turn with the suspension of the Legislator representing Ekiti East Constituency 1, Hon Fajana Ojoade by the Ekiti State House of Assembly for a period of 101 legislative days without pay, in the first instance, except he shows signs of genuine remorse.

While on suspension, he is also barred within 1km radius of the Assembly complex and he must submit all properties of EKHA in his custody to the clerk of the House.

It has been reported by many National newspapers that there was a bloody clash between Fayose and

Olujimi camp in the state last weekend during a meeting organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekota-Ekiti, Ekiti East where many people were injured.

However, in a release signed on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti by the Chairman House Committee on information, Hon Dr. Samuel Omotoso, the suspension came into force, after the disciplinary committee set up by the Rt Hon Speaker to investigate Hon Fajana Ojoade submitted its report at today’s plenary.

The Chairman said that Hon Fajana Ojoade appeared twice at the sitting of the disciplinary committee in the last 2 weeks, where he defended himself on allegations of Gross misconduct, financial impropriety, failed attempt at removing the Speaker, violence and physical attack on

honourable members as well as bringing the name of the house to serious disregard and disrepute.

Dr. Omotoso stated further that the committee in its report said that “” whereas Hon Fajana Ojoade, a member of the 5th assembly representing Ekiti east 1, haven been found guilty of gross misconduct against the Ekiti state house of Assembly, hereby committed an offence, by breaching the extant rules and standing orders of this honourable house”.

He said the house at its plenary today, Wednesday 30th of August 2017, unanimously approved the recommendations of the disciplinary committee as follows: “That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade is hereby suspended from the Ekiti State House of As-

sembly and all legislative duties for a period of 101 legislative days without pay, in the first instance, except there is a sign of genuine remorse.

“That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade should write a letter of apology through the Rt Hon Speaker to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“That Hon Fajana Ojo-Ade is hereby barred within 1km radius of the Assembly complex and must summit all the official properties in his care to the clerk of the House.”

Dr Samuel Omotoso stated further that, the Ekiti State House of Assembly, as a product of the rule of law, will at all times frown at any form of inappropriate behaviour by any member, in our attempt to preserve the sanctity and the integrity of the institution for posterity.

We want to go home says IDPs Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Bama Local Government in Borno State have called on the federal and state governments to put in more efforts towards rebuilding Bama and taking them back to their homes, disclosing that about 22,000 children from Bama Local Government in the camp alone have lost their parents to the insurgency.

This was made known by the Secretary of Bama Initiatives Association, Kachalla Grema Kiari in a monitored media conversation.

Kiari said that maintained that for the war against insurgency to the won, government must involve local hunters and rangers who are conversant with the terrain, adding that some IDPs should be allowed to settle in some of the reconstructed houses in Bama and Banki since leaving them un-occupied may lead to the dilapidation of the buildings and also create a safe haven for the insurgents to re-occupy them.

He maintained that the Nigerian army has a glowing record of war successes in Liberia and Mali but wandered why after eight years, the feat could be replicated in the country.

According to him, most of the IDPs from Borno live in Maiduguri, some in the IDP camps while some of are in the host community, explaining that the greatest challenges has always ranged from medication, lack of accommodation, schools.

“We have about 22,000 or-

phans from Bama alone, complete orphans who don”t have either father or mother. Some of them are in the IDP camps, some are living with relatives in the host community, some are roaming the street, they have turned to street children begging.

“The State and federal government including the military, they have done their best but taking into cognizance a lot of needs still needs to be addressed.

“Particularly in Bama, government has reconstructed parts of the community. Now that we are in the rainy season, if these people are not resettled back, the houses are empty and if it continues like that, government is going to be faced with another round of reconstruction cost.

“What we are saying is that those places that have been reconstructed, let some people go in and resettle there.

If there are interventions, let those interventions be brought to them there. There are a lot of crises in the IDP camps.If they are resettled back in the communities, then those other issues will arrested.

“We do appreciate the efforts of the government and the NGOs but what we are saying is that the insurgents themselves if they realize that the recovered communities are left empty, they will regroup and come and attack the military formations in those communities. If people are there, then some of us will give information on the movements of the insurgents around those areas. But without resettlement, the issue of insurgency will not end.

Police parade robbery suspects, housewife for killing 2-week old baby Samuel Luka, Bauchi

ÏÏÏA 19 years old house National Chairman, United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie (left), presenting certificate of return to Anambra State gubernatorial candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Weak institutions cause of ineffective fight against corruption, Wike says

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe

fight against corruption in the country cannot be effective when national institutions are weak and dependent on government.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State made this assertion during a courtesy call on him by officials of Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

The governor who accepted the invitation of Chatham House to deliver a keynote address on development issues in the country noted that political influence has made the fight

against corruption ineffective.

He said: “It is difficult to fight corruption when the institutions are weak. It may just be a political tool to attract sympathy from western countries.

In Nigeria, the institutions are subservient to the President.

Here, Police is central, but the institution is now being used for illegal acts. That is corruption.”

The governor said that fighting corruption on the pages of newspapers amounted to playing to the gallery without achieving the desired results.

He said: “The fight against corruption must be holistic.

It should not be a political weapon against opponents of

the government. We have instances of mass corruption in the state, but Federal agencies frustrate all attempts at prosecution. This is because the affected persons are influential members of the ruling party.”

Governor Wike said that the Rivers State Government was fighting corruption, and invited all and sundry to join hands to fight the menace in a transparent manner.

On the invitation to Chatham House, the governor said it was a good opportunity to share experiences with the international community on development in the country.

Earlier, the Manager of the Africa Programme at Cha-

tham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Tighisti Amare invited Governor Wike to the institute to deliver a keynote address on international and national developmental issues.

Also speaking, one of the authors of the “New Chatham House Report: Radical Rethink Needed to tackle corruption in Nigeria”, Dr Leena Hoffmann, said there was a need to fight corruption because it was vital for the development of the nation.

She presented “New Chatham House Report: Radical Rethink Needed to tackle corruption in Nigeria” to Governor Wike. The governor promised to study the report.

wife, Hindatu Abdullahi, was among the over 16 suspects criminals paraded before newsmen by the Bauchi state police for various offences on Wednesday.

The house wife was arrested for poisoning her 2 weekold step son to death with toxic insecticide.

Abdullahi, a mother of one who was paraded alongside other suspects at Police headquarters in Bauchi on Wednesday confessed to committing the crime.

She said troubled in her 2 years marriage forced her to kill her step son with toxic insecticide.

“I was forced to marry my husband as a second wife at age of 17, I never love him and since we got married, my husband and his first wife have been maltreating me so I decided to poison the boy out of frustration”. She said.

Weeping while narrating her ordeal, Abduallah said “ I was taken to vigilante group who gave me 80 lashes of

cane before I was brought to police station. I am regretting my action. I never knew what came over me. I’m begging for forgiveness from my husband, eldest wife and security operatives,” Abdullahi added.

Parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Office of the state command, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar said “on 19/08/2017, a case was reported at Maina Maji division that in the house of one Abdullahi Ori Male of Wurs Bogga village, Duguri district of Alkaleri LG, whom went for this year’s hajj pilgrimage at Saudi Arabia leaving his two wife’s at home, Fatima Abdullahi and Hindatu Abdulahi the younger wife.

“The said Hindatu Abdullahi took the child of her co-wife, Fatima Abdullahi named Mohammed Abdullahi, a two weeks old baby and went into her room with the baby and put into his mouth an insecticide popularly known as pia-pia, as a result the baby became unconscious and was rushed to nearby dispensary and later the baby died.

AfroBasket: Hard work, determination gave D’Tigress victory—Aisha Frank Jumbo

C

aptain of the victorious D’Tigress team to the just concluded women AfroBasket championship in Ba-

mako, Mali, Aisha Mohammed has attributed their victory in the competition to hard work and determination.

She told our correspondent shortly after the team landed at the

Murtala Mohammed International Airport Monday night aboard Air Cote d’Ivoire that the team worked very hard which enabled them win all their eight matches even as she commended the technical crew

Thursday, August 31, 2017

EXTRATIME

31

led by Coach Sam Vincent, for doing a wonderful job and the NBBF for motivating the team throughout the duration of the championship.

Aisha who described their quarterfinal game against host nation Mali as the toughest noted that they are ready to put up a good performance at the FIBA World Cup slated for next year in Spain.

Supporters Club set for Eagles’ match —Ikpea Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja

WCQ:

Ezenwa to start, as Ajiboye replaces Akpeyi Stories by Andrew Ekejiuba

I

kechukwu Ezenwa, who captained Nigeria’s Africa Nations Championship squad that eliminated Benin Republic penultimate weekend to qualify for next year’s continental finals in Kenya, will start in goal for the Super Eagles against Cameroon in Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying cracker in Uyo.

This was announced at the team’s press conference held at the Ibom Meridien Hotel, Uyo on Wednesday.

South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who was in goal in the November 2016 3-1 win over Algeria at the same venue, has finally been ruled out of action on Friday as a result of injury.

Former junior international Dele Ajiboye, who is number one goal –ten-

Ugbade

der for Nigeria Professional Football League table –toppers Plateau United, has been called in to replace Akpeyi.

As at Wednesday afternoon, there had been no definite word from the Cameroonians to the Nigeria Football Federation as to their arrival time or mode of transport into Nigeria.

Friday’s showdown at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium will kick off by 5pm.

NFF, Zenith launch second Future Eagles tourney Stars Championship.

At the event, held inside the offices of Lagos State Football Association, Onikan were NFF 1st Vice President/Chairman of Youth Football Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi; Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (second Zenith Bank’s Head of Digiright) with Pascal or (second left) and Dotun Coker (left). tal Marketing, Mr. Pascal Or; Member of NFF Youth Football Committee, Mr. Dotun Coker; NFF’s Director of Communications, he Nigeria Football Mr. Ademola Olajire and Zenith Bank’s Federation and ZeHead of Media, Akin Olaniyan. nith International Akinwunmi disclosed that calls have Bank on Wednesday in Lagos held a press gone out for entries from the States for the conference to launch the second edition of second edition, with September 10 set as the NFF/Zenith Bank U13/U15 Future Eagles

T

deadline for entries, and the zonal finals to take place from September 13th – 16th.

The group stage matches/final of U13/semi finals of U15 will come up in Kano September 20th -23rd, while the Final of the U15 will come up on a date to be agreed with the sponsors, and will also have the Future Eagles play against a top academy as curtain raiser.

“The NFF as an institution remains very grateful to Zenith Bank for this partnership, which has enabled us to give fillip to our vision of youth football development. The first edition produced players who form our U15 National Team (Future Eagles) that recently impressed in a two –match tour of Morocco against the Morocco U15 squad.

National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea says that the club is ready to storm Uyo and Yaounde, Cameroon to give maximum support to the Super Eagles as they confront Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a double-header Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The Super Eagles will on Friday at the Godswill Akapbio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State host their Central African neighbours in the first leg of the qualifiers and then travel to Yaounde for the reverse fixture on Tuesday, September 5 and Ikpea believes that the support of the club in both encounters will be instrumental to the Super Eagles picking the maximum points at stake in the encounter.

“We’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure we storm Uyo and Yaounde to give total support to the Super Eagles. We are not new to supporting the various national teams and I’m sure that by the time we render our inspiring songs, the team will be charged to go for victory in both encounters.

“As part of our preparations, last Sunday, we were at the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry where the General Overseer Dr. Chris Okafor apart from praying for us gave us moral and financial support because he appreciates what we are doing for the nation,” he explained.

Ikpea while expressing confidence that the Gernot Rohr-led Super Eagles will defeat their opponent in Uyo and at least pick a point in Cameroon appealed to Nigerians to come out in their thousands to cheer the team to victory.

On the fasting declared by the club ahead of the matches with the theme “Operation Taming the Lions”, he noted that members are complying with the directive even as he assured that the three days fasting and prayers ahead of Friday’s match will be observed by the members both in Nigeria, Cameroon and other West African countries.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 08038099089.

Editor Daily: TONY AMOKEODO

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

VOL. 3. NO. 437

Price: N150

Flashback in Times: August 31, 1961

News Hotline: 08050220561 Advert Hotlines: 08086296714, 08033228839

Reminiscence of Nigerian Polity “2 charged with killing NCNC man” was the cover for The Daily Times of Nigeria edition of Thursday, August 31, 19161.That report today, traces the spate of political killings in the country to as far back as the 1960s and the rot in Nigeria’s judicial system, which in many instances had been found to be reluctant in convicting and punishing perpetrators of such crime.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Poor infrastructure: FG loses 2% GDP

Naira extends gain at parallel market, strengthens at NAFEX Page B3

Page B2

Daura rail: Buhari did not influence construction -Amaechi

By Idu Jude, Sokoto The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honour!le Chibuike Amaechi, in Sokoto on Wednesday, said that the idea to link Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s town in Katsina state, among the states to be linked by rail in the ongoing rail modernisation programme, was not influenced by him (President).

Just as the Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto Abubakar Sa’ad 111 has in turn requested the Federal Governmet to include the state in the railway modernisation programme to help predominantly farmers in the state sell their produce.

The minister, while delivering a key not address in the ongoing National Conference on Transportation, stated that the government’s policy to remodel railway in Nigeria for economic growth was actually conceived long before Buhari was elected as President of Nigeria. “ I think, I have to reiterate here that the Presi-

dent was yet to be elected when this was conceived; and this whole controversy and misconception shouldn’t have risen in the first place. More so, I was not even the minister when the whole thing was designed under( former) PDP government; the point was that we came into power and we saw that the plan was good.”

Amaechi, however, noted that the President, on assumption office( in May 2015), ordered for the merger of the transportation industry with the view to pulling the nation out of economic recession; and to rebuild the industry as a panacea for economic recovery.

He said that the administration’s efforts have been geared towards achieving efficiency in modal integration and connectivity in Nigeria’s transport system with the lean resource available to the government. “It is instructive to note that government has successfully revived the erstwhile transport sector reform Bill in the National Assembly, which has undergone public hearing at the both chambers.

AfDB plans $24bn investment African Green Revolution

Page B7

Fidelity Bank: Half year results impressive, profits soar to N10.2bn

Bonny Amadi

Fidelity Bank recorded a very strong financial performance in the first half of 2017, posting impressive growth in profits, gross earnings and other indices for the six months’ period ended June 30, 2017.

Details of the audited results, released at the Nige-

rian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wedsnesday, showed that gross earnings rose by 22.1 per cent from N70.3billion in H1 2016 to N85.8bn for the corresponding period at June 30, 2017.

The growth in Gross Earnings was driven primarily by a 27.8% increase in interest income; and a 0.7 per cent growth in net

fee income to N11.2bn, just as profits surged by 66.7 per cent from N6.1bn in 2016 to N10.2bn; and recorded significant improvement in other key performance indices, such as Net Interest Margin of 7.4%, Cost Income Ratio at 67.3%; and Capital Adequacy of 18.4% in the period under review.

Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped by 150, 000 barrels per Organisation of the Pe- day (b/pd) in July.

An OPEC data indicated that troleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said that the country’s production was said to have crashed after a disruption on the Trans Niger pipeBUSINESS TIMES line, in the Niger Delta region.

Business Editor However, confirming disrupGaniyu Obaaro tion of production, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Deputy Business Editor Dr.Ibe Kachikwu, said the chalAzubike Nnadozie lenge is due to ageing facilities.

Asst. Business Editor He said,“We continue to have Simon Ugwu challenges, some of our pipelines Capital Market Editor are old; so, these are basically

Bonny Amadi

Fidelity Bank CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, attributed the double digits growth in earnings and profits to the disciplined execution of the banks’ medium term strategy, which focused on deepening its market share in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Retail and Digital Banking business segments.

Gé`ë n ƈƐƆƗ dƐ ƐƆ ƌƄ Ɨ Ə Ɛ Mƈ ƆƏƈ dƐƑ ƏƐ dƕƌƈ Ɛ ì ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛè # ƐƆ 1Ə Ƒƍ Ɨ é6 Ɛè ƋƈƊ # ƐƆì nd dƆ Ɛ Ə Əƈ Ɛ ƍ ƆƏ æ#é#ƆƋ Ɠ ƏƆçì ƈƏƌ è 6ƆƈƏ 6 ƋƗƈ Ɨ é6 Ɛè j ƕ Rê &ƋƑƌƆƋƑè Ɛ ndéMƈ ƆƏƈ Ƒ ƈ Ɔ GƑ ƅ Ɔ Ə éƄ ƏƗƆƏ 9 ƒƆ ƐƌƆ Ɛ Rƍƍ ƏƐƑ ƈƐƈƆ è é6 ƐƆƗ Ƅƕ j ƕ &ƋƑƌƆƋƑ Ɨ ƋƈƊ # ƐƆ è ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔƈ ƐéƌƆƌƄƆƏ ƅ ƏƆ ƈ Ƌ ƗƆƋƆ Ɛƈ ƇƏ ƌ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƐƆƗ dƐ ƐƆ Ɛ Mƈ ƆƏƈ è zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕ

OPEC: Nigeria’s obsolete oil facilities down production in July Ï E ƅ ƈƊƓƑ ƅ ƇƈƏƌ disruption

Ganiyu Obaaro & Damola Abiodun, with Agency report

Thursday, August 31, 2017

technical. They are not militancy-induced stoppages, but they are basically maintenance-induced stoppages.”

According to OPEC, the disruption in Nigeria’s July production figures, caused crude oil price to rise above $50p/b in the month.

Kachikwu said Nigeria’s oil production was slightly below 1.8b/d in July, adding that condensates accounted for an extra 450, 000b/d to the country’s output in July.

Nigeria, a member of OPEC, the international oil cartel, was until recently Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, a position he relinquished to Angola, the nation’s Southern African neighbor.

Over the last decade, Nigeria, Africa’s largest population has been contending with myriads of challenges, such as militants’ attacks, pipeline vandalisation, kidnappig, crude oil thefts and other security issues, all which had had a negative impact on

the sector.

However, as OPEC moved to cut oil production with a view to stabilising the market, Nigeria and Libya were exempt, thus providing the two countries some leverage to savour.

For example, while Nigeria got except due to its internal security challenges, like pipeline vandalisation and Boko Haram insurgency, Libya was exempt because of its internal crises arising from the overthrow overhang of its former leader, Muhammad Ghadafi.

Over the last 40 years, Nigeria’s external revenue had been largely buoyed and driven by crude oil.

The country, has therefore, been financing its ever growing public expenditure mainly through oil revenue, with little percentage

CONTINUES ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Poor infrastructure: FG loses 2% GDP

Delta battles street trading, others

Azubike Nnadozie

Acting Managing Director of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Izuwah, has stated that Nigeria loses 2% of its GDP to poor infrastructure.

In 2016, the country’s GDP stood at NGN101.59 trillion (USD306 billion), meaning that such loss corresponds to NGN2.3 trillion (USD6.9 billion) per year.

The ICRC was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) in 2008 to regulate Public-Private Partnerships PPPs in an effort to address this deficit.

In developed economies, publicprivate partnerships (PPPs) have long been considered the way forward when governments are faced with infrastructure and social service provision gaps. In contrast, emerging economies, such as Nigeria, have tended to rely solely on the public sector’s funding or the government has not fully respected its contractual agreements.

According to a statement by country Editor, TBY, Silvia Lambiase, who said that in a recent interview with The Business Year (TBY), Izuwah explained how poor infrastructure is perceived in everyday life and how it translates into decreased productivity.

For example, the time loss people spend getting to and from work because of poor roads and insufficient public transportation. To address the issue, the government signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Aninver, a Spanish global firm specializing in infrastructure-related development and PPP projects.

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

L-R: General Manager, Air Solution, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Cholyong Park; Matron Lagos State Motherless babies home Lekki, Mrs. Olaore Feyisayo; Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani and Head Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Hari Krishna Elluru, during LG Electronics CSR donation to the Lagos State Motherless babies home recently in Lagos.

Azubike Nnadozie, with Agency report

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved 5.792 billion dollars (about N1.140 trillion) for the construction of the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydro-Power project at Gembu in Taraba State.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents alongside the ministers of labour and Employment as well as the Minister of Sports, on the outcome of the Council’s meeting.

“The memorandum from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing was to the award of the Mambilla Hydro-Power plant. I believe that many of you have heard of this project.

“Nigeria started talking about it since 1972; that is about 45 years

Silvia

FG approves $5.7bn for Mambilla electricity ago.

“Several efforts had been made to bring it to reality but I’m happy to announce that this government approved the contract today to joint ventures of Chinese Civil and Engineering company for the engineering and turn-key contract, including civil and electro-mechanical works for 5.792 billion dollars.

“The construction should take about 72 months (6 years),’’ he said.

According to him, the scope of works of the project will include the construction of four dams and 700 kilometres of transmission lines.

The minister said the project, when completed, would boost the nation’s economy as it would unleash the potential that had been re-

FAAN assures passengers of hitch-free Sallah Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured all airport users of its readiness to provide quality and uninterrupted services to air travellers during the Sallah celebration.

A statement signed and issued by Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager corporate communication FAAN reads “As part of our preparations to ensure seamless facilitation of our highly esteemed passengers during the Sallah celebrations and beyond, the VIP Protocol lounge at the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos, has recently been refurbished to give maximum comfort and value to our customers.”

Yakubu said maintenence of the

Strong steps by the Delta State government to stop various streets trading in Asaba, and its environs including the popular Ogbeogonogo market front, may have been thwarted by deviant traders who recently staged a comeback.

Expectedly, the state government through the Ministry of Environment and its taskforce members swooped on traders who had illegally taken to trading in major Asaba roads, including the popular Ogbeogonogo market front and evacuated their goods from the roads.

Mr. John Nani, the State Commissioner for Environment who confirmed this to journalists yesterday in Asaba, disclosed further measures with a view to curbing the roads’ menace constituted by the illegal roads’ traders.

conveyor belts at the Muratala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has been completed and functioning optimally, adding that airport security and other logistics have been upgraded and strengthened to provide for the expected increase in passenger traffic in and around our airports.

According to her, new directional display units have been provided to guide travellers, especially new ones, at our airports. Airport dos and don’ts banners have also been displayed at strategic locations to educate newcomers.

FAAN also re-stated that receiving of dignitaries at restricted areas by security agents and airport officials remained prohibited and anyone found wanting will be prohibited.

ported about Mambilla in the fields of agriculture, tourism and energy.

“It will also help Nigeria strike a very big blow on the climate change issue and fulfill its commitment under the Paris Agreement, because this is going to be renewable energy, coming also at a relatively competitive cost.

Fashola said the project would be jointly financed by the Federal Government and the China Export Import (EXIM) Bank.

EXIM bank will provide 85 per cent of the cost while the Federal Government would provide 15 percent.

The Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, told the correspondents that he presented to council, the AfroBasket women champions,

Oil marketers groan over $2bn debt Simon Ugwu Oil marketers in the country have revealed plans to embark on mass retrenchment of workers over Federal Government’s failure to pay their outstanding debts owed on petroleum importation, accrued interest and exchange differential of over $2 billion.

The marketers, under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products’ Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Independent Petroleum Products’ Importers (IPPIs), gave this threat.

This was contained in a

joint communiqué issued by the marketers after their joint meeting in Lagos, signed by their legal adviser, Patrick Etim.

“Many marketers and oil companies are owing workers over eight months’ salaries due to inability of the Federal Government to pay the huge debts been owed on products imported since from 2015 .The interest cost and the foreign exchange differential which has accrued to over $2 billion,” he said.

The marketers have appealed for urgent intervention of the government and authorisation to pay outstanding interest and foreign exchange differentials owed marketers to date to save their business from total collapse.

who after 12 years, won the championship in Mali on Sunday.

“When they were presented to the ministry yesterday, we sought the approval of Mr President which he graciously approved to receive them today and indeed they were received in council and having emerged as champions, they are qualified for the competition in Spain in 2019.”

“Although we have athletes who had competed in other sports and had won laurels for the country, we felt it was economical to present the basketball team which was handy on ground in view of the fact that if you look at the component of players, they were mixed with national players and foreign based.

OPEC: Nigeria...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3

contributions from other sectors like solid minerals, agriculture and tourism.

In line with its Constitutional provision, revenues derivable from oil export are shared among the three tiers of government- Federal,36 states and and 774 local government areas.

But following oil crash, dwindling oil revenue, President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress(APC) government has enunciated aggressive policy on economic diversification.

The government has also initiated Economic Recovery Growth Plan( EGRP) to rejigs the economy and put it on a sustainable path of development.

C

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Stories by Motolani Oseni After trading between 368 and 370 for over a week, the Nigerian currency, Naira, on Wednesday, extended gains recorded at the parallel market, while it strengthened at the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing (NAFEX) window.

At the close of yesterday’s trading activities, the naira, at the unofficial market, appreciated by two points to close at 366 per dollar, against 368 traded on Tuesday; and 370 exchanged on Monday.

The naira, however, steadied at 475 to the pound after recorded three point gains the previous day, against 478 sold on Monday and also, rebounded against the Euro to record new rate of 432 stron-

B3 Money Market

Naira extends gain at parallel market, strengthens at NAFEX ger than 434 traded Tuesday and Monday.

At the NAFEX window, the naira strengthened to close at 359 per dollar, better than 359.67 sold on Tuesday, but weaker than 359.56 ended earlier in the week.

Although, it opened at an appreciable rate of 360.03 compared to 360.66 of Tuesday, representing improvement of Monday’s 361.13, which indicated an appreciating figure of 0.13 per cent, FMDQ OTC data has showed.

But it recorded a total decline Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

of $33.6 million in turnover after dropping by $105.75m on Tuesday, while comparing traded figure of $73.87m, against $107.47m on Tuesday, even though both days were lower significantly compared to $213.2m traded on Monday.

The naira, continued on lower trend at the official FX market, to remain flat at 305.85 per dollar against 305.80 on Tuesday, which was the same price sold on Monday and last Friday, even though it was traded between 305.60 in

past weeks The local currency, also, gained at the interbank market to close at 359.50 per dollar better than 360.05 on Tuesday, 464.61 against 466.80 to the pound sterling.

It would be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Monday, injected a total sum of $250m into the official foreign exchange market, in an effort to boost liquidity in the market, while pursuing convergence forex rate in the country.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, had explained that $100m was injected to uplift the Small and Medium Enterprises and invisible segments, with $85m and $65m respectively.

Okorafor said that the apex bank would pump even more liquidity into the market in the coming days, noting that the move by the CBN was necessary to enhance stability in the foreign exchange market.

UBA, GTBank endure N18.9bn decline in electronic banking revenue United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), recorded a total drop of N18.97 billion in Electronic Banking revenue in the first six months of 2017, Daily Times finding have revealed.

Considering that the two commercial banks’ electronic banking income declared in first the six half (H1) of 2017, showed that United Bank of Africa (UBA) recorded electronic banking income slipped by 45.9 per cent or N8.3bn from N18.1bn in six months of 2016 to N9.78bn in six months of 2017.

As for GTBank, its electronic banking income dipped by 61.4 per cent or N10.6bn to N6.7bn, as against N17.26bn recorded in six months of 2016.

Earlier this week, Daily Times exclusively reported that 10 commercial bank

including, Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and eight other DMBs operating in the country have declared a whopping N26.8bn on current account maintenance charges in the first six months of 2017.

Other lenders are, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Unity Bank Plc. Although, we observed that out of the total contributed sum of N26.8bn generated from depositors’ current account maintenance, Tier-one banks accounted for N21.99bn during the period under review, and this represented a decline of 2.1 per cent from N22.46bn recorded in the corresponding period in 2016.

FirstBank lifts S/Leone mudslide victims Afolabi Adesola First Bank of Nigeria Limited and its subsidiaries are initiating support for the victims of the mudslides and floods that devastated parts of Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown recently.

The Bank has, therefore, initiated a fund-raising drive across its workers, as part of the FirstBank Employee Volunteering Scheme, set up to provide humanitarian service to the bank’s host communities. The fund-raising efforts allowed staff mem-

bers to collectively render succour and hope to the needy and the funds raised will complement the Bank’s corporate donation to the victims of the disaster.

The Bank has also implored its customers and members of the public to join in the cause of providing succour to victims of this tragedy, through a special donations account it has been set up. It urged members of staff, customers and members of the public to pay directly into the account: FBN CSR Donations —2032381764.

L-R: Leke Alder, CEO, Alder Consulting; Doug De Villiers, CEO Intergroup, South Africa; Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Managing Director, CMC Connect; Tunji Olugbodi, Executive Vice Chairman, Verdant Zeal; and Tijjani Borodo, Company Secretary, FBN Holdings Plc, at the recently concluded NBA Conference in Lagos.

NDIC: Banking witnessing rapid changes Ï ƿÕ ƆƌƍƋ ƕƆƆ ƑƅƅƆ ƇƑƋ Ɛ ƍƏ ƇƆ ƈ Ƌ ƆƔ ƌƈ Ɛƈ

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja & Motolani Oseni The Managing Director of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Umaru Ibrahim has said that the banking industry was witnessing rapid changes hence the need to upscale the skills of the staff in the lower and middle managerial cadre.

This is even as forty six (46) members of staff of the corporation graduated from the Chartered Banker/Master in Business Administration (CB/MBA) Programme at Bangor University, Scotland.

Umaru, in a statement on Wednesday by the Head, Communication and Public Affiars, Mr. Hadi Bichi, said these changes include the forces of globalization of banking; economic uncertainties; advances in Information and Communication Technology such as block chain technology and virtual currency, which bankers must grapple with, require continued capacity building.

Speaking at the CIBN Graduates’ Induction and Prize Award Day in Lagos, the NDIC Chief Executive said that the corporation sponsored some of its staff on the Chartered

Banker/Master in Business Administration (CB/ MBA) program to upscale their skills in the lower/ middle managerial cadre.

However, the graduated staff members have also earned themselves triple qualifications of MBA, Bangor University; Associate, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Scotland the oldest professional banking institute in the world) and Associate, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (ACIB).

The NDIC boss also noted that the current economic situation, which most developing countries, including Nigeria, were facing, underscored

the need to pay greater attention to issues, such as financial literacy, consumer protection, sustainability and innovative financial services solutions.

He gave instances, such as mobile money, agency banking, virtual currency, which must be harnessed and integrated into the nation’s financial services industry to enhance the role of banking system towards economic growth and development.

The CIBN and NDIC had over the years been collaborating in human capacity building initiatives, including the CB and MBA program at Bangor University, Scotland.

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Equities market value declines by N185bn Afolabi Adesola

Ï ƑƐƈƔ ƋƆ Ɨ ƣ ƈ ƆƏ è Ƣơ Ɛ ƅƊ Ƌ Ɔ

Nigerian equities market reverted to a new-month low as at the close of trade on Wednesday, driven by profit taking and sell-off occasioned

by Eid-el-Kabir festival.

Therefore, the equities market posted a loss of n185bn, as market capitalisation slumped to N12.280trillion (lowest figures recorded in the month of August) from N12.465trn recorded in the previous session.

Investors traded a total of

239.9million shares valued at N2.9billion in 4,371 deals, as against a total 144.5 million shares worth N1.5bn traded in 3,716 deals on Tuesday.

The All-Share Index also fell 1.48 per cent to settle at 35,629.13 points, as against 36,165.93points recorded on Tuesday.

The day ended with only 7 gainers, led by Cutix plc, while 31 stocks led by first aluminum recorded various degrees of

cent to close at N2.43, but was trailed by May & Baker, which grew by 4.51 per cent to close at losses.

N3.01 per share, and Continental First Aluminum and Nigerian Re-insurance added 4.48 per cent Aviation Handling Company to close at N1.40 per share.

(Nahco) depreciated 5 per cent Total also gained 2.75 per cent each to close at 57 kobo and to close at N243 per share, while N3.23 per share respectively.

NEM Insurance advanced by Mobil was next with a decline 1.01 per cent to close the day at of 4.99 per cent to close at N3.23, N1 per share.

Dangote sugar fell 4.89 per cent Other gainers were, Nigerian to close at N13.22; and HoneyBreweries and Nestle, which well Flour Mills depreciated 4.29 both improved marginally to per cent to close at N2.01 per settle at N185 and N1, 220.05 per share. share, respectively.

Cutix appreciated by 9.95 per

L– R: shows Nkeiruka Uzoechi, Deputy General Manager, Human Capital Management/Legal, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc; Uruemu-esiri Oghen, Company Secretary, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc; Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Bode Akinboye Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc; Bolaji Oladipo, Executive Director, Technical, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc; Aniete Udo, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc and Tony Ibeziako, Head, Domestic Primary Market, NSE at the Facts Behind the Figures Presentation at the Exchange, in Lagos...on Wednesday.

Fidelity Bank: Q2 result triggers upward review of earnings’ forecast Bonny Amadi Shareholders of Fidelity Bank have been reassured of profitability on their investment in the deposit money bank and returns of investment, following remarkable second quarter 2017 unaudited result declared.

The result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) late on Tuesday, has triggered positive market reactions, as key market analysts have indicated upward reversal of consensus earnings’ forecast.

Fidelity Bank’s Q2 result showed that profit before tax (PBT) and profit after Tax (PAT) grew by 155 per cent y/y

to N5.4billion and 110 per cent y/y to N7.7bn, respectively, driven by strong revenues, though provision spiked quarter on quarter (q/q).

According to the result, the key driver behind the strong y/y growth in earnings was a 20 per cent y/y growth in profit before provisions, just as flat loan loss provisions y/y buoyed the results.

In terms of the revenue contributions, both revenue lines contributed to the solid growth: both grew by c.20-21%. Further down the P&L, PAT expanded by 110% y/y to N7.7bn, thanks to a 67% y/y growth in other comprehensive income.

According to FBNQuest analysts, the bank’s re-

sults beat its forecast by wide margins and now calls for need for upward review of its earnings forecast “PBT beat by 148% because of positive surprises in non-interest income, funding income and opex, in that order.

The strong positives on these lines offset a negative surprise in loan loss provisions.”

The analysts’ company reports that the positive surprise in the bank’s PAT, was greater 319 per cent, because of the strong other comprehensive income.

“To put the strength of the results in proper context, Fidelity’s H1 PBT of N11.0bn is already ahead of consensus 2017 PBT forecast of N10.7bn.” the analyst company said.

Standard Alliance to offset N13bn negative retained earrings … set to raise fresh funds, pay dividend for 2019 Bonny Amadi Standard Assurance Insurance Company Plc has said that it plans to raise fresh funds from the capital market.

The insurance firm has, therefore, appealed to stakeholders to render support whenever they are called upon to do so.

The company disclosed that its negative N13 billion retained earnings has continued to frustrate efforts of paying dividend , and that the proposed share reconstruction and capital raising are all aimed at toward repositioning the company for profitability and dividend payment.

Chief Executive officer, Standard Alliance Insurance, Mr. Bode Akinboye made the disclosure while rendering the company’s ‘Facts behind the Figures’ at the NSE, Lagos, promising that the company is working towards recommencing dividend payment for the 2019 financial year.

Akinbode said that the company is committed to reducing deficit in its balance sheet to free accumulated losses and positioned to resume payment of dividend to shareholders. Adding:“We will approach the market to recapitalise.”

He said that by 2019, payment of dividend would resume having wiped out negative reserves and returned to profitability” The CEO said that the company is boosting its revenue generating businesses to enhance profitability, such as agriculture insurance,

Prestige Assurance to clear N775m retained losses via share reconstruction Afolabi Adesola

Prestige Assurance has commenced effort at returning to profitability and boosting its equity value with new commitment to clean up its books for profitability and dividend payment.

The move to erase mounting N775 million negative retained loss, will not only give room for higher performance, better equity pricing and share price growth, it will further create new investment opportunities for investors with commitment to record profit.

Prestige Assurance has begun taking necessary steps towards re positioning for profitability as it moves to reconstruct its share capital.

Share reconstruction is often times used by firms to decrease the number of shares outstanding, but not the value of shares held by shareholders.

Companies also use this mechanism to increase their share price

proportionately without af- writing off the capital of the fecting the total book value Company which is lost or of those shares. unrepresented by available A market bulletin ob- assets.” The statement said. tained by our correspondent Prestige explained that on Wednesday, from the the essence of the capital Nigerian Stock Exchange reconstruction is to enable (NSE) revealed that Prestige the company to wipe out its Assurance has applied for a accumulated retained losses “No Objection” to its propos- of N776,511,000. al to reduce the company’s It stated further, that the share capital. reconstruction will reposiThe bulletin, which was tion the company on a trajecsigned by the Acting Head of tory for subsequent accumuListings Regulation Depart- lated retained profit, create ment, Godstime Iwenekhai more value for its shareholdalso noted that Prestige’s ers, allow the company to deshare capital would be re- clare a dividend and improve duced from N2.7billion being its perception in the market 5.4bn ordinary shares of 50 thereby making it more comkobo each to N1.9bn being petitive.

3.8bn ordinary shares of 50 Summary of activities on NSE kobo each in the issued ASI 35,629.13 and fully paid up ordinary DEALS 4,822.00 shares of the VOLUME 224,773,695.00 company.

“The share VALUE 5,090,194,040.45 capital so reduced will CAP 12,443,508,048,791.71 be applied in

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

B5

How we ‘re positioning SMEDAN to develop economy - Dr. Radda What has been your experience so far in piloting the activities of this agency?

The government came at a time when the country was witnessing an economic hardship. When I came to the Agency as the Director General, I realized that the budgetary provisions for the agency was very lean compared to the huge mandate given to the organisation. We are talking about the diversification of the economy, we are talking about how to move the economy of this country to greater height. When I came to the agency, we met a lot of programme, a lot of initiatives on the mandate that established the agency.

We looked at those programmes; and we saw those that had prospects; and that we need to escalate them. We saw some that needed to be set aside so that we can face the few ones for the benefit of the country; and also for what our resources can accommodate. This is what we have been doing; and we have been getting results.

How far has the Agency gone in giving out loans to entrepreneurs?

Let us be very clear at this, SMEDAN dosen’t give out loan, that is the wrong perception the public has on the agency; but we have initiated a programme we call Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS). The idea of establishing that programme is to enable us to formalize largely the informal sector, because of all the SMEs in the country, more than 95% of them are not formal, because 99% represents micro enterprises; and out of this micro enterprises, 95% of them are not registered, they are not formal.

The idea of the introduction of this Conditional Grant Scheme, is to formalize the informal sector, because the major mandate of this organisation is to facilitate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises, from one level to another.

If you did not formalize the entrepreneurs, there is no way that you can grow them. This formalization include registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission, opening bank account, having micro insurance scheme to cover the little risk associated with the business, giving them proper entrepreneurial training on how to manage and keep books on their businesses.

You cannot just tell the entrepreneurs come let me formalize you, the only way we do that is to introduce this Conditional Grant Scheme, put certain conditions, give them some grants and incentives, to improve on their business, to formalize their business and also generate more employment, because the idea is for each to employ at least one person into his business. So we are achieving

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria is an agency saddled with the development of MSMEs in the country. In this interview with TONY AMOKEODO, MYKE UZENDU, MATHEW DADIYA and FRANCESCA IWAMBE, the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr. Umar Dikko Radda, explains how he will grow one product in each local government and position MSMEs to the international market. Excerpts banks account and then we will give them a loan of N200,000, this time not grant. Loan but interest free, it is all incorporated in this programme.

The essence of doing that is to motivate them and stir competition among them and everybody would like to grow his business to that level and then enjoy that 10 percent. And from there on, SMEDAN will step aside, and allow them to continue because we have already created that kind of thing in them. The whole idea is for them to be familiar and be conversant with the banking processes and how they can match their products to the existing market.

There was a study that microbusinesses crash in Nigeria after five years due to taxation and infrastructure deficit. Are you going to make provisions for tax incentives to allow the business grow.

Dr. Radda

formalization but at the same time creating jobs and escalating the production of micro businesses.

How much have you budgeted or expended on this programme?

In fact, when we introduced the scheme, we budgeted about N37 billion, but up till today we have not received any grant, any amount of money for the conditional grant scheme. But lately, this year, we were able to have N2.5bn courtesy of the Committee of the Senate on Industry. At the initial programme, our target was 550 participants in each local government, but this time around, we will reduce the scope in a pilot study to see how viable the programme could be and may be we escalate it and take it to the whole nation.

As at today, they have appropriated N2.5 million, if the budget is funded, we shall start the pilot programme of the CGS. We have selected one state in the six geographical zones of the country, and in each state, we are piloting 100 entrepreneurs in each local government. So, the target for this pilot project is 14,600 entrepreneurs across the six states of the federation. We have since advertised for the jobs and if the money is released, we shall start the programme very soon.

How do you follow up to ensure that the money is utilized for this purpose?

The first criteria is that you

must be a micro entrepreneur and micro enterprises is an enterprises that employs one to less than nine persons; and who has a capital base of N1 to less than N10 million excluding land and building.

This is micro business; and this is our target.

Second, you must be an existing business and your business must be in that local government area; and it has to be verified. These are some of the conditions because we want to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the local government. Even at the local government level, if the local government has 10 wards, we will make sure that each ward produce 10 micro entrepreneurs.

The attraction to this in terms of monitoring and evaluation is that it is we that will shoulder the responsibility of registering them with the CAC, it is SMEDAN that will ensure that account is opened for them at those states, we would provide entrepreneurship training to them, we are the people that will cover micro entrepreneurship insurance on their businesses and it is when we meet all these requirements that we now channel the money in their bank accounts and we will urge each entrepreneur to employ at least one person.

We will monitor them because there is provision for monitoring, after monitoring them for four to six months, we will choose the best 10 percent in terms of their performance and turn-over in their

I don’t believe that the major challenge why MSMEs die after some time, is because of taxation.

It is largely because of our attitude, lack of managerial skills to carry on with their business activities. People have the opinion that their primary challenges when it comes to SMEs is lack of funding.

There are so many people who are in business who came with their capital and their business is dead simply because they don’t know how to manage the business.

You only saw somebody on the street selling garri; and you just felt that may be, he is making money, so, let me go into selling garri.

No study is conducted, you didn’t even ask or know any skill that is required in the business space to be able to do your businesses. But, some people feel that since these people are doing this, let me just go into it because they are making money but they don’t even know how that person is surviving. So, you will go with your money and come out with nothing.

Taxation is a fundamental issue; and the government is addressing that aspect. In fact, I must thank the Chairman of FIRS now, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, because he has given so many incentives to MSMEs. He has given them a tax waiver on those that have backlog of taxes that they have not paid.

He gave them a kind of waiver, let them come and start afresh, all those things will be wiped out. It has been done through this association of NASME. Any MSME that has its registration will be able to enjoy that.

But let me just tell you, these people that are requesting for waiver

from FIRS, largely are small and medium businesses. Micro businesses are not even formalized.

So, they are not even in the radar of the taxation agencies. It is only at the local government level that I believe, some of these local government collect some taxes, which are not even stipulated by the law.

They are just taking something that is not put into government coffers.

Some of these local government employees will print receipt and start collecting fake taxes from these people. It is because the people don’t have the knowledge. If they have been given proper entrepreneurship training and ability to interact with these regulatory agencies, they will be in the knowledge as to what should be collected from them and what should not have been collected from them.

In fact, that was why I had wanted to undertake a visit, I have written to the Chairman of FIRS that in collaboration with us, we should undertake a town hall meeting at the local market, and tell them what they should do, the kinds of incentives available for them, what they need to do, what they should not give out; in fact, give them the proper advocacy and sensitize them on certain things they need to do to improve on their businesses and also check mate the cartels that have been collecting money from them at all levels.

What of the infrastructure challenge?

Infrastructure challenge is true because, largely most of these micro and small businesses require power to operate. If you go to most of our market, you will see one small generator and even the environmental pollution is not healthy.

The power challenge in Nigeria is a very major challenge. I believe that with the current thing that is happening, and to tell you that we are in partnership with African Development Bank (AfDB).

A study is now being conducted, which is being sponsored by AfDB to study the viability of our IDCs. We have 23 IDCs located across the federation to enable us to turn around those IDCs into enterprise clusters. You can bring mono clusters in a place, you bring infrastructure, buildings, water, electricity in a common place so that they can all operate and ease off the hardship affecting most of the entrepreneurs in terms of infrastructure. It is also easier for regulatory authorities, including the banks, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC),

Brands & Marketing B6 Stories by Godwin Anyebe The disengaged workers of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), recently called on the leadership of the institute to review their mode of sacking . The ex-staff, who recently converged on the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Shangisha, Lagos office of the NIMN, staged a peaceful demonstration to protest what they described as unfair treatment and the refusal of the institute’s council to remit their pensions to the relevant authorities.

The protesting former employees, who displayed various placards, and co-ordinated by three of the institute’s former principal officers, Mr. Archibong Duke, the institute’s former Assistant Director, Membership Services; Mr. Tunde Oyeyode, Director, Corpo-

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

NIMN ex-workers, institute leadership, biker over unpaid allowances rate Affairs and Procurement and Mr. Abiodun Okunade, the institute’s erstwhile Assistant Director, Training and Examination, accused the council of not being fair over the disengagement process.

While venting the group’s disagreement to the media, Archibong had accused the incumbent president of the institute of not honouring his campaign promises of training and re-training the institute’s staff.

According to the aggrieved exworker, “One of the campaign promises of the president was that the institute’s workers would be retrained in tune with the 21st century challenges. He said this sever

times during his campaign, but we were shocked when he decided to do away with 28 out of the 31 staff of the institute immediately he resumed office.”

He also accused the council of non-remittance of the workers’ pensions to the appropriate government quarters, despite being deducted from their salaries.

He said, in the eventuality, none of the disengaged workers would be benefited from the contributory pension scheme having duly compolied.

“God forbid, if any of us should die tomorrow, there are no records at the pension office that we were actually active with our pension

payment while alive. What we are saying is that besides paying us our remaining entitlements, the institute should also release unremitted pensions to the relevant agencies and make available statement of such remitted pensions to us,” he added.

Reacting to some of the allegations, the institute’s Registrar, Mr. Sydney Ogodo, argued that the issue of non remittance of pension, predated the present council, arguing that the institute had, however, been prompt in remitting staff’s pension since 2016.

Daily Times learnt that on March 31 this year, the Institute had paid the disengaged staff sala-

ries and 25 per cent of their entitlement with a schedule to pay the balance based on ability to raise the money.

A reliable source said, soon after this arrangement was reached, the Institute’s ex-directors started agitating and threatening to disrupt the peace of the Institute.

According to him, “Their main demand to pay all their outstanding entitlements immediately and to change the termination letters to what they called “employment friendly” ones, spurred others to join the train.”

The President of the Council, Mr. Tony Agemonmen told The Daily Times that “The 50 per cent of outstanding was paid through various sources including borrowing before end June as agreed.

Cowbell Milk relives memories of Okwaraji (L-R): Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, of Agric and Export Finance Department, Sterling Bank Plc; Mr. Adewole Gbolade, Coordinator, NatnuPreneur; and Adelana Ogunjirin, of Agric Finance Unit, Heritage Bank Plc; at the Heritage BankNatnuPrenenur Press Conference on Food Security initiative held in Lagos...Tuesday.

DPP withdraws charges against foreign investor Recently, a Lagos High Court, presided over

by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, struck out frivolous fraud charges brought against two British nationals, Deepak Khilnani and Sushil Chandra by the Attorney General of Lagos State.

The decision of the court was sequel to a Notice of Discontinuance filed by the State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Titi Shitta-Bey appealing to the court to strike out the case in the light of a review of the case by the State Attorney General, Mr. Kazeem Adeniji.

It had been alleged by the Attorney General, through the State prosecution team, led by the then Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. E.I. Alakija (now a serving judge of Lagos High

Court), in a charge that Deepak Khilnani and Sushil Chandra sometimes in 2008 defrauded a Nigerian company Green Fuels Ltd of about $8.8million.

However, there was apparently no evidence to support such an allegation and it was totally unfounded.

When the case started in 2015, the media was awash with sensational headlines of how these British nationals had allegedly defrauded their Nigerian business partners. The truth was that the allegations against the defendants were baseless and unsustainable before any court of law in the country.

Although the presiding judge; during the early stages of the trial dismissed a motion seeking to quash the charges, the

State prosecution team still could not make meaningful progress in the matter, because there was simply no evidence to prove the allegation against the Defendants. This was evident at the proceedings of 22nd October, 2015, when the then DPP urged the Court to adjourn the proceedings indefinitely to enable her to amend the Proof of Evidence.

The fact was simply that a non-existence criminal implication was being imported into a purely business disagreement between Deepak Khilnani and his Nigerian partners.

The background to this civil dispute is that Ola Rosiji and Anil Ahluwalia, who had formed a company called Green Fuels Limited, approached Mr.

Khilnani’s company in 2009 to join them in building a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) gas distribution company – clearly this is a very technical business; and Khilnani’s company held significant experience and expertise in this area.

After protracted negotiations and discussions, Green Fuels entered into a contract with Khilnani’s Company Gentec Energy, a UK PLC company, to build the plant, train their personnel and provide technical management support to the business.

The contract was signed by Ahluwalia on behalf of Green Fuels Limited and the funds for the project were initially provided by Rosiji’s company, Nigerian Distillers Ltd.

Twenty-eight years after his death, memories of his life and times of Samuel Okwaraji have faded out.

Not even members of his primary constituency remembered to commemorate his skilful style last Saturday.

But Cowbell Milk, made a difference on that occasion The flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, was on hand to recognize the late soccer legend.

At that same main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos, where Samuel Okwaraji slumped and died while in the colours of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Cowbell Football Academy (CFA) remembered the national hero.

And for kids and parents that participated at the final ceremony of the Cowbell Summer Camp, a programme organised by the CFA to groom young talents, it was a date with the history with the late midfielder looming large.

Toyeeb Gidado Olakunle, who captained the Under-15 Team Nigeria at the Youth Olympics held in Botswana in 2014 distinguished himself at the occasion. Many people have nicknamed Toyeeb as Nigeria’s rising Wonder Boy, a name once associated with Okwaraji.

The master of ceremonies reminded the crowd that it was in that main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos, that Okwaraji had a tragic end during Super Eagles’ encounter with Angola in a FIFA World Cup qualifier game.

Speaking at the event recently in Lagos, ex-Super Eagles defender and Barcelona player, Gbenga Okunowo, said the event was a positive memorial for Okwaraji.

He said the young talents that participated in the event would, some day, replace Nigeria’s past heroes, if the national team managers paid attention to them.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Stories by Azubike Nnadozie, with Agency reportse The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed the sum of 24 billion dollars towards accelerating the development of African Green Revolution through its Feed Africa Strategy planned investment for the next 10 years.

AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, announced the plan in a statement on Thursday in Abidjan which was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

He said that the bank was leading a campaign to unlock the continent’s food and agriculture market, projected to reach one trillion dollars by 2030.

Speaking ahead of the 2017 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), Adesina said greater attention must be paid to the implementation of concrete plans for achieving green revolution in Africa.

“At AGRF 2016, many of Africa’s steadfast champions of

AfDB plans $24bn investment African Green Revolution

agriculture pledged more than 30 billion dollars in investments to increase production, income and employment for smallholder farmers and local African agriculture businesses over the next 10 years.

“The ground is already ploughed. Together, let us now sow the seeds of hope and reap a harvest so plentiful in the years ahead,’’ he said.

Adesina said the forum, considered to be the most important meeting on African agriculture, would be held under the patronage of Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire.

The seventh African Green Revolution Forum, is scheduled to take place in Abidjan from Sept.

4 to Sept. 8 with special focus on “Accelerating Africa’s Path to Prosperity: Growing Economies and Jobs through Agriculture”.

The Forum is to be hosted by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an African-led institution focused on putting farm-

ers at the centre of the continent’s growing economies.

AGRA is built on an alliance of partners that care about, commit to and invest in Africa’s agricultural transformation.

AGRF partners include AfDB, African Union, African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership, AGRA, Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Others are Mastercard Foundation, New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), OCP Africa Group, Rockefeller Foundation, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions, Syngenta, and YARA International.

The AfDB president said the forum would bring experts and

FG to resolve price disagreement between wheat farmers, millers – Minister The Federal Government says it is committed to putting an end to the price peg disagreement between wheat farmers and flour millers across the country.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said the disagreement was affecting wheat production across the country.

Ogbeh said that government was working with various research institutes in the country to ensure improvement in the quality of lo-

Ogbeh

B7 AgriBusiness

cal wheat seeds used by farmers.

It could be recalled that the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) and Flour Millers Association in 2016 agreed to fix a price of N140,000 per tonne of wheat.

The minister said that providing improved seeds for farmers would boost production and crash down the price of the produce.

“That disagreement has been going on for a while but we are sorting it out. We met not too long ago in my office and we are insisting that all the local wheat millers buy the local price but then, they

tell you that the international price is lower than our price.

“And then the farmers are saying we are not giving them all the seeds they need. So, the first thing we are doing this year is to improve our seeds and reduce the price of seeds to the farmers.

“Once we can do that, we meet again until we tie up an agreement. It will take a while, maybe in another year or so, we will have an agreement between both.

“Everybody wants to make some profit and we don’t want anybody to lose. On the other hand, we don’t want to impose price control because it doesn’t work.

“Once you start that, you are looking for trouble and we don’t have all the money in the world to go into subsidy but definitely, an agreement would be reached shortly.’’

Cue out audio The National President of WFAN, Alhaji Salim Muhammad, had recently called on the Federal Government to review the price peg of N140, 000 per tonne of wheat, saying that the cost of production was higher than the price.

Also, Alhaji Farouk Rabiu, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State had described the price peg on wheat as `oppressing’, adding that many farmers had been forced out of business as result of the development.

other stakeholders together to ensure that the importance of agriculture to African economies was not overlooked.

He said this had become imperative because agriculture represented more than 70 per cent of employment and had become essential to make it deliver on economic development visions for Africa toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Adesina noted that the forum was coming as some African countries were witnessing drought and heightened food insecurity.

He, however, said that the event presented an opportunity to push efforts to make Africa self-sufficient in food production and transform agriculture into a wealthcreating sector.

AFAN: Kano to establish inputs’ shopping centres in LGAs The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State is to establish inputs shopping centres in all the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

The AFAN state chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

He said establishing the inputs shopping centres was necessary so as to reduce the hardship being experienced by many farmers who now have to travel to the state capital in order to purchase the inputs.

According to him, the measure was also necessary in order to check the illegal activities of some marketers who sell adulterated inputs to farmers, particularly in the rural areas.

“The inputs selling centres will enable farmers to visit the centres nearest to them and buy herbicides or any other inputs they require.

“With this, no company will bring fake or adulterated products to the centres to sell to our farmers,” he said.

Rabi’u said that when established, the inputs shopping centres would enable companies to take their products to the centres for sale to farmers in their areas.

“Many farmers have been complaining of fake and

adulterated fertilizer and herbicides. This is the reason why we feel it is necessary to establish the centres to save them from the fraudulent activities of such people.

Rabi’u said the association would soon meet with all the companies based in Kano, to intimate them of the association’s plan.

He said the state government had already given the association the go ahead to take all necessary precautionary measures aimed at saving farmers from perpetrators of such illegal activities.

Rabi’u said association had also planned to register all commodity associations under one ambrella, as part of efforts to strengthen the apex farmers association.

He said the association’s officials would soon embark on a tour of the local government areas to sensitise the farmers on its plans.

Motoring B8 Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Most countries across the world are already phasing out vehicles with combusting engines. That means that in few years’ time, most countries will be operating on Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), which use electricity stored in a battery pack to power an electric motor and turn the wheels.

Since these cars don’t run on gasoline or diesel and are powered entirely by electricity, battery electric cars seem to be better and greener alternative to fuel-driven cars.

This is because irrespective of the source of their power - solar, hydro, wind, bio-fuel, or even nuclear - they produce zero carbon in operation.

For this, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have also continued to grow in the global auto market. Big manufacturers such as Tesla and BMW have pumped in significant amounts of money to boost research and development of EVs. And supporting this investment are the customers who are making the switch for a greener future.

In Nigeria, the case is different as little or nothing has been done so far to welcome the electric car initiative.

However, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu has said that the solution to Nigeria’s automotive sector does not lie in the hands of anybody, group or individual, but that all should stand up and embrace it .

Aliyu, who also pointed out that the nation’s challenge is not lack of resources or funding, however, added that the issue with the sectoris lack of unbelief in ourselves.

Speaking at the automotive industry implementation and monitoring committee meeting with the theme: “2017 Review of National Automotive Industry Development Plan,” held at the Renaissance Hotel, GRA ,Ikeja, recently, he said that electric cars are the vehicles of the

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Changing face of automotive industry: How prepared is Nigeria? to come in and have an Africanized DNA in this vehicle as well. So, we are looking at competition for design. The beauty of our building an electric vehicle is that you are not looking at anything too complicated, you have got the drive, which is the electric drive and everything else is just the creation of comfort, of coches electricos smart fortwo electric drive cabrio coches electricos smart fortwo electric drive cabrio a high speed car or SUV and the buses also and we have the future, stressing that Nigeria can- your combustion engines; in fact, assembly plant here, assembling electric trains.”

On Nigeria’s readiness for elecnot afford to be an island. we are now importing any com- Nigerian branded electric vehicles He said,“We have to move for- bustion engine, we have a nation- with all the modern accruement tric cars, the automotive sector exward with the world. We have to ally produced vehicle or a conti- that you want in a car, Yes, it would pert said, “So, you can see it is comlook at the electric vehicle and give nental accepted vehicle’, so that have its DNA initially started from ing, but are we ready? And that’s incentives and support to investors. was my push. Build Your Dream BYD; and BYD head engineer was what I am trying to do, I want us to Chevy Volts was very interesting in (BYD). Company spent about seven the head engineer from Audi, so we be ready, I want us to harness this USA. There is a lot to be done on months doing some due diligence. know that it’s going to be a tremen- technology, I want us to have our the part of government to see that We came together, we agreed on dous amount of creation of com- own DNA; and so the relationship they encourage new innovations. the way forward. We just signed fort and modernity in these cars with BYD is going to create that in However, our progress will depend an agreement to first import ei- and we are hoping that by the time a very simple way. Teachers have to assemble and then that give us on team work and collaboration of ther the BYD vehicles; look for a we start assembling these cars.”

Nigerians and friends of Nigeria”.

Nigerian brand, we are still lookAccording to the Ningus boss, the knowledge to develop a unique Private sector operators are also ing at the name, that we want to “We would also bring Nigerian product for our continent.

“That vacuum that would be left envisioning a new paradigm shift use, and by 2020, we would start an designers from around the world between when hydro carbon stops, and are aligning themselves with to electric cars coming into play, is the business benefits derivable between now and 2030. I believe therefrom.

Nigeria should be in that position For example, Chairman of Nigus of leadership on the continent. So, International, Prince Malik Ado Nigus is to develop this idea that Ibrahim, said there is an opportuby early next year, we would start nity for Nigeria and Africa to start importing the vehicles, we have a that next frontier, which is electric show here that we want to do on Novehicles. vember 26, which would show case He said the only way out is to the car, the SUV, the bus; we are golearn about the vehicles, learn ing to be showcasing the industrial about the engineering and be a applications which are tractors and manufacturer by 2040, when everyforklifts. Even municipal vehicles body else is now saying combusting like trash compactors and water cars are banned.” trucks are driven by electricity”.

He said,“We want to say keep auto-elettrica

Alpha1 Rides trains partners ahead September launch Ganiyu Obaaro Indigenous Ride Hailing Company, Alpa1 Rides, has commenced orientation of DriverPartners to orientate them on the company’s high service delivery expectations; and listen to their views on what quality service should entail.

The orientation cum induction, which started August 15 and expected to be a regular programme, took place at the Alpha1 Rides’ state-of- the-art Partners’ Lounge on the Third Floor of the Iconic UAC Building on the Marina, Lagos.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the second day of training, EjokeOkpan, Alpha1’s spokesperson, said that more than 200 driv-

ers have been inducted since orientation commenced two weeks ago.

According to her, it is crucial for all partners to be integrated into the business as a way to get their buy-in, saying, it is a way to prevent “sub optimisation of the Alpha1 ecosystem-a situation where we are moving in one direction and our partners are moving in another.”

“It is our belief that once we and our partners are on the same page as far as service delivery is concerned, we can better make our riders happy by giving them the kind of quality service they deserve.”

According to her, the orientation is also an opportunity to sound-out partners on how they

think the partnership can achieve the goals agreed by both parties.

Driver Partners, who attended the orientation programme say that Alpha1’s approach to the business is different from other players who do not as much as listen to their complaints, let alone ask their opinions on matters on how to improve the offering. “All they care about is their commission”.

Excited about the Alpha1 package, KaosisochukwuKelechi, a partner Driver said, the alpha1 “platform has good intentions for drivers and for riders, while Elebute Michael Agboola commended the charges for being pocketfriendly.

According to Okpan, the orientation is part of an integrated

marketing and outreach activity to reach-out to stakeholders that began with a social media campaign early August and has reached over 50,000 prospects and engaged as many. The company’s marketers have also been unleashed in town and campus storms to encourage download of its user-friendly Apps for Provider and Client Partners.

Already, she said that drivers on the Alpha 1 platform are fetish about good manners, which is a credo valued and encouraged by the company. Drivers who display these qualities are rewarded with points and vouchers that have immediate impact on their earnings, she said.

“Alpha 1 Rides promises to provide timely and comfortable rides

to all customers and move goods to where ever they are needed in the Lagos metropolis and beyond.

What is special about our services is the personal service we render to every customer whom we treat as kings”, she said.

She listed the Alpha1 offerings to include, City Rides, Airport Pick Up, Office Shuttle and Limo Service. Others are Alpha1 Deliveries and School Runs all of which are technology-backed.

The deliveries and School businesses, for example, are heavy on trackers.

To take advantage of the seamless services provided by the company, she encouraged prospective customers to simply download the updated Alpha1 App on the Google App Store or Apple Store.

The Edo Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Edo Assembly to partner Police on ET 4 conducive business, living environment

Project funding: European Union urges states to emulate Obaseki ET 2

Osinbajo commissions 60, 000 metric tonnes fertilizer plant in Edo ÏÏÏThe

L-R: Lanre Opanubi, National Authorising Officer (NAO), Ministry of Budget and National Planning; Albert Actiten, Head of Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP); Kurt Cornelis, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, during a working visit by the EU-NDSP team members to the Governor at the Government House in Benin City ...on Monday

Edo at 26: Obaseki pledges to transform fortunes of ordinary people Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏGovernor

The Edo

T E A M

of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to transform the fortunes of the many ordinary people in the state as the state attained 26 years.

In a speech to commemorate the anniversary of the state’s creation, Obaseki saluted the unalloyed support of Edo people to his administration in the collective march towards the lofty and attainable heights as envisioned by the founding fathers.

“On this day, 26 years ago, our dear state was created with its people beaming with pride, high hopes and lofty dreams, excited about what had become a unique opportunity to take their collective destiny in their own hands.

“From 1991 when this landmark event occurred till now, one leader after the other has taken the mantle, promising to deliver an egalitarian society where the interplay between state and its constituents

produces a symphony of faith, trust and zeal to build,” Obaseki said.

He, however, noted that “although the state and indeed the nation has evolved pleasantly from unacceptable dictatorship to a government of the will of the people, democracy has not sufficiently bequeathed all its sacred promises to the people.”

The governor assured that “As the 10th in the lineup of governors to lead this great state since it adopted the name Edo and took on the current landmass and population, which has continued to grow, I consider the task I now bear as a divine assignment. I am committed to the transformation of the fortunes of the many ordinary people in Edo State despite the inclement environment.”

He further said that the APC-led state government under his watch was consolidating on the gains of his predecessor and committed to creating a safe and secure environment for people to live, work and do business.

“Our administration has sani-

Special Project Editor Sam Nseh

Correspondent Titus Akhigbe

tised land acquisition and ownership to the extent that today in Edo State, you can acquire a plot of land through the right means and build your house with all the necessary approvals without any fears of harassment by thugs.

“Infrastructural development is a top priority for us as you must have seen ongoing road construction work across the state, which will be accelerated as the dry season approaches. We are revamping all our educational institutions and repositioning support structures such as media houses to deliver quality education to our people.

“We promised to create jobs, and we have kept our word so far, and many more jobs are on the way.

Healthcare, Rule of Law and other

critical areas are receiving equal attention, and we are ready to intensify these efforts to deliver to you, the electorates, a new Edo State that we will all be proud of,” Obaseki said.

He expressed his appreciation to the Royal Father, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, other leaders and elders as well as all Edo people who have kept the faith, volunteered wise counsels and showed understanding when tough decisions had to be made.

He promised that “with God on our side, our goal is to give you an Edo State that will reinforce our age-long sense of pride and honour that is rooted in integrity, hard work and focus.”

…urges youths to develop sound reading culture

ÏÏÏEdo

State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged Nigerian youths to develop a sound culture of reading to broaden their horizon for the keen contest of ideas that characterises the information age.

“With the deluge of information that abounds in books and the internet, ignorance in this time and age is inexcusable,”

Obaseki stressed.

He added that the information age, driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has put the world on the laps of young and old people alike, as information on a broad range of issues can be assessed by merely flipping a smart phone or tapping a key board.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Vice president, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, has inaugurated the Edo Fertilizer Plant and Chemical Company Limited, a public-private venture which has the capacity to produce about 60,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer per annum.

The Vice president, who was accompanied by the ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; and Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, commended the foresight of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for creating the enabling business environment which saw to the revitalisation of the fertilizer plant which had been nonfunctional for about 14 years.

Osinbajo expressed delight at the 500 direct jobs that have been created by the investment, stressing that much more employment opportunities would result from the ancillary economic activities that would be generated by the fertilizer plant.

Commending the governor for having the right attitude to development, he called on leaders across the country in different areas to dedicate themselves to activities that will improve the lot of their people.

“The President Buhari administration is committed to making it easy for investors to do business in the country. We want to achieve this through the promotion of transparency and efficiency. We want every state to be involved in this drive and create the enabling environment for business to thrive in their domain,” Osinbajo said.

He said the revitalisation of fertilizer blending plants across the country was the direct consequence of the presidential initiative to diversify the economy from crude oil, boost farming activities as well as develop the agriculture value chain.

He added that agricultural activities in the country could be enhanced significantly if there was improved access to inputs, hence the drive to make fertilizer which is a major farm input, easily available and accessible to farmers in Nigeria.

Osinbajo explained that the blending plant would also complement Governor Obaseki’s agricultural development initiative which is aimed at improving investment in agriculture via public, private partnership as well as creating jobs for youths across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The Edo Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

2,000 Edo women to get interest-free loans for business ÏÏÏFirst Lady of

Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has said the state government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) would soon commence the disbursement of interest-free loans to two thousand women to grow their businesses in the state.

Mrs. Obaseki, who said this while speaking on the activities of her pet project, Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise (EWAE), assured women leaders from the eighteen local government councils of the state that the scope of the project has been expanded.

“The Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise initiative has been successful. We have recorded over 85 per cent success rate, and most of our women have done well. Due to this success, I have decided to expand the scope of the programme to include general enterprise that can grow the state’s economy and

empower our people,” Mrs. Obaseki said.

She explained that there were several programmes in the bouquet of the Bank of Industry, designed to support the initiative, and grow the micro, small and medium enterprise sub-sectors.

“I am also working towards getting support and funding from outside the state and country as part of my contributions to the economy of the state,” she added.

Mrs. Obaseki said the criteria for qualifying for the loan facility includes membership of a registered cooperative that has serious and credible executives, whose members must be diligent traders who are ready to pay back the loans at the stipulated time.

She said the loan amount would be between fifty and one hundred thousand naira with a repayment period of six months.

Project funding: European Union urges states to emulate Obaseki

Ï1 ƐƄƍ ƍ ƄƄƈ &nô Ƌ ƍƎ Ƅƍ ƆƋ Ǝ Ƅ ƕ ƆƉƉƄ Ɖ ƊƆ ƍ ƎƆ Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏThe timely payment of counter-

part funds for European Union (EU) projects and the timely implementation of the projects in Edo State by the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration, received commendation on Monday in Benin City.

The leader of a delegation of the European Union on Niger-Delta Support Programme (NDSP), Mr. Kurt Cornelis, said his team was impressed with the high level of commitment of the Edo State Government to the execution of projects

under the NDSP and urged other governors to emulate Obaseki.

“Your government is really implementing the proposed reforms in water management, and that is a positive aspect and it is very commendable as well as encouraging,” Cornelis added.

In his response, Obaseki said there was the need to ensure synergy between his administration and the EU on the Niger-Delta Support Programme (NDSP) to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and guarantee sustainability in water and sanitation as well as in checking illegal migration.

“We must get our donor agencies to work together with us to avoid duplication and waste and ensure that those programmes are tied to our internal programmes and to enable us provide more services for the people,” Obaseki said.

He stressed that he was aware that funding to check the challenge of illegal migration was available and added that his administration was reforming its processes to access the fund and create more opportunities in the state to discourage people from going down the tortuous path of illegal migration.

Group distributes waste baskets in Edo motor parks ÏÏÏIt was smiles and appreciation

on the faces of hundreds of commercial bus drivers in Ikpoba Okha and Agbor park units of the council and parts of Benin metropolis as over 3, 500 of them benefited from free waste baskets distribution by a group, Our Ikpoba Okha Initiative, as part of measures to assist the Edo State government and citizens keep the environment clean.

Most of the beneficiaries during the ceremony held at Upper Sakponba end of commercial bus drivers’ park near Benin, the state capital, expressed appreciation to the donor, Mr. Egboigbe Augustine and his team for their kind gesture.

They noted that the waste baskets would help to clean up the environment, particularly, in preventing commercial bus passengers from littering the streets with refuse such as can and sachet water bags and such other items that constitute blockage to drainage systems when it rains.

Speaking during the exercise, Mr. Egboigbe said the idea behind the distribution of waste baskets was aimed at assisting the state government to eradicate indiscriminate disposal of wastes from commercial buses which litter the major roads and streets within the town and its environs.

“If you go to our major roads, you will discover that we have a lot of pure water bags on the roads, yoghurt cans, ice cream bags and other wastes from edible items. It is not as if the baskets are so expensive but it is about the will power. So,

we deemed it fit as a people and as a group from Ikpoba Okha to see how we can assist the people and government, basically, as a social service,” Eboigbe said.

He disclosed also that the body would create volunteers to assist in reforming, restructuring, rebuilding the council even as he expressed hope that local governments should key into such process towards bring about the desir4ed change across the nation.

In addition, Eboigbe stated that members of the initiative were poised to also assist traffic officials with safety jackets to ensure easy flow vehicles in parts of the urban towns; encourage pupils and students to improve in reading culture, clean the markets places and environs; help the vulnerable members of the society through empowerment, etc.

“For us, education is a priority and we want to see how we can partner with the state government and the Ikpoba Okha local government to ensure that basic education, which is compulsory for every child in my local government, gets it. If you educate a child from primary to secondary schools levels, you have inculcated wisdom and greatness in that child and that child will go places in the future. So, if you educate a child you have empowered him to become something,” Eboigbe added.

He appealed the people, especially the youths to join the campaign for a batter society.

Obaseki urges youths to develop sound reading culture CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

He explained that his administration was determined to revamp public libraries and equip them with state-of-the-art facilities while efforts were ongoing to reposition the state-owned newspaper and broadcast companies to support the diffusion of

knowledge.

The administration’s book reading campaign was boosted recently with the donation of over 300 cartons of books to the state government by District 9141 of the Rotary Club, led by the District Governor, Ikponmwosa Ogiemudia.

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who represented Governor Godwin Obaseki, speaking at the Aba Festival held at Igarra, the administrative headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State on Friday. He is flanked by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto (left) and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Akerele (right).

Return vehicles to Assembly or face prosecution, Oshiomhole tells Ativie ÏÏÏImmediate past governor of Edo

State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday, ordered the former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, to return her officials vehicles to the new leadership of risk prosecution.

The former Governor who debunked the claim by Mrs. Ativie that he (Oshiomhole) gave the vehicles to her as a gift, asserted that “it was criminal for her to make such claim because she as a lawmaker knows that I don’t have such powers to do that.

And if she is saying that she has sold the vehicles, that is criminal and she may face prosecution if that is true”.

He said: “Ativie has to return those vehicles and I believe that the government, whether the executive or legislative branch, has to follow the legal procedures to recover those vehicles, and if she has privatised them, to charge her for stealing. I had a meeting, incidentally, with the members of the House few days after the change (impeachment) and I pointedly reminded her that she had to return those vehicles.

“At the eve of the governorship election, the House had reasons to make a change which offset what we commonly refer to as the tripod. But once they made the change, the thing was either she resigned when the House realised

that they agreed with the party that we needed to make an adjustment or they impeached the Speaker.

“And they were not ready to impeach her because they said that it would not be fair to impeach her, though there were arguments that, after all, she was married to an Esan man and, therefore by marriage, she is Esan. One of the concerns she raised was that now she had the vehicles of the Speaker. If she had to resign and be made a Deputy Speaker, she would not be entitled to those four vehicles.

“And we agreed that she can use the four vehicles as deputy speaker, for as long as she occupied the office. But that does not mean that the next deputy speaker would have four vehicles because the vehicles are for the office of the Speaker but personal to you as deputy speaker. How does that amount

to asset transfer?

“I am not in a position to give out government assets. The car that Governor (Godwin) Obaseki is using now, incidentally, was one of my official cars. The one he is using in Abuja is the one I handed over. They are not my property. It is true that governors have powers but those powers are derived from law; the limits of those powers are also well-specified in law.

“Nothing in the law empowered me to give out the property of the Edo State Government. I am not competent to do so; so even I were to purport to do so, it would be illegal. Just like I reminded them (lawmakers) in that meeting, I told her that, ‘Even as assembly member, how can you say that I gave you government property? Do I have the power to do that? You are a lawmaker; you should know the law.’

10 years after, family, friends remember ex-Daily Times distributor

ÏÏÏEvery

August 30th will continue to be a special day for Okungbowa family and the entire newspapers distributors in Benin, the Edo State capital, as they remembered Elder John Ajayi Okungbowa, a former distributor of The Daily Times, who died 10

years ago.

His business name, Okuns Agency was one of the biggest distributors of newspapers, including Daily Times in Benin.

Pa Okungbowa, who was fondly called Okuns by admirers, became a newspaper distributor in 1976 and died 10 years ago.

The Edo Times 3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Speakership: Don’t dabble into Assembly politics, Group tells Edo monarchs ÏÏÏThe

Afemai Peoples Movement (APM), a socio cultural organisation in Edo State, has condemned what it described as an attempt by people it described as “few traditional rulers” in Edo North and Central senatorial districts to dabble into the politics of the state as regards the Speakership of the Edo state House of Assembly.

First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, speaking on the activities of her pet project, Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise (EWAE), in Benin City, Edo State...recently.

Industrialisation: EDSG to leverage on UNIBEN research capacity Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏThe

Edo State Government has expressed its readiness to harness the scientific research capacity of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in its efforts at revamping the state’s economy.

Governor Godwin Obaseki said this when the management of the university paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Benin City, to intimate him of the institution’s plan to organise a summit on Agriculture and Innovation.

Obaseki commended the management of the university for initiating the summit and said: “It is heartwarming to see that the academia have seen the wisdom in utilising the outcomes of your research efforts for the benefit of the society.”

He further said that although his administration was already in

partnership with UNIBEN in its efforts at transforming the education sector of the state, he added that he would like to extend the partnership to the development of agriculture and infrastructure.

“In the area of infrastructure, we will like to create an Information Technology Park close to the Power Plant you want to set up.

There is so much we can do around you,’’ the governor said, and urged the ivory tower to rebrand the summit Edo-UNIBEN Agriculture and Innovation Summit so that the state government can play more roles at the summit. ‘’The summit is in line with our administration’s goal for agriculture, it makes sense that we partner with you. We believe it should be co-hosted by the Edo State Government and we are ready to work with the summit committee and embellish what you have done, using our experience,” Obaseki said.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Professor Faraday Orumwense, who led the management team on the visit, said the summit would help “develop practical framework and structures that will engender the establishment of businesses along the agricultural value chain for about 1,800 unemployed graduate youths and graduating students drawn from 15 universities as well as other tertiary institutions.”

Orumwense said the summit will be organised in September in collaboration with the International Institute for Security and Governance Studies and the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority and solicited the state government’s support through the provision of 2,500 hectares of land in each of the Senatorial Districts to be used for farming by youths as well funds to host the summit.

Aba festival excites visitors as Obaseki harps on unity in diversity

ÏÏÏIgarra, the administrative head-

quarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, was the destination at the weekend for lovers of culture in the state and beyond as sons and daughters of Igarra, rolled out the drums to celebrate the 228-year-old colourful Aba Festival that was graced by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Legislators and other senior government officials.

Declaring the festival open, Obaseki, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, said his administration would take advantage of the appeal of cultural events such as Aba to strengthen the existing

unity among Igarra people and Edo people in general.

He further said that the festival would receive more attention from his administration so that it can boost the economy of the state.

“This is a beautiful culture that needs to be celebrated by the people of lgarra as well as all Edo people and should be a rallying point for all of us so that we can collectively woo more tourists to come and invest in the state and enjoy our rich cultural heritage,” Obaseki said.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, said the event was significant to the people of lgarra espe-

cially those graduating from one age group to another.

He explained that the festival was a unifying event for the people of lgarra, adding that the grand finale is the beating of the Aba drum.

Beyond the dais where the dignitaries, traditional rulers, community leaders and elders sat, were youths, women, children in colourful costumes, who put a spark to the 38th edition of the festival that featured rhythmic dance steps, singing, merry making, inter-change of goodwill, expression of pride by those transiting from one age group to another and the sound of the Aba drums.

Speakership: Don’t dabble into Assembly politics, Group tells Edo monarchs The Afemai Peoples Movement (APM), a socio cultural organisation in Edo State, has condemned what it described as an attempt by people it described as “few traditional rulers” in Edo North and Central senatorial districts to dabble into the politics of the state as regards the Speakership of the Edo state House of Assembly.

According to the group in a statement signed by its President, Osikhotse Muhammed, “it is unfair for

only six traditional rulers from Etsako to gather and make decision for the Afemai people with over 30 traditional rulers. And we do not know when the six traditional rulers became the 25th member of the Edo state House of Assembly to now decide for the people”.

Obviously, the group was reacting to the call by traditional rulers from Esan Central and Edo North senatorial district of the state led by the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, that members of state House of Assembly should revert the Speakership to Edo Central.

But the APM argued that “the Edo state House is an independent arm of government and has the right to elect who becomes its leader based on trust, integrity, honesty and legislative experience. Just like you have the governor and the Chief Judge of the state from one senatorial district, there is nothing wrong having the Deputy Governor and the Speaker from the same senatorial district.

UBTH gets new chief medical director

ÏÏÏDr.

Darlington Ewean Obaseki has been appointed the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH by the Federal Government.

The appointment which was contained in a letter signed by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, said the appointment which is for a term of four years takes effect from August 17, 2017.

Until his appointment as substantive Chief Medical Director, he was the Acting Chief Medical Director and an Associate Professor in the depart-

ment of Pathology, University of Benin.

Dr. Obaseki has also held various positions including Head Department of Pathology, Coordinator UBTH Cancer Registry, Assistant Secretary, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria UBTH, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Coordinator/Director, Cancer Registry, UBTH Special Adviser on Sports, School of Medicine University of Benin amongst others.

He is happily married with children.

Obaseki proposes global database for victims of enforced disappearances ÏÏÏThe Governor of Edo State, Mr.

Godwin Obaseki, has made a case for a global digital database that will have the information of victims of enforced disappearances across the world.

Obaseki made the recommendation on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed on August 30, each year.

He noted that “over the years, the number of victims of enforced disappearances has been on the increase while the face of the oppressive act keeps changing from people who oppose draconian military governments to civil rights agitators, and innocent women and children during internal strife such as the Chibok girls, as well as witnesses of the act, all in a bid to propagate

terror.”

The governor explained that “with a global database shared by security agencies across the world, the search for the victims of this dastardly act would be easier.”

He condemned any act designed to instill fear and spread terror and stressed “that civility and not barbarism should rule the world.”

He commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari at rescuing all the missing Chibok girls and urged Nigerians to keep faith with the APC-led administration.

The United Nations General Assembly in 2010 adopted August 30 for the observance of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, with the maiden edition in 2011.

The Edo Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, August 31, 2017

Insecticidal nets: Edo records 88% distribution rate ÏÏÏGovernor of

Edo State Mr. Godwin Obaseki has commended the team that coordinated the distribution of insecticidal nets across the state with a first time record of 88 percent distribution rate.

According to Obaseki, “the exercise and the distribution figures are significant as we were able to reach over two million people. I am excited that the programme was a huge success despite the short time that was given to the team to reach every nook and cranny of the state.”

Chairman of the distribution team and Deputy Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, expressed the team’s appreciation for the opportunity given to them by the governor to serve.

He said the team set out to achieve the 100 percent distribution target given to them by the governor and commended international bodies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) that assisted with statistical data of international standard.

A representative of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a major partner in the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets Replacement Campaign, Mr. Godson Kingsley, said a total of 12,233 personnel were trained for the exercise, and 2,110,150 nets were distributed as against the proposed 2,647,108, to residents in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

He commended the political will of the state governor and the participation of high level officials of the state government in the exercise.

Obaseki proffers transnational coalition to end slavery Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏThe Governor of

Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has proffered transnational partnerships between state and non-state actors as the only way to end slavery in all its forms.

Obaseki made the proposition on the occasion of the commemoration of the International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition on August 23, 2017, a day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, to memorialise the transatlantic slave trade.

Obaseki said that while “the

transatlantic trade in human beings ended over 200 years ago, slavery has refused to go away as it still thrives in several other forms, with millions of children, teenagers and even adults, sold daily across the world by human traffickers to greedy masters and mistresses who use them for slave labour and turn them into sex slaves.”

He decried the negative backlash of human trafficking on the society which includes the erosion of age-old progressive values such as hard work, integrity, and self-worth and emphasized that international coalition and partnership is needed to put an end to the dehumanizing prac-

tice.

“In Edo State, our administration is committed to the fight against human trafficking as many Edo youths have lost their lives to the illicit trade. We have set up an Anti-human Trafficking Task-force, to go after human traffickers in the state,” Obaseki said.

He further said that his administration had thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s plan to extend the whistle-blowing policy to human trafficking.

The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition had its maiden celebration in Haiti on August 23, 1998.

EDSG to partner WHARC on improved Primary Health Care services ÏÏÏEdo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki, has assured that his administration would partner Women’s Health And Action Research Center (WHARC) in developing the state’s Primary Health Care Centres to improve the health and well-being of Edo citizens.

The state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, made the disclosure when he received members of WHARC, led by Prof.

Friday Okonofua on behalf of the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.

Hon. Shaibu assured them that the Governor Obaseki-led administration is ready to buy ideas that would improve the health sector in the state, saying that as a professional body, government would partner them to fast track the process of facility upgrade in the health sector.

While commending the group for their initiative and willingness to support Edo State government in the area of PHC improvement, Shaibu promised that govern-

ment would look into the issues raised which bothered on the condition of Primary Health Care Centres in the state, adding that taking Edo to greater height cannot be achieved by government action alone.

He directed the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, to liaise with WHARC on how to renovate health care centre’s across the state, emphasising that the present administration would not condone overestimated bills in contract execution.

Earlier in an address, Chairman, Board of trustees of WHARC, Prof. Friday Okonofua, said their visit was to let government have insight to what their group does and to assure government of their support.

Okonofua stated that WHARC would be able to attract and mobilise international resources to support Edo State government in developing the Primary Health Care, saying that the cost of renovating Primary Health Care Centres is not too much as some people think.

Chairman of the team that coordinated the distribution of insecticidal nets and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, (standing right) presenting a report of their activities to Governor Godwin Obaseki, at Government House in Benin City ...on Monday

Edo Assembly to partner Police on conducive business, living environment

ÏÏÏThe Edo House of Assembly

is to partner with the Edo State Police Command to provide a conducive atmosphere for sustenance, safety of lives and property in the state.

The Speaker, Mr. Kabiru Ad-

Inadequate funding is killing our universities –Don ÏÏÏThe Vice Chancellor of

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, has said not much innovation is taking place in our universities as a result of lack of adequate funding which has led to churning out graduates without practical skills.

Speaking at the 3rd LAPO Annual Conference on Microfinance and Enterprise organised by LAPO Institute in Benin City with theme, “Entrepreneurship, Financial and Economic Development”, Ibhadode said Nigeria has no business

being poor because of her enormous endowment in natural resources including a large human population.

He said: “There are over two hundred universities and research institutes carrying out researches, including in greater proportion scientific and technological research.

Unfortunately, the impact of these researches is not felt in the larger society. They don’t seem to address the real problems of the society.

Even when they do, very few of them are patterned and eventually get commercialized. The major reason for this is that most Nige-

rian researches are done to earn promotion in the universities and research institutes.”

In his address, Chairman, Governing Council of LAPO institute, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, who noted that many Nigerians lack the opportunity to play in the entrepreneurship space and economic development, said LAPO has trained over 36,000 Nigerians in basic entrepreneurship techniques, basic business management, business development services, and information and communication technology skills.

joto (APC-Akoko-Edo I), made the remark on Monday when he led Principal Officers of the House on a courtesy visit to the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, in Benin, the state capital.

Adjoto said that the visit was the first official assignment of the house since the change of leadership on August 14, 2017 that brought him in as the Speaker.

According to the speaker, the house is extending a hand of fellowship to the police, for a cordial working relationship.

Responding, Gwandu appreciated the lawmakers for their decision to partner the police in crime fighting and prevention.

The police commissioner reiterated the commitment of the Edo police command to give every necessary support to enable the people of the state to be able to work

in a peaceful environment and to live without fear.

He said that the lawmakers’ visit was a demonstration of the level of cohesion and cordial relationship between the police and the state legislature.

According to him, the police performance could not have been possible without the support of the state government and the people.

“Crime fighting requires community support through intelligence gathering, to enable the people sleep with their two eyes closed,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly has extended its business calendar from August 31 to September 15, 2017.

The house said it was to enable it conclude work on all pending bills and resolutions.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, August 31, 2017

DJ Jimmy Jatt announces DJ competition for ‘Jimmy’s Jump Off 2017’ L2

P

Gist L2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Thursday, August 31, 2017

Mutiat Alli

DJ Jimmy Jatt Announces DJ Competition for ‘Jimmy’s Jump Off 2017’

Instagram sensation, Teni out with Fargin Following teeming request from her fans and

Widely respected DJ Jimmy Jatt has announced a DJ competition for the upcoming edition of his annual music scheduled to hold on the

releases the much awaited studio record of the much anticipated song.

Nigeria.

Describing details of the DJ wrote on his Instagram; opportunity

to

perform

at Jimmy Jatt

competition now. to do is; upload a minute -

use

the

talent; augmenting numerous career opportunities as the show will

a song that addresses the issue of rape and sexual exploitation. Teni employs her great story telling ability in crafting the lyrics to this hit bound single on a Mystro produced highlife beat.

industry big shots.

hashtags;Jimm hosted by popular comedians will feature an array of exciting

The live shows begin on The Voice Nigeria! …As Hightee, Afolayan, Precious, Ifeoma stole the night

for the amusement of fans.

two aired on Sunday the

DJ Jimmy Jatt has described the competition as

announced as performers to showcase their ingrained along with other top notch

Uche Ogbodo talks abuse in relationship are a form of abuse then I will tag it psychological abuse.

He was messing with my head; all the depression

excited audience was present at Terra Kulture in Lagos to experience thrilling performances from biggest show.

singing

reality

be when I found out that he

broadcast . explained reason for her split with him.

with his performance of Kool

four members of each team contestant and the three Stiches by Shawn Mendes. remaining contestants

issues;

some things. But I was ready to patch things up with him if he was ready to change.

up. Jahnomso followed with

the show rolling as the But in the relationship I had there was no abuse.

was strong. I could push but

Following

this

string

of

#TeamTimi

had

Bada

(sister to Dawn from Season one) performed Meghan

the coaches and audience

stage one after another.

abuse because there are different

Easy. Hightee thrilled with allowed to say that lying and deceit

Life&

coordinated performances.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, August 31, 2017

My sense of humour and the way I dress stands me out –Susan Maxwell She is one of the next Nollywood stars the industry. Can you clarify that? that is ready to take the profession of I joined the industry in 2006. I shot my first make believe-acting, to this level. And movie in 2007, and my second movie in 2008, make her one of the best generations

my third movie was in 2009, it was a yearly thing for me then

What were the titles?

The first title of the first movie i shoot in 2007 was “Isawuru” which was written and produced by me, and directed by Murphy Afolabi. The second one is “Nkam to ba Gba” decided to go solo on her own, and now also written and produced by me, but was directed by Odunlade Adekola. The third one I

this Abia State born actress has carved

into the profession of make-believe Is been long we heard from you. What has been happening to you?

I have been so busy with my personal business, going up and down. And thank God I have been doing so well with it, because it has taken a lot of my time, and attention. So I have been given it all to my business. But I thank God now that I have been able to put my feet on ground, and now I am back and better in the industry.

And talking about the industry, many people did not really known when you join

Why? The film never came out, for one reason or the other In the industry, who and who can you call your contemporaries?

I have a lot of friends and colleagues in the industry, sister, and brothers and so on.

But I am not the type that associates with my colleagues. I have good and smooth rapport a mate , because I don t want a situation where by somebody will now tell me, or ask me why should I called her my mate. I don t have a mate, were all colleagues.

Have you ever be engrossed in any controversy before in the industry?

Initially I always see the industry as my second profession. I interchange my career, so I have not be so fully, fully in the industry What inspires you to join the industry?

Acting has always been something that I love. It is in born; it is something that has been in me since I was young. I started my acting career days back in the church and in the school, so it has been in me. The thing is I like to be noticed wherever I went to when I was small. So I started my acting when I was in the school, then I joined the drama group in my school I also joined drama group of my church. Is like I like to show people what I am capable of doing, as far as acting is concerned. So as things go on, I don t want it to be church or school things, so I have to come to the industry as I grew older. So I can say acting has been part of me, since when I was a kid So many people believed that you ladies in the industry don t keep a relationship or your marriage longer, with the spate of divorce here and there. How would you

Interview L3

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Interview L4

If you are not satisfied with your partner you can opt out, marriage is not bondage –Susan Maxwell react to that?

Everybody has her life to leave. I am Susan.

There are so many other names out there, with different character; I don t want to say anything about that. People do say that, but one thing I know is that this thing does not always happen in our industry alone. Why it is always blown out of proportion is because we are public figure, which is why people look at it that way.

That is the excuse most of you I have spoke to always give. But does the fact that you are celebrity mean you should not keep your marriage?

I am not holding brief for anybody here, and like I told you earlier on, everybody has a different character, which reflects on individual life. But I still insisted there are broken marriages or relationship also happens in other professions like banking sector, health sector and even in your own profession (Journalism) too. But when it happens in your own profession, who will report it? So it happens everywhere. Even in normal life, if you are not satisfied with your partner, you can opt out. Marriage is not bondage now. Some men take the advantage of our ladies in the industry. They abused us, they want to get to us by all means, and at the end of the day, they end up disappoint us.

What is the difference between Susan on set and Susan in real life?

Susan on set, I have to wear my character, act the way my director want me to act my character. Whatever I see on my script is what I am going to act on. Susan in the movie

is different from Susan outside, when I am outside I am a young lady who pursue her career and take good care of my business and my daughter.

Where is Susan from?

I am from Abia State.

But you speak Yoruba fluently?

Yaah, my mother is from Ilesha in Osun State. My dad is from Oboro Umahia in Abia State. I am from Nw3osu family, the popular actor, the late Ashley Nwosu. He

I am very sure he might have influenced your acting career one way or the other?

No, he never. We operated differently.

What can Susan cannot be caught with?

Smoking and drinking . I don t also fight.

Nollywood is over 20 . How can you rate the industry?

We are trying, but I have not seeing anything spectacular about our 20 years.

But the only thing I can see is that we are

improving and we are trying to get there.

Individually, we are trying, but I just want the government to look into the industry, especially on the issue of piracy, is really dragging us backward financially, and is not making us to pump money into the industry. We are no more doing movie now, but project, that can get international award, but what can we do when our Nigeria market is not favourable. The government should please do something.

I know they have been trying to bring it down. We just pray that before we clock 25 years, we would get there.

What stands you out from your colleagues in the industry?

(Prolonged laughter) haaa! Sir Murphy, efe komi sinu wahala re o pelu ibere yi o(sir Murphy, you want to put me into trouble with this your question ) I don t know o. Okay I can say my sense of humour stands me out, and the way I dressed and my make-up also stands me out because I am a make –up artiste, so there is no way my make –up will not stand me out. The people and even my colleagues always tell me this.