Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednesday 10, April, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 73

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

. . . putting the people first

One killed, scores injured in Kogi/Anambra boundary clash >> 10

Jimadal Ula 30, 1434 AH

N150

20 killed in Potiskum auto crash >> 3

2015: INEC restructures

By Lawrence Olaoye, with agency reports

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday in Abuja disclosed that it has begun massive reorganization and restructuring ahead of the 2015 general elections.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Commission’s

Redeploys 67 directors

Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the reorganization process involves the redeployment, transfer and retirement of some of its 67 directors.

Idowu who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) disclosed that the exercise include

the reduction of the departments from 26 to nine while the directorates were to be reduced to 10.

He said: “There are now fewer departments in the Commission being headed by people who are considered best suited to make the

departments functional.”

Idowu explained that some departments were merged, adding that the civil society, gender, voter education and public affairs, becomes the department of Voters’ Education, Public Relations and Civil Society.

He said under the exercise, the leadership would be reconfigured because the Commission had a number of directors in the system and a lot of options had been put on the table.

Idowu said that the new departments would be headed by directors and there would also be directorates, adding that all the directors could not be Contd on Page 2

L-R: Managing Director, Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, Director Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, Managing Director, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, and Director, Corporate Communications of CBN, Mr. Ugo Okorafor, during the press conference on the outcomes of the Bankers Committee's meeting yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Gunmen burn Katsina police station From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Katsina state Police Command has confirmed the burning down of a divisional police station at Ngawa local government area by

unknown gunmen, on Monday night.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji, who briefed the press yesterday, described the attackers as robbers and noted that their intention was to steal police arms.

In the course of the attack, according to the Commissioner, the gunmen threw an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the roof of the police station and ignited the fire that destroyed the building.

According to him, “there was

no casualty on the part of the police but some of the suspects escaped with wounds and we have recovered five IEDs and three motorcycles.

“We are pursuing them and we have alerted our neighbouring states and we are

going to arrest them, God willing.’’

According to an eyewitness account, the gunmen numbering about 10, arrived the police station at about 9.30 pm and launched an attack on the policemen on duty.

Man, 35, jailed for homosexuality in Abuja

>> 18

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

Property

24-27

Motoring

28

Arts

29-30

Rival APC drags INEC to court

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

O

ne of the associations seeking to be registered under the acronym, APC, African People’s Congress (APC) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the commission's refusal to register it.

The plaintiffs numbering about 30 who sued on behalf of themselves and the party want the court to declare that INEC lacked the discretion and or has no power to refuse to register an association as a political party once the conditions stipulated by the said defendant for registration are met.

In an application filed by their counsel, Ededem Ani of Awa Kalu SAN's chambers, they asked the court to declare that being the principal members and promoters of the association known as

African People's Congress have met all conditions of eligibility for the registration of African's People's Congress as a political party.

The plaintiffs also seek an order directing INEC to register the association known as and called African People's Congress as a political party forthwith and an order prohibiting the registration of any other association known as and called African People's Congress or having the acronym APC as a political party pending the hearing and determination of their application.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from registering any other association or known as and called African People's Congress or having the acronym 'APC' as a political party.

The plaintiffs had hinged their reliefs on the grounds that INEC gave notice to the plaintiffs in

directing their intention to apply to register the association called APC as a political party and that INEC outlined in writing to them the conditions that precede the registration of an association as a political party.

They said that they had complied or substantially complied with all the conditions stipulated by the defendant but the defendant on tenuous grounds declined to register the association known as the 'African People's Congress' as a political party.

In an affidavit deposed to by the acting National Chairman of the party, Chief Onyiye Ikeagwonu and filed in support of the application, the party said the association submitted all relevant documents to INEC in respect of its application.

He further stated that the association had complied with all the requirements for registration but that INEC had refused to

register it.

He averred that for the purpose of the registration of the African People's Congress, the association paid the Defendant on receipt no 085003 dated 04-03-2013, the sum of N100,000.00 and the sum of N900,000.00 as payment for the registration of African People's Congress as a political party.

He said INEC did not at any time inform the association that the one million naira paid to it as registration fees would be nonrefundable.

He said: "That the plaintiffs consider the failure of the INEC to refund its registration fees as confirmation that the conditions stipulated by INEC for the registration of the African People's Congress as a political had been fully complied with."

The case could not come up yesterday because all judges had gone to attend a refresher course on judgment writing.

PDP group drags party to court over NWC

A On the sloppy side of Lagos, Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

You can send your news and pictures to: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com pictures@peoplesdaily-online.com contact@peoplesdaily-online.com

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ge and academic qualifications of five members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as other issues arising from the election of 18 members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) are now subjects of litigation before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Hon. Bala Bawa Kao’je, the party’s National Treasurer; Chief Olabode Akeem Mustapha, National Auditor and Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, Deputy National Auditor, have been dragged before the court over allegation that sections of the PDP were breached when they were elected into their offices as they were at no time accountants by training.

Similarly, Alhaji Garba Chiza, the National Youth Leader and Chief Dennis Alonge Niyi, the Deputy National Youth Leader, would also be expected to explain to the court how they got into their positions in violation of the age limit of 40 years for such posts.

The plaintiffs in the suit, Hon. Abba Yale, Alhaji Aruwa Sule and Bashir Maidugu have asked the court through their lawyers, Barr. Joni Icheka, that all the affected 18 members of the PDP

NEC were all illegally elected into their respective positions.

They claimed that their election into their offices did not comply with the provisions of Articles 2, Articles 16 (1) and (3) as well as violated Sections 6.6, Section 6.0 (ii), and the contents of pages 17 of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Year 2012 Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention of the PDP. They are therefore asking the court for a declaration as to “whether by the provisions of Article 13 (6); 13 (14) and (15) and Article 27 (2) of the PDP constitution, the composition and or continuous composition of the PDP by the unqualified defendants 2nd to 6th defendants is a nullity”.

They also asking the court to declare null and void, the election of the remaining 11 defendants on the ground that they were elected in contravention of the party’s constitution, election of national officers manual, announcement of result procedure and the guidelines set out for the national convention of the party in 2012.

In a 27 paragraph affidavit sworn to by Kale, it was alleged that the 2nd to 6th defendants were not qualified to hold the positions they currently occupy in the PDP and so, should be

relieved of such portfolios.

In particular, Kaoje was said to be a graduate of Building Engineering of the ABU Zaria and not an accountant as required by the PDP constitution for him to become the National Treasurer.

Hon. Mustapha, was equally alleged to be a B.Sc holder in Criminology and Security Studies of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and not an accountant as required by the party’s constitution and other guidelines, just as Senator Tsauri was said to be appointed the Deputy National Auditor while not being an accountant as required.

Also, Chiza, the National Youth Leader was said to be above 40 years, having been born on 25th July 1960 whereas the PDP constitution and guidelines stipulates that the holder of such an office should be between 18 and 40 years.

It was this same issue that were drawn up against Niyi, who is Chiza’s deputy as he was said to have been born on12th August, 1970, which makes him to be above 40 years as at 2012 when he assumed the office.

As for the other members of the NEC who were listed in the suit, including the five earlier officers, they were all alleged to have been elected by affirmation in

contravention of Article 16 of the party’s constitution.

“I know as of fact that the process leading to the election of new officials was by motions moved and seconded for the return of candidates into each of the vacant national offices.

“All the motions were carried through resounding voice vote with the exception of the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Financial Secretary, National Auditor, National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monitoring Team observed and reported that ‘the mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with the mode of election stipulated in paragraph 6.0 (ii) of page 17 of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Year 2012 Congresses and National Convention and therefore unacceptable to the Commission,” the plaintiffs stated.

Several documents including the INEC report, the party’s guidelines on elections as well as the forms filled by each of the defendants at the convention were also attached as evidence.

Chief Judge of the FCT, is yet to assign the matter ostensibly because the courts are on vacation.

2015: INEC restructures Contd from Page 1 accommodated with what was on ground. He further disclosed that there has been a lot of mind robbing and nobody will be shortchanged.

He said part of the options that was put on the table was that those who had a short time left in the service were given an option of taking their pay

upfront or stay but be reassigned. The Press Secretary added that the reorganisation was as a result of INEC consultant (Price Water) observation that there were over-bloated members of staff in the Commission.

However, Idowu said the INEC required a large number of staff due to its large volume of work

across the country.

The Commission he said will soon commence continuous voter’s registration in 8,809 wards in the country.

He pointed out that when the Commission did the recruitment exercise in 2012, only 1,500 people were recruited and to do the exercise there was need to deploy more workforces across the

country.

Idowu said that many people would be required to work for INEC, adding that there was no excess staff in Commission. ``The number of staff we have is not sufficient, because if you are looking at the number of wards, everybody at INEC will be fully utilised.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 3

Flood causes gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

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otorists travelling on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway were on Tuesday obstructed by flood which took over a large portion of the road.

The flood which followed a heavy downpour took over a part of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around the Otedola Estate area, causing serious gridlock on both sides of the road.

DailyPost gathered that several other parts of the Lagos metropolis are flooded, causing traffic congestion.

Most residents of Lagos have been looking forward to the rain

Customs Comptroller in charge of Eastern Marine Command, Buba Ibrahim (left), inspecting bags of rice seized by Adamawa unit of the command, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

20 killed in Potiskum auto crash, says FRSC

Death toll hits 40 as Wase residents flee

T

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of 20 people in an auto accident yesterday on the Kano-Maiduguri highway.

The accident, according to FRSC, occurred near Potiskum, in Yobe state.Meanwhile, over 200 residents, including women and

children, have fled Wase town in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, following the violent communal crises between the Huasa/Fulani and the Tarok, that have wrecked untold havoc on the people of the area.

It was gathered that the death toll following Monday attacks on Zango and Wase has risen to over 40,

even as the lawmaker representing the zone has urged the community leaders to wade into the crisis.

A source said that there have been pockets of killings in the area after the Monday crisis leading to more deaths, putting the death toll at 40, explaining that more corpses were discovered on Tuesday morning.

Asari Dokubo defends Jonathan on Alamieyeseigha pardon

T

he leader of the Niger Delta Volunteers Force (NDVF), Alhaji Dokubo Asari, has said that the presidential pardon for former Bayelsa state Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was in order.

Speaking in an interview, Dokubo threw his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision saying those criticizing him are being “mischievous.”

According to him, “the President has the right under the constitution to exercise the prerogative of mercy.

“And because the right to do this is constitutional, it makes the view of anybody, which may be to contrary, null and void and of no effect whatsoever because it is done on the basis of the right granted and protected by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Secondly, the whole world knows that the money stolen by Alamieyeseigha belongs to the

EU, ECOWAS sign 76m Euro AFISMA, migration agreement

E

COWAS and the EU have signed agreements worth 76 million euro (N15.66 billion) to support the African-led International Mission to Mali (AFISMA) and free movement of persons and migration in the region.

The signing ceremony was held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a 50-million euro (N10.30 billion) agreement was signed for the support of AFISMA, while 26 million euro (N5.36 billion) was signed to support projects on free movement in the region.

In his address, Ambassador David MacRae, the Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the 50 million euro was in fulfilment of the pledge the EU made in January.

MacRae expressed EU’s continued commitment to fighting insurgency in the West African sub-region and reiterated its support to the stabilisation process in Mali.

“The African Peace Facility has over the years become an

important instrument to provide funding to African-led support operations.

“The 50 million euro grant contract we are signing today concretises the pledge made by the EU during the donor’s conference hosted by the African Union in Addis Ababa on Jan. 29.

“Most of the EU funding will cover allowances for the troops and officers and will directly support the deployment of AFISMA,” he said.

The EU envoy also said the organisation was resuming its development aid to Mali, adding that 250 million euro (N51.5 billion) was made available through the European Development Fund.

He said this was in addition to ``a further 20 million Euro of fastdisbursing assistance from the Instrument for Stability which will be focused on support for the political process, justice and law enforcement.

“The EU is also committed to sustain and if need be, increase its humanitarian aid.”

MacRae said that EU military

training of Malian forces had begun.

He also said that the signing of 26 million euro agreement was in support of a project aimed at improving free movement of persons and migration in West Africa.

He said the objective was to support the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Common Approach on Migration.

“The leading implementing partner is the International Organisation for Migration which is working together with the International Labour Organisation and the International Centre for Migration.

“These three agencies are now ready to start their work under the strategic guidance of the ECOWAS Commission.

The EU envoy also commended the ECOWAS Commission for its decision to establish a finance cell to manage peace support operations, adding that African Union and France had taken steps to technically

as a relief from the intense heat that comes with the dry season, but the corresponding flooding of the state seems to have turned the blessing of the rain to a bitter one.

In the last two years, Lagos and other states across the country had recorded fatal cases of flooding. While some were disastrous with property damaged and lives lost, others were mild, leaving little or no casualties.

Research had shown that some of the factors responsible for the flooding were lack of drainage, blockage of gutters and obstruction of water passages.

assist the initiative.

In his address, Amb Kadre Ouedraogo, President of the ECOWAS Commission, commended the EU for supporting development process in the region.

Ouedraogo said that the signing of agreements was an opportunity for both parties to enhance cooperation in other areas of regional integration.

“AFISMA is about to enter into the second phase; the provision of the 50 million Euro has demonstrated EU’s resolve to assist ECOWAS in the management of the crisis in Mali and consolidation of peace in the region.

He added that the signing of the financial agreement in support of free movement of persons and migration would strengthen the capacity of ECOWAS Commission stakeholders involved with migration of regional citizens.

The ECOWAS Commission president also gave assurance that coordinated efforts would be made to ensure the smooth implemen-tation of the funds.

(NAN)

people of Bayelsa State.”

“The people of Bayelsa State have forgiven him long time ago and have rehabilitated him.

“In fact, the majority of Ijaw people feel that Alamieyeseigha was unjustly victimised.

“What we have discovered is that the majority of the people criticising the pardon because of politics stole much more than what Alamieyeseigha stole and they are walking free.

“Go to any state and look into their financial records, come back and tell me if their money have never been stolen in a manner that is even worse than the celebrated case of Alamieyeseigha. “What do you say of the people who are allowed to do plea bargaining and they are walking free? But we are saying that, if we want to fight corruption, it should be holistic. All the governors who have ruled any state since 1999 should tried,” he said.

On the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office in 2015, the former Ijaw Youth Council President said that even though he was not a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, the South-south region will have “two terms of uninterrupted presidency. It is a constitutional right for Goodluck Jonathan to go for a second term.”

Apparently referring to the Northern leaders, he stated that, “ all the people who are talking, since 1956 when self-rule started in Nigeria ?

“What have they done to change the face of the country like other countries that got independence with us at the same time, like Malaysia, which was also a British colony like us; like Singapore ?

Listing the achievement of his kinsman, Dokubo said, “ t he Benin/Shagamu Expressway has changed from what it used to be.

Jonathan made it possible.

“Now, people travel smoothly on it. Our airports at a point in time were looking like slaughter houses.

See what is happening in the airport or aviation sector today. Go to Kano Airport, I flew from there. Go to other airports across the country. The railway has been on its kneels for many years. Today, for the first time in many years, trains go from Lagos to Kano. These are evidence that people can not wish away.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

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atthew and his friends use the little playground at the estate to catch fun. They play football, do summersault and perform acrobatics, often times, without footwear. Their playground is not the lush green playground of your imagination, neither is it a beach sandy playground, it is a heap of garbage.

Their home is not conventional too. It is an estate of shanties built on the city's dump yard. To a guest, their home stinks and oozes of decomposing garbage, but Matthew and friends have learnt to live on it. They have adapted so well they hardly fall ill of the germs they constantly interact with.

Matthew and his family moved here 13 years ago, after hardship hit them in the city.

He grew up here, on the refuse.

He is one of the hundreds of kids living on refuse in Dustbin Estate, to cope with the economic pressures of the city of Lagos, Africa's fastest growing city.

The Dustbin Estate in Awodiora, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Development Area, Lagos State, is an expansive shack settlement erected on a heap of refuse located beside a canal, which drains waste, and floodwater out of Ajegunle.

Thousands of people now inhabit the area.

The area was a swamp, and a flood plain. Driven by the ever-increasing rate of decent accommodation in the heart of Ajegunle, Ojo, Ijesha and other adjoining residential areas, and the quest to survive in the city of Lagos, human activities began in the area now known as Dustbin Estate more than two decades ago.

Early settlers informed researchers from the Centre for Democracy and Development that the estate, hitherto a swamp, emerged after 'refuse filling' of the swamp started about twentyfive years ago.

In the estate, inhabitants build shacks erected with wooden planks, zinc roofing sheets and polythene to protect the structure from water. Those who do not have money to buy land to build rent the shacks at prices ranging from N500 to N600 a room per month.

Sanitation and hygiene in the Dustbin Estate is very poor. Repugnant stench from the refuse dump on the estate fills the air and almost chokes visitors. On rainy days, visitors often contact bacterial infections after visiting the estate.

"The first time I visited that estate, I threw up immediately," Patience Atiloh, a charity worker said of her experience in August 2011. "I was hospitalised."

Even at this, inhabitants of the estate live in total disregard of the health and environmental hazards posed by such an unhygienic

On the sloppy side of Lagos

Shack settlement erected on a heap of refuse located beside a canal, which drains waste, and floodwater out of Ajegunle, in Lagos. condition, but with unusually high immunity, they continue to live there.

In Dustbin Estate, there are no toilet facilities, the inhabitants defecate in the open, high end residents use pit toilet that discharge into the open water passages.

Despite the unusual high immunity of some residents, residents report that malaria as well as other air and water borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea are common occurrences.

Such illnesses are at best treated with local herbs or selfmedication, the residents said.

Cheap education Most children in the Dustbin Estate attend informal schools owned and operated by fairly educated residents who charge as low as N20 per day due to affordability and less stringent conditions by the owners.

The low cost pay-as-you-go schooling at the estate compliments the Awodi Ora Primary School, Awodi-Ora

Junior Secondary School and Awodi-Ora Senior Secondary School, and few private schools in the estate.

Love on the Streets, LOTS, a charity foundation, operates a resource centre that offers free - after school and holiday literacy and vocational classes for the children in the estate.

The foundation also organises excursions and charity events where clothes and medical supplies are distributed to the children and their parents free.

Shack settlement erected on a heap of refuse located beside a canal, which drains waste, and floodwater out of Ajegunle, in Lagos.

Hazy future Every certainty about the future hurts inhabitants of the Dustbin Estate and keeps them in the cycle of substandard living.

For most of the inhabitants of the Dustbin Estate, the news of Lagos Megacity development saddens them.

While the reclamation of the swamp with refuse is ingenious, but lack of tenure security scares the inhabitants and results in shabby buildings, hindering better quality life.

The land registration process in Lagos is very expensive and cumbersome.

Governments forced evictions and demolitions, and dearth of affordable mortgage facilities, combined, are aggravating poverty in the urban areas and pushing more inhabitants into Dustbin Estate.

Matthew, 20, says living in the estate has made him more ingenious. When his family hit rock bottom in finances, he was pushed to hit the forest, in search of fruits he sold to make money.

Mattew and his mates spend a lot of time learning gymnastic skill, not bothered by what the future brings.

Experts project that Lagos State needs more than 250,000 housing units yearly, for the next 20 years, to deal with its housing deficit. But the lack of interest by the state in building low income houses means the Dustbin Estate is not close to being upgraded to a better slum.

On the other hand, most residents of Dustbin Estate may not be interested in relocating from the area or allow for its upgrading. (Premium Times)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Merger: ANPP takes final decision tomorrow

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) will tomorrow in Abuja take a final stand on whether or not to join the All Progressive Congress (APC) opposition mega party.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, told newsmen at the end of the BoT meeting of the party last night in Abuja that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party coming up in Abuja on tomorrow will take final stand on the merger.

“We deliberated on the reports of the committee on rebuilding of our party and that of the merger committee. We are satisfied with what they have been doing. We are also satisfied with what our executives and leaders of the party across the country are doing,” Sheriff said.

When asked to respond to report of the transition arrangement of APC which favours the ANPP, he said, “our NEC will be meeting on Thursday in Abuja and the stand of the party on the merger will be made available to members of the party and Nigerians.”

PAGE 5

Minister inaugurates governing councils for federal universities

By Etuka Sunday

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inister of Education, Prof.

Ruquayattu R u f a ’ i , h a s inaugurated the governing councils of 21 federal universities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony yesterday, the Minister said that Federal Government’s

transformation agenda placed emphasis on human capital development, adding that, “consequently, for it to succeed, we must ensure that our education system is in the position to produce those with required skills and competences to drive it.”

She described the appointments of the members as well deserved noting that

government is aware of what she called poor governance of the universities.

She told them that reformation of the education sector is on course and charged them to work in accordance with the laws establishing the universities.

According to her, the expiration of tenure for the newly

inaugurated governing councils would be after four years provided they are not found to be incompetent or corrupt.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, said the universities could not function effectively with the governing councils.

Kwara House rejects committee’s report

T

he Kwara House of Assembly in Ilorin on Tuesday rejected the report of its Committee on Lands and Housing on the third reading and passage of the Urban and Regional Bill.

The Speaker, Mr Rasaq Atunwa, announced the rejection of the report after the House had deliberated on it.

The Committee Chairman, Dr Felicia Ojeleye, had presented the report and urged the house to consider it to enable the bill to pass third reading.

Some lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, described the bill as unnecessary, defective and as such should be rejected.

They noted that the proposed law would duplicate jobs carried out by the Town Planning Development Authority.

The lawmakers urged the house to reject the report because the proposed law could not stand the test of time.

However, the speaker later directed the committee to work on the presentation of a fresh report on the bill with a view to taking care of several ambiguities on the report.

Atunwa did not give a specific date when the committee report on the bill would be re-presented.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill has been in the house since June 2012. (NAN)

L-R: Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Rufai Alkali, Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, and Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i, during the inauguration of Governing Councils of Federal Universities by the minister, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Banks to increase lending support to SMEs

By Abdulwahab Isa

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ommercial banks have resolved to come up with a strategy that will enhance more credit flow to small and micro businesses in the informal sector.

According to the banks, a

virile and thriving informal sector is a potent tool to nib in the bud, Nigeria’s current social tension.

This was part of of the resolutions adopted by Bankers’ Committee at its meeting with The Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) yesterday in Abuja.

Briefing reporters on the resolutions, Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank plc, Mr. Alex Oti, said the committee deliberated extensively on ways and means of reducing interest rate on loans to small scale and

micro businesses and that there was a consensus to slash interest rate on loans to the sector.

According to him, “we have decided that banks will need to now begin to give about 10 per cent to small and medium scale enterprises.”

SURE-P boss denies report of resignation

C

hairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and E m p o w e r m e n t Programme (SURE-P), Christopher Kolade, has not resigned his position contrary to speculations, his spokesperson, Olisa Egbunike, has said.

There was widespread report on Tuesday that Mr. Kolade, dissatisfied with the direction the SURE-P program was going, angrily resigned his opposition.

But SURE-P spokesman and senior assistant to Mr. Kolade, Olisa Egbunike, dispelled the rumour of his boss’ resignation

as untrue.

“It is not true that Dr. Kolade has resigned. I was with him till the close of work on Monday, and there was nothing to suggest he wanted to resign his appointment,” Mr. Egbunike said.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Egbunike called back to say that the Chairman of SURE-P was in the office and expressed surprise at several calls he has been receiving from friends and associates over the rumour.

Sources close to Mr. Kolade, however, told PREMIUM TIMES

that repeated intervention by government and political office holders was becoming a source of worry to the SURE-P boss.

SURE-P was interventionist agency introduced by the Federal Government last year in the wake of the nationwide protest that followed the attempt to withdraw the subsidy on petrol in the country.

The agency was charged with the responsibility of managing the savings from the increased pump price of petrol; the application of the proceeds has, however, been politicised of

late.

The 80 year-old Kolade, widely known as “Mr. Integrity”, was appointed to head the SUREP agency based on his impeccable records as a revered technocrat and diplomat.

After a successful career as broadcaster and media administrator, he had a successful career that ended with his becoming the managing director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Before taking up the SURE-P assignment, Mr. Kolade was a first class diplomat and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Britain.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 6

Presidential aide lists MDGs achievements

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr Precious Gbeneol, says Nigeria has recorded remarkable successes in the implementation of the MDGs. “For instance, there has been a reduction from the 2008 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) ûgures for the under ûve mortality rate of 157 deaths per 1,000 live births, to 94 deaths,” Gbeneol said yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja.

According to her, the trend is similar for infant mortality rate but noted that mortality rate of 61 per 1,000 live births needs to reduce by 50 per cent in order to meet the 2015 MDG target.

She attributed the progress that has been recorded in the areas of health MDGs to introduction of innovative initiatives like the Midwife Services Scheme which she noted has resulted in an increase in number of skilled health personnel attending births.

“In 2008, deliveries that had skilled birth attendance were 38.9 per cent while it rose to 53.6 per cent in 2012,” she said.

Gbeneol also listed some other achievements to include continuous fall in HIV prevalence rate from 5.8 to 4.1 in 2012 and the increase in the proportion of under-five children sleeping under insecticide treated nets from 2.2 per cent in 2003 to 34.6 per cent in 2012.

Gbeneol however noted that for the sustenance of achievements in the area of education, there must be continuous incentives to keep female children in school particularly in the north while the MDGs office has also continued to partner with other stakeholders to find ways of keeping children in classrooms in the face of ongoing security challenges in that part of the country.

Police discover corpse of lady in Jos

T

he police in Jos on Monday discovered the dead body of a young lady around Tudun Wada area of Jos North local government area of Plateau state, with her vital organs removed.

A witness who said that he was equally looking for a missing relation said that the police drew his attention to the corpse for possible identification.

“My attention was drawn to the corpse by the police who wanted me to confirm whether she is my missing sister in law.”

He said that the corpse was dumped in a stream between Sabon Gari in Tudun Wada and Howlshe, both in Jos North.

The corpse was said to be neatly dressed in a blue jeans trousers and T-shirt and braided hair.

The corpse was eventually taken away by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and handed over to the A Division of the Nigeria Police in Jos.

Police recover remains of 10 murdered policemen in Bayelsa T he police in Bayelsa said on Tuesday that they have recovered the bodies of 10 of the 12 policemen allegedly killed by gunmen in Azuzuama Waterways on Saturday.

The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, Mr Kingsley Omire, made the development known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

Omire said that a combined team of security operatives recovered the decomposing bodies on the creek of Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

NAN reports that relations of the dead policemen on Tuesday besieged the Police Marine Base in Bebelebiri area of Yenagoa to await the arrival of the bodies.

The bodies, however did not arrive till 7 p.m under tight

security as relatives of the dead and journalists were locked out of the premises of Bayelsa State Ministry of Transport Jetty.

The bodies were later deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

The policemen were part of a 50 man team deployed from the Command headquarters in Yenagoa to escort dignitaries to a burial in Southern Ijaw

Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The ill-fated boat was heading to Azuzuama for the burial of the mother of Mr Kile Torughedi, an ex-militant leader who embraced Federal Government's amnesty, programme.

Torughedi is the Special Assistant to the Bayelsa Governor on Maritime Security. NAN

L-R: Chairman, Presidential Financial Action Task Force, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, Director General, GIABA, Dakar Senegal, Dr. Abdullahi Shehu, and Director, Monitoring and Investigation Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr Bala Usman, during Presidential Committee's forum on National Risk Assessment on Anti- Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Detained LEADERSHIP staff regain conditional freedom

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he police have released the remaining two of the four editors of Leadership newspaper who were arrested and detained since Monday.

Those released at about 5pm yesterday were Tony Amokeodo, the group news editor, and Chibuzor Ukaibe, a political reporter.

Their release was conditional as they are required to report to the police headquarters 10 am daily until the police hierarchy decides what to do with them.

Four editors of the newspaper were arrested on Monday over a report alleging that President Jonathan planned to clamp down on the opposition.

Various groups and individuals had condemned the detention of the journalists with the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) insisting in a statement yesterday that the detention is a violation of their fundamental human right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The statement signed by the TMG Chairman Ibrahim M.

Zikirullahih, lamented that it was easy to grant presidential pardon to fraudsters and political robbers in the country at the detriment of anticorruption fight, the same regime of President Goodluck Jonathan has found it so difficult to tolerate dissents and opposition.

"Owing to manner in which the rights of citizens are gradually and tenaciously violated across the country, there is palpable fear that the infamous Decree No. 2 is being resurrected through back door.

Also earlier yesterday, the

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) described the arrest and detention of the journalists as an indication that the President Goodluck Jonathan will seek to tamper with the nation's press freedom as part of measures "to pushes its do-or-die plan to stay in power, with or without the people's votes."

According to the statement signed by the ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, "we demand an immediate and unconditional release of the detained journalists and an unreserved apology to them.

Ohaneze backs amnesty for Boko Haram From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

he President-General Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Gary Nnachi, says the group supports the proposal by the Federal Government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram group as it may end the orgy of violence in parts of the country.

Nnachi spoke yesterday when he visited the Kano bus

station park, scene of the recent bomb attack during which several lives were lost.

According to him, “therefore, the Federal Government should do whatever it takes including giving amnesty to the Boko Haram members if they will lay down their arms and leave peacefully with everybody.”

He described the country as belonging to all the ethnic groups in Nigeria and argued

that, “we do not have any other place than this beloved nation of ours, so we should stop deceiving ourselves and leave peacefully with one another.

The President General was accompanied by the Chairman South East Council of Traditional rulers, HRM Eze C. I. Ilomuanyi, Senator Hope Uzodima, Chairman Abia Council of Ndieze, Eze J.A. Akilaro.

The group later visited the

Government House where Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankawso described the bus park “war without borders because it affected almost all Nigerians who are doing business or travelling on that day.”

He said the central message of the government and people of Kano is that everybody should live in peace and love one another.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 10

RE: A TRIANGULAR CONSPIRACY MOHAMMED S. UMAR

O

ur attention has been drawn to an article written by one Ifeatu Dickson in The Sun of April 4, 2013. As one reads the article, one begins to see the footprints of deceit, untruth and a sheer intention to fool the people in the content. The article does not in any way differ from previous outings Of a similar nature which were roundly rejected by discerning Sokoto people. The reenactment of the issue for whatever motive is doomed to the same failure that trailed the political witch-haunt against the administration of Governor Wamakko, since he assumed office as the executive governor of Sokoto State.

The allegation that Wamakko is manipulating the EFCC is even more dangerous, if not preposterous. One wonders how a state governor can manipulate a federal agency like EFCC or ICPC, but in the hallucination of a disgruntled mind trying to play his benefactor, with fallacies embellished in dubious prose.

The writer took time to fine-tune his

Governor Wammako

misrepresentation of facts in a desperate bid to further drag Governor Wamakko into a matter that is already before a court of competent jurisdiction. It is indeed gratifying that the writer admitted that the ex-governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa invited EFCC to audit his government. We have all along tried to accord maximum respect to ex-governor Bafarawa as ex-chief executive of our dear State. On the other hand we are at pains to fathom any reason why the ex-governor and his cohorts refuse to reciprocate that gesture of mutual respect to Governor Wamakko. It has remained one form of allegation or outright denigration at every available platform.

We had in a previous article replied the same ‘scenario’ as the writer called it which is hereby excerpted: “Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, ex-governor of Sokoto State at the twilight of his administration invited EFCC to showcase his ‘transparent’ management of Sokoto resources for which he had severally boasted of it. It was at a time he gleefully told the world that he left N13 billion in the State coffers.

The citizens of Sokoto State were made to understand then that the money was in cash. Tongues wagged why so much money was kept in the safe while scarcity of water was hitting hard in the State; teachers were buying teaching materials; rate of poverty was in upward surge while a few cabal was in opulence through the weight of their wealth in social parties…”

If the ex-governor announced that he left N13billion and Governor Wamakko refuted the claim something must be wrong somewhere that needed reconciliation. The writer is now saying Bafarawa left N11 billion which further compounded the contradiction. Indeed, Governor Wamakko’s administration froze that account that up to date he has not operated it to allow EFCC to finish its investigation. This is to the detriment of the good people of Sokoto State, who have also shown their respect and appreciation to the governor in the state and the people collective quest for the truth, and nothing but the whole truth. we are all agreed in Sokoto that the law must takes its cause. We are yet to see the hand of Governor Wamakko in the EFCC palaver. In fact, eminent citizens of Sokoto State had been writing EFCC against Bafarawa’s administration prior to his dubious invitation of the commission. Bafarawa tried to play smart by conjuring up a figure which include the value of Sokoto State shares in UBA and bonds, 2007 state and local government statutory allocation from the federation account and other sundry balances to make up his imaginary cash he claimed to have left behind in a UBA account for the state.

Since assumption of office Governor Wamakko, he has remained a gentleman and preached an advocacy of peace towards his predecessor. He had always frowned at any writing or speech that would appear inappropriate to insult the former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. But at every available opportunity,the ex-governor would invoke vulgar language against Governor Wamakko. The ex-governor left no one in doubt that his plan was to hatch every available evil to make the state ungovernable for Governor Wamakko. Many well-meaning Nigerians had wondered why even when the governorship election of Sokoto State was not between Bafarawa and Wamakko, the vendetta that raged in Bafarawa’s corner was hotter than the flames of hell. If in the process to dwarf or hurt Wamakko,Bafarawa got a political nudge, it would be safe to argue that the injury therefrom is self-inflicted; it is basically his own cultivation.

The writer betrayed his emotion to say that the commission left the “accused” to pursue the complainant. Who is the accused in this case? Is it Governor Wamakko that just came into office at the time Bafarawa invited EFCC? The writer seems contradictory in saying “the EFCC was not prepared to investigate Wamakko’s claims because it knew quite well that they are hollow. It therefore turned a blind eye to the issues raised by Bafarawa.” Something seems wrong in this rendition or was the article a mere literary experiment! A fair interpretation is that the EFCC allowed Bafarawa to run away with blue murder, even though, the writer is at pains to force the attention of the EFCC away from his master.

Perhaps the writer is bereft of the knowledge of due process in investigation of

criminal matters to establish unassailable facts that can sustain prosecution in the law court. If as the article suggests, the writer is a” respected” journalist who should know better , why then is he being mischievous or is he trying to arm-twist the agencies?

In the course of criminal investigation fresh facts can emerge. It is exactly what happened in the extant case.

EFCC discovered that Bafarawa’s administration breached public trust; the state finances were mismanaged; the administration was involved in money laundering; abuse of office and Sokoto State funds were allegedly stolen to the tune of N15 billion. Bafarawa was alleged to have sold Sokoto State government shares in Cement company of Northern Nigeria, CCNN to himself and his brother, Nasiru. He appropriated N89 million from the State Education Resuscitation funds and N349 million from the State Universal Basic Education Board account. Put in concrete terms, that is enough money to build a state-

Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa of-the-art university that Sokoto indigenes would be proud of.

He withdrew N2 billion from State/Local Government Joint Account which he converted to personal use. In law these are still allegations unless proved beyond reasonable doubt. EFCC is already in court to establish these facts and the writer should know the implications of commenting on a matter before a law court. We ask him for restrain as Governor Wamakko’s administration has done.

We remind the writer of a known proverb in his clime: he who fetches antinfested firewood also invited lizards to his kitchen.

Of course, the administration of Governor Wamakko has much obligation to the masses which has totally engaged his attention. He has constructed more roads in the state than any other administration before him. He has provided regular water supply in Sokoto city and environs. He has provided rural water and rural electricity that have transformed the lives of rural dwellers. Farmers are being empowered all round in provision of input and loans. Civil servants are being motivated in provision of shelter on owner/occupier basis. They have been provided vehicle loans at very subsidized rates. The youth are being empowered through Skills Acquisition Programmes. They are also the target of Wamakko’s boost in education in which the administration is constructing a State University that has taken off, in addition to massive construction, rehabilitation and equipping of schools across the state. Governor Wamakko is the only Chief Executive in the history of Sokoto State to establish three far reaching tertiary institutions at the same time. Apart from the State University, there are College of Agriculture in Wurno, College of legal studies in Wamakko and School of Midwifery, Tambuwal. Probably, the writer has forgotten to visit from Abuja to his old Sokoto to see the massive transformation strides of Governor Wamakko. We invite him to see the beautiful fly over at the strategic and chaotic traffic roundabout connecting the very busy roads – Ahmadu Bello Way/ Abdullahi Fodio/Kano/Birni Kebbi Roads.

The health sub-sector continues to receive a big boost – the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital started over 40 years ago is now being completed by the administration with many other projects for effective health care delivery never seen in the state before. It is the same challenge that made the administration to complete the Silame and Huchi Bridges that defied every administration for over three decades. Transportation has witnessed tremendous improvement (Alu ya gode). Commercial activities have grown astronomically with the introduction of N2 billion interest free revolving loan to the traders; a modern abattoir has been constructed by the administration; grazing reserves and earth dams in addition to veterinary clinics have been provided across the state for herdsmen and their livestock and so many other vital projects that have direct bearing on the citizens of Sokoto State. These are the preoccupation of Governor Wamakko and not in any way the witch-haunting of anybody.

History will remember him for these landmark projects. He is more concerned with the fulfillment of electoral promises than engage in frivolities and Sokoto people appreciate him. Definitely, such may attract envy, but it is malicious if the interest of posterity and general welfare of the State is truncated on the altar of primordial vendetta.

Gov Aliyu magatakarda wamakko, is a statesman that always think of the next generation while his opponents, the bad politicians think of the next election.

It is as simple as that.

Mohammed S. Umar President Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation (SOLID) Sokotosolid2007@yahoo.com

PAGE 8

Flood on Olaniyi street, Oyingbo, after a rainfall, yesterday in Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Photo: NAN

R-L: Bauchi state commissioner for information, Alhaji Mohammed Dhamina, with deputy Director of Press, Government House, Alhaji Danbaba Umar, during a news conference on road construction, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN L-R: Director, Health Systems Development, Dr. Muhammed Abdullahi, executive secretary, state primary health care agency, Dr Safiyan Babale, and Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Develpoment Agency, Dr. Ado Mohammed, during the orientation course for new midwives, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Illegal refineries and their support equipment discovered by a joint operation of the army and navy on the River Niger coastline in Ogbakuba community near Onitsha.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Executive Director, Kaduna state scholarship board, Mrs Esther Jimen, Executive Secretary, Kaduna state teachers’ service board, Mr Denis Wahal, advising a student, Hajara Abbas of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), during the scholarship disbursement

by Kaduna state government, yesterday at ABU in Zaria.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 9

KANGIS set to build new Kano From Edwin Olofu,Kano

T

he Kano Geographic Information Systems (KANGIS) was set up to provide the basic modern infrastructure required to build new cities in Kano and enhance land administration and development.

The new Director General of KANGIS, Malam Magaji Galadima revealed this to newsmen in Kano yesterday.

“The Government of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is desirous of turning Kano into a modern city of International standard, with spacious well planned districts equipped with state-of the-art facilities as obtained in advanced nations” He said, Kano is so overcrowded and congested with decayed structures as well as distorted layouts such that the government has to do something urgently to arrest the situation, so as not to be impossible to commute in the city in few years to come.

“By the time KANGIS provides correct and precise plot coordinates using geographic Information systems and computerized land cadastre, definitely some illegal buildings may be removed” pointing out that “no serious Government would allow illegal buildings in a city of strategic economic importance like Kano”.

Look at it now, we don’t have any GRA in Kano, KANGIS would provide plots for new GRAs and collaborate with agencies like KNUPDA to ensure that development control laws are strictly enforced and adhered to.”

On whether property owners may be required to pay for certain services to be provided by KANGIS, the DG said “ the Kano State Government aims to generate revenue that may be used as a revolving fund for more infrastructure in the state”. As such, he said, “KANGIS will commence recertification of all existing Certificate of Occupancies and title holders will be required to come to KANGIS to verify their land documents and get new computerized certificates. Soon we will start accepting applications for allocation of land in the new proposed districts, both private residential, commercial as well as for mass housing, we are going to charge a fee for all these services, people should learn to pay appropriate dues to Government “

L-R: Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, Country Director, French De Agency,Mr. Hubert Dognin, and UNDP Country Director, Ms. Ade Lekoetje, during a forum on Effective Implementation of the Right to Water, by Ministry of Water Resources and other stakeholders, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Tukur charges Works Minister on performance …as FG promises to stop flooding this year T T

Dangote champions antimalaria battle in Nigeria From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

By Lawrence Olaoye

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday charged ministers in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to ensure exact implementation of government policies.

Tukur, while hosting the Minster for Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, who was at the party’s headquarters to brief the PDP leadership on the activities of his ministry, said the ministers who are nominees of the party were mirrors of the PDP and as such if they failde in their duties as executors of the party’s programmes, the party would find it difficult to face the electorate for votes during elections.

According to Tukur, the ministers represent the important link between the government and the people because they are the real executors of government programmes and policy.

He told the Minister “It is our duty to see how much the Minister of Works has been doing and encourage him to do more.”

Presenting his reports, Onolememen, in company with his Minister of State, Amb. Bahir

Yuguda, told the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) that his mission was to ensure the transformation of the nation’s roads.

According to him, the nation’s roads were described as death traps in 2011 before he took over but have witnessed a lot of improvement at the end of 2012.

Onolememen identified institutional and managerial ineptitude, lack of appropriate governance, heavy reliance on road transportation as well as abuse of road infrastructure amongst others as major challenges before him when he took over as the minister.

He said his ministry had a budget of N116 billion in 2012 with serious budgetary shortfall in the fiscal year.

Nevertheless, he said his ministry was able to prioritise certain projects and got them completed on record time.

Asked what his ministry intends to do to for the devastating flooding along Lokoja-Abuja road not to repeat itself this year, the minister assured that enough investigations had been conducted on the site and that

contractors have been mobilized to the affected communities to raise the alignments on the roads to prevent re-occurrence.

On why some state governors who intervened in rehabilitation of roads within their domains are not reimbursed, Onolememen said that most of the governors never conformed with the Public Procurement Act. He disclosed that those governors who followed required due process always had their refund.

Commenting on the extent of works done on the second Niger Bridge, the Works Minister assured that the required preliminary field work had been completed and that the Federal Government had provided its N30 billion counterpart funding while the remaining 70% balance would be provided by the development partners handling the projects.

The minister also disclosed that certain roads within the 10kilometre radius of the city would be delisted from the list of Federal Government roads as city expansion had made nonsense of the classification.

FG will pay N20bn to states for rehabilitating federal roads

T

he Federal Government will pay N20 billion to states which complied with the provisions for the rehabilitation of federal roads in their states in 2013.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememe, made this known when he spoke with newsmen at the PDP National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Onolememe was at the party headquarters to brief the PDP

National Working Committee (NWC) members on his ministry`s activities.

He said that the N20 billion would be shared to the state governments that complied with the provision for carrying out such rehabilitation of roads out of the verified N42 billion.

The minister explained that some state governors were not refunded because they failed to follow the required guidelines for carrying out such roads

rehabilitation.

He said that one of the guidelines was that such rehabilitation should be done in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2007, because federal fund was involved.

“In procurement matters, you do not spend federal funds if they are not in compliance with the Public Procurement Act. That is where some of them have challenges,’’ the minister said.

The minister said that the

construction of the second Niger bridge was a ``done deal’’, stressing that it was not like a normal road or bridge construction.

He said that the construction of the bridge was technical; the ministry had gone into the second round of the project which involved preliminary field work.

Onolememe said that the geotechnical survey had already been carried out on the site as ordered by the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission. (NAN)

o step up the malaria control campaign in the country, President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has been appointed Malaria Ambassador, with a promise to galvanize members of the Organized Private Sector into the roll back malaria programme of the federal government.

Dangote, who will serve in that capacity along with the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, told members of the National Malaria Control Programme and the Malaria Partnership in Nigeria who visited the Dangote Foundation in Lagos at the weekend, that the Foundation would be ready to contribute to the campaign, meant to eliminate the malaria scourge in the country.

He said health was paramount to the Foundation and as such, had to partake in other health related programmes at both state and federal levels.

He cited the polio eradication programme which the Dangote Foundation joined.

According to him, Dangote Foundation would work closely with the members of the Malaria Control Programme in the areas of advocacy; control and cure for malaria and other areas .

In her remark, National Coordinator of the malaria Control and Eradication Programme, Dr. Nnena Ezeigwe thanked the new Malaria Ambassador for accepting partnership in the task of dealing with malaria in the country.

She stated that malaria constituted major public health issue in Nigeria, adding that apart from the fact that a child dies of malaria every two minutes, malaria cost the nation a whopping N480 billion annually with children under the age of five and pregnant women the most vulnerable.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

NESREA vows to blacklist erring environmental consultants From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has vowed to blacklist erring environmental consultants to protect the nation against environmental degradation.

Director General of the agency, Dr. Ngeri Benebo gave the indication yesterday at a one-day workshop for NESREA accredited environmental consultants in Abuja.

Benebo urged consultants to adequately advice their clients on the implication of neglecting some standards in their course of operations.

``I must reiterate that we will not hesitate to blacklist any erring consultant who fails to live up to the expectations. ``We shall continue to build a critical mass of environmental consultants both for the green and brown environment so that they can work with the agency in the implementation of her mandate. ``The NESREA accredited consultants have a role to play in advising their clients properly on the environmental implications of their operations in relations to the provisions of these regulations.''

The DG said the agency would continue to accredit well qualified and competent environmental consultants whose operations

would engender the legislation of more environmental regulations.

According to her, 24 national environmental regulations have been gazetted into law due to the purposeful conducts and contributions of our accredited environmental consultants.

Benebo also commended some industries in the country who have adopted good environmental practices. ``We applaud their efforts and we are appealing to those who are yet to do so to quickly embrace good environmental practices. ``To date, 24 national environmental regulations have been gazzeted into law.''

Mrs Ronke Soyombo, Director of Inspection and Enforcement of

the agency urged consultants to ensure adequate environmental audit, adding that the environmental audit would determine the regulation of environmental operations.

Soyombo observed that a faulty environmental misinformation could place the agency in a difficult situation to make some informed decisions.

Mr James Ushi, Principal consultants Seamans Environment, one of the accredited consultants said the workshop would enable the regulation community to review those regulations that would address environmental problems.

(NAN)

Kaduna disburses N300m scholarship allowance

T

he Kaduna State Government yesterday began the disbursement of N300 million as scholarship allowance to indigenes of the state studying in tertiary institutions.

Executive Secretary of the state Teachers' Service Board, Mr. Dennis Wahal, said while disbursing the allowances in Zaria that 26, 000 students would benefit from the grant for the 2012/2013 academic session.

He said it was designed to assist the students in their educational pursuit. ``The Kaduna state government has approved and released the sum of N300 million for the payment of over 26,000 students in institutions of higher learning from the state.''

Wahal said the state government had prioritised the study of science and language courses in the payment of the allowances. ``I cannot give you the exact figure of how the payment is segmented, but all I know is that, if you are studying sciences and language-related courses your amount will be higher than others."

He appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the money for their educational advancement, and advised parents to encourage their children to study hard for the progress of the nation.

On upward review of the allowance, Wahal said the state government would look into it ``when the economy improves."

(NAN)

COEASU suspends two months strike L-R: Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and Contact Committee Chairman, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), Professor Razaq Abubakar, during NBAIS management meeting with the minister, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Kogi/Anambra crisis: One killed, several injured in reprisal raid From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

S

ince the controversial declaration of Anambra state as an oil producing state by President Goodluck Jonathan last year,portion of the disputed boundary between Kogi and Anambra states continues to generate tension as, one person, Friday Ugbede was alleged to have been killed with several others injured in a renewed hostility between indigenes of the two states yesterday.

It was gathered that the conflict started when Anambra youths stormed one of the farm settlement in Echewno and attacked some of the residents working in their farms.

A resident of the area, Benjamin Adiku and a Reverend Father from the area who disclosed this to our reporter on phone yesterday said, Anambra youths in the early hours of yesterday attacked the people of

Echenwo community who ventured out for their daily chores.

"Our people went to the farm as usual without any inclination that Anambra youths would attack them.

They were surprised when Anambra youths stormed the area and started shooting sporadically while our people ran for their

life," he said He said that in the process, one of them was killed while several others escaped with injuries during the attack.

Adiku however called on the government to provide adequate security measures in the area so as to save the community from the Anambra youths attack.

When contacted, the Kogi state

police public relations officer (PPRO) Romanus Nwanere said information about the incident was still scanty though the area, according to him, is now calm.

He said the command had deplored police personnel to the area to assess the situation, promising to get back to the reporter as soon as he had details.

Auctioneers threaten legal action against govt agencies

By Joy Baba

T

he Nigerian Association of Auctioneers has raised alarm over the flagrant breach of the law by government agencies in carrying out public auctions.

It warned that the association will have no option that taking legal action against such agencies, if the attitude continues.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the association's Deputy Public

Relations Officer, Alhaji Tukur Lawan.

According to the statement, some government agencies have been sued by the Association for conducting auctions without its involvement and urged ministries and department to always engage the Association in carrying out auctions.

According to the statement, "the constitution has mandated all public agencies to employ the services of the registered members of the Association to sell or offer any property for sale

at an auction".

"The same constitution also directed that monies realised from the auctions be deposited in the federation account within 24 hours after the completion (of auctions)".

The statement added that It was also illegal for an agency to engage the services of anyone other than those registered by the Association and the agencies adding that there are over 40,000 registered auctioneers spread across the country.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi he Academic Staff Union of College of Education Azare (COEASU) has suspended its two months indefinite industrial action.

COEASU embarked on strike in February over what they called the insensitive attitude of the management and governing council to documented correspondences over the years complaining about the attitude of Aliyu B. Shehu whom "the Provost of the college unilaterally recommended to Council for reappointment as Registrar" The governing council said the man was qualified for reappointment and issued a termination of appointment letters to 194 striking lecturers.

A statement issued to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday and signed by the Chairman of the Union, Comrade Sanusi Ibrahim Chinade, said the suspension followed the intervention of the Katagum Emirate Council who met and discussed the matter with Governor Isa Yuguda.

Chinade said the governor told the emirate body that he was not aware of the 194 lecturers sack and directed the head of service to meet with the governing council in order to solve their problems once and for all considering that Shehu has only one year to retire.

He said "we have seen commitment from the side of the government because the state head of service had visited Azare frequently over the matter and held discussions with the Wazirin Katagum"

T

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

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Money Tip:

What a startup job candidate needs?

Accountability / Responsibility Margaret Hartwig, corporate recruiter for Chitika, an online advertising network, says "Successful startups have no use for sycophants." Individuals have to show they're willing and able to not only come up with ideas, but defend those ideas and implement them. Hartwig shared that Chitika uses a lot of hypothetical situations to take people out of their comfort zone and see how they adapt and think on their feet.

A typical prompt might include: "Walk me through an idea that you came up with, implemented, and saw through to positive results. If you got initial pushback from your supervisors, that's even better."

Hartwig added, "Another interview question example: I'm planning on buying a local airport and airline that runs flights throughout the New England area. How would you approach making this into a regional operation? Convince me that your ideas have merit."

to increase your cash flow in, you can do it and do it with pleasure.

What is it that you love: Helping people, writing, football, or teaching?

Once you've identified that, and then look for places to use that passion. Writers can make money from home - especially stay at home moms looking to work when the kids are sleeping or at school. Or if you like

helping people, maybe you could start by helping the elderly in your area get around or take care of their errands.

People with a penchant for teaching could tutor online.

The Helping Industry is a bottomless one, so there are many opportunities available.

So now that you know where you want your passion to go to work for you, what do you do next?

Invest in it. Don't expect any return if you aren't investing in you first. That doesn't mean go all out. It means be smart.

And something you can't live without as a business owner is business cards (you can even get them free at Vista print).

You'll also need to rely on something besides word of mouth (and Facebook) to advertise for you. Use your investment money wisely and get going. Look for places that need your passion and put the word out there.

Work hard. But that's really the easy part because you are doing what you love. Although, it does require a little sacrifice, it isn't impossible to work full time, handle family responsibilities and nurture your side business. It just means you'll need to be a little creative to find the right time to work on it. Working one or two weekends a month might be an option for the kind of work you want to do. Or maybe you can even work from home daily. But, as long as you are willing to make that sacrifice, you will soon see a return on your passion.

Be patient. The first 100 people you approach may not work out, but that 101st person might end up being the boost you need to pick up your momentum. Patience and

perseverance are the name of the game when you're promoting your passion to make a profit.

So don't get discouraged.

Take this time to learn as much as you can about business management, marketing, and your passion in your spare time. And you'll put yourself on top of your game while you're waiting for that 101st person to notice you and what a magnificent job you do.

Eventually, you will find that 102nd person who appreciates your work, and that will lead to the 103rd and 104th. When that day comes, then you have to push forward in your original financial goal.

You set out to put away cash for your son's education, so once you start bringing the money in, stay that course and don't let anything sway you from your goal.

Now comes the hardest part When the money starts coming in, it's easy to let the naira drive every business decision. Situations will arise and ideas will develop, but by not letting those shiny objects distract you, you'll be able to reach that goal one naira at a time. Always think long term.

Putting these steps into place, your passion will soon become a part time profit procurer that helps you reach your financial goals. And you never know, that part time passion could even give you the freedom you need to one day walk away from a job that doesn't fulfill you the way your "side business" does.

Manage your money effectively, choose a right accountant

F

accountants, from the common "certified public accountant" to a certified management accountant or an accredited business accountant. It's most likely that you're looking for a CPA if you're generally looking for an accountant in the U.S. (other designations are used in other countries). A CPA will help set up the books for a new business, prepare tax returns, and handle a wide variety of other accounting tasks, unless

works with a lot of freelancers and small business owners, though he does take on other clients. Ask right off the bat about whether an accountant you're considering working with handles your type of situation most are very clear about what types of clients they want to work with. You should also ask about specifics like price and who will actually do any work, like preparing a tax return.

Make a note of what sort of help you need. The price you'll pay for an accountant's help can definitely depend on exactly what you need done. Most CPAs work on an hourly basis, often starting at a lower price and going up from there. But for c o m m o n situations, like needing a tax return prepared, you can expect prices to start The entrepreneur always going down, searches for change, provided you are employed and responds to it, and exploits don't have it as an opportunity. particularly - Peter F. Drucker complicated finances.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

Quote

inding the right accountant can make a world of difference when it comes to managing your money, but it can be easier said than done. There are a few ways that you can make the process go much easier, though.

Why do you need an accountant?

The first question you need to think about when looking for an accountant is why do you need help with your finances, and what sort of help do you need? Not every individual really needs an accountant.

There are a number of services out there that can help you with your taxes, if that's your only concern. An accountant usually works with individuals or organizations with slightly more complicated finances, ranging from managing a business' finances to helping an individual keep investments straight.

You could just start calling accountants based on who is closest to you, but most accountants have specialties.

You're not going to get exactly the help you need from just any accountant.

When we talk about accountants, we can actually be referring to one of several different kinds of financial expert. There are quite a few different designations for

you have a sizable business and need specialized help with your accounting; a CPA is usually the place to start.

It's still important to narrow the field down even further, though. Many CPAs work with specific types of clients. For instance, the CPA who helps me with my business focuses on small businesses that don't need much in the way of payroll but do need advice on business operations from time to time. He

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Jonathan's siege mentality Two of four reporters of the LEADERSHIP newspaper groups, arrested on Monday, spent two days at a secret police detention facility in Abuja, away from the company of families and office colleagues. The other two were interrogated and then released Monday night, apparently without a formal charge. The four are Mrs. Chineyere Fred-Achulugbe, former editor of the Sunday title, now Executive Director, Human Capital; Chuks Ohuegbe, Managing Editor; Tony Amokeodo, Group News Editor; and Chibuzor Ukaibe, Political Reporter. Their apparent offence was their refusal to reveal the source of a story they did on President Goodluck Jonathan's desperation to muzzle the opposition and increase the pump price of fuel.

A statement by the management of the newspaper group, following the arrest of the four journalists, read: "Four journalists with Leadership newspapers have been detained at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan. This is a calculated and brazen affront on press freedom …

We demand the unconditional and immediate release of our journalists." It said it stood by the story, vowing that it "will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile

attempts by his spokesmen - Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati - to tarnish our report."

Expectedly, the journalists' arrest has been roundly condemned across the country, coming few months after the incarceration of two reporters on a Hausa vernacular newspaper based in Kaduna and those of a private radio station in Kano. A political coalition, Conference of Nigerian Political

“

Unfortunately, scapegoatism isn't the right way to dig himself out of the foxhole he finds himself in Parties (CNPP), has described the arrests as "the nation's return to the Dark Ages". According to a statement by its national Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, "we condemn an attempt by the Nigeria Police Force or indeed any other agency of the state to jeopardize our hard earned freedom of the press."

An equally strong reaction has come from the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) whose President Femi

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

Adesina has demanded the release of the Leadership journalists. "No government that lays claim to democratic credentials can afford to be at loggerheads with the Press."

Unfortunately, at loggerheads this government has been with virtually everyone that doesn't agree with it. This points to one big malaise: a siege mentality. The symptoms are pretty clear: fear of anything that threatens its hegemony, particularly the emerging opposition APC, incidentally the subject of the Leadership story, and an impatience with a critical Press.

This thinking of the government that it is surrounded by enemies within and without is not imagined. The President did admit recently that he saw himself as the most criticized Nigerian leader of late. What nobody realized then was that his government's response would be a jackboot crackdown on perceived opponents such as we are now seeing.

But if a president, who presumably rode to power on the crest of a massive vote only two years ago, today finds himself completely out of touch with the majority of the population who is to blame but himself?

Unfortunately, scapegoatism isn't the right way to dig himself out of the foxhole he finds himself in.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM ACTING EDITOR, DAILY HAMEED M. BELLO

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 13

Restoring self-belief amidst despair: The Jigawa example

By Misbahu Rabiu Kaugama

I

t has been proved that social systems develop in defiance, and often out, of the depths of widespread anguish. A major example exists in the rejuvenated Rwanda, where the country's population arose from massive crises to grow into one of Africa's best business destinations and stable democracies. Today, Nigeria's north is confronted with the challenges of insecurity, mass illiteracy and penury. But this has not deterred some focused governments from mustering all within their arsenal in pioneering functional systems.

Even though the story of Jigawa pre-2007 is not comparable to the massive, genocidal loss of lives as was the case in Rwanda, the state still suffered a colossal abdication of governance in delivery of democratic dividends and rape of statutory processes. Incalculable damage was caused to both system and people.

Typically, the despairing population, especially the youth of Jigawa's many towns and villages, had long begun to question the very need for the state and its local councils. The sheer lack of attention to their basic needs and those of their mothers, infants, the old and vulnerable had bred a deep cynicism. Then, months

By Ose Oyamendan

I

n the old days, kids used to talk across the courtyard with two empty milk cans strung together by a thread.

Way before you could ping, our forefathers had ways of talking to people many rivers and hills away. And, they do talk because talking solved problems.

When talk failed and war came, they could even tell that war was coming. They would go into the forest, put their ears close to the ground and listen for footsteps. Some others would climb on trees to hear if the winds were carrying the drums of war and from where. This was hundreds of years before Nigerian radio stations were broadcasting guesses as weather forecasts.

If you put your ears to the ground these days, it's likely your kinsmen will seek psychiatric help for you from some herbalist with a bad case of gout. In Nigeria today, everyone has that thing they call a cell phone and they can access anything from news to gossip on it. All you have to do is log on to a news site and you'll get drowned in a deluge of news.

These days the news is all doom and gloom. When the senators are not fighting the president, the honorable members of the house are doing everything dishonorable. When the opposition is not counting their chicken before the eggs are hatched, they are blowing a simple task like registration.

When planes are not falling from the skies, the roads are killing people.

following the inauguration of Sule Lamido's government in 2007, the sounds that rent the air said it all: "Jigawa sai madalla" (Jigawa is grateful).

The tables had turned, positively. A revolutionary system was already palpable the institutionalization of citizenship and the restoration of hope with visible government commitment. It was very soon evident that the Sule Lamido leadership understood the heavy burden it bears. It had well enumerated plans for discharging its sworn commitments and a thoroughly coordinated mentorship system for its team - comprising of the diaspora, federal legislators, key cabinet players, state and national party leaders, federal cabinet members, heads of state agencies and the state's legislators; eliminating clumsy lip service, in favor of trustworthy stewardship.

The 5 ½ year administration has opened doors of hope, with the many indigenous youth understanding the role of government and its agencies, making genuine efforts to sustain the coherent drive for a more vibrant society with incursions in diverse schemes centered on capacity building and enhancing core communal values.

It is common knowledge across the region today that the youth of Jigawa are the least

prone to banditry, thuggery and other vices. They are now engaged in improving their elementary, secondary and specialized tertiary education; in enhanced farming techniques and many other worthy vocations. The government's intolerance of indiscipline is also a major contributor to this effect.

The abandonment of society's trustees is common place in many parts of Nigeria. In Jigawa, the trusteeship of the state's indigenes, held primarily by teachers, school administrators, retired civil servants and the traditional institution is of utmost priority.

Thus, functional and effective systems of teacher training and re-training have raised the benchmark in pupil and student

performance attested to by various evaluation systems within and outside the state. The evolving systems of internal evaluation include the Talent Identification and Development Centre (Jigawa Academy for the Gifted and the Talented, Bamaina) which develops early talents with adequate counseling for the benefit of the larger society.

In addition, school administrators are regularly engaged in various capacity building schemes. Retirees are adequately and promptly compensated, enhancing harmonious relations between senior civil servants and the political leadership as well as rooting the retiree commitment to delivering value adding

“

Countless reactions have trailed the achievements of the Sule Lamido administration in Jigawa State. There has hardly been a note of indifference when issues concerning Governor Lamido and his team are raised. The weightiest views - and most important - are those of Jigawa's hitherto disillusioned indigenes

In the name of country But, the worst news you hear is about a guerrilla war being fought out in the open in the far north. It's a battle for the soul of a people. It's a fight that has left a part of the country wondering if Nigeria still cares about them. In a week dominated by the threat of nuclear war and Kim Jung On's itchy fingers, you're more worried about the threat of some veiled guys with AK-47s.

Nigerian leaders who seem to have mud pits in the backs of their houses have been hauling bucketful of mud in the direction of Aso Villa and at Jonathan Goodluck. When the country should be united in saving a part of the country from Boko Haram,

Nigerian leaders are playing politics with the lives of people.

The president had been talking tough, claiming there would be no amnesty for a group he called ghosts, something I thought was weird because I didn't know ghosts wear veils and masks. It was a strange stance by a Niger Deltan whose former boss brought peace to the Niger Delta region by a sweeping amnesty program. It's a head scratcher because the president has led more militants to billionairedom than anywhere in mankind history.

I thought Jonathan blew it when he brushed aside the Sultan's advice that the militants

“

The president had been talking tough, claiming there would be no amnesty for a group he called ghosts, something I thought was weird because I didn't know ghosts wear veils and masks. It was a strange stance by a Niger Deltan whose former boss brought peace to the Niger Delta region by a sweeping amnesty program. It's a head scratcher because the president has led more militants to billionairedom than anywhere in mankind history.

be offered amnesty. I don't really know the Sultan but I met him almost two decades ago through one of my mentors who was his good friend. Back then, even as a military officer who loved football, the prince chose his words carefully. When a leader like that speaks, you call him over and discuss his opinion, not slate him in the media.

Asking General Muhammadu Buhari to help was laughable and shows the quality of some of the president's advisers. The general is a politician who publicly called for violence if he lost the 2011 presidential elections. It what girls do at subpar beauty pageants. When they lose, they destroy the dressing room.

Asking Buhari to help is like asking a jail breaker to help rebuild a prison.

If Buhari was serious about cementing his place in history and mapping a credible path to the presidency, he would have engaged Boko Haram on his own and created a template for peace.

That way, he would show Nigerians he's not only capable of leading but he's also capable of protecting every Nigerian. But, this is Nigeria where politicians view an opponent's failure as their own success.

When you think about it, Boko Haram is the punctuation mark of the disconnect between Nigerian leaders and Nigerians.

In the past, the leaders listened or pretended to listen to the people.

Back in those days, when the

testimonies in retrospect. The traditional institution serves as a well coordinated interface between state and populace vital to the consolidation of the state's unhindered peace. For this reason Jigawa's traditional rulers have remained in pole stead in the state government's projects of stakeholder inclusion.

Countless reactions have trailed the achievements of the Sule Lamido administration in Jigawa State. There has hardly been a note of indifference when issues concerning Governor Lamido and his team are raised.

The weightiest views - and most important - are those of Jigawa's hitherto disillusioned indigenes.

They are the masters who this lion-hearted son of Bamaina serves with dedication, restoring all that has been lost in the state's yester years and igniting unassailable hope in tomorrow and belief in self.

His intolerance of indiscipline, his passionate dislike of any abdication of duty and his pedigree as a field marshal in Nigerian progressive politics give Sule Lamido core competence for service to his people, the good people of Jigawa State. His is a template that can truly lift the entire country in the near future, beyond current disappointments.

Misbahu Rabiu Kaugama s reachable on mizbahu@yahoo.com leaders return home from the state and federal capitals, their homes were like a mini-mall.

People go to visit, consult and lay their problems at the tables of their leaders. The leaders used that opportunity to keep their hands on the pulse of their locales.

But the leaders rarely visit home today. When they do, they're whisked through the streets by siren blaring, SUV convoys to their mansions with fences high enough to keep houseflies away. When people make the long trek to the mansion, the security men slam the gates in their faces. In the past, the leaders may have been able to hear about the grievances of Boko Haram and sorted it out before it became a raging fire.

The amnesty offer is a good start. Jonathan may just get lucky with it and be remembered for something other than removing oil subsidy. Or, it may even sputter and nothing happens. But, it shows a president willing to try everything to bring peace to the country. If kids can talk with cans across the courtyard, the leaders must be able to with all the means of communication we have today.

And, don't think this is easy for Jonathan. It's not easy for a president to change his mind and change course. And, when he does on an issue like this, he needs the support of the country. Love him or hate him, this is not a time to hang Jonathan. This is a time to save Nigeria.

Ose Oyamendan is a California-based Nigerian film maker.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 14

Nigeria: Laughing to keep from crying

By Gerd Meuer

L

et me admit right from the start: I have loved that kuntry Nigeria right from the first day I set both feet on its (her?) ground in late July 1962.And Nigeria has never dis-appointed me when it comes to having a good laugh.

Here are some recent news items, and let us start with the positive ones. First, there was the news that Nigerians spend N 41 billion annually on Champagne. This being so I think it is high time that my village/town of Odogbolu grant me honorary citizenship - 'with full benefits', CHAMPAGNE, that is! Last time I had some was on a beach near Badagry, when one of the female beach-runners came by with a dozen bottles of that liquid balancing on her head

and that clear already. That's shout: what I call SCHUMPAIGNE! TRADISHON (phonetically) no matter Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text And then where it messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written there was the originated. contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 news that two And finally, words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and Nigerian girls yes, finally the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed had given news that to: birth to that Nigeria's absolutely president and The Editor, fabulous his always-inPeoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, invention: 'a good-health35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. car driven by wife found time urine'. After to celebrate Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com having gulped Nollywood.

SMS: 07037756364 all that Now, that Champagne I really made will be able to drive for free. I to try my luck in one of those me laugh-o plenty. You wonder give a damn about those petrol cars. Imagine the bonfire on why? Now, when travelling - as queues in Bariga and that Ore road. And then there I normally do - all the way from elsewhere!!! was that girl who had vision, Accra in the South to And then there was that seeing Allah in a ... steak! In Bolgatanga in the North of 'world's first hand-woven car'.

Ibadan, of all places! But then: Ghana in those super-modern But Naija roads being what why not! Since Christians have buses I am always being they are I am had a habit of Eating their God, treated/subjected to/tortured NOT quite sure I really want and that fore some 2.000 years by - and that for hours on (no,

WRITE TO US

days) end to this Nollywood s…

Which makes me wonder how any president with a sane mind can possibly 'celebrate' such stupidifying trash.

But as s the French have a habit of saying: Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes, which, translated, means "trashywood deserves a trashy president." But you cannot really blame da foist Lady, since she constantly has to run from one German doctor to the next ... can you: NO!!!

I really do NOT know what kind of medicine those German/American doctors administered to her. I will have to go and enquire in Wiesbaden, if only to find out how NOT to do an exitus 'cos of laffin. Prof Penkele will report on his success, if any.

Gerd Meuer wrote in from Lagos

Jonathan: From demigod to mammon

By Taju Tijani

A

s a professional contrarian who is proud enough to stick out his head above the parapets of hypocrisy, fawning patronage and flattery, I am raising an accusation against President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan that he has failed Nigeria and Nigerians. I am saying that the deceit and shibboleth of his sainthood has fallen to reveal a dithering, slumbering, clueless, cowardly, ignorant, paralytic and corrupt creature pretending to be the leader of the most populous black nation on earth. The documented pathology of his laziness has stalled Nigeria's journey to redemption. We should have been forewarned that a lazy zoologist does not belong to Aso Rock but in the midst of baying cheetahs, lions and crocodiles.

When he rode to power under the shower of our empathy, he made a proclamation. He promised transformation. Under the crisp air of our new hope and his own air of certitude, we embraced his oration of transformation without modulating it with doubt and cynicism. We trust that Jonathan is not part of those rentier politicians who have destroyed Nigeria soul, mind and body. Even the avowedly pessimistic had to yield to reason.

They had to yield to the common song of the time that Jonathan was a blast of fresh air.

Today, Nigerians are paying for that strange flirtation with his political rhetoric and choreographed sound bite. Let us test the evidence. First, President Jonathan is yet to declare his worldly asset, a written demand from the constitution of this nation. His official bombast that he would not divulge his asset on

pages of newspaper proves his capacity to desecrate and do violence to the constitution he swore to uphold. The price being exerted by his failure to obey the constitution of the land echoes in the states and national Assembly.

Governors, senators and other legislators have carved out their own republics within a republic. At will they disrespect, disrobe and distort the law in the grandest of political impunity not seen anywhere in the world.

They take their cue from the dotard in Aso Rock who rules without any oblique hint of concern for the rule of law. We are ed not by law but by the opinionated prejudice and herd mentality of our overpaid politicians. Governors spend state money as a personal fortune.

Senators and legislators live lawless lives. They divine immunity clauses in the constitution. They self-award themselves huge salaries which give them lavish access to gracious and opulent living in a land teeming with 60 million jobless Nigerians.

Secondly, Jonathan is living in a cocoon world of political profligacy. He epitomises the lies,

chicanery, duplicity, impunity, waste, favouritism and hypocrisy of Africa's brand of liberal democracy. He has abandoned the folklorist tale of his carefully choreographed background of frugality, moderation and austerity. He has developed a lofty distaste for material prudency and transparent husbandry of national resources and wealth.

There are many examples that boggle the mind. He has been a supporter of his wife's obsessive madness for provocative obscenities. In bedroom armtwisting, Patience Jonathan has worked her sorcery on the president and succeeded in her inclusion of First Lady Peace Mission Building in the 2013 Federal Capital Territory appropriation budget. Elsewhere, revolution is made of this!

Patience Jonathan's ghoulish dream of a N4 billion white sepulchre under the skyline of Abuja is a monument to ego and waste. This is a democratic profligacy. Under our bemused watch she appealed to the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Wonga (money) budgeted for the project. In a fit of irrationality she explained that

“

the building was not for her but for Nigerians. According to her, when Maryam Babangida and Mariam Abacha built the Women Centre and the National Hospital they did not carry the buildings when they left government. She added that she will not go with the peace mission building when her tenure expires. Explaining further, she said the peace mission project was initiated by late President Yar'adua, adding that other countries lobbied for the mission to be in their countries but it was given to Nigeria on a platter of gold. She revealed that the United Nations and ECOWAS buildings are being maintained

by Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Patience Jonathan's argument with its illogic is nothing but a homage to lawlessness, impunity and a revelation of the ways prudence and accountability have retreated from the realm of polity in our country. "When my tenure expires", did I read that right? This statement from Patience Jonathan is absolute poppywash! She is a thief. She has stolen a public space outside the constitution of Nigeria. It is

The revelation that Nigeria (FCT) foots the bill of maintaining both buildings of ECOWAS and United Nations is scandalous. Funds meant for the enjoyment of Nigerians are criminally diverted on a daily basis to pay for laundering our bad, soiled and damaged reputation as a nation. In less than two years, President Jonathan has transformed himself from a demigod to mammon

only in Nigeria you will find the wife of a president live a parallel life with her husband in coveting office, usage of presidential jets and private staffers. It is only in Nigeria you will find huge amount of public money allocated for the profligate use of the "Office Of First Lady".

Elsewhere, revolution is made of this!!

Michelle Obama, the selfeffacing wife of the president of America has no private fiefdom in the Oval. Only recently, she said that she was a single parent as an endearing deference to the job of staying at home to look after her children and the painful deprivation of missing her husband due to presidential duties. She harbours no competitive space with her man.

Samantha Gwendoline Cameron, wife of David Cameron (Kamoru) the British Prime Minister is a businesswoman with no access to prime ministerial jet to fly her to expensive hospitals in Dubai, France and Germany.

Jonathan's habit of projecting Nigeria as Father Christmas and bank manager to all the weak, tired and the dispossessed of the earth is a felonic behaviour. This desperation to showcase Nigeria as giant of Africa does not stand the test of reality. The revelation that Nigeria (FCT) foots the bill of maintaining both buildings of ECOWAS and United Nations is scandalous. Funds meant for the enjoyment of Nigerians are criminally diverted on a daily basis to pay for laundering our bad, soiled and damaged reputation as a nation. In less than two years, President Jonathan has transformed himself from a demigod to mammon. tajutijani@hotmail.com, www.ttsoundings.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 15

Your African accent will save you in America

By Paul Omoruyi

M

ost Africans in the diaspora would concur with me that when they first immigrated to the United States they wanted to speak, look and swagger like Americans. This writer was not an exception. Understandably, America is the current world power and an American identity gives some sense of pride - false or real. It is not different from the days of the Roman Empire where everyone wanted to be identified as a Roman.

While attempting to prosodic and modulate intonation to mimic American accent, some Africans accent become ridiculously and preposterously difficult to understand. A situation where Americans cannot understand them and Africans cannot understand them either!

From my experience, it takes some couple of years living in America for most African immigrants to realize and understand the uniqueness of their African Accent. After years of biting my tongue and speaking jargons, my evolutionary journey back to authentic African Accent began to emerge especially after

By Adekoya Boladale

D

ear Beloved, Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. I write to you today in peace, the upmost gospel of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). I understand the past few years have been a busy schedule thus I don't intend wasting your time on frivolities.

I must agree with you western education is a sin, it is a curse, in fact it is evil. The effect has dragged our nation to a very sorrowful state, our girls and women of pride now dress naked in the name of civilization, our youths have lost regards for the old, tradition has been thrown away, our culture and heritage forgotten. This is unacceptable and should be addressed. I must say your actions and inactions has sent a clear signal not just to Nigeria but the rest of the world, that this great country will not continue to be a puppet and tools in the hands of the western world. The echo of your cause is glaring on faces of children you have made orphans, wives you have made widows, mothers you have made barren and the hopeful you have made hopeless.

However, I must say you have failed. Yes you have. Your message has been heard but not by the people who ought to. You have proved your stand but only to the helpless citizen who cannot make your dream come through. From the church bombings, park killings, house attacks and street unrest you have only succeeded in adding to the pains of the already pained Nigerians. Ask yourselves how many relatives

Amadou Diallo - the 23-year-old African immigrant from Guinea that was shot dead by NYPD plain cloth officers because they thought he had a gun - case had catapulted police racial profiling on to America national consciousness. It was not uncommon then (sadly even now) to see young black males stopped and frisked like animals by police officers.

I had to figure out very quickly what to use to reduce the likelihood of being "Dialloed" on the streets of New York just in case something goes down.

As a college student, I worked at night. The location of my job required me to walk past some

public housing to get to my job site. Police presence was always very strong in the area. Like a crime scene, they stand on every block around the neighborhood.

On several occasions at night, while walking to or from my job, I would notice marked cop cars slow down to look at me.

Sometimes, under-cover cop cars will do the same. When there is an incident of gun shot or drug bust, the neighborhood would erupt into a "war zone" as tens of police cars with sirens blazing would envelop the area stopping, frisking and questioning every living creature!

One winter night, the cops

stopped and asked me if I lived in the neighborhood. Needless to say, I was wearing a hoodie. I took off the hoodie immediately to display my petrifying "African face" and said "I come for work for here" with a concentrated and cavernous African Accent. "What?" one of the cop retorted. "I said I am going to work for there" I replied again pronouncing every syllable in each word in a typical African enunciation.

"Have a good night sir", they said rather frustratingly as they drove away.

Obviously, it appears they were looking for someone and do not want to be bothered with my

“

Long before the absurd and senseless death of Travone Martin, I had adopted two survival strategies on the streets of New York to protect myself as a young black male in America: No hoodie at night and the almighty African Accent. The African Accent works more like magic. So the next time you find yourself in a dilemma on the street of New York and you want to survive, please use your authentic African Accent or speak African pidgin English as best as you can.

You will be left alone and will be glad you read this piece

African face and Accent. I am not sure what would have happened had I used my American Accent that I tried so hard to develop over the years!

Or maybe they think folks with my Accent do not fit the profile of who they were looking for?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Long before the absurd and senseless death of Travone Martin, I had adopted two survival strategies on the streets of New York to protect myself as a young black male in America: No hoodie at night and the almighty African Accent. The African Accent works more like magic. So the next time you find yourself in a dilemma on the street of New York and you want to survive, please use your authentic African Accent or speak African pidgin English as best as you can. You will be left alone and will be glad you read this piece.

But for all those Africans out there that are still biting their tongues in an attempt to phonetic like Americans, I wish you all the best in your evolutionary journey back to authentic African Accent. I will see you on the other side. God bless Africa and all her children in the Diaspora.

Paul Omoruyi, Blog: www.disporascope.com

A memo to Boko Haram of the people in power have been affected by your actions? None.

You no longer give the president sleepless night as he now sleeps comfortable in the arms of his wife. Aso rock has an already have prepared speech on condemnation which is periodically edited to suits every new attack you make. The only attentions you now get are from the Medias who are only there to make profit from the news you create.

You have succeeded in adding more to the hardship of the people you claim to be fighting for as no individual or company would afford to invest in the North, people now run away including your kinsmen.

Who then would the Sharia law operates on, the ones you have killed or the ones that have fled over to the south? Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said 'To acquire knowledge is binding upon all Muslims, whether male

or female' he went further to say that 'The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr'. These principles I believe you know as a strong believer of the faith. These are not knowledge of how to make the society ungovernable or bring death upon the people but knowledge to know right from wrong, knowledge to seek the truth and act in the way of light.

I hope am not getting on your nerves, please let me know when am crossing the line. Some people believe you are ghost, I don't. Ghosts don't kidnap foreigners, attack military barracks, blow up the parks, kill students and traders, and get arrested. Ghosts are not blood suckers, they only scare. Some say you are politically sponsored, again I defer. Even though most of your leaders have been arrested in various government lounges and guest

“

We should work together, as a collective of deprived Nigerians. The planned attack in Lagos should be aborted, the killing of the Igbos should be stopped, the massacring of the Hausa should end. We have to sit down together and draw up a road map for remaking this country of our dream

houses, one of which is a Bayelsa government house in Lagos, I share a different view. I see some groups of people who are tired of the misrule and corruption, I see people who want an end to the wastefulness of the people in power, I see people who are frustrated to carry arms to drive down their voices to the government, I see people who are tired of life.

Been in Sokoto state for two years I understand these feelings. I understand what it feels like to be a Northerner, I understand the pains and agony of the starving children who roam the street in bunch looking for daily bread, I have watched on several occasions as these children get knocked down by cars and vans. I understand the difficulties experienced in feeding the large family and why female children are given out quickly in marriage to make ends meet. I understand there may be no other way to draw attention to your plight as the nation doesn't feed on agriculture but rather oil.

But I must let you know you are not alone. The situation in the south is no different, the only reason you have heard little of our cry or action is because we smile even in death. The footprints of poverty and starvation are evident in Makoko, Ijora Badia, Ajegunle, and Mushin in Lagos. The creeks in Bayelsa, Rivers state, Ondo and other Niger Delta region.

The villages in the East and West

speak for themselves. Misrule, poverty, corruption and administrative neglect are mutual.

The fight should not be against the people but rather against the government, it should not be about segregation of the North but rather freedom for Nigeria, it should not be about Sharia but a restoration of our morals and tradition which our society is missing. If this new cause you wish to take, then your strategy must change. Government officials don't stay in Parks and Markets, our collective enemy don't stay on streets and stores. They live in high tall mansions; they reside in duplex paved with tiles and marbles mounted by heavily armed security men.

We should work together, as a collective of deprived Nigerians. The planned attack in Lagos should be aborted, the killing of the Igbos should be stopped, the massacring of the Hausa should end. We have to sit down together and draw up a road map for remaking this country of our dream. You have proven to be men of action rather than cheap talks, this is good but your actions should be right and just. Our nation needs you, our future requires your skills not to cause us more pain but bring to an end these tears that have been burning our eyes. Ma Salam.

Adekoya Boladale is reachable via adekoyaboladale@gmail.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

NEMA, FCT charge media on effective disaster reportage

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Abuja operations office, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko has said the role of the media in disaster management cannot be overemphasized, as they assist in education and enlightment about disasters and related issues.

Ishaya gave this charge yesterday at a One day

workshop on the Role of Media in Disaster management ,stating that the media is suppose to link the government and the disaster affected persons and stakeholders on issues pertaining to disaster management such as needs assessment, security needs etc.

According to him, the disasters are unique, spectacular, horrific and therefore a significant source of news. The relay of this account by the media

extensively affects how and what the public learns about disasters both natural and human induced.

In his words: “It is on this basis that this workshop is being convened with the objective to improve linkages between the media and disaster management practitioners in providing clear and accurate information to the public in the event of disaster”.

He commended the efforts of the media over the years in

providing information on disaster events as this has not only notified people on the occurrence of a disaster but has also provided measures/ ways to mitigate disasters impacts.

“A good example was the role the media played in the 2012 flood disiaters in which people informed prior to the occurrence of the flood disaster as predicted by NIMET as well as the routes /roads to or not to travel on and on the basic needs of the people”, he said.

Villagers picking through their belongings after Federal Capital Territory Department of Development Control, demolished part of Peyi village along Bwari Area Council road, on Moday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Court grants electrician, 32, bail over alleged violation of a minor, indecency

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

n Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, yesterday admitted Ezekiel Ubong, 36, an electrician, of Kubwa village, to a bail of N100, 000 for allegedly violating his 16-year-old step daughter.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Adamu Wakili, granted Ubong bail after he was arraigned by the police on charges of alleged “gross indecency and first degree sexual offence”.

Wakili ordered that the surety must be resident in the FCT with a fixed address, and must swear to an affidavit of means.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Adams Peter, had told the court that Mr Akpan Joseph, of Mararaba in Nasarawa State, reported Ubong to the Karu Divisional police station.

The prosecutor said that sometime in 2004, Joseph divorced his wife, Peace, who went away with their two children and remarried Ubong (the accused).

He said on Nov. 11, 2012, Ubong was left to take care of the two children.

“He took one of the children, female, aged 16, into his bedroom, laid on her and started touching her breasts and putting his fingers in her private part without her consent,’’ Peter said that during investigations and interrogation, the accused confessed to touching the minor’s breast but not her private parts.

The prosecution said that the offence was contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Section 285: ‘Whoever commits an act of gross indecency upon a person without his/her consent or by the use of force or threats, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine: The matter was adjourned to May 17, 2013 for hearing.

Radio station assures FCT residents that “Brekete’’ will be back on air soon

A

n Abuja based radio station; Crowther, Love FM has assured FCT residents that “Brekete Family”, a popular radio programme will soon be back on air after the resolution of a disagreement between the station and the independent producer.

The General Manager of Crowther Love FM, Mr Sam Akpan made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Brekete Family, which prides itself as the “only reality radio talk magazine programme in Nigeria’’ has been off-air for at least three weeks.

According to the programme’s website, the radio talk show is designed for the poor and the rich in the society, whose fundamental

rights has been violated.

The programme’s presenter and President of Brekete Family worldwide, Mr Ahmed Isah (Ordinary Ahmed) is known for strong criticism of under-performing government agencies and officials.

Akpan said the programme was forced to go off-air after the presenter refused to sign an undertaking not to use uncouth language on air and abide by the National Broadcasting Code.

“But this morning, we just received a letter from him saying that he is ready to conform with the rules and regulations governing the National Broadcasting Code.

“Since he has officially written us the programme is likely to be back on air tomorrow or next and the management has considered that

action as a right action,’’ he said.

Akpan said the station had two pending court cases linked to the programme on alleged libel and defamation of character.

He, however, insisted that the court cases had nothing to do with the suspension of the radio programme.

Earlier, Mr Salihu Auwalu, spokesman of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) told NAN that the commission had its “concern on the way the radio programme was run”.

He said the commission had made efforts “in the normal way’’ to draw the station’s attention to it.

“We were concerned about the style of presentation.

“We were concerned that the programme did not show enough

respect for the power of the medium and the effects that it could have on the society and we made our concerns very clear to the station,’’ he said.

Auwalu told NAN that the commission had received complaints on the programme from the public “from both sides of the divide”.

“But we didn’t have any cause to do any direct mediation between the complainants and the station,’’ he said.

He vehemently denied that the NBC had any hand in the radio programme temporary going off the air.

“First let me start by saying that NBC licenses stations and not programmes and the content of any programme is the responsibility of the licensee.

“If a programme is going offcourse or is doing anything against the rules of the National Broadcasting code, the person we sanction is not the people in the programme but the station.

“If the sanction is going to trickle down to the programme, it is because they are culpable one way or the other.

“As for the Brekete Programme, I want to tell you categorically, NBC has nothing to do with its going off air.

“They have their own internal problem, which I understand was caused by some kind of court case, the detail of which I do not have.

“But it has nothing to do with NBC and we did not at any point suspend the programme,’’ he said.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Three docked for abandoning duty post

T

hree accused persons were charged before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for allegedly abandoning their duty post and paving the way for thieves.

The accused persons, who were said to have committed the offence contrary to Section 196 of the Penal Code Law are Abraham Ayodele, Utuo Jeremiah and Freeman Yohana.

Section 196 states that “whoever does any act in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or be likely to cause hurt or injury to any person or property shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one hundred naira or with both.’’

Police prosecutor, Cpl. Monday Akor, told the court that the accused

were reported at the Maitama Police Station on Feb. 28,2013 by one Jacob Owoyokun of AG Ferrero and Company, Abuja.

According to Akor, the accused negligently abandoned their duty post and paved the way for thieves to steal the sum of N6.4 million belonging to the company.

When asked by the court if the allegation was true, they all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Senior Magistrate Christopher Oba granted each accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety each who must be a civil servant or a businessman.

Oba added that where the surety is a businessman, he must possess a means of livelihood and live within the court’s jurisdiction.

He thereby adjourned the case to April 11,2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

T

R-L: Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide with the Leader of FCT Christian Pilgrims Delegation to Israel, Mazi Emmanuel Olugbuo, during a visit by members of the delegation to the minister, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Man jailed for homosexuality A

Zuba Grade 1 Area Court in FCT yesterday sentenced Hashiru Usman, 35, to nine months imprisonment for having anal sex with a boy.

The presiding judge, Alhassan Kusherki, sentenced Usman after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of ‘unnatural offence’, without an option of fine.

“I will not grant you an option of fine because you do not deserve it.

“You only carry the face of a human being but your behaviours are equivalent to those of an animal because it is only animals that have sexual copulation through the anus.

“After you have ruin your own life by engaging in such disgusting act, you decided it was

not enough for you.

“So you have to ruin the lives of innocent children by abusing and molesting them. It is my utmost hope that you will become a better person at the end of your jail term,’’ he said.

Earlier, Prosecutor Mukadas Maiyaki told the court that on April 4, Usman of Chachi, Niger, took the boy to the back of Zuma Rock and forcefully had anal sex

with him.

He said that after having his way with the boy, he dropped him off where he picked him and zoomed off.

Maiyaki said that Usman came back later to pick another boy for the same escapade when he was apprehended by the police following the boy’s complaint to security agents at the Fruit Market Police outpost. (NAN)

Man in court over alleged rape, house breaking

O

ne Mohammed Keffi, 22, a resident of one man village, was yesterday arraigned before Mararaba upper area court in Nasarawa State, for alleged rape and house breaking.

The police prosecutor, Mr Shuaibu Nasiru, told the court that the incident was reported by one Mrs Ifeoma Umeannajiuba, the victim, of same address, at the New Nyanya Police Station on Feb.

Two unemployed men in court for allegedly causing grievous hurt to a passerby

20,2013.

Nasiru said the accused gained entry into the victim’s room, through the roof, attacked her with a knife, injured and raped her.

“My husband was out of town and I was alone with the children, when he came into the house,’’ Umeannajiuba told the court.

The prosecutor said the threecount charge contravened the provisions of sections 349, 283 and

246 of the Penal Code, respectively.

Section 349 states that “whoever commits house trespass shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with a fine of which may extend to N100.

Similarly, section 283 states that “whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with

imprisonment for a term which may exceed to 14 years and shall also be liable to fine.

The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the offence of housebreaking and causing hurt, but denied the allegation of rape.

The presiding Judge, Mr Vincent Gwahemba, ordered the accused to be remanded in Keffi Prison, and adjourned the case to April 29,2013 for hearing. (NAN)

wo unemployed men, Nurudeen Yusuf, 30, and Bala Ismaila, 29, were arraigned before an Abuja Magistrates Court for allegedly causing grievous hurt.

The accused, of no fixed address in Suleja, Niger State, are standing trail on a three-count charge of joint act, attempting to commit an offence and causing grievous hurt.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Simon Emmanuel, told the court that, one Happiness Daniel, of Jabi Village, Abuja, reported the matter to the Life Camp police station, Abuja, on April 1.

Emmanuel said the accused persons allegedly stabbed the complainant on her wrist with a broken bottle with the intent to snatch her phone from her hand while she walked along the road.

He said that the complainant sustained severe injuries which lead to her being hospitalised at the Gwarimpa General Hospital, Abuja.

He added that the offence contravened sections 79, 95 and 248 of the Penal Code.

Section 79 states that “when a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if they were done by him alone.’’

Section 95 states that “whoever attempts to commit an offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one half of the longest term provided for that offence or with such fine as is provided for the offence or with both.’’

Section 248 stipulates “whoever voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting or any instrument which is used as a weapon of offence is likely to cause death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.’’

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

Presiding Magistrate Mr Abolaji Abdulateef granted each accused person bail in the sum of N10,000 and one surety each in like sum.

He also ordered that the each surety must have a defined work and home address and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Abdullateef thereby adjourned the case to April 16,2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

Court orders driver to pay N146,500 compensation for damaging car

A

n Abuja Magistrates Court on Monday ordered a driver, Halilu Abubakar, to pay N146,500 as compensation for damaging a car belonging to one Mr Odunlami Adeniyi’s.

The Magistrate, Mr Abdulateef

Abolaji, gave the order after Abubakar, 48, of Gwarinpa in Abuja, pleaded guilty to the onecount charge of reckless and dangerous driving.

“The court orders Abubakar to pay the sum as compensation, to serve as deterrent to all reckless

drivers in Abuja.

“You are hereby, warned to from now on, drive cautiously and careful. And also respect other road users,” he said.

Earlier, the police Prosecutor, Mr. Simon Emmanuel, had told the court that the crime was

committed on April 1,2013 on Galadima Road, Gwarimpa by Team 7 Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.

“The convict drove in a very dangerous and reckless manner, which resulted in an accident’’, he said.

Simon said that Abubakar who drove a car, with registration number GJN 87AA, without due care for other road users, rammed into Adeniyi’s car.

The prosecutor said that offence contravened Section 28 of the Road Traffic Act. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 22

Sub-standard structures demolished in Karu international market

MTN to launch Cloud Services in Nigeria, Ghana today

By Chris Alu with agency report

M

TN is going live with its bouquet of distinct Cloud services this April, following a highly successful trial period in six of its major markets across Africa.

The service will be launched in Nigeria and Ghana on Wednesday, 10 April, the telecommunication giant

announced on its website yesterday.

The operator launched the MTN Cloud pilot project in December 2012, targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. The pilot made MTN the first mobile network operator in Africa to adopt the Cloud Service

Etisalat launches metro fiber network in Abuja

By Chris Alu

E

tisalat Nigeria yesterday made history with the launch of its ground breaking metro-fiber network in Abuja. With this deployment, subscribers of the network in Abuja, will now be able to browse faster and easier within the metropolis via Internet services.

Chief Commercial Officer at Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar said, “We realize our customers needs fast and efficient data services and we have put forward the investment and resources necessary to provide them with the best broadband service in the country.

This is a clear indication of our constant effort to care for our customers and continuously provide them with a superior experience”, he stated.

Ammar also said that the “Easy blaze” from Etisalat is

already the leading and preferred mobile broadband service in the country and so the launch of Abuja metro-fibre means that existing customers and potential ones will be able to do a High Definition streaming video and audio much faster in a file and downloads of any size.

He said, “It will provide a vastly improved blackberry service and enhanced experience on any data capable device; Smartphone, PC/Laptop or tablet. Individuals and businesses can also take advantage of this robust fiber backbone to deploy all their connectivity and productivity solutions”.

He further explained that Etisalat’s commitment to providing the best in mobile broadband services in Nigeria is the reason for the Abuja Metro Fiber launch, which is the first ever in the history of Nigeria.

Fidelity Bank to raise N56bn Eurobond for projects

F

idelity Bank Plc has asked Citibank to lead manage a planned 5-year Eurobond this year that should come in at around $350 million (N 56 billion) to fund oil, power and infrastructure projects.

Speaking at a Reuters Africa Investment Summit in Lagos on Monday, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Reginald Ihejiahi, said that the bond would help meet demand for dollar financing, much of it from energy clients in Nigeria.

“We’re bolstering our balance sheet on the dollar side.

There will be a Eurobond later in the year,” he said. He added that the bank was targeting a 15 percent growth in its loan book for 2013, from its current N400 billion value.

The mid-tier lender launched a $100 million 2-year loan facility in February, also managed by Citi, which analysts said tested the water for possible bigger issuance.

Ihejiahi said the bank had several projects with dollar financing needs, some of them with power companies buying state assets under a privatization program

launched this year. They included two “significant size gas pipeline projects.”

Fidelity also has a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Royal Dutch Shell to finance its local contractors, he said.

Fidelity’s operations have been heavily focused towards the corporate side, with around 70 percent of its loan book in the corporate sector, against 20 percent in retail banking, he said.

But Ihejiahi said the bank was looking to increase the share of retail customers over time. (Reuters)

Brokerage model.

The Cloud Service Brokerage model entails the centralisation of access to services where a third party, in this case MTN, acts as the single point of contact for customers. The focus is on convenience, as centralising access to services eases the administrative burden for businesses, where instead of dealing with multiple service providers, they now deal with one.

In line with the new commercial offering, business customers will receive a 30-day trial of MTN Cloud. Customers who subscribe to MTN Cloud, through MTN Business, in the different markets, will also be able to pay for services using airtime. Plans are also under way to enable businesses to utilise MTN Mobile Money to pay for MTN Cloud services.

Payment will be effected in the local currency of the

Portuguese investors at the "Nigeria day investment forum", yesterday in Lisbon.

W

Photo: NAN

36 states, FCT external debt stock hits N379.1bn in 2012

By Aminu Imam

T

he external debt stock of the nation’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at December, 31, 2012 has been put at $2.384 billion (about N379.056 billion), according to figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO).

This level of external debt represents 0.88 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has been estimated at $270 billion as at 2012.

Out of the total of $2.384 billion, which was mainly multi-

lateral external debt, Lagos, Kaduna, and Cross River states accounted for about 40 percent.

Lagos state is leading other states with an external debt stock of $611.253 million (about N97.189 billion), followed by Kaduna, which owes $215.683 million (about N34.293 billion) and Cross River, which carries a debt stock of $113.034 million (about N17.972 billion).

State’s whose external debt stock is low in the period under review are Borno, Delta and Plateau. Borno state has the lowest external debt stock worth

Management Tip of the Day Choose the right chart for your slide

hen displaying data in a presentation, clarity matters above all else.

Your audience has to get meaning from your numbers before you click away. This means you need to pick the right chart for the job. The most common charts in business are pies, bars, matrixes, and line graphs,

participating market.

Executive for MTN’s Group Enterprise Business Unit, Farhad Khan, says the response to the MTN Cloud trial was positive. “MTN is optimistic about the uptake of MTN Cloud,” Khan said. “Our focus, as MTN, is to contribute to the development of enterprises and the sustainable growth of economies, and SMEs are key economic growth drivers in most of our markets.”

which will serve different purposes depending on the data: Use a line graph instead of a bar chart if the shape of the line will draw attention to your most important point.

Use a matrix instead of multiple pie charts if you want to show relationships between the data

points.

Call out a number.

Sometimes the best chart is no chart at all. If a certain figure conveys your key message most clearly on its own, show just that number - huge - on the slide.

Source: Harvard Business Review

of $14.154 million (about N2.250 billion); Delta is carrying $18.997 million (about N3.020 billion) worth of external debt; while external debt stock of Plateau as at December 31, 2012 review period worth $21.934 million (about N3.487 billion).

External debt (or foreign debt) is that part of the total debt in a country that is owed creditors outside the country. The debt includes money owed to private commercial banks, other governments, or international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

Details show that external debt stock of Abia stood at $35.911 million; Adamawa, $30.225 million; Akwa Ibom, $61.664 million; Anambra, $26.708 million; Bauchi, $67.131 million; Bayelsa, $28.002 million; Benue, $28.420 million; Ebonyi, $41.581 million; Edo, $42.741 million; Ekiti, $36.165 million; Enugu, $50.074 million; Gombe, $31.727 million; Imo, $51.973 million; and Jigawa state, $33.669 million.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

OkomuOil

O

komu Oil Palm, Plc shares rose to the highest on record yesterday, after it announced a plan to pay dividends and bonuses to shareholders, according to Lambeth Trust & Investment Co. The shares gained for an eighth day, rising by the maximum daily limit of 10 percent to N96.49 by the close yesterday, the highest since at least February 2002 when Bloomberg began compiling the data.

Okomu is yet to release its full-year results. It plans to double output of palm oil to 60 tonnes an hour from 2013, Chairman Gbenga Oyebode had said in December.

GTBank

G

uaranty Trust Bank Plc has disclosed plans to acquire financial institutions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, in line with its expansion drive to East Africa.

The bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje said that the move would enable the commercial bank set up subsidiaries in the countries mentioned above.

The bank will “acquire lenders that are not that large, but profitable in those countries in the short term,” Bloomberg quoted Agbaje to have said in an investors’ conference call in Lagos yesterday.

SAA sensitizes travel agencies to sell airline globally From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

S

outh African Airways (SAA) has held a sensitisation workshop for travel agencies in Nigeria, with a plea for the agencies to sell the airline globally beyond the traditional Lagos-Johannesburg route.

The agency workshop, which is held twice annually since 2007, aims at engaging the travel agencies and educating them on the latest updates concerning SAA services and products offerings including travel policies.

SAA Country Manager Nigeria, Thobi Duma reiterated the strategy of the airline focusing on African growth which is manifest in SAA flying into new routes, Ndola; Abidjan; Ponte-noir and Cotonou all since 2012.

“SAA is far beyond taking you to South Africa from Lagos.

We are a global airline flying into Beijing, Mumbai, HongKong, Perth, Sao Paulo and other numerous destinations,” Thobi stated, while encouraging the travel agents to sell SAA beyond the LagosJohannesburg route.

She disclosed that in the just concluded year 2012, SAA has re-opened its lounge at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; made passenger boarding experience easy through online check-in and provided more accessibility to customers with the relocation of SAA town office to the Churchgate Towers inside the heart of Lagos.

Travel agencies numbering more than 100 in attendance at the workshop were enlightened on the new baggage policy of SAA as well as issues on ticketing by other staff of the airline.

the selection and appointment of aviation chiefs, especially into the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in order to balance the equation.

He noted that the north was marginalized in the present appointment into aviation parastatals in the country adding that such lopsided appointments will not move the nation forward.

“Aviation needs professionals and we have those professionals in the North and I don’t know why this present government wants to relegate the North in the aviation sector; in some parastatals today in aviation

sector, there is no northerner in the management team. I feel it is injustice”.

Umar said it will be unfair for the Jonathan’s government to relegate the North out of the aviation sector. “The bone of contention is NCAA; if they are talking of professionals, it should be thrown open for people to apply. There is nothing like federal character here; you must balance it so that there will be no agitation”.

According to him, the trend will not be palatable if the present imbalance was not addressed when another administration is installed.

NCAA : Youth coalition canvass for northern DG

T

he Northern Youth Coalition for Democracy NYCD has called for a balance in the selection of heads of aviation parastatals in order to correct the present anomalies in the sector.

Speaking at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, the National Co-coordinator of NYCD, Abdulyakeen ibn Umar said the present appointment of aviation parastatals heads was lopsided adding that it does not represent the federal character system.

Umar called on the presidency and the National Assembly to critically look into

Chanchangi Aircraft on tarmac

Samsung

S

amsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA), a leader in digital media and convergence technologies has introduced its first Ultra High Definition Television (TV) with a ‘floating’ design which, according to the company, will revolutionise home cinema all over the world.

Housed within an easellike frame that allows it to rotate freely and appear to float in mid-air, the 85inch TV offers four times the pixels available on other Smart TVs in the market.

The product was unveiled earlier this year by the technology company at the CES 2013 in Las Vegas, USA and will be available in Nigeria at the end of April.

SAHCOL invests N20bn on investments equipment and manpower development

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eading ground handling company, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) yesterday in Lagos said it has invested over N20billion in equipment acquisition in the last four years.

Managing Director of SAHCOL, Mr. Olu Owolabi told journalists shortly after the unveiling of 6 newly purchased High Loaders and 2 Auxiliary Power Units at the company’s maintenance yard at the Lagos airport.

He said the machines is

aimed at expanding the company’s efficiency and capabilities in the handling of its customers aircraft, especially the wide-body aircraft-such as the Boeing 747s,A380 and B787s.

The SAHCOL Chief Executive also disclosed that another set of equipment such as trolleys, dollies and tow trucks are expected to be delivered to the company in the next one month, to further boost its operations and solidify the company’s operations in all

the airports across the country.

Mr. Owolabi said this was why efforts had been intensified at completing the ultra-modern state of the art Warehouse which is almost 80% completed and expected to be commissioned before the end of the second quarter of the year.

He disclosed that after the completion of the warehouse at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, another would be constructed in Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja.

Ethiopian court gives Chanchangi Airlines onemonth ultimatum

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n Ethiopian Federal High Court sitting in Addis Ababa has given Nigeria’s Chanchangi Airlines (CAL) a onemonth ultimatum to settle the maintenance fee it was owing.

The court, while ruling on Monday, thus fixed May 8 to rule on the civil suit against the airlines over the unsettled maintenance fee.The Ethiopian Airlines (ET) had on Jan. 31 filed the suit, praying the court to compel CAL to settle its debt of 772,346.45 U.S dollars.

The amount is an outstanding amount to ET in respect of aircraft maintenance services it rendered to CAL.It said the services were provided by ET to CAL on the basis of a General Aircraft and Engine Maintenance Agreement executed between both parties, dated Feb. 9, 2004.

Counsel to ET, Mrs Hussana Negash, had told the court on April 1 that a settlement agreement was further executed between ET and CAL on June 8, 2010.“In this, CAL refreshed its obligation to settle the outstanding amount to ET within 60 days from the date of signature of the Settlement Agreement.’’

The counsel said CAL, however, failed to perform its obligations. Negash had said CAL never disputed the amount of 772,346.45 U.S dollars as its outstanding obligation. She also told the court that summons and statement of claim had been dispatched to CAL headquarters at Kaduna in Nigeria for CAL’s presentation of its defense.

The counsel said the summons was delivered to CAL on Feb. 26, 2013, as evidenced

by ET’s enclosed Delivery Confirmation. “The hearing was scheduled for April 1, 2013 at 10.00 a.m, but CAL failed to appear,’’ she said.

The presiding judge, Justice Hussan Yimah, had then fixed April 8 for further hearing to give CAL time to appear before it. He had also ordered ET to forward evidence of service of the summons to the defendant on the adjourned date, to enable the court take appropriate action should CAL fail to appear.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the respondent neither appeared nor sent a legal representation in court. Counsel to ET, however, presented the documents as evidence of delivery of service to the respondent.

But Yimah adjourned the case to May 8 to give CAL another chance to appear.

Yimah said the court would take a decision on the action it would take should the respondent fail to be in court and no reason advanced on the next adjourned date. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Boat Regatta boosts Lagos tourism L

agos State government's intention to use the annual Black Heritage festival to boost tourism is yielding fruits as the boat regatta held last week drew tourists from far and near.

During the event that took place at the Civic Centre, Lekki and Falomo waterfront, Ikoyi, residents and tourists alike were treated to the best of water display of culture, tradition and aquatic splendour. Large boats colourfully decorated adorned the water ways. The men in the boats later danced and rowed to show agility and their prowess in handling water sports.

The Lagos state water regatta is water-based cultural sporting and recreational activities, put together to show diverse functions of the boat in the yesteryears, from

community to community.

The fiesta featured a parade of decorated floats on the creeks around Ikoyi and Victoria

Island, with the parade consisting of large fishing boats, ferries, barges and other marine vessels depicting social cultural

tradition, folklores and occupational aspects of the people of Lagos.

A major highlight of this year's edition is the 'Regatta Village', which consists of exhibition stands, viewing centres where all the activities on water were for inspection. The kiddies Fun Park and other fun activities for the children were equally a plus for the event as the children were treated with the best of comedy and music amidst lot to eat and drink.

Speaking at the event, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the regatta resulted from the government's decision to expand, as well as showcase, the cultural heritage of the state.

"The Regatta, no doubt, has become a renaissance of part of the culture of Lagosians. This administration is poised to

exploit the commercial essence of its content by heightening the interest of corporate organisations here in Lagos and around the country in promoting it into tourist's delight. Our ultimate goal is to register the Lagos Water Regatta in the map of world tourist's destinations," he said.

He added "For us here in Lagos, it is not just fun but a display of tradition of our ancestors, how they survived on the waterways. It means a lot to us, our drainage system, which is why we are intolerant of people who degrade it and dump refuse in it."

"Anyone who threatens it threatens our means of transport and waterways and we would not allow that. It is also our source of seafood as well," Fashola said.

The best festivals around the world this April & May Austria Tanzcafe Arlberg | 1-21 April 2013 Tanzcafe Arlberg festival - a new fixture on the Austrian ski scene’s calendar - is an homage to the region’s Twenties boom years, which saw the small town of Lech overrun by Jazz bands and Swing orchestras.

The end-of-season musical extravaganza’s highlights include performances by Jazz icons Etta Scollo and Nanne Emelie at the boutique Kristiania hotel.

For more information, visit www.lechzuers.com/ tanzcafe-arlberg-2013 Morocco Transahara | 3-7 April 2013 Over a period of five days, Morocco’s Sahara desert will host 1,000 revellers at Transahara (pictured), a festival that brings a swathe of visual artists, musicians and DJs (think electronic and trance) to the dunes. This year’s Back to the Future theme promises a suitably surreal experience.

For more information, visit www.nomadstribe.com Channel Islands Guernsey Floral Festival | 20-28 April The beauty of Guernsey’s flora and fauna will be celebrated over this eight-day horticultural celebration.

Private coastal gardens are opening their gates and offering tours, there are sweet fruit liqueurs to be sampled at Guernsey’s Haut Maison orchard and distillery, and visitors can walk to Lihou Island, accessible at low tide.

For more information, visit www.floralguernsey.co.uk In May Spain National Cheese Festival | 1-

5 May 2013 More than 100,000 avid foodfans are expected to flock to the historic main square of Trujillo (birthplace of the Conquistadors) in Spain this summer for what can quite literally be described as a cheese-fest. Visitors will be able to sample over 500 different flavours and dine in one of the square’s six restaurants, which will be serving up traditional dishes starring the festival’s star - queso - and other regional delicacies.

For more information, visit www.trujillovillasespana.com/ fiestas-festivals. Bespoke tours are available with Trujillo Villas España (www.trujillovillasespana.com) London Spin LDN | 4-5 May 2013 Spin London, the UK’s first urban cycling show and festival, is debuting at The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane this year. Those looking to buy, build or merely browse bicycles by some of the leading designers (think tokyobike, Bicycle Taxidermy and Ally Capellino) will be overwhelmed with the array of two-wheelers on show.

There’ll also be talks, screenings, music and food.

For more information, visit www.spinldn.com Austria The Vienna Festival | 10 May - 16 June 2013 The Vienna Festival offers five weeks of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, It offers a modern and multilingual program that covers everything from the classics to the avant-garde.

For more information, visit www.festwochen.or.at New York Frieze Art Fair | 10-13 May 2013 A highlight of the year for the culturally minded, the Frieze Art Fair in New York showcases

more that 1,000 contemporary artists. This year, The Surrey hotel is the fair’s official Upper East Side partner, and is offering special room rates for guests staying between 1-15 May. For more information, visit http:/ /friezenewyork.com.

Stratford-Upon-Avon The Comedy Hullabaloo | 23-26 May 2013 Brand new festival The Comedy Hullabaloo is making its debut in Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon this summer. Comedians Al Murray, Milton Jones, Mark Watson and many more will all be vying for the last laugh.

For more information, visit www.comedyhullabaloo.com St Petersburg The Whites Nights Festival | 24 May-14 July 2013 The White Nights Festival of ballet and opera is held at the city’s famous Mariinsky Theatre during the magical summer period when the sun never sets.

For more information, visit www.mariinsky.ru/en Leicestershire Noisily Festival | 24-27 May

2013 This year is only Noisily Festival’s second on the summer scene, but its returning to Leicestershire’s Coney Woods with a fresh lineup of electronic acts to play their Tipi and Treehouse stages.

Guests can apply for grants to create zany art installations, and the festival’s eco ethos means guests can stay in one of Green Yurt’s environmentallyfriendly tipis.

For more information, visit www.noisilyfestival.com Portugal International Sand Sculpture Festival | From 25 May See 200 tons of sand transformed into intricate art and huge sculptures at the International Sand and Sculpture Festival.

For more information, visit www.fiesa.org Bristol Upfest | 25-27 May 2013 A hipster’s heaven, Europe’s biggest street art festival takes place in Bristol over the UK Bank Holiday weekend. The free event will see Bristol’s Tobacco Factory and just about everything in the nearby vicinity (think car

parks, skate parks, theatres, gardens, streets -even a subway train) taken over by 50 odd artists, who will paint, spray and generally create live in front of onlookers. Pop up cafes and music acts will also be on the arty scene.

For more information, visit www.upfest.co.uk and follow @upfest Newcastle Evolution | 26-27 May 2013 Evolution, Newcastle, is known for its great line-ups and great value (weekend tickets are less than £40). The Spillers Wharf stage will host The Vaccines, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, Jake Bugg, Lethal Bizzle and more.

For more information, visit www.evolutionfestival.co.uk Hay-On-Wye How the light gets in 2013 | 23 May-2 June 2013 The world’s largest philosophy festival in Hay-on-Wye is this year themed around ‘Errors, Lies and Adventure’. Famous thinkers, authors and other cultural figures will discuss, debate and postulate deeprooted topics.

For more information, visit http:/ /howthelightgetsin.org

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

NPA: Scrutinising Habibu Abdullahi's one year's performance The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Habibu Abdullahi will in the next two months complete one year in office with lots of achievements to showcase. Christopher Alu reports that one of such is the precedence he was able to set in NPA, coupled with the courage, determination, hard work and perseverance he exhibited in the steering the ship of the NPA within this short period.

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he announcement of the appointment of the NPA helmsman by President Goodluck Jonathan threw many industry observers off-balance on their assumption that he will not be able to perform his duties effectively; However, to the dismay of his critics, he has not only impacted sanity at NPA, but has also made positive progress to the growth and development of the sector, as well as making it viable as one of the strongest that has impacted positively to the development of the countries economy.

The Managing Director, on his assumption, promised to transform the sector by ensuring optimum performance in order to meet the growing demand of the economy. He explained that the sector needed some urgent reforms in the areas of a landlord port model that will give NPA the responsibility of providing port infrastructures and vessel support services to its clients.

Malam Abdullahi also introduced a lot of changes in the sector through the public-privatepartnership initiatives, by entering into various concession agreements with some private sector operators that will carry infrastructural development at the ports, in order to provide a Road Map and a guide towards the quick discharge of goods in a more transparent and speedier way. He also created avenues for the NPA to generate its internally generated revenue ( IGR), through various means for the sector, as well as set clear targets on the level of operational standards.

The Managing Director, also on assumption of office, arranged an in-house meeting with the top management where he directed the Executive Directors, General Managers, Port Managers, who are involved in the initiation and execution of projects in NPA, to align their internal process and develop a new mechanism.

Entrance to the Tin Can island Port in Lagos. (Inset): MD NPA, Habibu Abdullahi According to the NPA boss, this was in order to consider the requirements of the Public Procurement Act, and for the achievement of a greater target; that will enhance easy assessment as a result of the viability of the ports and its links to the level of infrastructure needed to sustain the growth in traffic with a view to impacting positively on outputs of the economic activities in all the various ports' stations.

Habibu also reviewed over 400 applications, out of which more than 50 were offered concession to operate as private sector companies at the

terminals.

Within his one year in office, many channels were opened-up as conducive environment for concession, and he also introduced information technology to upgrade the existing standard, such as the one stop-shop cargo clearing at the ports, to enable cargos to be cleared within 48 hours in a faster way.

He has also encouraged customers for Greenfield Areas at the ports and will effectively monitor the goods that come in and out of the ports efficiently.

He further stated that within the next few years NPA will be a

WorldStage Power Conference 2013 to explore potentials in emerging sector

By Etuka Sunday

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s the Federal Government of Nigeria makes an irreversible progress in the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies, the WorldStage National Electricity Power Conference (WNEPC) 2013 in Lagos- Nigeria on September 24 is set to explore the huge potentials in the emerging private sector driven power industry.

With the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) constituting transitional committees for the 15 PHCN successor companies whose preferred bidders had paid $559.446 million- the 25 per cent of the bid value, the private investors are expected to take over

the power assets within the next six months.

WNEPC 2013, with the theme: ‘Moving Nigeria’s Electricity Power Sector Forward’, according to the organisers, would bring the policy makers and the private sector together to review the new development in electricity power sector, identify new challenges, deliberate on critical issues and chart the way forward for the realisation of stable power supply in the country.

President/CEO, WorldStage, Mr. Segun Adeleye said 2013 will be a watershed in the history of electricity power supply in Nigeria, going by the milestones expected to be recorded.”As Nigeria continues to experience huge gap

in infrastructural provision which is capital intensive- requires about $110 billion in the next 10 yearsthis is the year when some aborted dreams of many years are to be realized through the ongoing Federal Government’s reforms,” he said.

According to the organizers, WNEPC 2013 would feature presentations from top government officials, industry experts and panel discussions on, Electricity Generation and Gas supply; Transmission And Distribution challenges; Effective Regulation of Power sector; Alternative Energy Sources/ Energy Conservation and Local and Off-shore funding of the Power sector.

hub in Africa that will attract a huge market to the rest of the world.

At the moment, the country has six ports with three additional ones being developed; this gives the hope that by the time Malam Habibu complete his tenure, there

would be additional twenty viable ports in the country that will generate millions of jobs for to the citizens and also create a huge market and improved the standard of Nigerian ports so that the country's internal waterways that is yet untapped will be tapped.

Sub-standard structures demolished in Karu international market

By Umar Muhammad Puma ontractors handling the construction and remodeling of the 2000 capacity Karu international market, in Mararaba area of Nasarawa state have commence demolition of sub-standard structures in the market in line with the modern design.

A visit to the market by our correspondent shows that some of the buildings were pull down to pave way for new structures in line with the new designs.

Workers on site were seen putting finishing touches to some of the nearly completed stalls while supervising engineers are going round with designs to ensure standard in line with the bill of quantity.Site engineers were also seen given instruction in the layout of car parks constructed in the market to ensure compliance and standard.

Already, 20 blocks of 4 stalls each which are completed are seen wearing blue Aluminum roofs while more 30 are about 90 percent completion.

One of the engineers Ibrahim

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Mohammed said that some of the structures pulled down have lost shape and quality because of long neglect.

He said that leaving them will hamper the quality of the job and affect adjourning structures which will eventually cost more in the near future, adding that the bill of quantity of the job have been design to ensure uniformity by ensuring that the materials for the job especially the paint and the roof are of same quality and same company to ensure quality and durability of the structures.

Some of the contractors who spoke to Peoples Daily commended the state government for prompt payment and strict supervision that ensures quality of Job. Alh Muhammadu Maimako said the contractors are paid 48 hours after every variation satisfying level of work.

He commended the Nasarawa state government for making contractors enjoy every bit of the work. He however lamented the minimal profit and urges the authorities to look into the issue.

PEOSPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Report as at Tuesday, April 9, 2013

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Stakeholders Nigerians among leading investors in Dubai property market call for a law to make housing a “right” in Nigeria Pg 27

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

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The United States housing market is steadily picking up after nearly five years in the doldrums. It was its fall, and the consequential massive default on mortgage payments that led to the global economic meltdown which began in 2008. Last quarter, the United States housing market returned to profit, an indication that the global economy may be recovering from the financial crisis as performance of mortgages held by home-buyers in America has direct effect on world financial markets. About July 2012, the houses below were selling at approximately less 15% of their current price tags. The bears have retreated and the bulls are now returning to the United States housing market. Those who bought homes during the crisis are now laughing their way to the banks.

San Antonio $255,000 This upgraded single-story home is located in the heart of a popular neighborhood.

The 2,309-square-foot home has an open floor plan with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.

York, PA $249,900 Beautiful landscaping and fresh paint mark the exterior of this York home. The 2,278square-foot house has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths.

Destin, FL $249,000 Two homes for the price of one. This listing contains a 1,630-square-foot main house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as well as a detached 1-bedroom, 1-bath guest cottage measuring 729 square

Longmont, CO $250,000 Centrally located about 15 miles from Boulder and 40 miles from Denver, this Longmont home features mountain views from its back deck. The 1,875-square-foot home has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

Cincinnati, OH $249,000 Four bedrooms and 3.5 baths make up this all-brick home in Cincinnati. Measuring 2,049 square feet, the house has a three-car garage and full basement.

Las Vegas, NV $249,900 This Las Vegas home is located in a neighborhood with community extras such as a clubhouse, pool and basketball court. The 3-bed, 3-bath home has a lower-level master suite and updated kitchen with granite countertops.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Stakeholders call for a law to make housing a “right” in Nigeria

By Udenna Orji

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ousing stakeholders in Nigeria have called for a constitutional provision that will make it mandatory for the various tiers of government in the country to provide decent and affordable housing for all Nigerians.

A call has also been made for the commencement of social housing in Nigeria to ensure decent accommodation for noincome and low income earners.

* Bill on Social housing out soon These calls were made at a one-day seminar on Social Housing held in Abuja recently.

It was organized by the Forum of Advocates on Social Housing (FASH) and had in attendance the Honourable Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Abba

Bukar Ibrahim, members of the National Assembly, property and construction professionals, bankers and members of the public while some of the resource persons were drawn from Nigerians in the diaspora with specialization in social housing development and management.

Participants unanimously called for “a comprehensive Housing Provision Law on the

recognition and inclusion of “Housing Right” like Civil Rights as a specific provision in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not just as a preamble in the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy”.

They argued that Nigeria is a signatory to the United Na tions Declaration of Human Rights which also recognizes housing as a human right and as such should join her developed counterparts in putting in place policies that will boost homeownership among Nigerians and develop social housing for the no-income and low-income earners in the country. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, Housing, medical care and necessary social services and the

right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control”.

Senator Ibrahim assured that the National Social Housing Bill before the senate would be passed by the senate soon, adding that virtually all the members of the senate were committed to the commencement of social housing in Nigeria.

Social housing is an umbrella term referring to housing which is owned and managed by the state, not-for-profit organizations, or a combination of the two, usually with the aim of providing affordable rental housing. It is the provision of affordable, non-profit driven, mass produced houses that could be occupied by low income earners, who may wish to save towards eventually buying such houses with time.

How poor insurance penetration hinders mortgage development in Nigeria

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Senate President David Mark

President Goodluck Jonathan

Develop mortgage policies at 9% per annum - Ozoani

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he Federal Government has been called upon to develop mortgage policies that will encourage Nigerian banks to grant mortgage loans to Nigerians at a maximum of 9% per annum.

Government has also been urged to check the rising inflationary trend in Nigeria as the trend is causing a steady rise in the cost of building inputs in Nigeria, leading to high costs in property development and sales.

Speaking with Peoples Daily on how to boost homeownership in Nigeria and reduce the nation’s estimated 17 million units housing deficit, the Group General Manager of awardwinning mass housing developer, El-Salem Nigeria Limited, Mr. Geoffrey Ozoani appealed to government to “come up with very definite policies on mortgage.

Definite implementable policies

on mortgage that make it attractive for commercial banks to offer mortgage loans to Nigerians because most commercial banks are not providing mortgage facilities”.

He noted that “the fear of our commercial banks is how they can recover their money but a mortgage loan is the easiest loan to recover because the house serves as collateral and usually also rises in value over time. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) loan is at 6% but if all our commercial banks are encouraged through attractive policies to offer mortgage loans at say 8% or 9%, Nigeria’s housing deficit will drastically reduce.

Even in Namibia where I recently returned from, the commercial banks pursue people to come and collect mortgage loans because their mortgage system works perfectly.

According to him, “there is also the burning need to create awareness to Nigerians about mortgages and Nigerian mortgage institutions. Even contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) do not know what they are contributing for.

States and local governments should make land available to developers and encourage their workers to get loans from mortgage institutions to buy their own houses. In addition, prices of cement and other building materials keep rising even after you have agreed on a house price with a client. By the time the client pays 10% of say N5 million, the cost of building the house has risen to N7 million. Besides all these is the difficulty in getting land. A plot of land jumps in prices virtually monthly. These are some of the challenges”.

he financial challenges hindering the development of Nigeria’s housing sector have been blamed partly on the low level of insurance penetration and awareness in the country.

The Managing Director of Union Assurance Company Limited, Mr. Godwin Odah who made this known in a statement issued to newsmen said no economy could successfully thrive without a vibrant insurance sector which would breed entrepreneurship that would lift the housing sector.

Odah described insurance as a mechanism for mobilizing funds, adding that housing remained scarce because there were no funds.

“We need long term funds, which is what life insurance provides”, Odah said.

The Union Assurance boss said that at the moment, there was acute shortage of long-term funds which should ordinarily be available to entrepreneurs to grow the economy because Nigerians have yet to buy into life insurance as a natural way of saving for their long-term needs.

“Life insurance comes in the category of 5, 10 and 15-year plans and so on. If a sizable number of Nigerians, with the country’s huge population, invests just a small proportion of their income in insurance, the economy will expand because the money will be made available to investors who can

then grow their businesses on long-term basis,” Odah explained.

According to him, funds at the disposal of banks are shortterm in nature and most times, have a maximum tenor of 90 days before the owners will come calling and “with this condition, banks can only lend short-term at high interest rates that are largely a disincentive to the entrepreneur in the real estate business. But the situation will be better if banks had insurance life funds.”

Odah said it was not possible to achieve sustainable expansion in the housing sector without mortgages which he explained would be easier if the insurance component was available to make the dream of housing for all a reality.

“The insurance component takes care of the initial deposit required by the mortgage firms.

But because insurance companies are backward in terms of patronage of life products, these long-term funds are not available for development. Pension funds, which are another component of insurance, have generated within a short period, about 3 trillion naira. Talks are ongoing to develop a framework for investment of the money for infrastructural development and in other sectors. This is a demonstration of what life insurance funds can do for national development”, Odah said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 27

Experts identify obstacles to housing development in Nigeria E

state surveyors and real estate practitioners who concluded a two-day international conference on housing held at Lagos have identified the following as obstacles to housing development in Nigeria.

Low Income Nigerians have a per capita income of about $1000, about half our National per capital income in 1975. Despite the high oil revenue of the last three decades,

poverty has remained with us in Nigeria. Poverty in Nigeria used to be rural-based but between 1985 and 1992, the number of the poor in rural areas fell sharply from 25.3 million to 22.8 million while those in urban centers rose from 9.7 to 11.9. A low income is a big constraint in accessing affordability because mortgage is all about the ability to service loan when due. For this reason the majority of Lagosians live in rooming houses (73 per cent) as

tenants. Singapore which was our peer in the early sixties has managed to house up to 85 percent of its citizens in owner-occupied flats and houses.

Dearth of Long-Term Funds High rates of interest and inflation have been typical features of our volatile economy since the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986. The Naira has suffered extensive depreciation averaging 45

percent per annum between 1987 and 1993, from an exchange rate of N1.0 to $1.0 in 1987 to N120.0 to $1.0. Because most of our building materials have traditionally been imported, the effect of this depreciation has been a rapid rise in cost of construction.

Interest rate has been similarly high at times as high as 72 percent in 1995: became stable around 18 percent after conclusion of the banking consolidation; but now on the rise again as a result of current

global financial meltdown. The combined effect of these has been a sharp rise on the price of homes.

The inability of Nigerian banks to harness savings from the people has been a major reason for the lack of long-term funds in the economy. The commercial banks have traditionally served only the mercantile class and lately the oil and manufacturing sector.

The Primary Mortgage Institutions and microfinance teams are recent efforts to harness savings from the masses but they are mainly urban based and operate more or less like banks with very high appetite for quick profit.

High Cost of Construction Our refusal to build houses with locally available materials has been a major cog in the wheel of housing delivery. A look at our urban centers will show that our houses are built mostly of imported materials (cement, iron rods, aluminum roof).

Low Level of Economic Activity Statistic recently release by Nigerian Insurance Commission indicates that only about 15 million Nigerians are in regular employment. The vast majority are still employed in subsistence agriculture or in menial services like okada riding. The level of industrialization is low so also is commerce which is characterized by street trading. Though the oil industry is strong but it is unfortunately not linked to the local economy. The combination of these factors is that the disposable income of the average Nigerian is low to build a house or qualify for mortgage assistance.

Access to Land The main objective of the Land Use Act was to facilitate access to land by the generality of Nigerians. Unfortunately the act has had the opposite effect.

Though it has made it easier for the elite to acquire land, it has made it much harder for the majority of Nigerians to access land.

Nigerians among leading investors in Dubai property market

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ubai has long been the regional hub for the oilrich Gulf states, but the ambitious city state is never one to rest on its laurels.

The emirate has for years been touting itself as the central node for 2bn people, spanning the Middle East, the subcontinent, central Asia and eastern Africa. Now, even West Africa, an eight-hour flight away, is on its radar.

Paris and London have long been the hub for western African states, but Dubai is now giving these established centres a run for their money. Emirates airline’s Dubai-Lagos flight is renowned for constantly being packed.

Some banks, such as Standard Chartered, have chosen to cover some business lines in sub-Saharan Africa from its regional headquarters at Dubai’s financial centre.

Luring talent to the comfortable Dubai lifestyle is easier than some African postings, while reaching various outposts of the continent can be easier from the city’s thriving airport than other hubs, such as Johannesburg and Nairobi.

As Chinese and Asian firms chose Dubai for their regional headquarters, often these businesses are not only targeting the Gulf, but looking to use the city as a launch-pad

into sub-Saharan Africa as well.

And the investment flows are going both ways.

As Abu Dhabi based newspaper The National reports, Nigerians are flooding Dubai’s property market, especially as it starts to show signs of recovery after four years in the doledrums.

It isn’t exactly a new trend.

Even at the property market’s nadir, after the real estate crash wiped more than 50 per cent off average valuations in the autumn of 2008, Nigerians were known as likely buyers. One real estate agent said at the time that Nigerians were the only nationality buying properties as the market went into free fall.

And the Nigeria-Dubai property love-in is still going strong as the property market in general improves. Jones Lang LaSalle in a recent secondquarter report noted that villa prices in Dubai had risen by around 20 per cent over last year, while apartments in popular buildings are flat on the year.

For those seeking a bolt-hole away from the corruption and danger of Nigeria, properties in Dubai are a good option: few questions are asked of buyers.

As such, they are joining a long list of nationalities who have turned to Dubai as an investment haven, especially wealthy investors from unrest-

hit regions of the Middle East, such as Egypt, Libya and Syria.

In the past six months, Nigerians are registered behind sales of $52.5m, according to the Land Department.

Some real estate agents, however, place the size of investment in much greater figures, as much as $6bn over the past three years. Dubai property brokerage The First Group opened offices in Nigeria three years ago and now Nigerians account for 60 per cent of its sales.

It’s more good news for Dubai’s property market, which still needs a boost to help it recover from the slump.

Source: Financial Times

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Mitsubishi Outlander comes standard with features

T

he 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander will be fully redesigned and will include a new plug-in hybrid variant.

We hate to admit it, but the Mitsubishi Outlander is all grown up. Not that it's a bad thing. The redesigned 2014 Outlander should deliver increased interior refinement and improved fuel economy, while leading a brand that is, quite frankly, struggling to keep up in the United States. No, we're simply glum to see the current Outlander's design -- all wide mouth and quasi-fighter jet angles -- give way to the new model's more ageappropriate crossover stance.

That said, interesting design doesn't make for a livable car, and while the 2014 Outlander sacrifices some style and attitude, the overhaul classes up the sevenpassenger crossover SUV. The new model is also about 200 pounds lighter, which seems like a fair trade.

The base drivetrain is a 166horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that Mitsubishi says will achieve 31 highway mpg and place the base model among the fuel economy leaders in its class.

Mitsubishi will also reprise the current 3.0-liter V6 (224 hp, 215 pound-feet of torque) and six-speed automatic transmission for the GT model, which the automaker claims will return 28 highway mpg. The base model will be available only with front-wheel drive, while the midlevel SE model offers both frontand all-wheel drive. The GT will only be offered with all-wheel drive.

The 2014 Outlander base model comes standard with features such as 16-inch steel wheels, heated side mirrors, keyless entry, automatic climate control, full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, sliding and reclining 60/40-split folding rear seats and a six-speaker sound system.

The SE adds 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, keyless entry/ignition, Bluetooth, a multi-information display and a

rearview camera with a 6-inch touchscreen display. The GT adds automatic xenon headlights, automatic wipers and wood grain trim.

Options boil down to two packages, available for both SE and GT models, and include a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, a power driver seat, a power liftgate, a premium ninespeaker Rockford Fosgate sound system, a navigation system with 7inch touchscreen display, and safety/driver aids including adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning.

Inside, the new Outlander's optional third-row seat has grown

in size and quality; it's not like the flimsy contraption of the current model. We still won't call it roomy, but now it's a normal 50/50 foldflat setup. With the third row upright, there are 10.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the third row yields 34.2 cubic feet, while both rows stowed opens up 63.3 cubes.

The new one-piece liftgate replaces the current "clamshell" design -unfortunate, since we liked the latter design, which offered a tailgate for loading, sitting and, yes, tailgating at the football game.

Bigger news is set to follow when the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid rolls out to dealers as a 2015 model. The hybrid Outlander will use front- and rearmounted electric motors, a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a new version of Mitsubishi's all-wheel-drive system. Mitsubishi says the plug-in hybrid should achieve more than 30 miles of electric range and require about 4.5 hours to fully recharge.

In our initial drive of the 2014 Outlander, we found the fourcylinder/CVT combination adequate for city driving, but it felt a bit underpowered on highway entrance ramps, requiring sustained foot-to-the-floor acceleration accompanied by an agitated drone from under the hood. The V6 is better, though it's notably down on power compared to other V6 crossovers. On the road, the Outlander does a good job

absorbing the normal ruts and bumps, and it's also surprisingly adept at navigating rutted and rocky trails off-pavement.

The small crossover segment is already packed with great choices, including the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. Overall we're not expecting the new Outlander to break any new ground, though the plug-in hybrid could be a competitive offering in the nascent plug-in crossover segment. Check back for a full review of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, including specs, driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.

Source: Edmunds.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 29

FR OM THE FROM LIVE ST AGE STA

Book R evie w Re view

The Audacity of Pain: A Review of Jumoke

Verissimo's I Am Memory

By Dami Ajayi

P

ersonally, I don't like reviews. I think they are highly opinionated, utterly sentimental and directly related to book sales.

But often I ask myself if sentiments can be distilled completely from a work of art.

Can sentiment, the gnawing emotion that wills pen to paper and occasions the resultant work, be separated from Arts?

Absolutely not. So we can safely conclude that Sentiment is the artery through which Arts in itself is fed and one is tempted to end it there.

In the fashion of American writer Richard Matheson's novel recently made into movie, I Am Legend, Ms. Verissimo substantiates her claim to her chosen genre with her first collection of poems, I Am Memory. Erstwhile Jumoke Verissimo has been heard and read both as a performance poet and in literary journals respectively and I must say, her collection was anticipated and timely.

I noticed the book features about thirteen poems, divided into four sections (memory lanes) after I got past the rather lengthy acknowledgments. Then I leaped into the first of her offerings which perhaps is her most outstanding poem, Sequence (of desire).

This love poem is nothing like the Shakespearian sonnets, or Robert Frost's verses, its much bolder, penned specifically for performance.

The lyricism is quite remarkable and works in tandem with the eloquent string of emotions that built into a robust narrative on one of the most unifying themes in the universe. Recently I was privileged to watch a live performance and I was struck with awe.

As a poet, Ms Verissimo is versatile as well as judicious in her use of literary mechanics to furnish poems with a fluid progression. Like the Free Verse poet she is, her style borders more on internal rhythm than rhyme and stanzas. And her stanzas, often uneven, neither mince nor maneuver words. Rather they hit the proverbial nail on the head. Generously, she coins words with pun intended.

Words such as Shell-ers, aba-

shed are used to further buttress and delineate her emotions, setting them as roots and templates for revisiting issues that bulked most of her themes. Truly, an African poet can't be without activism.

I Am Memory revisits past issues swept under the carpet of history, gnaw at old scars and initiate new tears and perspective to the several woes that have betide the Nigerian state. So often, the poet assumes an angry tone and one could envision the pains the poet had undergone to sift such inflammatory emotions into verses. Her poems tackled themes like tyranny and dictatorship, hunger and famine, unsolved murders of politicians, unjust killings, leaving out only HIV/ AIDS to have become a complete personal reproach on African sensibilities.

However towards the end of the book, the quality of the

poems dwindles below the standards of the earlier poems, especially the section dedicated to people.

Ms Verissimo has penned a book of nostalgic history.

She has collected poems that truly reflect the reactions of a bona fide Nigerian to the turbulence and tribulation the Nigerian state has suffered almost endlessly, needlessly.

This collection is a bold stance of pain and other emotions, filtering through the pores of gross indifference and achieving a communal cry of retrospective protest.

With I Am Memory, Ms Verissimo asserts and secures herself a seat on the table of the new Nigerian contemporary poets, the likes of Ifowodo Ogaga, Chiedu Ezeanah, Lola Shoneyin, Afam Akeh, Tade Ipadeola, Niran Okewole, etc. No doubt she will be heard from for a while.

Source: Africanwriter.com

with Patrick-Jude Oteh 0803 700 0496, 0805 953 5215 (SMS only)

DEATH OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE?

I

have just read the Monday April 1st edition of THE NATION newspaper and there is the headline NATIONAL THEATRE TO BE TURNED INTO A HOTEL. I had thought that this was a joke carried too far but the newspaper was very serious.

They had facts with a letter from the present Minister. The first step according to the paper is the two weeks quit notice to all agencies within the complex to look for alternative accommodation.

The news continued that the place has been given or contracted out to the Marriot Hotel group to turn it into a five star hotel along with the surrounding spaces which will be turned into shopping malls and other things that will make it a pure undiluted tourist haven. I turned to the tribe of artistes - no one seems to know what is happening. They just read of it in the papers.

The reaction of the tribe of artistes is understandable.

The place had long ago alienated lots of them and to them performing at the 'national' was an illusion as well as an unwanted dream.

Having to pay same rates as churches and wedding receptions, who wanted to go there? So if they are keeping quiet, then their reasons must be legion. You might as well turn it into a dumpsite and we will not lose sleep!

Flashback to last year - A man called Tope Babayemi who runs an organization at the national arts theatre had raised an alarm that there were plans to sell the theatre. We all turned our ears to the opposite direction of the wind.

We all thought, we had fought this before during the time of Chief Obasanjo. So Tope Babayemi was crying snake where there was none.

I remember with nostalgia when Colonel Akogun was Sole Administrator. He simply opened the place to artistes.

You could walk into the national with a production and you got all the support you wanted. It was not money but whatever you got from the gate was all yours 100%. We all must understand that for most artistes what they require most is the platform to showcase their work and not money. The platform will generate the money. This initiative was called the 'Open Theatre' and the plays and experiments of that era are now known as the open theatre series. The national opened up - there were activities, the place formerly

dead was alive again. As soon as Colonel Akogun left, we went into the era of 'generating revenue' and the vibrant initiative simply died.

Professor Ahmed Yerima turned around the fortunes of the halls. He ensured that many of the halls were functioning but the main auditorium was and is still a challenge. Then the place went absolutely commercial. Only churches and wedding receptions could afford the halls. There was a year the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) wanted to host the national convention there. We were asked to pay the on-going commercial rates. Last year, we were to host an international conference in November, we asked for the hall and a discount of sorts as this was one of the main requirements for us to get the hosting rights. We were asked to pay the commercial rates.

This year during the annual Festival of Nigerian plays (FESTINA), NANTAP got one of the halls but awards changed hands.

During a trip to UK arts institutions last year, one of my stops was the UK national. All sorts of activities were in place - from solo artistes, comedians, plays in the halls, cyclists, a beehive of activities or people simply loitering around and enjoying the scenery. All my friends - directors and artistes all wanted their work to go to the 'National'. It is one of the few signs that your work has arrived or gaining serious recognition.

I envisage after we turn our national theatre to a hotel, the main bowl will start to work, the cinema halls will be turned to casinos, that stagnant water by the theatre that has defied all solutions will become clean and some of us will drink happily from the crystal clear waters, the grounds that housed all those women who made more money in half a year than the present national, will become a parking lot, the artistes village will be demolished and a gym will spring up there, the offices will become suites, the golden brown earth colours of the present theatre will become a mixture of pink and yellow, the road will be closed to traffic except those who have come to gamble and spend good money at the new five star hotel.

God, what kind of country did you create here?

PAGE 30

By Chielozona Eze

T

he title of Emeka Agbayi’s poetry collection, Stars Die, and the beautiful cover illustration, two hanged bodies dangling from ropes, send an unmistakable message of despair. Given the recent Nigerian history replete with mindless acts of violence, the massive pauperization of Nigerians and the virtual erosion of opportunity for creation and multiplication of beauty, there cannot have been a better choice of title and cover design. As if Nigerians had not already been humiliated well enough by the long years of harsh military experience, AIDS has launched its own scourge and aggressively munches off the already weakened will to live.

In the face of all these, it would require a super human effort to still cling to hope.

Stars Die has about thirty seven poems, which are divided into five sections: Soliloquies, Nature, Love and Life, The Patriot and the Critic, and, On Death and the Dead.

Attempts are made to restrict the central ideas of the poems to the above sections. But as is true of works of art, boundaries are not always sharply delineated. Poems often brim with meaning and in so doing defy even the space allotted to them by the poet. The title poem, ?Stars Die,? (69) exploits the well known idea: ?low-mass stars die quietly, while high-mass stars die in tremendous explosions (NASA Website) ? pure natural occurrence, to draw attention to our vulnerability as humans.

Whether we make much noise at our death or just extinguish in darkness, fact is that we ?die too? (69).

Perhaps some readers might wonder where that knowledge takes us. If poetry is out there just to rephrase a well-know fact, of what use is it then? In ?Two Lines For Love,? the persona makes bland statements: When my presence no longer evokes excitement Love has died in your heart. (27) This, of course, is not symptomatic of the entire collection. ?Sing to me of Stars? to me allows us a greater space to have a peek at the poet?s talent. He begins to communicate, and in doing so begins to relate. He gives his poem measured beats that confer on it the old and much revered element of ritual, music.

Sing to me of stars and meteor Sing to me of the sun and

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Book R evie w Re view

Dying Stars

the moon Sing to me of joyful children Of the sparkle in their eyes The love in their hearts Only in these is innocence left. (36) Of course the poet does not champion modernist art for art?s sake dogma. The beauty and relevance of this stanza shines against the background of the dire human conditions already established in the preceding stanzas. Thus it would appear that the poet believes that it is our dedication to beauty that will ultimately salvage our humanity.

The poems are, like ninetynine percent of Nigerian poetry doggedly lyrical. They ultimately share a common weakness of our generation of

Nigerian poets as has been pointed out by Obasanke Lasanke in his beautiful essay ?The Failings of Contemporary Nigerian Poetry.? Agbayi can be excessively lyrical and annoyingly romantic: Exploded laughters of thunder echo and re-echo in my head.

I explode into laughter too.

Sighs of the wind, wafted through branches, whisper sad memories to my ears.

Tears roll down my cheeks. (Madness, 33) But his spontaneous observations of nature can be refreshing and rewarding. To me, however, the collection is

“

overtly depressing. Perhaps it is meant to be so as most Jeremiads are. While I understand the tendency to sing dirges to the decaying country, I would rather appreciate a poet who draws our attention to the bright speck of hope in the overwhelming darkness of our humanity, and who does so in the most realistic form possible. Emeka Agbayi seems to be prepared to do exactly that especially in the last of the poems, ?I Shall Return,? which ends with the images of ?flowers? blossoming. The poem allows us to hope that this fine talent will not wilt in mind-crippling lamentations.

S o u r c e : Africanwriter.com

Of course the poet does not champion modernist art for art?s sake dogma. The beauty and relevance of this stanza shines against the background of the dire human conditions already established in the preceding stanzas.

POEM OF THE WEEK (You and I)

By Anele Mkhwananzi As the world reins my sun to the steep brink of another dawn As we set forth on this mission of gloom called life, we have to choose And as we make those choices, singular moments make singular impressions The very way we like them to or the way we want to remember them as.

There can be no doubt as to what we feel at that said moment Yet in reality an unseen force of sensations, Bearing close affinity with the air of heaven, unites these moments And they define who we are I mean, you and I. These seemingly trifling and very temporary instances A stroll in the park, a nibble at your cookie, a slight tilt of the head Sand between your toes, grit in your stew, a smile, a frown, a tear, and a laugh A cry, be it at a wedding or funeral - are actually one big event; LIFE Life has always been that way - nightmares that turn into fairytales Love songs that hurt more than burial dirges, There's always a worm in your bud And, though you may not believe it, light at the end of the tunnel We have had our own sunsets and sunrises Days when the clouds hung repressively low in the heavens And sunny days that made you think God were smiling At you and I. You know, time was when my soul quivered at the mere thought of your smile Time was when my heart swelled because you loved me And loving you was the easiest of errands Love was to watch clouds scudding - cottony - across the sky Love was to feel warmth of your sun from all four corners Love was to enjoy, making a scene of ordinary sights.

Because whatever we had and whatever we did Was about you and I.

QUO TE UOTE Humorists can never start to take themselves seriously. It's literary suicide.

- Erma Bombeck

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 33

Asia and Deadly quake in south-west Iran’s Bushehr province Middle East

A

6.3 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 30 people and injured 800 in south-west Iran, officials say.

Rescue teams have been sent to the affected area, but darkness

is hampering rescue operations.

The quake struck 90km (60 miles) south of the country’s only nuclear power station in Bushehr, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says.

However, the nuclear plant has not been affected and is working normally, officials have said.

The quake was felt across the Gulf in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Some 10,000 people are thought to live in the affected area in more than 50 villages, two of which have reportedly been completely levelled.

The governor’s office has sent generators to the area so rescue

operation can continue overnight, the BBC’s Mohsen Asgari in Tehran reports.

Seismologists said the quake struck at 16:22 (11:52 GMT) at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) near the town of Kaki, south of Bushehr - a Gulf port city that is home to Iran’s first and only nuclear power plant.

Iran’s seismological centre in Bushehr province, linked to Tehran University, registered the quake at a magnitude of 6.1.

Tens of aftershocks - the strongest measuring a magnitude of 5.4 - struck within an hour, sending many people into the streets for safety.

Sri Lanka to set up inquiry into mass grave

S

The grave contained skulls and bones of people thought to be of Marxist rebels killed decades

ri Lankan authorities will appoint a commission to investigate a mass grave where more than 150 skulls and bones were found last year, a government spokesman says.

LakshmanHulugalle, head of the government's Media Centre for National Security, said on Monday President MahindaRajapaksa had taken the decision.

The grave, with skulls and bones of people thought to be Marxist rebels killed decades ago, is located at a state-run hospital in the central region of the country, said Hulugalle.

He told reporters the commission's probe would be carried out alongside an ongoing police investigation.

Names of the members of the

commission will be announced soon, he added.

Workers found the remains while doing construction last December at the hospital in Matale, about 105km, northeast of the capital, Colombo.

The skeletons were found buried in neat rows, five or six stacked on top of one another, totalling 154 bodies.

Last month, a judge declared the mass grave a crime scene, saying the skulls and bones recovered dated back 25 years and strengthened suspicions that they belonged to suspected Marxist rebels killed at the time.

Magistrate Chathurika de Silva told a court in Matale that tests carried out by archeological and judicial medical officials showed the remains dated to between 1987 and 1990.

India deploys drones to save rhinos

I

An official displays the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

ndia has deployed aerial drones over Kaziranga National Park in Assam state in a bid to protect endangered one-horned rhinos from poachers.

Kaziranga chief NK Vasu said the maiden drone flight on Monday was a "milestone in wildlife protection".

The park is home to two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhino population and also has a large number of elephants, tigers and other wildlife.

In recent months, rhinos have been killed in large numbers by poachers.

Drones and other successful anti-poaching measures have also been used by the WWF in nearby Chitwan National Park in Nepal, where the hunting of one-horned rhinos has been drastically reduced.

"The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was up in the sky for 15 minutes. It landed safely," Mr Vasu said. "We hope this technology will go a long way in effective surveillance of the park."

Assam Forest Minister RockybulHussain said this was the first time that drones had been used for wildlife protection anywhere in India.

"The UAVs will deter poachers who will now have to reckon with surveillance from air as well as on ground," Mr Hussain said.

The minister said it would now be possible to keep an eye on the remotest parts of the 480 sq km (185 sq miles) park.

The drones can fly a preprogrammed route at a maximum elevation of 200m (656ft) for up to 90 minutes, officials say.

Japan has deployed Patriot missiles in its capital as it readies to defend the 30 million people who live in greater Tokyo from any North Korean attack, officials have said.

Two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile launchers were stationed at the defence ministry in Tokyo before dawn, a ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Itsunori Onodera, Japan's defence minister, said "we are proceeding with measures including deployment of PAC-3 as we are on alert".

Local reports said batteries would be deployed in another two locations in the greater Tokyo area.

"The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people's lives and ensure their safety," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Tuesday morning.

"As North Korea keeps making provocative comments, Japan, cooperating with relevant countries, will do what we have to do.

"For the moment, the most important thing is to implement sanctions under the UN Security Council resolutions," Abe said.

Japan deploys missiles over North Korea threat

Two patriot missiles stationed in greater Tokyo.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Obama blasts Republicans over gun reform

P

resident Barack Obama has accused Republicans of stooping to political stunts to block gun reform, in a fervent appeal delivered close to the site of the Newtown school massacre.

At a critical moment for hopes for sweeping action to stem gun violence, Obama travelled on Monday to Hartford, Connecticut, not far from Sandy Hook Elementary School where 20 children and six adults were gunned down in December.

In sharp, impassioned remarks, he contrasted the courage of parents whose children were killed by a deranged gunman with US lawmakers he said feared the wrath of the powerful American gun lobby.

“Some folks in Washington are already floating the idea that they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms,” Obama told a raucous crowd during his second gun control rally in a week.

“They’re not just saying they’ll vote no on ideas that almost all Americans support. They’re saying they’ll do everything they can to even prevent any votes on these provisions.

“What’s more important to you: our children or an A-grade from the gun lobby?”

As Congress returns from a recess, some Republicans have pledged to use Senate filibuster tactics to prevent a gun reform bill likely to be placed before lawmakers in the next few weeks from coming to a final vote.

They have said that a package prepared by Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid would infringe the constitutional right to bear arms.

Obama has been delivered increasingly emotive calls for action - surrounded by gun violence victims and police officers to build pressure on Republicans to relent.

The president contrasted the bravery of Nicole Hockley, mother of 6-year-old Dylan who was killed at Sandy Hook, who has become a vocal campaigner for gun control with the behaviour of his political foes in Washington.

“If Nicole can summon the courage to do that - how can the rest of us do any less?” Obama asked the 3,100 strong crowd.

Obama, noting that victims’ families refer to the December 14 killings as “12-14” in the same way those bereaved on September 11, 2001 refer to “911,” said the day of the Sandy Hook massacre was the worst of his presidency.

“I got to tell you, if we don’t respond to this, that’ll be a tough day for me too, because we’ve got to expect more from ourselves and we’ve got to expect more from Congress.

Thatcher funeral set for next week

T

he funeral of Baroness Thatcher will take place on Wednesday, 17 April, Downing Street has announced.

The 87-year-old former prime minister died on Monday, after suffering a series of strokes.

The funeral ceremony, with full military honours, will take place at London's St Paul's Cathedral, following a procession from Westminster.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will attend the service, Buckingham Palace said.

Lady Thatcher will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

A ceremonial funeral is one rung down from a state funeral - normally reserved for monarchs - and requires the consent of the Queen.

A Downing Street spokesman said the details had been agreed at a "co-ordination meeting" between the Thatcher family

…Queen to be in attendance

A sympathiser signing the condolence register. and Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning.

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen will

attend the funeral of Britain's former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher.

The ceremony will be held with full

military honours in London on April 17 - the same level accorded to Princess Diana.

Hugo Chavez's office 'to become museum'

V

enezuela’s acting president Nicolas Maduro says he will turn the office where the late President Hugo Chavez worked into a museum.

Mr Maduro said the room would be kept intact and a wing of the presidential palace turned into a monument to Mr Chavez’s “Bolivarian revolution”.

Mr Chavez died of cancer last month.

Following his death, presidential elections were called for 14 April, pitting Mr Maduro against main opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

Mr Capriles says that despite Mr Maduro’s attempt at portraying himself as Mr

Chavez’s heir, the acting president lacks the late leader’s charisma.

“I’m going to look after it for a few years, but it’ll always be Chavez’s home,” Mr Maduro said referring to the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, where Venezuela’s presidents have their office.

Full of confidence ahead of Sunday’s polls, Mr Maduro said he would “occupy a small office in Miraflores in another wing”, so that Venezuelans could roam the rooms of the presidential palace and “learn how the commander had lived, and what he had eaten”.

Since Mr Chavez died on 5

March, Mr Maduro has cast himself as his natural successor in office.

He has called himself “Chavez’s son” and said that the late president had appeared to him in the form of a little bird.

Speaking last week at the official start of the presidential campaign in the house where Mr Chavez was born, Mr Maduro said a small bird had flown around him three times and looked at him “oddly”, at which point he he had felt in his soul it was a message from Mr Chavez.

“I felt its blessing, telling us: ‘Today the battle begins, go for victory, you have my blessing’,” Mr Maduro said.

Henrique Capriles mocked Mr Maduro saying that he had “not seen a little bird, but swallowed one, the one he has in his head!”

He has also questioned Mr Maduro’s ability to lead the country saying that “whatever the outcome, I don’t see how Nicolas Maduro has the capacity to stay for an extended time in government”.

Mr Capriles has dismissed polls that suggest Mr Maduro has an unassailable lead over him.

“Of course I can win,” he told AFP news agency, “Maduro lacks charisma and leadership”.

Mr Maduro said his rival was “jealous” and promised to beat him by 10 million votes in Sunday’s polls.

French trade unions oppose labour-law changes

T

rade unions have staged protests across France against an overhaul of labour rules expected to be passed by parliament.

The lower house of parliament, where President Francois Hollande’s Socialist government has a slight majority, is expected to pass his measures loosening firing and hiring rules on Tuesday, opening the way for a Senate vote on April 17.

Some trade unions, led by the leftwing CGT and backed by hardleft allies in parliament, are determined to stir up opposition against what they called a “traitorous” bill, with marches in up to 170 towns and cities.

In the Mediterranean city of Marseille, thousands marched on Tuesday bearing banners with the words “No to breaking the labour code”, seen as the most comprehensive labour reforms since World War II. “We won’t let anything past us,” Mireille Chessa, regional CGT chief,

said.

Accusations from the left that Hollande has abandoned socialism could weigh on his already dismal approval ratings, close to 30 percent, and hurt his party’s performance in municipal elections next year.

Left-wingers are already finding some of the president’s economic policies, such as raising sales tax to fund a reduction in company labour costs, hard to swallow.

And he came under fresh fire this week after his former budget

Coalition of trade unions protest on the streets of Paris.

minister admitted he had lied for months about the existence of a secret foreign bank account.

Public opinion on the reforms is divided.

But a survey by pollster BVA in March found that 62 percent of respondents supported passing the bill, making it more popular with the French than Hollande himself.

“The point is ... to make workers aware of the impact this is going to have on their daily lives,” Thierry Lepaon, head of the CGT union, told Canal+ television.

Nationwide protests last month against the labour bill drew 200,000 participants, according to a CGT estimate, a modest turnout explained by the fact that members of the moderate CFDT union did not participate.

France’s two largest unions have been at odds since January when the CFDT, backed by two allies, approved the reforms while the CGT refused.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 35

Man self-injects snake venom to boost up his immunity

S

teve Ludwin, a 42-year-old snake obsessed rocker from California, is one of a just a handful of people who regularly inject venom from the world's deadliest snakes into their bloodstream, in the belief that it will make them immune to it.

Around 100,000 people around the world die from snake bites every year, and another 250,000 are permanently disabled, but these statistics don't seem to scare Steve Ludwin. Every week for the past 23 years he has been injecting a venom cocktail from the world's most dangerous snakes, trying to train his antibodies to resist the poison. By gradually increasing the quantity and frequency of the injections, he believes one day he will become immune not only to snake poison, but other viruses as well.

Steve currently has a collection of 28 potentially deadly reptiles in his home, but he is always on the lookout for new additions, scouring European countries for missing specimens and attending snake conventions.

On injection days, he expertly milks his snakes for a few milligrams of venom and visits an immunologist to have his killer shot. Within minutes, the muscles in his arm quadruple in size for around 24 hours, as his white blood cells struggle to fight off the poison. The doses he can take these days would kill the average person, but Steve usually goes to a rock concert right after the injection.

Steve Ludwell has always been fascinated by snakes. "I admire them for their design and cold-bloodedness. I admire their strength and success as a species, but I can't explain my obsession - I've loved snakes

42-year-old Steve Ludwin since I was born," he told Bizarre Magazine. When he was six year old he had his first painful encounter with a slithering reptile. He spotted a garter snake while waiting for the school bus and instantly grabbed it. The creature turned and bit him on his thumb but Steve wouldn't let go. He walked home down a dirty Connecticut road crying in pain, but still holding a firm grip on his snake.

Two years after this experience, his father took him to the Miami Serpentarium, where he met Dr. Bill Haast, the first Western man to willfully inject snake venom into his body. Haast died in 2011, at the age of 100, but according to some sources he was a "picture of health" even in his final days. Meeting the snake expert fueledLudwin's

obsession with danger, and at age 17 he vowed to follow his example. "I was alone at home, listening to AC/DC, and I suddenly felt as though a lightbulb or an atom had exploded in my brain," he says.

"Something told me I had to inject snake venom. It was a feeling I can't explain."

He didn't jump at the opportunity of injecting venom into his system. He got a job at a lab in Walthamstow, London, and started taking snakes home to experiment with. He started by rubbing snake venom on his skin and then washing it off as soon as he felt the corrosive burn. Even this made his skin swell and turn a different color for several weeks, but he pushed on with his experiments. He started injecting very small

quantities of venom and gradually increasing the dosage. Around ten years ago, the reaction to the poison became less dramatic as his body started getting used to it.

Then, two years ago, he learned he wasn't as immune as he thought. He had milked three of his most dangerous snakes - a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, a Pope's Tree Viper and an Eyelash Viper - and tried to inject a small amount of the venom cocktail into his left arm. At one point, the syringe plunger got stuck, and Steve accidentally pushed the whole thing into his body. "It felt like a shotgun went off in my arm," he recalls.

15 minutes after the accident, his arm had doubled in size, his lips and tongue were swollen and the toxins started

attacking his internal organs.

Convinced he was already strong enough to fight off the poison, Steve decided not to go to the hospital and instead opted to watch David Attenborough's TV series on reptiles, Life In Cold Blood. After a night of indescribable pain, he woke up from his shallow sleep to see his arm had turned black with a sagging sack of fluid at the elbow. He finally decided to give in and rushed to the hospital.

Only they didn't have the antivenom for all three snakes.

Venom expert David Warrell, from Oxford University, told Steve: "You're going to lose your arm, and you're going to die."

After three days in intensive care, Ludwin ripped out his IVs and discharged himself against doctors' orders. He underwent a series of tests to see if his internal organs had been affected by the venom, but results showed he was in tip-top shape.

As crazy as Steve Ludwin's story may seem to most people, he is definitely on to something.

Immunologist Dirk Budka says he was stunned when he noticed his blood destroyed 70-100 per cent of venom bacteria. "He's amazing," Budka says. "His immune system may be strong enough to develop a medicine for the future." Ludwin himself is convinced he is on the right path. "Injecting venom is like your immune system doing the Jane Fonda workout video," he says. "When a cold or any of those swine flu things enter my body, my white blood cells laugh it off." He plans on testing his body against serious threats, like the malaria virus and parasites like the tapeworm, just to see if he can handle them.

Japanese high-tech coat imitates girlfriend hugs

S

tudies have shown that hugs can truly make lonely people feel better, so a group of Japanese students from Tsukuba University have invented a coat designed to imitate the feeling of a girlfriend hugging you from behind.

Hugging is all the rage right now. London has its own cuddling workshop for people in need of a hug and a professional cuddler in New York City will wrap her arms around you for a fee. But these solutions don't work very well if you suddenly find yourself in need of a hug and there's no one around to give it to you.

Luckily, a team of Japanese geeks students have come up with a more practical, if weird, solution - a special hugging coat that emulates the sensation of a girlfriend putting her arms around you from behind. Called the Raiju Coat (Fulfillment Coat), this offbeat invention features motors attached to its back to operate the artificial "arms", which are controlled through a computer using a USB connection. So whenever its owner feels lonely and in need of

a fake girlfriend hug, all he has to do is put it on, close his eyes and imagine a cute anime girl putting her arms around him, as the coat takes hold of his waist.

To make the experience even more realistic, the Raiju Coat comes with a pair of headphones that plays the sound of footsteps running from behind and prerecorded sentences like "I'm sorry, were you waiting?"; "Watch your back!"; "Guess who?"; and "Blind side!" With such advanced hugging technology, who needs a real girlfriend?

Judging by the tongue-incheek tone of the presentation video, it's safe to say the so-called Girlfriend Coat wasn't created for commercial purposes. The guys probably just needed something to make them feel less lonely while working in front of their computers all day and came up with this quirky invention.

Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to ever buy one for yourself, but if you're really desperate for fake affection, you can always try the Kissenger or Hugvie, the huggable robotic pillow-phone.

A student gets a feel of the Girlfriend-coat.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

People who suffer from cold sores could have 'impaired' memory and thinking skills

By Emma Innes

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old sores may increase the risk of impaired memory and thinking skills, new research suggests.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores is one of a number of infectious agents associated with reduced mental ability.

Scientists tested the thinking and memory of 1,625 people from New York City with an average age of 69.

Participants had their blood tested for five common infections - oral and genital herpes, cytomegalovirus, the respiratory form of chlamydia, and the stomach bug Helicobacter pylori.

They found that those with higher levels of infection in the

blood were 25 per cent more likely to deliver low score results in a standard mental function test.

Repeated tests over an average of eight years showed no sign of the effect worsening with time.

The findings appear in the latest issue of the journal Neurology.

Study leader Dr Mira Katan, from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, said: 'We found the link was greater among women, those with lower levels of education and Medicaid or no health insurance, and most prominently, in people who do not exercise.

'While this association needs to be further studied, the results could lead to ways to identify people at risk of cognitive

Exercise and childhood vaccinations against viruses could decrease the risk of memory problems later in life

Cold sores may increase the risk of impaired memory and thinking skills

By Pat Hagan

M

en who drink at least two cups of tea a day could slash their risk of prostate cancer by more than a third, according to new research.

Regular tea drinkers were 37 per cent less likely to develop a tumour than those who drank it less than once a week.

But there was no benefit from coffee, according to scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where the latest study was carried out.

Nearly 40,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK and 10,000 men die from it - the equivalent of more than one an hour.

The risks increase with age, with men over 50 more likely to develop a tumour, and there is a strong genetic element to it.

As with some other types of cancer, diet is thought to be a key factor in the development of the disease.

But there has been conflicting evidence on the role of popular beverages.

Last year, for example, a study at Glasgow University found heavy tea drinkers were more at risk of the disease.

It tracked the health of more than 6,000 male volunteers over a period of 37 years and found those consuming over seven cups a day had a 50 per cent higher risk of prostate cancer than moderate

impairment and eventually lower that risk.

'For example, exercise and childhood vaccinations against viruses could decrease the risk of memory problems later in life.'

This research comes just after another study which suggested that undertaking physical activity four or more times a week from childhood helps improve brainpower in later life by up to a third, and could help stave off the

onset of dementia.

While all adults suffer mental decline with greater age, scientists at King's College London found regular exercise, such as playing sport, jogging, attending the gym or even a brisk walk with the dog, can have a protecting effect on the brain.

More than 9,000 individuals took part in a 40-year study from age of 11. Researchers quizzed them on levels of exercise at

regular age intervals, and participants also undertook tests of memory, attention and learning.

The study found participants who exercised weekly throughout their life performed better on tests of memory, learning, attention and reasoning at the age of 50, compared to those who exercised two to three times per month or less.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Two teas a day reduces prostate cancer risk 'by a third' Regular tea drinkers were 37 per cent less likely to develop a tumour than those who drank it less than once a week

and non tea drinkers.

But the researchers stressed they could not be sure if tea really was a risk factor, or if drinkers lived

to ages where cancer was more common.

In the latest study, the Maastricht University team

compared 892 men diagnosed with prostate cancer with a similar number who were in good health, studying their dietary and

drinking habits.

The study was carried out on a population of men in the US, where coffee is much more popular.

Only one in five volunteers drank at least one tea a day, compared with nearly 60 per cent when it came to coffee.

But the results, published in the journal Cancer Causes Control, showed two or more teas a day appeared to have a powerful anticancer effect, while coffee had none.

The study did not examine how tea might help to prevent prostate tumours but previous investigations have found it contains disease-fighting chemicals, called polyphenols, that may protect vital tissues and organs against an invasion of cancerous cells.

A 2010 study discovered women drinking just one cup of tea a day were ten per cent less likely to suffer ovarian cancer.

In a report on the latest findings researchers said: 'This is further evidence that tea consumption may be a modifiable exposure that reduces the risk of prostate cancer.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 37

Amaechi has revolutionalised Rivers, says Tukur

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday eulogized the Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for having revolutionized his state.

Tukur while commenting on the recent award conferred on the Rivers state governor and Chairman of the National Governors' Forum (NGF) said he was persuaded on his performance when he personally visited the state. The PDP National Chairman said Amaechi deserved the honour.

Tukur in a statement he

personally signed said the Award just bagged by Amaechi was not a fluke, the governor, having earlier been appreciated by reputable media organisations such as Thisday Newspapers, Independent Newspapers, The Leadership and others.

He said, "I call Amaechi my son and he has been acting as my son, so I am proud of the Award given to him by the Management of the Vanguard Newspapers.

He deserves the Award because I had personally verified most of the achievements credited to him.

When you enter Port Harcourt, Amaechi's hands are quite visible.

"My son had revolutionised Education and health delivery

services in River State. He has been turning around the entire state with Urban Renewal Projects. I don't get to know that workers in Rivers State were picking quarrels with him while he has been level headed, focused, hard working and always very eager to make the difference.

"I use this medium to congratulate Amaechi who I very well know would be spurred to do more by this Award as a leader and as a faithful PDP Ambassador. I also congratulate other PDP governors who had won similar Awards in the past since they have been making us proud at the National Headquarters".

"For me, I preferred that we use evidence of performances by our governors, ministers and other public office holders in form of the Award Just bagged by Amaechi as a tool for engaging and silencing the opposition who continue to grope in the gross illusion of edging the PDP out of power in 2015.

The National Chairman, however urged all PDP governors and other public office holders on its platform to double their strength in delivering the dividends of democracy to the ordinary Nigerians, noting that integrity and performance, more than anything, would be the yardstick for determining who would get the ticket of the party for elective offices in 2015.

L-R: Rivers state Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, congratulating the chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr Augustine Ahiamadu, during his swearing-in, on Monday in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

NPP woos prospective members for registration From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

U

nited Progressive Party (UPP) in Bauchi state has called on the people to register with it as the party is open to everyone irrespective of irrespective of their religion, ethnic, group, gender, social and economic status.

A statement signed by the party chairman in Bauchi, Malam Musa Mato further called on eligible members to join the salvation train of the UPP for political change and development in Bauchi state.

According to the statement, UPP in Bauchi is committed to the creation of job opportunities for indigenes especially the youth and women, whom, it noted, are now left roaming the streets after graduation from schools.

"The party will also map out programmes designed to alleviate poverty which is now the doorstep of every home in Bauchi state", Mato assured. He explained that the UPP will also lay more emphasis on health, education, and the agricultural sectors against their deteriorating state and the government's lukewarm attitude towards these sectors.

Mato further stated that UPP will leave no stone unturned in its bid to parade credible candidates for elective offices towards establishing a sound and caring government for the people. The structure of the party, he further stated, is waxing stronger in its preparations to actively partake in the 2015 general elections at all levels in the state, adding that the UPP will ensure reforms in the political, economic, judicial and social sectors in the society.

Kano governor assures non-indigenes of adequate security

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ov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State has assured non- indigenes resident in the state of adequate security of their lives and property.

Kwankwaso gave the assurance when the PresidentGeneral of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Gary Nnachi, paid him a courtesy call in Kano yesterday.

The state Commissioner for State Affairs, Alhaji Aminu Abdussalam, received the Igbo leader on behalf of the governor.

He said the state government would continue to accord priority to security to ensure economic growth and development of the state.

The governor, who described the recent suicide attack at the

Sabon Gari luxury Bus Park as “unfortunate and highly condemnable”, said the attack was not targeted at a particular ethnic group.

He, however, advised Igbo leaders against unguarded utterance as such would not augur

well for the state and the country.

“We should always be security conscious and vigilant in our actions as any little mistake will not augur well for the country,’’ he said.

Earlier, Nnachi said the association was in support of

moves by the Federal Government to ensure lasting peace in the country.

“We want peace not only in Kano but all over the entire country,’’ Nnachi said.

The president-general was accompanied by the Chairman,

Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma and other Igbo traditional rulers from across the country.

They had earlier visited the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, and the scene of the blast on New Road, Sabon Gari. (NAN)

Kwara Assembly rejects committee report on bill

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he Kwara House of Assembly in Ilorin yesterday rejected the report of its Committee on Lands and Housing on the third reading and passage of the Urban and Regional Bill.

The Speaker, Mr Rasaq Atunwa, announced the rejection of the report after the House had

deliberated on it.

The Committee Chairman, Dr Felicia Ojeleye, had presented the report and urged the house to consider it to enable the bill to pass third reading.

Some lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, described the bill as unnecessary, defective and as such should be rejected.

They noted that the proposed law would duplicate jobs carried out by the Town Planning Development Authority.

The lawmakers urged the house to reject the report because the proposed law could not stand the test of time.

However, the speaker later directed the committee to work on

the presentation of a fresh report on the bill with a view to taking care of several ambiguities on the report.

Atunwa did not give a specific date when the committee report on the bill would be re-presented.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill has been in the house since June 2012.

(NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Gulak denies tax evasion, off-shore account

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

Delegates from Nnewi South Local Government Area voting during Anambra Congress of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), recently in Awka.

Photo: NAN

Fasehun's threat of violence confirms our worst fears – ACN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described as worrisome and revealing the 'fire-for-fire' threat issued by Dr. Frederick Fasehun, in response to an earlier outcry by the party over attempts to destabilize the country, especially the South West, as part of an overall plan to plunge the nation into crisis and scuttle the 2015 elections.

The party in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Dr. Fasehun's blatant threat of violence and his resort to personal attacks, in response to a statement that neither threatened violence nor attacked personality, has

confirmed that the party was indeed right to have raised the alarm in the first instance.

But it said no amount of overt or covert threat or uncouth verbal attacks against its leaders will force the party to stop its continuing efforts to alert the nation to the do-or-die antics of those at the helm of affairs in the country. ''Dr. Fasehun's statement has confirmed our worst fears.

We never imagined we will be proven right so fast. First, he threatened to unleash violence on those whose offence, as it were, was alerting the country to the evil machinations of those who are scheming to destabilize the country to achieve their selfish ends. ''Secondly, the verbal

punches he threw at ACN leaders in general and the party's spokesman in particular, and his undisguised threat of violence against a party that has never resorted to violence for whatever reason, opened a window deep into his mind, to his unbridled hatred for the party and all it stands for and to the fact that he is indeed a willing tool to be used. ''It never occurred to Dr. Fasehun that Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the legend whose party he (Fasehun) is now seeking to revive in a gratuitous and selfserving act, never believed in violence and never lent himself to be used against his own people, no matter what juicy carrot was dangled before him.

Thirdly, when his response to

the pipeline contract issue is stripped of all semantics, he simply owned up to our accusation that the pipeline protection contract award is closely linked to the attempt to revive the UPN and, when viewed against his threats, showed that indeed, those who want to plunge the South West into crisis have found a willing tool to be used. ''Suffice it to say that clearly written in the statement we read out at our press conference is that freedom of association is guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

However, that freedom should not be abused by those seeking to exploit it for the sole purpose of attacking democracy itself,'' ACN warned.

Ali advocates formidable opposition for good governance in FCT

A

lhaji Sidi Ali, a former Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called for formidable opposition to enhance good governance in the FCT. Ali who made the call on Monday at Gwagwalada in the FCT commended steps taken by opposition parties in the country to merge and form a stronger opposition.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that

administering the FCT without credible opposition to ask questions where necessary was not in the interest of democracy and the territory’ residents.

“Looking at successive ministers appointed for the FCT over time, I cannot remember at any time where there is strong opposition to checkmate the administration of the territory.

“In either this minister or past ones, I have not seen strong opposition that has raised

questions on how finances of the territory were being expended,” Ali said.

He called on Area Council Chairmen and other political office-holders, particularly those from opposition parties, to ensure that questions were asked where necessary to enhance accountability and good governance in FCT. “As far as I am concerned, the merger of opposition parties in the political arena of the country is a welcome

development, not for just the political parties but for the entire country.

“This is because governance without credible opposition is always weak, slow and associated with all sorts of vices since there is always no room for checks and balances.

“I look at the coming together of these parties to form a formidable opposition as a good check for whichever party that is in government,” the former senator added.(NAN)

he Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, has denied reports alleging that he has been evading payment of tax and ownership of offshore bank accounts.

This is in response to the insinuation that the Presidential aide has links with Erojim Group of Companies, and has been acting as Legal Adviser to the firm that dealt in supply of fast boats, radial systems, naval communication equipment and military hardware to the Federal Government, as well as ownership of a secret Shell company in the British Virgin Islands.

Gulak said in a statement signed by his Head, Media/ Public Affairs, Chief Perry Opara, that the story is false and intended to mislead the public and disparage his image.

“The story is unequivocally false and intended to mislead the public and disparage the image and person of Alhaji (Barr) Ahmed Ali Gulak and by extension the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.

Opara emphasized that the fact that the authors of the script in their last paragraph exonerated Gulak of any complicity as they could not ascertain the veracity of the claim, is a pointer to the fact that the story is a figment of their deadly imagination that the story should be laid to rest in the dustbin.

“For the records, Alhaji (Barr) Ahmed Ali Gulak has no business dealing with any of the persons mentioned in the fabrication, nor has he any links with Erojim or any other company in the British Virgin Islands. Alhaji (Barr) Ahmed Ali Gulak has not travelled to British Virgin Islands before.

“Alhaji (Barr) Ahmed Ali Gulak is a lawyer for almost 30 years and became Speaker of Adamawa House of Assembly, Special Adviser to the Vice President and now Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs. At no time has he been found wanting in the discharge of his duties or misappropriation of funds.

Our error We inadvertently published a headline “Gulak denies tax evasion, off-shore account” with the wrong story on this page yesterday. The error is regreted and the correct version is hereby republished.

– Editor

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Oshiomhole insists elected LG officials must account for resources at their disposal

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that elected local government officials must henceforth complement the state government’s effort towards developing the entire state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oshiomhole made the assertion on Monday at a campaign rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said it would no longer be business as usual when local governments were seen as drain pipes, and assured the people that the council chairmen would be accountable to the people for their actions.

Oshiomhole said: “The local government must be doing something. I want a local government that would use our resources to build schools.

“Whenever the state and the local governments are building schools, sooner or later, all the schools would be of the same standard.

“We have a lot of jobs we are going to do in the local governments.

“Do not say we have already won. No, we couldn’t have won when the elections have not taken place. You must vote and those votes must be counted.

“It is important that we do not allow the People Democratic Party (PDP) to resurrect. For all the sins of the PDP, Edo people have dismissed the party and buried it.”

Oshiomhole appealed to those who did not win during the party’s primaries to understand that in every contest, only one person would win.

“The others who lost, it is not necessarily because he is bad, but two people cannot win one game.

“In this business, only one person wins an office, but the man who did not win today, if it is God’s will, next time he could win.

“You don’t say because you did not win, you are going to destroy the house.

“If you say you are going to destroy the house, it means, you did not deserve in the first instance to contest for the office.”

Oshiomhole stressed the need for the voters to be steadfast saying ”let the people understand that their vote matters”.

NAN reports that the Edo Local Government Council Election has been fixed for April 20, 2013. (NAN)

PAGE 39

No rivalry between NWC, BoT, says PDP

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared that there is no rivalry between the leadership of its National Working Committee (NWC) and that of the Board of Trustees.

The party in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in apparent reaction to a call by a group called 'Forum for Equity and Justice' urging the BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, not to interfere in the administration of the party,

clarified that there was no rift between the party's National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Anenih.

The party which referred to the group as faceless stated "We are aware that this group of meddlesome interlopers and political jobbers with no fixed address has been commissioned to stir up controversies and to portray the BoT as working at cross purposes with the NWC. For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC and the BoT are united and committed to providing the necessary political direction for the party.

"The leadership of the party reiterates that the Chief Tony

Anenih led-BoT has in no way usurped the functions of the NWC. His reconciliatory visits complement the reconciliation and consolidation tours embarked by the NWC and they have been yielding desired results.

"The NWC is solidly behind the activities of the BoT in further uniting the party which is central and cardinal for the party ahead of 2015.

"Anenih, as one of the founding fathers of our great party, has always been in the political mainstream and commands the respect of all PDP leaders and elders.

He has proven to be highly effective in handling party issues

and has been acclaimed as one of the greatest political minds the nation has ever produced.

"In fact, nothing has been more beneficial to the PDP than the election of Anenih as the BoT Chairman and the NWC is committed to giving him all the support he needs to achieve his mandate. The Board of Trustees is made up of men and women of high integrity who are the conscience of the Party. Most of them are experienced Statesmen and women who played key roles in the formation of the Party. The Party therefore stands to benefit a great deal from their wise counsel at this critical moment." PDP maintained.

Lawmaker urges FG to merge agencies

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L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Hon. Ishaka Mohammed Bawa, and Vice-Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Hon. Samson Osagie, during the press conference on PIB, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ekiti Govt will immortalise late deputy governor, says ACN chairman

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) controlled Ekiti government will name an important structure after the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, who died on Saturday, April 6.

Chief Jide Awe, the Chairman of the state chapter of the party, made the remark while briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on “The Stand of ACN on the late deputy governor’s death”.

Awe described late Olayinka as a strong pillar of support for the party and government.

He said Olayinka had already immortalised herself by raising the standard of politics in the state to an enviable height.

“There will be one or more monuments that will be named after late Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka by the Ekiti State

Government for her numerous contributions and supports to politics.”

Awe debunked the rumour making the rounds that the deputy governor’s death was spiritual, saying that she died of cancer.

When asked to comment on the nature of Olayinka’s death, Awe said, “for us in the ACN, we all know, she battled with cancer but could not survive it.”

He described her death as a “big blow to Ekiti ACN and Nigeria as a whole, adding “this is indeed a sad moment in the history of Ekiti’’.

“We want to tell you that we will miss her for a very long time to come,” the party chairman said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs,

has described Olayinka’s death as “devastating”.

In a statement, the lawmaker expressed shock and disbelief over the sudden death of the deputy governor.

“Her death is very devastating and sad. In fact, I am short of words,’’ she said.

The lawmaker said the late deputy governor was a loyal and hardworking deputy to her governor as well as to the people of Ekiti.

She said Olayinka’s death at a time the state was witnessing tremendous growth and development was very sad.

Dabiri-Erewa said the late deputy governor would be remembered for her humility and reservation as well as emancipation of women.

“I condole with her husband, family, government and people of Ekiti over her demise,’’ she prayed. (NAN)

ep Gogo Tamuno, (PDPRivers) has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the merger of agencies with similar objectives and functions, to check duplication of duties.

Tamuno told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the merger could still be possible without affecting their workforce.

"On the part of employment, you can still merge them and still have the same number of employees," Tamuno said.

He commended government for embarking on the measure as it would enable it to cut down the cost of governance. ``It will help the government to reduce the number of directors-general. The bulk of government expenditure is at the top cadre. ``Cutting down on the number of the top management cadre means cutting down on governance,`` Tamuno said.

He said such finances could rather be channelled into capital projects that would benefit the masses.

The legislator, however, said he was working on a bill to institute a body, Coastal Management Agency, to effectively manage the affairs of the coastal region.

"The bill has passed the first reading, we are looking at the second reading, and it's coming up with a body that would take care of all the coastal areas.

"We have several agencies managing the coastal areas but at the end of the day, we are not feeling the impact because their duties were not co-ordinated," Tamuno said.

The lawmaker explained that he was prompted to sponsor the bill due to the non-performance of the agencies in the management of the coastal region.(NAN)

PAGE 40

Fashola names housing estate after Anyaoku

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday inaugurated a housing estate in Ikeja, and named after Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral .

Inaugurating the estate, which comprises 76 units of four bedroom apartments, Fashola said his decision to name it after Anyaoku was in recognition of the diplomat`s commitment to public service and nation building.

"After we completed the project, a new challenge arose and it was whom the Estate should be named after. And I think that events made that decision very easy. ``We resolved that if we had to dedicate any public service building after anyone, whether living or dead, it should be those who have contributed to the development of our nation, especially Lagos State.

"So, we simply, in this case, decided to honour someone who has contributed immensely to public service in the country and has played a role in the birth of a very modest democracy. `` It was for me, therefore, not difficult to single out Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday," he said.

Fashola said that the site on which the estate was sitting used to be a refuse dump, adding that the state government would continue to seek creative ways to improve access to qualitative housing.

Responding, Anyaoku said he was humbled by the honour done to him by the state government.

According to him, the naming of the estate after him was yet another milestone in his sojourn in the state.

He said, "My connection with Lagos is deep and long standing. I started my career in Lagos and I have been married for over 50 years to a native of Lagos. ``This is a great honour to my family across the Niger and also in this part of the country. Thank you Lagos".

The former envoy commended the state government's investment in the housing sector, saying it would go a long way to solve the housing deficiency in the country.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosun Jeje, said that the project was another demonstration of the state's commitment to the provision of housing.

He added that the government would continue to intensify effort at boosting housing delivery in the state (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PDP chieftain urges NASS to address poverty T

he PDP Women Leader, Sokoto South Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Hajiya Luba Hassan, has urged members of the National Assembly to fashion out good economic policies for the country.

Hassan said that Nigeria required economic policies that would address poverty and unemployment, to tackle the

current security challenges in the country.

The woman leader told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Sokoto yesterday that poverty had posed a threat to the corporate existence of the country.

According to her, Nigerians are in dire need of practical policies and programmes that

will create employment for the unemployed.

Hassan also called on the government at all levels to evolve concrete solution through job creation for teeming unemployed Nigerians.

She explained that the time had come for the Federal Government to be proactive in the on going reforms, especially

in the power sector.

According to her, ``once we can boast of having uninterrupted power supply, half of the nation's problems will be solved''.

"Our economy will be in perfect order if constant power supply is made available for our companies to operate," she said.

(NAN)

L-R: Benue state Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswan, presenting 65th birthday card to senate president David Mark, recently in Otukpo, Benue state.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Jigawa D/Speaker wants positive contributions from electorate

D

eputy Speaker, Jigawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Sule Udi, yesterday called for positive contribution from the electorate to enhance legislative administration in the country.

Udi made the call at the inauguration of a constituency office donated by assemblyman

Adamu Shuaibu (PDP-Dutse) in Dutse.

He also called on the electorate to take advantage of the offices established by lawmakers in various constituencies to channel their contributions, suggestions and grievances to the house.

He said such contributions were imperative to allow for

sound legislation for the good of the people.

"The offices are here for you and it is easier for you to reach your representatives through the offices.

"It is good to take advantage of the facilities because it will enable us to serve you better," he said.

The deputy speaker

reiterated the resolve of the house to provide legislation, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Shuaibu said the office was set up to bring the electorate, especially the most vulnerable ones, closer to the legislature.

He said that two workers to effectively man the office.

(NAN)

Mimiko urges judiciary on quick dispensation of justice

G

ov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday in Akure enjoined the judiciary to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, to restore the hope of the masses.

Mimiko made the appeal during the opening of a threeday stakeholders’ workshop organised by the state judiciary.

The theme of the workshop is: “Towards a better understanding and appreciation

of the High Court (civil procedure) Rules 2012”.

The governor expressed concern over the delay in dispensation of cases in the country, adding that the workshop would reverse the situation in the state.

According to Mimiko, the procedure, which is affidavit evidence based, will avert lengthy cross examination of witnesses as they will now rely

only on adoption of his affidavit.

“With this, many of the civil cases in our various high courts will now be quickly dispensed with.

“I understand this procedure is affidavit evidence based, unlike before when a witness would be kept in the witness box for a lengthy cross examination.

“What the witnesses need do now is to adopt his affidavit,” he

said.

Earlier, in an opening remark, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, said that the new rule was promulgated into law in December 2012, to replace the former rule.

Kumuyi said the workshop would enable the operators of the new rules to exchange ideas and deliberate on how to strengthen the rule. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PAGE 41

Irabor dismisses club owners threat, insists on revival, repackaging of NPFL

By Patrick Andrew

I

rked by the recent alleged campaign of calumny by some members of the Club Owners Association against the League Management Committee (LMC), Nduka Irabor, the Chairman of the committee, has insisted that the Nigeria Premier League is in dire need of revival and repackaging.

Irabor, who debunked the allegation that the LMC which had been registered by the Interim Management Committee as part of the processes of professionalising the operation of the league in the country, was not an illegal body as claimed by the club owners association.

He admitted that the IMC had

been set up by the Nigeria Football Federation to supervise the 2012/2013 league season as well as conduct elections into the board of the NPL, but asserted that the lack of `titled sponsor' was part of the challenges facing the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Accordingly, he said this had compelled the IMC to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as part of the rebranding processes to give fresh breathe to the entity and thus attract sponsorship.

Speaking at an interactive session with the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Irabor said that the problem of broadcast rights between Total Promotions and Globacom

Telecommunications required to be addressed for the competition to move forward.

Irabor said the 2012/2013 league, which would end sometimes in September, required proper packaging and this needed individuals that were qualified to serve, and thus dismissed allegation that they unduly arrogated shares meant for the clubs to themselves. “The LMC is appointed by the NPFL to oversee the progress of the domestic football league in Nigeria.

Part of challenges is to keep the league regardless of a title sponsor.

"We have two cheques as at now from Globacom but we need them to understudy what we have presented as our format for the league. Total promotions also want contractual agreements but things

have to be done in the right other,'' he said.

According to him, there are existing laws guiding our football clubs, players and youth teams but the clubs have not adhered to it. “By our contractual arrangements, our league should worth N300 million for any club to be part of it. This is what will aid a good football league where our players will receive the necessary worth of their jobs,'' he added.

Only last Sunday, some members of the club owners had alleged that the LMC is an illegal entity set up without their consent and had given the LMC ultimatum to revert to IMC and focus on its terms of reference or risks legal action.

CAN U-17: Eaglets depart today, face MRI test Friday

T

he Golden Eaglets will depart Lagos this morning for the 10th CAF African U-17 Championship and will be subjected to the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test ahead of the tournament, which begins on Saturday, in Morocco.

The team, which returned from a four-week, final training programme at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Qatar on Sunday, will fly into Casablanca aboard a Royal Air Maroc airplane and then move to Marrakech, venue of their Group B matches.

Nigeria, three-time world champions, last participated at the African U-17 finals in Togo in 2007, which they won, and then followed up with triumph at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Korea Republic.

Tournament organizers will take over responsibility for the Nigeria squad once they land in Casablanca today, while on Friday, the Confederation of African Football will conduct the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination on all the participating teams.

The competition opens on Saturday afternoon with host Morocco taking on Gabon at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, with Tunisia to take the pitch against debutants Botswana immediately after.

Nigeria and Ghana, with Africa's most illustrious record in international youth football, will clash in the most anticipated match of the group phase in Marrakech on Sunday evening, after Cote d'Ivoire and CongoBrazzaville would have done battle at the same venue.

The Eaglets also play Cote d'Ivoire on April 17 and CongoBrazzaville on April 20 in the

40 FCT teams battle for bonours in Federation Cup

By Albert Akota

N

o fewer than 40 teams drawn from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday began quest for a sip from the Federation Cup. Already, three teams have been eliminated from the tournament which is expected to produce the two finalists that would represent the FCT in the national fiesta.

In one of the games decided yesterday at Old Parade Ground, Area 10 Abuja, FC 24 edged Basic Maracana 2-0, to progress to the next stage of the competition.

Striker John Oko opened the score sheet for his side in 63 minutes of the second half, while Stanley Oboh compounded their opponent's woes in the 81st minutes when he struck to seal his side's victory.

At the end, Abuja United soared higher than Young Planners with 4-2, while Hot Shooters and Optimum Performer ended 4-2 on penalties.

Nigeria male team berths in semi-finals at Africa Handball Challenge tourney

T

Golden Eaglets before one of their qualifying matches at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar (CAN-17)

NSC releases guidelines for federations' elections

T

he National Sports Commission (NSC) has released the schedule for elections into the boards of the 27 sporting federations that have not been concessioned.

A release in Abuja signed by Julius Ogunro, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday said that the zonal elections would hold in April and the national elections in May. The release said the collection of nomination forms would hold

from April 10 to April 15 and advised all interested aspirants to collect their forms and submit them to the national offices of their federations from April 16 to April 17. ``The screening of aspirants and the announcement of preliminaries list of qualified candidate will hold on April 19.

Petitions and appeals arising from screening by aggrieved aspirants will hold between April 20 and April 24 in Abuja,'' the statement said.

It said that the zonal elections

would hold on April 30 at the headquarters of the six geopolitical zones of the NSC Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi.

The statement added that the elections for the positions of president and vice- president of the various sports federations would hold in Abuja on May 14.

It said that the swearing-in of all elected officers would hold on May 17 after all appeals or petitions arising from the elections would have been treated.

he national U-20 male handball team yesterday trashed Uganda 55-16 to progress to the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Handball Challenge Trophy in Djibouti.

Musa Hamza, Technical Director, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), who disclosed in Lagos, applauded the team's brilliant performance and looks forward to a berth in the final.

Hamza said that the team had defeated the hosts, Djbouti 45-18 and drew 30-30 with Senegal at the preliminaries of the championships. ``I am particularly glad with the performance; the margin is clear evidence that we did not leave Nigeria for show, but to make the country proud. ``We have started well, the spectators are also thrilled by the skills displayed by our young players, who are participating in the competition for the first time,'' he said on telephone.

Hamza also urged Nigerians and netball enthusiasts to pray for the national teams, as they progress to the knockout stages of the competition holding from April 7 to April 11.

According to him, the national teams qualified to represent Africa Zone III in the competition at the first phase of the tournament in Accra, Ghana in 2012. The female team later played their last group match last night.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Peoples Daily CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE EAGLE CHRISTIANS ASSEMBLY REVIVAL WOLDWIDE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSEMBLY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. RT. REV. DR. ALEXUS AKINUKWAEGBU GENERAL OVERSEER 2. REV (MRS) CAROLINE AKINUKWAEGBU ASST. GENERAL OVERSEER 3. PASTOR KAYODE AKINLEYE TREASURY AND FINANCE OFFICER 4. PASTOR MARCUS AGARAH GENERAL SECRETARY 5. DEACONESS MARTHA AKINLEYE ASST. GENERAL SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST BY ALL MEANS POSSIBLE AND TO UNDERTAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, YOUTHS AND ADULTS 2. TO CARRY OUT ALL CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES AND HOLY SACRAMENTS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND EXEMPLIFIED BY THE PATRIARCHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND REVIVAL SERVICES FOR THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BARR. EMMANUEL O. IHEKE; 08100979725, 08023751417

PUBLIC NOTICE THE BRAINTEASERS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OHANKA RAYMOND CHIJIOKE 2. NJOKU JANEAUSTINE CHIBUZO 3. ANYANWU OKECHUKWU ANTHONY 4. ANYANWU JUSTINA NKWCHI 5. ANYANWU FRANCIS UCHENNA 6. ANIGBOGU VINCENT CHINEDUM 7. IGBINIJESU PHILIP EDOGBOR OSA SUYI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO IMPROVE THE MORAL STRENGTH OF WOMEN AND YOUTH THROUGH MENTORSHIP TRAINING. 2. TO STRENGTHEN THE CULTURAL MIND SET OF THE POPULACE TO PROMOTE HONESTY, HANDWORK, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. 3. TO PROMOTE THE VALUE RE-ORIENTATION AND MINDSET OF YOUTHS THROUGH SYSTEMIC TRAINING AND SEMINARS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED SECRETARY

Squash federation gears up for 2nd Mark's National O pen tourneyThe Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) said in Lagos on Monday that it had commenced preparation for the 2nd Senator David Mark's National Open Squash Championships in Abuja.

The competition is scheduled to hold from April 21 to April 25 at the Squash Hall, Package B of the Abuja National

HAUWA SUNTAI FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OHANKA RAYMOND CHIJIOKE 2. NJOKU JANEAUSTINE CHIBUZO 3. ANYANWU OKECHUKWU ANTHONY 4. ANYANWU JUSTINA NKWCHI 5. ANYANWU FRANCIS UCHENNA 6. ANIGBOGU VINCENT CHINEDUM 7. IGBINIJESU PHILIP EDOGBOR OSA SUYI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. HAUWA SUNTAI 2. AGBU KEFAS 3. MARAFA BASHIR 4. DAMIAN DOD (SAN) 5. ALI SANI KONA 6. LAMI ADAMA LAU ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED

IS E C P LE A S SA S R I TH FO

``Mark is part of the squash family and these championships are a confirmation that we are on course, we are looking for more corporate organisations to partner with us. ``We are hoping that this year's competition will be better than the previous ones,'' the president said the tournament is being held

TEAP FC name foreign technical adviser

By Albert Akota The Nigeria National League (NNL) side TEAP FC has appointed Coach Hassan Egilmez as the new Technical Director of the club.

The Turkish is a UEFA Pro Licensed who based in Germany.

The Abuja-based club has also ratified the appointment of its former coach; Donald MalomoParis who is also a UEFA sanctioned coach as the new head of the team.

Coach Malomo was with the club before it gained promotion into division one of the NNL last year but left the club at the end of the season.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Club, Mr Achebe Okoro, who confirmed this in Abuja, said the appointment takes immediately effect and added that the technical adviser would resume duty in two weeks' after his unveiling.

He said that the club would sustain its drive for

promotion, adding that it would soon engage more experienced players to fortify the team.

"I want to assure our fans that the club will remain focused and determined in its vision targeted at using sports as a means of transforming young people irrespective of social standing, religion or tribe, "he said.

Further, Okoro said that the club is considering of establishing football academy for another set of younger talented in the round leather game.

NBBF/DSTV SuperSports inspects jump-ball venue in Lagos

By Albert Akota

PUBLIC NOTICE

Stadium.

The President of the federation, Femi Ajagbe, confirmed that the championships were part of the federation's d e v e l o p m e n t a l programme for the year. ``This championships will help to keep our players busy. It is part of our programme to ensure that both the junior and senior players remain fit.

A combined team of inspectors consisting of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and DSTV/Super Sport officials yesterday undertook a final assessment of the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The five-man team was led by Agboola Pinheiro and Segun Ikuesan of the NBBF and DSTV/Super Sport, respectively.

During the inspection, the team did a test-run of the lighting system, the score boards and made c o n t i n g e n c y arrangements for their repairs.

The state of the playing surface (floor) and dressing rooms, as well as

toilets, were also assessed and recommendations made for their repairs.

The basketball rims and the two stands that had suffered some wear and tear were also slated for repairs.

Pinheiro stressed that the facility needed to be put in shape before the commencement of the new season. ``There are necessary repairs needed to be made, it is ideal our league is played in a conducive environment; hence the ongoing inspection,'' he said.

Pinheiro also said that the home venues of the two new teams in the League, Plateau Peaks and Oluyole Warriors, have also been inspected and

certified fit for matches. ``The home venues of the two new teams have also been inspected; they have been cleared for matches to be played. ``It is expected that teams from the two Conferences will nominate a representative each to join other members of the League Board, which is being reconstituted. ``The 2012/2013 season fixtures will reflect the new commencement date and observations from the teams will be released soon, to usher in the new season in Lagos,'' Pinheiro added.

The former Chairman of the Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBA) also said that representatives

to commemorate Marks 65th birthday.

Wale Amoo of Lagos State won the men's category of the maiden edition, while, Dunni Okikiola, also of Lagos State won the women's category.

Armstrong's teammate avoids doping sanctions

S

teffen Kjaersgaard, a team-mate of Lance Armstrong's at US Postal from 2000-2003, will not face sanctions, in spite of admitting to the usage of performanceenhancing drugs, Norwegian anti-doping authorities said yesterday.

The Norwegian admitted doping between 1998 and 2003 last October; one day after the International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed it would not appeal against the stripping of Armstrong's seven Tour de France titles.

However, Anti-Doping Norway said in a statement that an eightyear statute of limitations applied to Kjaersgaard's doping offences and as the last transgression took place in 2003, he would not face any further action. ``The decision was not difficult," Anti-Doping Norway disciplinary committee chief Anstein Gjendgedal told the Verdens Gang n e w s p a p e r . ``Everything that happened prior to 2005 is obsolete."

The 39-year-old renowned time-trialist retired from professional cycling in 2003 with Anti-Doping Norway saying they felt there was no reason to believe he had offended after quitting the sport.

Afrobasket: FIBB president expresses confidence in Cote d’Ivoire team

T

he President, B a s k e t b a l l Federation of Cote d’Ivoire (FIBB), Aboubakiri Toure, has expressed confidence that the national team, Elephants, will put-up a spectacular appearance at the 2013 African Nations Basketball Championship.

Toure said yesterday in Abidjan that the team was ready to make the country and its supporters proud at the annual competition, tagged

“Afrobasket’’.

Cote d’Ivoire will host the 27th edition of the tournament which will take place in Abidjan between Aug. 20 and Aug. 31.

According to him, the government has promised to provide the needed support to ensure adequate preparation and good performance at the event.

“I have confidence that the team will perform well; we are already

working hard to ensure a good outing,’’ he said.

Toure said the Elephants would play several friendly matches with basketball teams in Europe, as part of preparation for the ‘Afrobasket 2013’.

“Here in Africa, the Elephants will early in August, play with Cape Verde, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Morocco. The matches will mark the end of our preparation,’’ he said.

In the fixtures released

by the organising committee, Nigeria will face Cameroun, Congo and Mali in Group D. Already, Nigeria have made 24 appearances in the championship since its inception in 1965.

Similarly, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, and Senegal are in Group A; Tunisia, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Morocco in Group B, while Angola, Central African Republic, Mozambique and Cape Verde are in Group C.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Groom fresh talents for 2016 Olympic now, Gora urges AFN

Divine Ejowvokoghene Oduduru (No 283) won the 200m on the final day of the inaugural Africa Youth Athletics Championships. He had earlier won the 100m (lead)

A

former sports administrator, Elias Gora, has urged the National Sports Commission

(NSC) to groom the newlydiscovered athletes by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the Rio 2016

Olympic Games, in Brazil.

Gora, who is a former NOC scribe, any further delaying in grooming the new athletes

discovered so far at various competitions would be detrimental to Nigeria as she may not have the right quality of athletes to compete at the Games in Rio. Also, he said there was serious need for the federation to steamroll its programmes and ensure that aging athletes were replaced well before the Games and particularly mentioned athletes discovered at the 3rd D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships in Lagos, who represented the country at the maiden Africa Youth Championships (AYAC) in Warri, Delta, as having the protentials to fit in.

Nigeria won the competition in which 34 African countries participated with 13 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals.

Gora said that the NSC needed to forge a stronger relationship with the AFN in the latter's quest to discover and nurture new talents to replace the ageing athletes.

Gora, who was Chef de Mission at the 2011 New Delhi Commonwealth Games in India, said that if the commission showed more support to AFN, Nigeria might do well in subsequent international competitions.

“If the commission will work and support the federation, I think in the next three to four years, Nigeria will have hope in the 2016 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

“But if such advantages are not taken, then I'm afraid that we will be back to square one, if not worse. This is because virtually all our elite athletes are either banned or aged and are on their way out. The younger ones we are discovering are our hope and I hope they will be sustained,'' Gora said.

He said that the AFN was beginning to wake up to its responsibilities and should sustain the talents discovered at the AYAC with intensive training, to mould them.

In the events we have won and even the ones we did not win, we should endeavour to nurture them. They need role models to inspire them; we have done this before and it worked, we can do it again.

“The NSC needs to show more moral and financial support to AFN and I thank the Delta Government for bankrolling the just-concluded championships in Warri,'' he added.

Captain renews call Coach urges support for Kareem's on NSC, NOC to C'wealth title defence revive shooting

T

unde Akintimehin, the Captain, Lagos State Shooting Association (LSSA), has renewed the call on both the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), to revive the game of shooting from its present degenerate state.

According to Akintimehin, unless this call is heeded the game may be ruined and thus deny Nigeria the chance of fielding athletes to compete for honours at the 2016 Rio-deJaneiro Olympics in Brazil.

He regrteed that the continued neglect of the game in spite of the potentials for medals at major regional, continental and global competitions.

"To be candid, shooting is dying; many of my colleagues who were passionate about the sport are now discouraged due to the long neglect from major sporting tournaments like the National Sports Festival. ``Facilities are not there for training; no competitions to stir us up, many of us got tired after long training, without competitions to test our abilities.

The NSC, the NOC, corporate bodies, as well as philanthropists, should rescue the sport from

total ruin in Nigeria, `` he said.

According to him, shooters were completely discouraged when efforts by the LSSA to have the sport included in the 18th festival in Lagos tagged: `Eko 2012' failed.

The captain noted that shooting was one of the number one Olympic sports in the developed world and should be given attention in the country, just like the other sports.

He urged the NSC and the NOC to revive the sport by providing adequate facilities, as well as its inclusion in the 19th edition of the festival next year in Calabar.

C

oach Olatunji Isikiola has appealed to Nigerians to rally support for Commonwealth Super Flyweight boxer, Yaqub Kareem, who is to defend the title this weekend in Liverpool.

Kareem, who won the title in 2011 after claiming seven technical knockouts against the former title holder, Ghana's Johnson Cobbinah, in Accra, Ghana, will defend the crown against his British rival, Paul Butler.

The boxer left the country yesterday for Liverpool Olympia, North-West, England, where the fight scheduled for Friday night will be held.

Isikiola said yesterday in Lagos that his boxer was in good shape and mentally prepared to defend the title against his opponent stressing that Kareem had been preparing for two months now for the title defence. ``I have no doubt that Kareem is in good shape for this fight. He has been training hard for over two months now and I look forward to victory against his challenger. ``It's quite true that Butler is a Briton and the fight will take place in the U.K. but we expect fair officiating in the entire duration of the fight. ``I appeal to Nigerians to pray for him and give him utmost support in his quest to defend his

title, with the belief that he will not disappoint us all,'' he said.

Isikiola, who is also Kareem's manager, said that the fight was formerly scheduled for Feb. 26 at Liverpool, but was shifted because of the visa problems encountered by Kareem.

Further, he said that fight will be his ward first outside the shores of Africa and noted all his 11 previous fights had been in Accra, Ghana and Nigeria.

Though he conceded that Butler is an experienced boxer, and was quick to add that Kareem is not only confident but has enough firepower to excel in the contest.

NBSF organises a two-day tryout for friendly against Ghana

T

he Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF) yesterday said that it intended to fine-tune its squad in a two day tryout, in preparation for a friendly against Ghana on April 25.

Kehinde Laniyan, the secretary of NBSF, told the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Lagos that the programme would be held from April 13 to April 14 in Port Harcourt.

He added that the encounter was part of the federation's arrangements to keep the team in shape for future international

engagements. ''The tryout is to select some players into the national team to strengthen the squad, ahead of the friendly match in Ghana. ``This match is just the beginning of innovative things we have in the pipeline for the development of the sport in the

country. We decided to have a friendly with Ghana because they also have a strong team in the continent,'' he said.

Baseball and softball were jointly pioneered by retired Maj.Gen. Ishola Williams, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke and Dr William Boyd on the nation's sports scene.

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

REV. FR. OBODODIKE MAXIMUS CHIJIOKE FOUNDATION

FINDING THE LOST SHEEP MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED

AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1

FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA

OF 1990.

FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

1. REV. FR. OBODODIKE MAXIMUS CHIJIOKE 2. REV. FR. DR. NWALI ABRAHAM 3. CHIEF AUSTIN IGWE EDEZE 4. RT. HON. BARR. AUGUSTINE NWANKWEGU

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

5. ENGR. FIDELIS NWANKWEGU NWANKWO

1. PASTOR EUGENIL AGWUNAOBI

CHAIRMAN/GENERAL OVERSEER

7. CHIEF OBODODIKE GREGORY

2. MR. EISTLE JOSHUA

SECRETARY

8. MR. FRANK CHINEDU EBOH

3. MR. DAVID UGONNA

6. HON. ODEFA OBASI ODEFA

9. MRS. LILIAN OBIANUJU OKOYE

4. VICTORIA ALAMOTTU

10. MRS. MBAM MERCY NWULEGU 11. HON. MRS. IBOKO VERA CHINWE 12. NWALI THEOPHILUS CHINEDU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1) TO ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF COMFORTING THE AFFLICTED BY POVERTY, FOR CHARITY, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES

1) TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD

OF PROVIDING FOR THE WELFARE AND WELLBEING OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED; PROVIDE WHEEL CHAIRS FOR THE DEFORMED IN THE LIMBS; PROVIDE HEARING AID TO THOSE IMPAIRED IN HEARING, TO OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICAL GLASSES TO AID THE IMPAIRED IN VISION, AND PROVIDE MOBILE CLINIC WHERE THE NEED MIGHT ARISE. 2) TO CARRY ON WITHOUT PREJUDICE THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS OF RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE UP KEEP OF

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE

OLD PEOPLE SETTLED IN OLD PEOPLE’S HOME.

REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS

CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA

COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHAIRMAN SECRETARY REV. FR. OBODODIKE MAXIMUS CHIJIOKE

WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

NWALI THEOPHILUS CHINEDU.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

GREAT UNITED ELITE SPORTING CLUB

INTEGRATED CENTRE FOR CLITMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED SPORTING BLUB HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. STANLEY INYAMA 2. IKECHUKWU OKOROM 3. IBEH HENRY CHINAGOROM 4. IRONA INNOCENT BOB 5. IBEH CHIDI CAMILLUS 6. IBEZIM GODWIN 7. NNEBUE CHIGOZIE 8. CHIDI ODIKANWA 9. ERNEST IWUNZE 10. HENRY ORABUCHI

PRESIDENT MEMBER SECRETARY MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO PROMOTE SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA 2) TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: JOHN BROWN ADEGUNSOYE, ESQ. (08102635844)

PUBLIC NOTICE LATE SENATOR JOSEPH KODON UMARU FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

REVEREND FATHER DAVID BAKO {CHAIRMAN} 2.

MRS. RUTH NDAM {SECRETARY} 3.

REVEREND FATHER HILARY DACHELEM 4.

REVEREND AHMED EL-FAROUK 5.

DR. MRS. NORA DADULUT 6.

MRS. AGNES LADI UMARU {MFR} 7.

MR. DAVID ABOKI 8.

MRS. SARAH NALAH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO ASSIST ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED:

PUBLIC NOTICE LEADERSHIP, PEACE AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR REUBEN CLIFFORD WILSON 2. WILSON SEIYEFA CLIFFORD 3. EZEKIEL AKPASIBEWEI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO ENHANCE LEADERSHIP VIA THE PROMOTION OF CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT. 2) TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC VALUES. 3) TO ADVOCATE GOOD AND PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP WITH THE AIM OF ACHIEVING PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: JOHN KPAKU (SOLICITOR)

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLITMATE CHANGE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROF. EKANEM M. EKANEM 2. BARR. CHRISTIAN O. EZEIBE 3. MRS ELIZABETH EKANEM EKANEM 4. MR. UDUAK OBONG MICHAEL 5. MR. SAMUEL IDONGESIT MICHAEL THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CENTER RESCARCH EXCELLENTE AND CAPACITY BUILDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: LAWRENCE ETIM (07031061040)

PUBLIC NOTICE

ONYEKACHI UKA FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ONYEKACHI UKA 2. SHETTIMA UMAR 3. ABUBAKAR ADAMU 4. AMINU SULEIMAN

PRESIDENT SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO CARTER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEDGED AND ORPHANS IN THE SOCEITY. 2) TO CARRY OUT ENLIGHTENEMENT PROGRAMMES ON GOOD LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE. SIGNED: OGBU JOHN ESQ 08035892173

PUBLIC NOTICE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD COVENANT CHURCH THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR EMMANUEL OGOOLUWAPO OYETAYO GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PASTOR (MRS) TOYIN OLAYEMI OYETAYO 3. PASTOR ASONJA FESTUS OLUWOLE 4. DR. IDOWU AKINTUNDE 5. DCN OYETAYO IREWOLEDE GAD 6. PASTOR OLUEROMI SEGUN 7. DEACONESS ADELAJA AGNESS 8. DCN AKPORUGHE GOSPEL 9. PA OLUSANYA OPEOGU 10. AWONIYI GABRIEL ADEOLA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE OUTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD. 2) TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE RETURN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 3) TO TEACH THE TENETS AND DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY AS LAID DOWN IN THE HOLY BIBLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. BEN NWAOKENYE (08023831257)

CHANGE OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS MISS OGUNGBOYE KEMI RASHEEDAT, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS MRS. BELLO KEMI RASHEEDAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS BRIDGET HILASEEN MENGER, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS BRIDGET HILASEEN GBAKORON. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL LETTER OF LAND ALLOCATION WITH FILE NO PL21041, PLOT 3614 IN CADASTRAL G17 OF DOBI EAST BELONGING TO JOHN N. SHAGAYA IS DECLARED MISSING ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE IF FOUND CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR (07057299999)

CHANGE OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS YEMISI AJALA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS YEMISI OLADILI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID CONCERN AUTHORITIES. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION WITH CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION WITH NO CAC/IT/NO 37644 BELONGING TO ACTIVE SUPPORT FOR RURAL PEOPLE INITIATIVE KEBBI .ALL EFFORTS TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT REMAINS ABORTIVE; IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATIONS.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS MISS CLEMENTINA EBERE OKOH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS MRS CLEMENTINA EBERE OKAFOR. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS MISS JAMILA AMIN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS MRS JAMILA AMIN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS HUSSAINI MUHAMMED, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS HUSSAINI MUHAMMED DOMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS MISS EBERI KALU UCHENNA LIZZY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS MISS EBERI UCHENNA LIZZY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AS MISS EBERI KALU UCHENNA LIZZY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS MISS EBERI UCHENNA LIZZY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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PUBLIC NOTICE OJIUGO HOHA FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. RITA IZUNWANNE ONUEKWUSI 2. ANDREW IHIMEKPEN 3. OSAKWE EDITH 4. KAZEEM ABDULRAUF 5. HAMAMATU MANU 6. HRH EMMANUEL KUQUAT (SAKARUYI OF KARU) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. (2) TO ESTABLISH ORPHANAGE HOMES. (3) TO CATER FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS. (4) TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIP TO INDIGENT STUDENTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MARUGHU ISSA SOLICITOR

PUBLIC NOTICE AKUKWAY CARING HEARTS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF GODWIN NWAJIUGO AKUKWE - PRESIDENT 2. MR. ANTHONY NWAFOR MUOGHALU -VICE PRESIDENT 3. MR. TAIWO ADEGOKE ADEWOLE -WESTERN REGION CHAIRMAN 4. MR. ONOWU OBIDE JOHN AKUKWE - NATIONAL PATRON 5. CHIEF NWAKIBIE AMBROSE NWOYE AKUKWE-NATIONAL PATRON. 6. HON. BALA YUSUF BARNABAS-NORTHERN REGION CHAIRMAN 7. MR. PATRICK ISIOGU-EASTERN REGION CHAIRMAN 8. BARR. DAYE ABBAS-SECRETARY. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: TO CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE OLUSOLA MABADEJE FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE LIFE MUST BE BETTER FOUNDATION

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE KING JESUS & I EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

FR. (DR) CHARLES UNAEZE 2.

ARC. ROSARIA FUSILLO 3.

ENGR. ENRICO SPASANO 4.

BARR. IFEANYI UNAEZE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

HON. MRS. MRAKPOR O. JOAN 2.

MRAKPOR PETER ADOGBEJIRE

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

TO SUPPORT LITERACY AND THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND SUPPORT INDIGENT STUDENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE ON MEDICAL AND ALLIED DISCIPLINE. 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: 08036485150

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF GODWIN NWAJIUGO AKUKWE - PRESIDENT 2. MR. ANTHONY NWAFOR MUOGHALU -VICE PRESIDENT 3. MR. TAIWO ADEGOKE ADEWOLE -WESTERN REGION CHAIRMAN 4. MR. ONOWU OBIDE JOHN AKUKWE - NATIONAL PATRON 5. CHIEF NWAKIBIE AMBROSE NWOYE AKUKWE-NATIONAL PATRON. 6. HON. BALA YUSUF BARNABAS-NORTHERN REGION CHAIRMAN 7. MR. PATRICK ISIOGU-EASTERN REGION CHAIRMAN 8. BARR. DAYE ABBAS-SECRETARY. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: TO CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH AND PRINT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS ROUND THE WORLD

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE FR CHARLES UNAEZE FOUNDATION

AKUKWAY CARING HEARTS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE VICTOR EHIGIATOR.CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR MRS NAOMI OSAMUDIAMEN EHIGIATOR.SEC 3.OSIFO LUCKY STRONG

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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT THE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE FINGER OF GOD PRAYING MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SOLOMON ESOR CHAIRMAN 2. PETER A. ABANG 3. YUSUF YUNUSA 4. NKANU ACHI SECRETARY 5.GRAHAN IMUDIA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 2. TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST THE UNEMPLOYED 3. TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE HELPLESS AND HOPELESS DESTUTES. 4. TO PROMOTE PRODUCTIVITY AND HUMAN CAPACITY DEVT. 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS. RANSOMED ADESOLA ABIODUN OLUSOLA MABADEJE CHAIRMAN. 2. ARC. OLUWASEUN EMMANUEL MABADEJE - MEMBER. 3. VENERABLE PETER OLUKAYODE OKUNROMADE -MEMBER. 4. BARR. PETER OLUWATOBI MABADEJE - SECRETARY

THIS SAPCE IS FOR SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE TWIN’S CONNECT SKILLS AND EMPOWERMENT CENTRE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

EMMELINE NDUBUISI OKAFOR 2.

PAULINE IFECHUKWUDE OKAFOR 3.

WENDY AWELE ADIGWE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED TWINS IN OUR SOCIETY 2. TO SET UP SKILLS ACQUISITION CENTRE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED TWINS IN OUR SOCIETY ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TIMOTHY ADEJOH 08062609616

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2.

TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST JESUS 3.

TO WORSHIP GOD 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: 08036485150

PUBLIC NOTICE ORGANISATION FOR ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

HON. ANENE ONYILIEGE GREGORY CHAIRMAN 2.

MR. NWAKWUDO GODWIN SECRETARY 3.

CHIEF DR. CHARLES NNAEMEKA UDEH MEMBER 4. MR. IKEM SOLOMON MEMBER 5. MR. NDUBUKA HILARY MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

FIGHTING AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING 2.

MINIMIZING DRUG ABUSE/TRAFFICKING 3.

EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE FINGER OF GOD PRAYING MINISTRY

OLUSOLA MABADEJE FOUNDATION

LIFE MUST BE BETTER FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE VICTOR EHIGIATOR.CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR MRS NAOMI OSAMUDIAMEN EHIGIATOR.SEC 3.OSIFO LUCKY STRONG

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS. RANSOMED ADESOLA ABIODUN OLUSOLA MABADEJE CHAIRMAN. 2. ARC. OLUWASEUN EMMANUEL MABADEJE - MEMBER. 3. VENERABLE PETER OLUKAYODE OKUNROMADE -MEMBER. 4. BARR. PETER OLUWATOBI MABADEJE - SECRETARY

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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT THE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SOLOMON ESOR CHAIRMAN 2. PETER A. ABANG 3. YUSUF YUNUSA 4. NKANU ACHI SECRETARY 5.GRAHAN IMUDIA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 2. TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST THE UNEMPLOYED 3. TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE HELPLESS AND HOPELESS DESTUTES. 4. TO PROMOTE PRODUCTIVITY AND HUMAN CAPACITY DEVT. 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE FR CHARLES UNAEZE FOUNDATION

PUBLIC NOTICE KING JESUS & I EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

PUBLIC NOTICE ORGANISATION FOR ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

FR. (DR) CHARLES UNAEZE 2.

ARC. ROSARIA FUSILLO 3.

ENGR. ENRICO SPASANO 4.

BARR. IFEANYI UNAEZE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

HON. MRS. MRAKPOR O. JOAN 2.

MRAKPOR PETER ADOGBEJIRE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH AND PRINT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS ROUND THE WORLD

SIGNED: 08036485150

SIGNED: 08036485150

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 HON. ANENE ONYILIEGE GREGORY CHAIRMAN 2 MR. NWAKWUDO GODWIN SECRETARY 3 CHIEF DR. CHARLES NNAEMEKA UDEH MEMBER 4 MR. IKEM SOLOMON MEMBER 5 MR. NDUBUKA HILARY MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

FIGHTING AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING 2.

MINIMIZING DRUG ABUSE/TRAFFICKING 3.

EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE TWIN’S CONNECT SKILLS AND EMPOWERMENT CENTRE

PUBLIC NOTICE PENN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

PUBLIC NOTICE ARK OF THE COVENANT CHARITY FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

MR. OLUSEGUN ALABA EWEDEMI 2.

AARE (DR) MARUF ADEKUNLE BELLO 3.

HON. ITAKA FRANK INEKE 4.

CHIEF SIMON NSOBUNDU OKEKE 5.

ALHAJI ABDULAZEEZ YAHAYA OLANREWAJU 6.

DR. AKINWALE SALIU 7.

ALHAJI MUMAKAI UNAGHA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROMOTE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CORRECTION OF BEHAVIOR 2. TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN THE PHILOSOPHY OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE 3. TO IDENTIFY, MONITOR, EVALUATE AND AWARD/APPRECIATE ACCORDINGLY, PEOPLE AND OR INSTITUTIONS WITH UNIQUE PERFORMANCE ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 4. TO SYNERGISE WITH PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS WITH SIMILAR AIMS ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: TIMOTHY ADEJOH 08062609616

SIGNED: FUNKE MORONKEJI-AFEGBUA & ASSOCIATES (SOLICITORS)

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

TO SUPPORT LITERACY AND THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND SUPPORT INDIGENT STUDENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE ON MEDICAL AND ALLIED DISCIPLINE. 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

EMMELINE NDUBUISI OKAFOR 2.

PAULINE IFECHUKWUDE OKAFOR 3.

WENDY AWELE ADIGWE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED TWINS IN OUR SOCIETY 2. TO SET UP SKILLS ACQUISITION CENTRE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED TWINS IN OUR SOCIETY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2.

TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST JESUS 3.

TO WORSHIP GOD 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRIST HEALING CHURCH OF CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM

CHRIST POWER OF RESSURECTION AND LIFE BIBLE MINISTRY

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 THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

VICTOR ADEBAYO IYAMU 2.

PAULA UYI UWAGBOE 3.

NJIDEKA MERCY MADUAKO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. PROPAGATION OF THE WORD OF GOD 2. TO BRING THE HOLY SCRIPTURE TO ALL MANNER OF PEOPLE 3. TO ADMINISTER THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AND HOLY COMMUNION 4. TO EMANCIPATE MANKIND WORLDWIDE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SATAN 5. TO CREATE ATMOSPHERE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TO TAKE OVER TERRITORIES AND CONQUER GROUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING HIS KINGDOM IN THE HEART OF ALL.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR JACOB OLALEKAN SEGUN AKINSANYA GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PASTOR (MRS) CHRISTIANA OLABISI AKINSANYA VICE GEN. OVERSEER 3. EVANG. EZEKIEL TOLULOPE OGUNDARE 4. SIS. VICTORIA OMOTOYOSI MOFEHINTOLUWA 5. BRO. ABISOYE ABEEB LAWAL SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD 2. TO EVANGELISE AND WIN SOULS FOR GOD’S KINGDOM 3. TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY IN THE SOCIETY

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: CHARLES OBISHAI, SAN (SOLICITOR), NO. 23, D.B. ZANG WAY, GRA, JOS PLATEAU STATE, TEL: 08036126182, 08024258965

SIGNED: BARR GABRIEL MOSES

08062433488

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

PAUL CHUKS MADUBUIKE 2.

FIDELIA IFEYINWA MADUBUIKE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED 2.

TO ASSIST THE POOR AND THE NEEDY 3.

TO HELP AND GIVE SUPPORT TO THE HELPLESS 4.

TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS 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 TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE MBANO BELIEVERS ASSOCIATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. HYGINUS AMAECHI CHAIRMAN 2. MR. KENNEDY ANYAOGU SECRETARY 3. BISHOP MODESTUS ABAZIE 4. REV. MOSES OKPARA 5. REV. DR. CHRISTOPHER ANYANWU 6. BISHOP STEVE EZE OGBAZIE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROJECT AND DEFEND THE NAME AND PERSONALITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SCRIPTURES THROUGH THE MEMBERS, SPEECHES, LIFESTYLES AND PRACTICES IN OUR CHRISTIAN CALLING 2. TO UNITE ALL TRUE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS IN AND FROM MBANO 3. TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR U.P. NJIMOGU

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

PSG concede Barcelona defeat in today's UCL clash P

aris Saint-Germain centre-back Thiago Silva believes Barcelona's biggest headache going into today's UEFA Champions League clash.

"Barça are always the favorites, whoever they are playing and whatever score they've got. They are a team who has earned respect for their football and for all that they've won in recent years.

For me they are the best team in the world, "He said.

It is not yet known if Messi will be fit for the quarterfinal second leg after suffering a hamstring injury during last week's 22 first leg draw in France, a problem that kept him out of Saturday's league win over Mallorca.

Losing Messi would be a huge blow for the Catalan giants as they seek a place in the semi-finals, but Thiago Silva feels Barça coach Tito Vilanova has more to ponder at the other

end of the pitch.

Javier Mascherano also picked up a knee injury at the Parc des Princes that has seen him ruled out for six weeks, while Carles Puyol and Adriano have both been sidelined and Eric Abidal only recently returned to action after from more than a year out having undergone a liver transplant.

"I think Barça have a bigger problem with the absences of Puyol and Mascherano than that of

Messi, even though Leo isn't ruled out. They have to improvise at the back and that complicates things a little for them, although Barça are always Barça.

PSG twice trailed in the first leg but gave themselves a fighting chance heading to Camp Nou thanks to late equalisers from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Blaise Matuidi.

Despite that though, Thiago Silva concedes his side have a job on their hands to progress.

Barcelona are favorites at home, says Xavi

X

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Chelsea, Arsenal chase West Brom starlet

W

est Bromwich Albion head coach Steve Clarke is considering handing youngster Isaiah Brown his first taste of senior football before the end of the season in an attempt to ward off interest from Chelsea and Arsenal, who are both considering tabling offers.

The 16-year-old striker has caught the eye of the two London clubs, with both having sent scouts to Albion's Under-21 games over recent weeks.

Arsene Wenger has been given glowing reports by Arsenal's head of development and former Albion coach Terry Burton, but Chelsea are ready to jump to the head of the queue after

watching him in action during his last five games for the Under-21 side.

Clarke is acutely aware of the growing interest and the potential struggle to keep hold of the England Under-17 international, but insists he is not for sale.

Brown is currently on a two-year scholarship and Albion hope to persuade him to sign professional forms when he turns 17 next year.

Clarke has included the youngster in his senior squad on two occasions this season, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and against Arsenal for last Saturday's 2-1 defeat, and Brown could make a senior appearance before the season ends.

avi Hernandez believes that Barcelona were still favorites in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain despite a number of key injuries in defence and the possibility that Lionel Messi could also miss the second leg.

The first leg ended 2-2 in Paris last Tuesday thanks to Blaise Matuidi's last minute strike for the hosts but the biggest blow for Barcelona was the injuries suffered by Messi and Javier Mascherano.

Four-time world player of the year Messi still has a chance of returning for Wednesday's clash at the Camp Nou but Mascherano's knee injury

Xavi Hernandez Xavi pinpointed that match as a key moment in the Catalans' season as

Balotelli ban for 3 matches

A

C Milan striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for the next three Serie A games after insulting a match official against Fiorentina on Sunday.

Balotelli was already automatically suspended for one match after picking up his fourth booking of the

season in the 2-2 draw.

However, another two matches were added to his ban on Tuesday for insulting one of the assistant referees at the end of the game.

Balotelli will miss Milan's crunch matches against Napoli and Juventus as well as the visit of Catania.

The Italy striker has scored ten goals in 11 games for club and country in 2013.

Milan currently sits third, four points behind Napoli in the fight for second place and direct Champions League qualification.

Juventus have a nine-point lead at the

Arshavin ponder retirement

A

Isaiah Brown

will see him miss the majority of what remains of the season.

But Xavi said that two away goals and home advantage should still be enough to see Barcelona into their sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final.

"We have 90 minutes left at home and we will play in front of our fans, which showed the top level of devotion in the game against Milan.

The tie promises to be another special night at the Camp Nou after Barcelona produced a stunning comeback to reverse a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat AC Milan 42 on aggregate in the last round.

rsenal forward Andrei Arshavin is on the brink of calling time on his football career, according to a report in the Evening Standard.

Arshavin, 31, who cost the Gunners £15 million when he signed from Zenit St Petersburg in the January transfer window of 2009, has made just seven substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and has not featured for Arsene Wenger's side since the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in January.

Wenger confirmed that he was eager to offload the Russia international during the last January

transfer window, but lack of interest in a player, who was once hailed as one of Europe's most gifted, surprised both Arsenal and the player's representatives.

The former Zenit player's career has been on the wane for some time and his lack of action at the Emirates Stadium has forced Russia coach Fabio Capello to drop him from his side's World Cup qualifying campaign.

While his Arsenal career has been largely a tale of frustration, Arshavin has enjoyed a handful of highlights in a Gunners shirt, with his winning goal in a Champions League home tie against

Barcelona in February 2011 a notable high.

Andrei Arshavin

they target a third Champions League triumph in five years.

Neville announces Everton departure

F

ormer England international defender Phil Neville has announced that he will leave Everton at the end of the season after eight years at the club.

The versatile 36-yearold, who joined Everton from Manchester United in 2005, said he wanted to continue playing football at the highest level. "It's been an honour to play for and captain Everton Football Club," Neville said in a statement published on the club website.

It had already been announced that Neville will take up a role with the England U-21 backroom staff for the UEFA U-21 European Championship in Israel in June.

Neville's elder brother, Gary, retired from football in 2011 and currently combines work as a television pundit with a coaching role for the England senior team.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

UEFA denies Barcelona referee suspension

U

EFA has reportedly denied suggestions that Wolfgang Stark will not referee again in this season's Champions League following the German official's controversial performance in the quarter-final first-leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

UEFA's Referees Committee after committing three technical errors in the same passage of play during the 2-2 draw in Paris.

He forced both Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano to receive medical attention off the pitch and allowed play to continue in their absence.

The officials' decision to allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic's subsequent goal in Tuesday's game, when the PSG striker appeared to have been two yards offside, was also heavily criticised by Barca.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets, assistant coach Jordi Roura and defender Dani Alves led the protests, which culminated in the club making an official complaint to UEFA on Thursday.

The club has written to UEFA due to a series of incidents on the pitch in the understanding that objectively speaking it was evident that the referee did not apply the rules of the game.

Stark was previously criticised by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho for sending off defender Pepe for a challenge on Dani Alves during the heated 2010-11 Clasico Champions league semifinals.

Barca's Brazilian full-back said last week that Mourinho's criticism had affected the German's performance at the Parc des Princes.

The experienced official had reportedly been in line to take charge of this season's final at Wembley, had both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund been knocked out by then.

UCL results Dortmund 3 - Malaga 2 Gala 3 - Real Madrid 2

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Unmask the ghosts so that we can talk to human beings, not ghosts.

— Niger state Governor and Chairman, Northern states' Governors Forum, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, imploring colleagues to expose Boko Haram insurgents.

Gov. Aper Aku’s lesson for Kwankwaso T

he hard-working Governor of Kano State, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso scored high marks with the Transparency International in Nigeria, TIN, for out-performing the 35 other governors in matters of budget discipline and transparency in governance.

My interest in his administration is in respect of his commitment to education and I will say my reasons. The state government made the news when they decided to dispatch 500 university graduates to 14 different countries to undertake higher degree studies. Shortly after, they announced the sponsorship of 200 students to study medicine abroad. The government is currently sponsoring 100 students in Jordan who are training as pilots. Two weeks ago, this governor announced that 100 female students are also being sponsored abroad to read medicine.

In addition to all these, there are reports that there are 300 students currently being processed for sponsorship by the state to read for first degrees at three prestigious universities here in Nigeria, the Crescent University, Abeokuta; Bells University at Ota and the American University of Nigeria, Yola. Money in billions of Naira is being spent to undertake these sponsorships. In terms of realpolitik, it takes courage for a politician to invest massively in projects in the education sector that have no visibility. If a governor builds 1000 houses, these new homes will be on display as a mark of achievement. So are roads, flyovers and storey buildings.

When you invest in education, scholars say it takes 16 years for the education circle to be complete. If a governor will count the gains of his investment in education, it will be at a time well past his tenure and requirements for reelection.

This was the kind of vision that the late Second Republic Governor of Benue State, Mr. Aper Aku had. He didn’t do many roads and other physical

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso infrastructure. His people were very impatient with him and called him a “do-nothingGovernor” and other derogatory names. But Aper Aku was investing very wisely in human capital development.

He deployed a massive chunk of the state’s resources in funding scholarships. Benue indigenes, irrespective of tribe or creed picked up graduate scholarships on demand. I was to see the result of this man’s foresight on a visit to the United States of America, years after the governor had died.

As part of a group on a U.S. government – sponsored tour to understudy the under-pinnings of the U.S. foreign policy, we were subjected to a briefing in the White House, the Federal Reserve, at the leading media and many other places. At the Capitol, which is the equivalent of our National Assembly, this international group was shown a petition signed by 40 ethnic Tiv professors of Nigerian origin who had successfully got the United States government to slap a series of sanctions against the Nigerian government for its act of genocide against the Tiv in Zaki Biam, Benue state.

These particular sanction, if

I remember well, disallowed the sale of a certain line of technology products to Nigeria.

The nature of the sanctions was repetitive, which is to say that it will subsist and remain a feature of each year’s budget until a redress was obtained by way of the payment of full compensation for the killings by the Nigerian government.

Much later, a Federal High Court in Enugu, Nigeria, followed up with an award of a little over N41 billion to the victims’ families although the money still remains unpaid.

The important thing the late Aper Aku did was to empower his people with education. To be useful to Benue state, its people and people of Nigeria, they don’t have to be resident in Nigeria. It is also important to note that all but a few of these professors got into the United States using scholarships Aper Aku had given.

The more important message Benue, and now Kano, are sending to all of Nigeria is that human development, not oil is the short-cut to national development. Another thing is that quality education cannot be available to only those wealthy enough to send their children abroad. Lastly, we must appreciate that to ensure standards and quality at home, Nigerians must gain exposure to the international environment.

I myself have respect for the education system in the country otherwise I would have renounced my own degrees.

In the 60s, 70s and the 80s, Nigerian universities produced graduates that have made other countries great. I therefore don’t have any doubts that we produce quality graduates at home although there are lingering concerns about drop in quality.

Some, in fact many of our universities are in a shambolic state. Perhaps the biggest problem they have is their alienation from the world – they lack money to buy journals; money to sponsor academics to conferences abroad or do collaborative researches, all of these that can help them to compare themselves with other universities around the globe.

Our universities have to engage the rest of the world. That is why they are called universities – the word universal is contained in the name university.

A silver-lining in the sky for the country is in the mounting determination on the part of university unions to force increased government funding of the institutions and the licensing by the government of more and more universities managed by businesses and private philanthropists. When you look at the economy, you see that the telecommunications, banks and the ports all got better after reforms were made which opened them to private businesses. The more the government interferes, the less development there will be in our universities.

Given the growing number of young men and women leaving secondary schools with increasingly good grades, again following years and years of improvement of facilities as well as standards, there is an urgent need to expand opportunities for tertiary education and I think this is the very essence of what they are trying to do in Kano.

In addition to the sponsorship of students to study abroad, three new state universities have been set up. These universities must all aim to recruit teachers prepared to teach and students who are prepared to learn. They should have no place for mediocrity.

Faculty and students should be international. That would be the only way to sustain the current gains and make the education revolution succeed.

The Governor of Kano must not allow himself to be distracted from this laudable path trodden by late Aper Aku. History will be kind to him.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141