Friday, August 21, 2015. Edition. by Peoples Media Limited

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DPR seals 45 filling stations in Kano >> pg 3

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Buhari sacks FIRS boss, DG Budget Office

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l Appoints Fowler, Gusau as replacements l Warns against extorting police job seekers

Chairman, Nigeria Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum and Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (sitting 3rd R), with other state governors briefing journalists after the Forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

494 Days after Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

Election tribunals: PDP govs accuse DSS of partiality

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Prof. dumps wife, 6 children after 46 years of marriagepage 5

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News CONTENTS News 2-11 Editorial 13 Op.Ed 14 Letters 15 Politics 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Int’l 27-30

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Election tribunals: PDP govs accuse DSS of partiality

By Ahmed Abubakar

overnors under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum have expressed concern over alleged meddlesomeness of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Election Tribunal matters particularly in the ongoing cases in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States. This is even as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) plans to meet with the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban KiMoon, to discuss among others, the Sustainable Development Goals, the successor programme to the Millennium Development Goals and the envisaged role of

state governors, as critical stakeholders in its implementation. Rising from a four hours meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night, the PDP Governors’ Forum headed by its chairman, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, noted that the security agency was deliberately targeting states governed by the opposition party, adding that the plan was to stifle opposition. In a communiqué read by Mimiko, the governors expressed worry about the development and wondered why in spite of facts presented in some All Progressive Congress (APC) controlled states, the DSS was yet to focus its attention on them. The communiqué reads in part: “The forum condemns in very

strong terms the alleged worrisome meddlesomeness of the Department of State Services in Election Tribunal matters especially in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia States. “The alleged interference is an attempt to stifle the opposition and this is most unacceptable. We insist that the trend be reversed. No democracy survives without a viable opposition in any part of the world. “INEC is supposed to be an independent commission and its officials ought to be shielded from partisanship, especially at a time when the dust raised by the alleged APC membership of the DG of the SSS, Mr. Lawal Musa Daura is yet to settle. “Finally, we advise the SSS

to pre-occupy itself with the task of ensuring internal security and not involve itself in electoral matters,” the communiqué concluded. The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, in its communiqué signed by the Chairman and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, said, “sequel to the presentation made by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) and exhaustive discussions on the operations of the National Integrated Power Project, the Forum resolved to appeal for a more comprehensive power sector policy and strategy, with a view to achieving a holistic solution to the power situation in the country.”

ness Administration degree from the California State University. Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally enerated revenue from an average of N3.6 billion per month in January 2006, to an average of N20.5 billion per month in 2013. Fowler, who holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Irish International University, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Business Management Association of the United Kingdom. He will serve as Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate. Gusau’s appointment as the DG Budget takes effect from August 18 for a renewable term of four years unless he attains the age of 60 years or 35 years in service. Meanwhile, President Buhari has cautioned the Nigeria Police Force to be careful in its task of recruiting 10,000 fresh men into the

force warning that his administration would not tolerate any report of extortion of unemployed Nigerians. He also ordered the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to immediately reduce the number of policemen attached to dignitaries and redeploy them to regular duties. This is just as the President called for the restructuring of the force in order to address the age long problem of stagnation of policemen on a rank for many years. A statement issued by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said the President at a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission yesterday warned officials that those in charge of recruitment and training in the Police must be above board and eschew every form of extortion and underhand dealing. “You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the re-

cruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police,” Buhari cautioned. The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police to prune down the number of policemen attached to dignitaries, and redeploy all policemen withdrawn from that role to regular police duties. On the stagnation of policemen on a rank for many years, the President counseled the Police Service Commission to review the current structure of the police, and make recommendations on how the problem can be solved to boost the morale of serving policemen. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. James Obiegbu had, in his briefing of the President, listed inadequate police personnel, dwindling finances and non-rehabilitation of police training schools as some of the challenges facing the police.

Buhari sacks FIRS boss, DG Budget Office By Lawrence Olaoye

P US Govt supports ongoing reforms in NNPC – Page 19

Metro 31-33 Money Sense 34 Strange World 35 Digest 36 Vogue 39-40 Sports 41 Columnist 48

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr William Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He has also announced the appointment of Mr Aliyu Yahaya Gusau as the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation. Fowler replaces Samuel Ogungbesan who has been in acting capacity while Gusau would be taking over from Dr Bright Okogu. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014. He had his higher education in the United States where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Busi-

DPR seals 45 filling stations in Kano for various offences

From

Edwin

Olofu,

Kano

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed 45 filling stations in Kano for profiteering, diversion, hoarding and selling Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) above government ap-

proved price of N87 per Littre. This is as the DPR also yesterday sealed over 22 filling stations for non-compliance with the government official price and selling of fuel to black marketers . Speaking to reporters at his office yesterday, the Zonal Operation Comptroller in

charge of Kano and Jigawa, Alhaji Isah Tafida, said that 23 of the sealed stations sold PMS above approved pump price, while four were closed down for hoarding and five were shut down for diversion. He said that a surveillance team carried out its op-

eration covering Kano municipal and its environs where 12 filling stations were sealed for using faulty pumps. According to him, the 36 filling stations sealed up will pay the sum of N100, 000 each with a written agreement that such offence will not be committed again.

Indebtedness: NEC approves FG bonds for 11 states

By Lawrence Olaoye

he National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday approved the federal government bond for 11 out of 22 states which applied for the facility. The facility was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as a measure to restructure bank loans of states into the federal government bonds in order to address their fiscal imbalances. Four governors, including those

of Anambra, Ogun, Kwara and Jigawa made the disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents after the monthly NEC meeting held in the Presidential Villa. Kwara governor, Abdufatah Ahmed told newsmen that 22 states actually applied for the facility but only 11 could fulfill the conditions for the approval. He said “The Director-General also said the Debt Management Office had requested the States to reconcile figures with the banks and have been jointly authenticated with the banks as at June 30, 2015.

As at August 14, 2015, out of the 22 States that have applied, FGN Bonds have been issued in respect of the loans of 11 States. The bonds were issued to 14 banks after submitting the reconciled figures and other required documents for the restructuring. DMO is now reviewing the additional submissions by States in the second phase of the programme.” Jigawa governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, who spoke on the order served on state governments to settle electricity bills said the Council was informed that there is current-

ly 45 percent default in payment of electricity bills by the states. He pointed out that the council noted that there was an improvement in the supply of electricity since President Buhari assumed office. According to him, “Council was informed that Power generation reached a significant 4.662MW by July 29, 2015.” Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who spoke on the Excess Crude Account disclosed that it stands at US$2.207 billion as at August 2015.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

News Boko Haram to end soon, Buhari reaffirms By Lawrence Olaoye

resident Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s determination to end the Boko Haram insurgency soon. Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, made the declaration yesterday while speaking at an audience with Mr. Mouse Faki Mahamat, Chadian

Mimister of Foreign affairs and Special Envoy of President Idris Deby of Chad. According to the President, “the end of the Boko Haram insurgency is in sight, given the added vigour with which the war against the terrorist sect is now being prosecuted by Nigeria and her allies.” Buhari said that with higher morale among troops in the frontline against Boko Haram

and their improved logistics, equipment and training, a rapid end to the insurgency could be expected. The President however added that Nigeria and Chad must be prepared to make more sacrifices to end the scourge of Boko Haram since they were at the “very heart of the insurgency”. “We will sustain our effort, and the insurgents will be

defeated soon,” Buhari vowed. The Special Envoy of the Chadian President said that President Deby appreciated the leadership being shown by President Buhari in the war against terrorism. “We also appreciate the diligence shown in appointing a commander for the Multinational Joint Task Force, and President Deby believes that the fight will end in a few

…As military braces up to tackle cattle rustling, other homeland crimes

he Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said it has put in place a joint operation of the army and air force to combat incidences of cattle rustling in the Kamuku Forest in the Northwest parts of the country which has so far routed out daredevil cattle thieves from the forest and recovered large herds of cows. DHQ said the operation will be sustained until the forbidden forest is free of criminals and criminal activities. A statement by Colonel Rabe Abubakar , Acting Director Defence Information explained that, “The need to establish the joint operation has become very necessary because criminals, miscreants and barefaced

common thugs have taken over the forest thus constituting themselves into a nuisance to Nigerians living in the area. In the course of this operation, a significant number of rustlers have been routed and large number of stolen cattle recovered. The ongoing operation will be sustained until the notorious forest is free of criminals and miscreants who constitute nuisance to the citizenry of the area”. The DHQ disclosed that the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta has intercepted a large barge conveying about 150,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products. The JTF boat was on routine

patrol when it accosted the barge on illegal mission at Frado Oil Company Tank Farm at Oghara in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State. The captain of the barge and the crew members are already in custody and are helping security agencies in the investigation. DHQ restated the resolve of the military to guarantee safety of lives and property of Nigerians while the military will continue to work hard to fight all maritime crimes such as piracy, bunkering and operating of illegal refinery a halt and also to prevent the prevailing economic saboteur from doing further damage to Nigeria’s economy. “The Defence Headquarters

therefore warns the perpetrators of all form of illegalities in the Nation’s maritime domain and those engaging in cattle rustling across the country to desist from such acts before the long arms of the law will catch up with them. The Defence Headquarters is also using this opportunity to reassure the peace loving Nigerians to go about their normal and legitimate businesses without fear of harassment or molestation as military and other security agencies are there to protect their rights and freedom. Various military operations across the country are against criminals and enemies of this nation.”, the statement read.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila (middle), inaugurating the medical reception station at the Military Pensions Board, to cater for the primary health care needs of the board’s staff, pensioners, deceased military personnel and members of the immediate community, yesterday at Dutse, in Abuja. With him is Chairman, Military Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Dabo (right). Photo: NAN

Economist tasks local manufacturers on marketing strategies

n Economist, Mr Toyin Taiwo, on Thursday urged local manufacturers to show more commitment in developing their marketing strategies for enduring economic benefits and job creation. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode, that the manufacturers could enhance their businesses by developing their marketing strategies themselves, rather than outsourcing the process. Taiwo, who is the President, Ijebu

Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), said this would help them set good records of market penetration and increase the value chain of end products. ``Branding is a very key element in the marketing process. Manufacturers should endeavour to look inwards for creativity in developing their products. ``I am encouraging them to make sure they brand their products exclusively, to get real

value for them. ``In the manufacturing process, you are bound to create employment opportunities for third parties and the brand you create defines your objectives and market impact,” he said. The economist, who also operates a food technology consultancy firm, said in order to achieve sustainable success, manufacturers must repeatedly reexamine their company’s sense of purpose.

``To create a sustainable business, you have to understand how crucial it is to build brand equity and emotional connections with customers. ``That requires introspection, self-awareness, and a keen sense of strategy, both in the short and long term,’’ he said. Taiwo added that the most sustainable way to create value, was to continually invest in their capabilities and exclusive brand. (NAN)

months. “Our people rely on us to end the insurgency, because economic development is being hampered. This fight has to come to an end. My coming here is to reaffirm our full commitment. Beyond the number of troops earlier announced, Chad is still ready to commit more soldiers. The enemy is weakened already. Let’s stand firm, and neutralize them,” he said.

AIB releases manifest of 12 helicopter crash victims From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

he Accident Investigation Bureau yesterday released the anticipated passengers manifest for the Bristow helicopter that crashed last week in Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Nigeria. The victims according to a statement from AIB spokesperson, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi include Ita Ekpeyong, Joshua Emekeme, Dolu Ebiejuara, Onoriode Onojete, Chukwuma Erise and Solomon Udeh. Others are Chidi Ukwunta, Iniala Opaimi, Chris Abua, Chukwudi Onah, the Captain Joseph Wyatt and his Co-pilot Peter Kayode Bello. A statement also from Bristow Public Relation firm quoted Duncan as saying “We thank the traditional ruler and the local community at the accident site for their unwavering assistance, we thank the courageous divers who worked tirelessly in very difficult conditions. “we thank NEMA and LASEMA for coordinating the recovery activities, we thank the Lagos State authorities for their magnificent response and we thank the NCAA & the AIB for their world class professionalism in quickly establishing the investigation process.” He said Bristow continues to work tirelessly and in full cooperation with the authorities conducting the investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident as quickly as possible to bring certainty for the families of those affected. The company also said that it will continue to make information available as soon as facts are confirmed. The Sikosky S76 C+ helicopter crashed into the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos on Wednesday 12 August, 2015 shortly before landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. The helicopter marked 5N-BGD and operated by Bristow Helicopters departed SEDCO oil platform offshore en-route Lagos airport.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

News World Humanitarian Day: WFWP, YFWP present widows with cash, other materials

omen’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) in collaboration with Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP) both Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Wednesday celebrated World Humanitarian Day in accordance with United Nations Economic and Social Council, where gift items and cash were presented to widows and other beneficiaries.

The celebration with the theme ‘Living for the Sake of Others’ was targeted at alleviating poverty and raise awareness on the importance of the Day. While delivering her keynote address, the president of WFWP Ms Gbemisola Olorunfunmi said the Day was picked by the General UN assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations Headquarters

in Baghdad, Iraq. She said, “The awareness day was designated by the United Nations in an effort to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide.” The aim according to her is to respond to human disaster either natural or man-made. “The primary objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity”, she called. While presenting the items to

the beneficiaries, the president of PYWP, Mr. Idowu Amusa said there is need for well meaning people to join hands in world humanitarian activities by becoming active members. Also at the event, attention was called to the importance of feeding the five special organs of the body which include Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidney and Spleen with the right types of food in moderation.

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

paying for the seats. Fielding questions from newsmen during an event to receive such complain from people in Kaduna central zone, a member of the task force, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero said the committee will not accept any act of fraud from any member of the board. “We are here to screen those who paid for hajj seats for 2015 but were not given seats. So far, we have discovered act of fraud where people paid for seats but were not given such seats. “We are in for change and we see the need to transform the state pilgrims’ board by

ending any way of defrauding or cheating intending pilgrims. “ We have also received complains of people who paid for hajj seats three years ago and are yet to be given such seats they paid for which is unacceptable,” he said. He warned that anybody found wanting within the Board to have defrauded any person will be punished. Bayero added that there are innocent people, particularly in rural areas that couldn’t go for hajj after paying for the seats due to either illnesses, pregnancy or fraud and their money were not refunded.

He said they are the people the committee will like to listen to their complains with the intention of assisting them recover their money. The screening will take place in all three senatorial zones of the state before the commencement of airliftment of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia scheduled for 23 August, 2015. It could be recalled that the state governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai inaugurated seven man committee to oversee the activities of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board for 2015 under chairmanship of former Senator Sani Saleh.

Kaduna task force vows to end fraud in selling hajj seats

aduna State Pilgrims Task Force for 2015 hajj exercises in the state has vowed to end any act of fraud in selling hajj seats to intending pilgrims in the state. The task force also appealed to all intending pilgrims who paid for seats but were not given from 2013 to date to report their cases to members of the committee. According to the task force, so far they have received many complaints from people that felt they were denied seats after L-R: Convener, Electricity Market Summit 2015, Dr Noel Akpata, Chief Executive Officer, Systems Market Operations, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mrs. Veronica Osuhor, Chief Executive, Ibom Power, Mr. Victor Udo, Chairman, Electricity, Electricity Market Summit Group, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Igali, former Minister of Power, Professor Bath Nnaji, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr Sam Amadi, and members of Electricity Market Summit Group, during the 2015 summit, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

VIO, army clash over vehicle inspection in Kaduna From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

here was a mild drama along Mando – Lagos Expressway yesterday when some military personnel on an escort descended on Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) for daring to stop their vehicle for search. Investigation reveals that the VIO were on their routine duty at Mando highway when they stopped two trailers that are said to belong the army for search, but this did not go down well with the

soldiers escorting the trailers, who saw it as an assault. Although the two vehicles were in military color but was said to be conveying some items for the military brass in the state under the escort of the said soldiers The VIO alleged that they were suspicious of the vehicles and its contents, because in the past dubious people used military color vehicles without necessary particulars or road worthiness. In the melee that followed, the

VIOs were given the beating of their lives which rendered them hopeless while others took to their heels to escape the wrath of the soldiers. Investigation also revealed that the soldiers were said to have got in touch with a top military brass in Kaduna metropolis who was said to be the owner of the contents of the trailers, who was said to have told the soldiers to use all minimal force to clear the ‘buggers’ from the road. When contacted the Director

VIO office Kaduna, Ali Danthsoho said he has not been officially briefed on the matter, even though he claimed to have knowledge of the incident. He referred our correspondent to the Officer in charge of Mando operation for clarification. When also contacted, the Assistant Director Army Public Relation 1 Division, Colonel Usman Abdul said he is not aware of such incidence but promised to investigate what happened and get back to the media.

Flood destroys crops in 9 communities in Jigawa

alam Yakubu Abdullahi, Information Officer, Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa, on Thursday said flood has destroyed crops in nine communities in the council. Yakubu Abdullahi made this known in Dutse on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He listed the villages hit by the flood as Kiyawa, Katanga, Dangoli, Tuje, Rimi, Katuka, Kawari, GidanMalu and Balago. He said torrential rainfall recorded in the area in the last two days, was responsible for the flooding ``As a result of high torrential rainfall and subsequent overflowing of tributaries of ariver around the area, flooding occurred,destroying farm produce. ``Produce such as maize, sorghum, millet sesame seeds and cowpea, were destroyed, `` he said. The spokesman said efforts were being made by the council to contain the situation. (NAN)

NDE trains 120 youths in vocational skills From Ado Abubakar Musa,Jos

he National Directorate of Employment in Plateau has commenced the training of 120 youths in vocational skills acquisition under its Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS). Mr Stephen Ndaks, the State Coordinator, while addressing the trainees at the orientation programme, said that the training was meant to empower the youth and reduce unemployment. ``You will be trained in computer education, shoe making, catering, knitting, GSM repairs and photography,’’ he said. According to Ndaks, the objective of the training was to create skilled persons both in rural and urban areas who would be self-employed and further create employment/wealth. ``The B-NOAS training is another practical step taken by NDE towards empowering the less privilege in society.” The state coordinator stated that the training which was for youth of both sex was also to discourage total reliability on while collar jobs. Mr Samuel Maida, Head of Department, Vocational Skills Development, said that the training which began on 4th August, 2015 would last for a period of five months. Maida assured the trainees that the trainers would take their time to ensure that every trainee benefits maximally from the opportunity. The HOD however, advised the trainees to adhere strictly to the rules governing the training pointing out that truancy will not be tolerated.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

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News

Group lauds CBN on Naira stability initiative By Albert Akota

L-R: Kebbi state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Adamawa state Governor, Alhaji Bindow Jibrila, and Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Adamawa varsity crisis: Aggrieved staff petitions Assembly over VC From Umar Dankano, Yola

he lingering crisis rocking the Adamawa State University, ADSU Mubi has taken a new dimension as some aggrieved academic staff members of the institution have lodged a formal complain to the state House of Assembly accusing the vice chancellor Professor David Joshua Shall of maladministration in the affairs of the institution. Acknowledging the receipt of the petition at the floor of the House yesterday during the plenary session, Speaker of the State Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyewa after announcing it

to members refer it to the House Committee on petitions and Public Complaint, for consideration and appropriate suggestion advice. The petitioners, Dr Umar Jongur, Dr Idris Atadashi, Dr Kamkwis Markus, Mr Moses Mairabo and Mallam Khalid Bello, accused the Vice Chancellor of some wrongdoings, among which were administrative high handedness and violation of established rules. The petitioners requested the suspension of the vice chancellor and the constitution of a visitation panel in line with the university law No. 10 of 2001, section 15 sub sections 1, 2 and 3, to investigate the allegations.

Reacting to the development, the vice chancellor, Prof Joshua Shall, said he was just hearing about the petition, and that the petitioners did not give him a copy as expected in an ideal situation which will give him the insight to advance his defense in the issues raised. Shall, who assumed office in October last year, said he met a lot of problems in the university community, including a court case which is still lying low and was caused by clash of interest among some splinter groups which he is working on to address them amicably. He said that his effort to put things right might not have gone

down well with some people, who wanted the status-quo, maintained. “ There are some splinter groups that are trying to ensure that there is problem in the campus”, shall said Also speaking, the branch chairman of the Academic staff union of Universities (ASUU), Mr Molem Ishaku, who declared the union support for the vice chancellor, said the petitioners were on their own. Ishaku said based on such petitions, the EFCC recently visited the school, adding that if there was something serious, the commission would have arrested the vice chancellor.

he Coalition of Civil Society Groups has endorsed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its plan to conserve foreign exchange in order to create stability of the Naira. Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the president, Comrade Etuk Williams Bassey, said that the apex bank is indirectly creating a huge opportunity for Nigerians to look inward and create jobs for our teeming youths. He noted that the CBN is doing Nigerians a huge favour my introducing a measure to conserve excessive imports of items like rice, eggs, toothpicks that can be produce in Nigeria. “We have the capacity to generate jobs for a larger segment of Nigerians through CBN initiative to stop the dwindling foreign exchange reserve and ensure stability of the naira as well as creating jobs for our people. “The opportunity CBN is fighting for, was also given to Africa richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to expand his cement production and today Nigeria is no longer importing cement. “Why should Nigeria keep importing items for which we have strong comparative advantage, we import rice from Thailand, eggs from south Africa, beef from Zambia, furniture from Italy and textile from China with these we are simply importing poverty into Nigeria and exporting jobs to these countries, “ he implored. He urged federal government to also deploy additional measures to supplement the CBN’s effort in driving Nigeria’s local productivities.

Professor dumps wife, 6 children after 46 years of marriage From Umar Dankano, Yola

marriage of 46 years old between a Professor of Library and Information Science, Professor Benki S. H. Womboh, of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and his wife, Mrs Grace Ayoo has turned to a scandalous battle between the duos. Professor Womboh, 67 years old, who swore an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Yola had disowned his wife, Mrs Grace Ayoo 55 years old, and her six children, stressing that he was fed up with their marriage coupled with the threat to kill him, as according to him,’’ there was no longer any love in the marriage.’’ He further told the court he had tried several times to

reconcile their differences but all efforts proved abortive. ‘’ There were several attempts to hold reconciliation meetings with Grace Ayoo, her children and family members but to no avail. Even a meeting convinced at the instance of Grace Ayoo’s Pastor at NKST Akaajime, but she refused to attend,’’ he noted. In the affidavit Professor Womboh said he was forced out of sympathy and his friendship to late Pastor Jacob Ayoo to contract a probationer marriage with Grace Ayoo in August 1969 at Makurdi. While fielding questions from newsmen, Womboh further regrets that the wife Grace Ayoo had shared the six (6) children of the marriage and gave him only one boy, who is now a legal

luminary in Makurdi, Benue state. ‘’Grace Ayoo took away four (4) Girls and one Boy (Friday Terungwa) that they were not fathered by me. And to make matters worse, she married a Security Man from the then Benue Cement Company (now Dangote Cement Company) and she sued me, for divorce at a magistrate court at Makurdi. ‘’The court case was struck out because the man who married Grace Ayoo died and so she stopped attending the court,’’ said he. Womboh also stated in the said affidavit that on Sunday 29th August 1999, Mr. Atile Ayoo, the new Family Head took Grace Ayoo and the five (5) children back to Womboh’s father at Tyowanye,

Buruku Local Government, Benue State. Although Womboh refused to take back the woman and five children, his father prevailed on him and so he accepted them back. In his words, ‘But as a result of Grace Ayoo deserting the marriage at various times, I had to marry three other wives “in succession”, which means that as any one of them left he had to marry another one, because I do not want to be a bachelor at any point in time. ‘’When Grace Ayoo was brought back in 1999, she refused to recognize these other three wives and their four (4) children. On 9th June 2014 she invited me to her residence at Gboko and dictated new marital terms to me as follows:

’Drive away the other three wives,’’ and failure to comply, she vowed to take away the six (6) children from him and give them to her elder brother, Mr. Atile Ayoo, to be their father, just as she threatened to organize people to assassinate me and drive away the three wives and their children; and take away all of my properties.’’ Womboh further explained that, ‘’ the six children, whose ages range from 36-46, have refused to call their mother to order not to make them bastards in the Nigerian society. ‘’The said children, either by means of a devilish spell or covenant, have become so gullible that whatsoever their mother says, they accept hook, line and sinker! ‘’ he exclaimed.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

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News

Anyone against Buhari’s anti corruption is Nigeria’s enemy - Obiefule By Umar Muhammad Puma

he Association of Royal Traditional Rulers of Nigeria yesterday stated that any individual against President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption campaign is against the country. In a communiqué issued after a meeting of traditional rulers presided over by Eze T. A Obiefule advised Nigerians to give maximum support and encouragement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the discharge of its duties adding that though ill equipped has performed marvellously well. “The commission demands the sympathy, support and encouragement of all patriotic and we’ll meaning Nigerian, it’s scope of assignment and areas of coverage far outweigh the human and material resources at its disposal. “Be it noted that the EFCC covers a total of 774 local governments’ ministries and parastatals”. It also commended the Buhari administration for its resolve to re introduce the national carrier (Nigerian Airways) to boost air transportation within and outside the country. “This is highly commendable as it will generate employment opportunities for all classes of professionals. The country has good pilots, technicians and engineers that could meet the challenges. It would also enhance revenue generation for government, “it said.

L-R: Deputy Executive Secretary 11, National Universities Commission (NUC), Malam Ibrahim Danliya, NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, and Deputy Executive Secretary 1, Professor Chiedu Felix, during NUC training programme for education correspondents, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Ex SGF spent N1.4b on computer software in 4 years - Abaribe alleges From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

he sum of N1.4 billion allocated for the acquisition of computer soft wares for the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government in the last four years, sent shock waves to the survival of Nigerian democracy. The money was allegedly approved by former President, Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan between 2012 and 2015. The third term Senator representing Abia south Senatorial district, Abia state, district disclosed this at the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin, Benin City. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the huge inconsistencies

Gov. Amosun reiterates commitment to providing affordable health From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

he Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has reiterated his administration’s commitment and readiness towards continuous provision of affordable healthcare service delivery and taking it to an internationally acceptable standard by rebuilding all tiers of the sector The governor, represented by his deputy Chief Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga stated this in Abeokuta while declaring open the 2015 Annual General Meeting(AGM)/ Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State branch Amosun commended the

Association, for demonstrating its continued commitment towards impacting positively on the advancement of the health sector in Nigeria and Ogun State in particular He affirmed that his administration would not at any time toy with the health of his people but will continue to revitalize the health sector for it to meet the challenges that may be posed by these tendencies. Earlier in her address, the Chairman of the Association Dr. Mrs. Adenike Odewabi said that the Association in active collaboration with other relevant agencies has been working assiduously with the State Government to abolish quackery in the State.

in budgetary processes and duplications of subheads account largely for poor implementation of the Federal Government budget since 1999. Abaribe, the former House committee chairman on Information and Media in the 7th Assembly on Wednesday spoke on the lecture topic, “Our Country, Our Budget: A critical analysis of Nigerians budgeting system”. He noted that the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government in this year’s budget, had N1.223 billion as welfare package, while, the sum of N580 million was for subscription to bodies. A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years, indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for Software Acquisitions, yet the subhead according to him appeared again gulping N100 million, while, the sum of N580 million budgeted to the same expenditure. “I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software Aquisition. Computer Software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies seeking to pillage the treasury. Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer Software Aquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for Software Acquisitions. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it. “Pray, what is this computer

software that particular offices acquire every year? Which privately owned company acquires computer Software to the tune of N100 million - and more - every year? If you check the budget for every Ministry, Department and Agency (NDA’s) of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, Softwares and consumables year in year out.” According to him, under the laws, budget should be sent to the National Assembly by September every year, but, “In my Eight years in the National Assembly, only once has this threshold of been met”. He continued that “At the time the Emir Sanusi we excoriating members of the National Assembly, his CBN overhead that year was about N320 billion, double the total budget for the entire legislative arm, for an agency. But, he has refused to let the National Assembly look into his operating budget, cities g the CBN act. He was not alone. NPA, NIMASA, FIRS, DPR, NCC, NNPC et Al all refused the National Assembly oversight of their operating budget citing enabling their enabling laws despite the Fiscal Responsibility Act and they were backed by the presidency. “In actual fact, it became a cynical ploy from Obasanjo years to this moment where only those areas in the capital vote that aligns with the original proposal of the executive gets any vote. Something like, “if you temper with my proposal, I am under no obligation to implement what you have added or removed from my budget”. Many examples abound. Of course, this stance leads to NASS members threatening sabre rattling on both sides. We would want to see how

the government of President Buhari would tackle this phenomenon of selective implementation of budget by the Executive. He said “the 2014 appropriation budget tagged ‘budget of job creation and inclusive growth’ was laced “with ambiguities so much that a Civil society Organization, Citizens Wealth Platform, after an Independent assessment declared that there are a lot of frivolities in the 2014 proposals. Let us take for instance the provision of welfare. What exactly are welfare Packages that comes after provisions have been made for personnel expenditure, a regular and nonregular allowances? “It is sad that budget preparation has been reduced to to filling of templates used in previous years and the same paltry percent of the overall expenditure as embedded in a lot of administrative capital. Every year, we utilise less than 60 percent of the approved capital vote while we claim that we desire wealth creation and poverty reduction. I’m in total agreement with Citizens Wealth Platform’ observation”, he said. The Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Benin, Prof. Sam Edo in his goodwill message, gave an insight on the purpose of the annual lecture series which he said foster interactions between the government and the governed through the requisite exposition, thereby making learning pleasurable. Chairman of the occasion and the Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Faraday Orumwense whose goodwill message was delivered by the Deputy Vice-chancellor of Ekehuan Campus, Prof. Aduwa Ogiegbaen, vowed that the school will not lose sight in a anemic excellence.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

TAX Alert

FEATURES OF A GOOD TAX SYSTEM BY Michael Olulenu

axes are the enforced proportional contributions from persons and property, levied by the state by virtue of its sovereignty for the support of government and for all public need. From the above definition it is seen that taxes are contributions to a common pool by the people for the use of the people. Government all over the world need taxes in order to sustain its relevance and to provide for the needs of its citizenry. A tax system is expected to be fair and non-discriminatory. For a tax system to meet these requirements, it must have the following attributes. 1. Neutral – A Neutral tax must be unbiased across economic activities, and not overly penalize work in favour of leisure, nor tax income used for saving and investment more heavily than income used for consumption. 2. Visibility – A very large segment of the population must be keenly aware that government costs money, government spending should be held to levels at which its benefits match its costs. This is a critical factor in most developing countries (including Nigeria) where the citizenry believe that tax revenues are not being expeditiously administered. 3. Fairness – This is often stated as making the rich pay higher share of their income in taxes than the poor. There should be some amount of income exempt from tax to shelter the poorest citizens. 4. Simplicity – A tax system should be easy for the government to administer and enforce, and be easy and inexpensive for taxpayers to comply with. There should be clear definition of income and elimination of multiple layers of tax would create a system that is much simpler and easier to administer, enforce and comply with. These are critical issues in Nigeria tax systems that require urgent attention. Our tax laws are old and complex, given room for varied interpretations and applications. 5. Convenience – A good tax system should be convenient in terms of time and mode of payment to the taxpayer. 6. Administrative Efficiency – The process of levying and collecting taxes must be administratively efficient, transparent and economical without any distortion. 7. Productive – A tax system should be such that brings in sufficient revenue to the Government. Since tax payment involves the outflow of money or money’s worth from the treasury of taxpayers, some Taxpayers have adopted many strategies to evade tax, tax evasion is defined as “the wilful attempt to defeat or circumvent the tax law in order to legally reduce one’s tax liability”. Tax evasion is punishable by both civil and criminal penalties. Tax avoidance on the order hand, is defined as “the act of taking advantage of legally available tax-planning opportunities in order to minimize one’s tax liability. While tax evasion is criminal tax avoidance is legal. This was aptly supported by the celebrated case of Ayrshir Pullman Motor Services & D.U. Ritche V.CIR (1929). The fact of the case and the judgement is as follows:The taxpayer changed the structure of its business from sole proprietorship to partnership with 5 of his children to minimise tax. He appealed to the Court of Session against an assessment which failed to recognise the change. Allowing the appeal, Lord Clyde held: No man in this country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, to so arrange his legal relations to his business or property as to enable Revenue to put the largest possible shovel into his stores. The Inland Revenue is not slow.... and quite rightly to take every advantage which is open to it under the taxing statutes for the purpose of depleting the taxpayer’s pocket. And the taxpayer in like manner is entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Revenue. TAX COMPLIANCE TOOLS In order to encourage compliance taxpayers to continue to comply, and bring non compliance taxpayers into the tax net, to increase tax base and revenue, governments all over the world have put in place some compliance

strategies backed by appropriate legislations. Section 26(1) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act (FIRSEA) 26(1) gives the Service to call for returns, books, documents and information. FIRSEA 27 - Gives additional power to the Service to call for further returns and payment of tax due. FIRSEA 28 – Requires every bank upon demand by the Service to provide quarterly returns specifying:(a) In the cases of an individual, all transaction involving the sum of N5,000,000.00 and above (b) In the case of a body corporate, all transactions involving the sum of N10,000,000.00 and above, the names and address of all customers of the bank connected with the transactions and deliver the returns to the Service. (c) Section 28 (3) – Provides sanction to any bank that contravenes above provisions. FIRSEA 29 – Gives power to access lands, buildings, books and documents FIRSEA 32 - Gives power of addition for non-payment of tax and enforcement of payment. FIRSEA 33 - Tax Investigation; this section empowers the Service to employ special purpose Tax officers to assist any relevant law enforcement agency in the investigation of any offence under this Act. FIRSEA 47 - Gives the Service powers to prosecute any of the offences under this Act subject to the powers of the Attorney – General of the Federation. THE ROLE OF TAX AUDIT In addition to all the tax provisions mentioned above, FIRSEA S:26(4) and S.60(4) CITA went further to state:“Nothing in any other provision of this Act shall be constructed as precluding the Service from verifying by tax audit or investigation into any matter relating to any return or entry in any book, document, accounts including those stored, on a computer, in digital, magnetic, optical or electronic media as may, from time to time, be specified in any guideline by the Service”. All the above provisions, among others, are compliance tools meant to ensure that a taxpayer does not pay less or more than what he is required to pay by law. This objective is achieved through tax audit exercises. The purposes of tax audit are to:• To educate taxpayers • Maintain self assessment system • Collect taxes as imposed by the laws through the encouragement of voluntary compliance • Maintain public confidence in the integrity of tax system. • Provide deterrent effects on other taxpayers not yet audited, as they may quickly file their returns in order to avoid sanctions.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

News

South Sudan journalist shot dead days after president warns media

South Sudanese journalist was on Wednesday assassinated, the manager of his newspaper has said. Albert Otieno, Manager of the Corporate Newspaper, said in Juba, that one of his journalists, Moi-Peter Julius, was shot in the chest on Wednesday evening near a UN building in Juba, without removing anything from him. ``Money and Julius belongings were not removed. Otieno said the journalist was killed four days after President Salva Kiir, dismissed journalists’ complaints about lack of press freedom and threatened to kill those reporting ``against the country’’. He recalled that Kiir said on Sunday before leaving for peace talks in Addis Ababa that ``If anybody among journalists does not know that this country has killed people, we will demonstrate it one day, one time. ``Freedom of the press does not mean you work against the country,’’ he said.

Tom Rhodes, Head of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said ``The leader of any country

threatening to kill journalists is extremely dangerous and utterly unacceptable. He called on President

Kiir to retract his comments immediately. Rhodes said his committee had tied the killings of five

journalists, in February in an ambush of a convoy, in South Sudan to government hand work. (dpa/NAN)

Scavenger docked for alleged theft of umbrellas worth N72, 000

he police on Thursday arraigned a-25-year-old scavenger, Moharazu Ahmed, for allegedly stealing 12 umbrellas valued at N72,000. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused of no fixed address is facing trial on a two-count charge of joint act and theft before a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja.

The Prosecutor, Insp Salifu Mohammed, told the court that the matter was reported by one Adam Ahmed of Team Seven Market Galadima, Abuja to the Gwarimpa Police Station, on Aug. 5. Mohammed said that on that same date, “the accused and nine others, who are now at large, stole 12 umbrellas valued

at N72, 000. Mohammed said that the police caught the accused with the help of the market people. He said that the offences contravened Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against him, saying that he had been a good scavenger

and a happy man for that. The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 and a surety. Sadiq ordered that the surety must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and be a reliable character. He adjourned the case till Sept. 2 for further hearing. (NAN)

Forklift operator in court over alleged theft

forklift operator, Olasunbo Olaolojule, was on Thursday arraigned in Lagos, for allegedly stealing the property of Guiness Nigeria Plc, valued at N425,000. The accused, aged 35, who resides at No. 2, Kajola St. Ojodu Berger, Lagos, is facing a twocount -charge of conspiracy and stealing at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court. The Prosecutor, Insp. Frank Inah, alleged that olaolojule, who worked as a contracted Forklift Operator at Guiness Nigeria Plc, Ogba, Lagos, committed the offences with some others still at large on July 8, at about 6.05 p.m. He told the court that the case was reported at the Police Station by one Amobi Eric, the security manager of Guiness, who captured the theft on the CCTV camera. Inah explained that the accused stole what he called ``a box of shoulder neck labels’’ when he was sent to the company’s store by a superior officer to get some things. ``It was in the process that the accused stole the box of shoulder neck labels and kept it in the refuse bin,’’ he said. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 and 409 recommend seven and two years jail terms, respectively, for offenders. Olaolojule, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Osinbajo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to Aug. 26, for hearing.

President Muhammedu Buhari (4th left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr Jamila Shuara (3rd left), Executive Secretary/CEO, National Lottery Trust Fund, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel (4th right), and other officials during the presentation of the ministry’s activities, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

“Mysterious Well” kills two students, injures six others From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

mysterious Well around Ogbe-Ofu Quarters, Ogwashi-Uku community in Delta State has allegedly killed two students of the State owned Polytechnic in the community, while six others were seriously injured and are admitted into the hospital for treatment. It was reliably gathered that the two National Diploma students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, among others, sat on top of the well when it suddenly caved in. The victims Kelvin, Paul (surnames withheld) had reportedly gone with their friends’ penultimate Wednesday when they got signs of the well collapsing during their discussion at night fall. Sources said the incident which occurred around 8:30pm

on Wednesday, attracted sympathizers to the scene where it was discovered that the well had sometime last year 2014 allegedly swallowed two persons who were said to have been discussing on top it. Only two weeks ago, another student of the Polytechnic had allegedly fallen into a shallow well that was not properly covered by the owner, leading to his death. The victim was reportedly said to be running away from assailants who were suspected to armed robbers and who had attempted to waylay him on his return from all-night. But the Dean of students’ Affairs of the Polytechnic, Frank Ikeji described the incident as a tragedy, saying that the loss of the students dealt seriously blow on the school. He said: “This is why we are always calling on persons who

have shallow wells to ensure that these wells are covered in order to avoid such tragedies” Police sources at the OgwashiUku Police Division confirmed that owners of houses around the well are being interrogated where the corpses of the students have been deposited in the mortuary in the community. Meanwhile, a magistrate court sitting in Ogwashi-Uku on Thursday adjourned to August, 2015, a criminal matter bothering on fraud brought against one Francis Edile for hearing. The accused person, Francis Edile was arraigned on a one count charge of allegedly defrauding a Journalist, Innocent Osakwe the sum of N280,000 for failing to supply the said complainant a total of 780 pieces of planks meant for roofing a building situated in Ubulu-Ugbo Quarters in Ubulu-Unor, Aniocha

South Council area of the State. The charge No ulo/4lc/2015, commissioners of police Vs Francis Edile as obtained from the court, reads: “that you Francis Edile male sometime in the month of September 2014 in Ogwashi-Uku in the OgwashiUku magisterial District did by false pretense and with intent to defraud, obtain from Innocent Osakwe M. the sum N280,000 only with the pretext that you will supply him planks, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 419 of the criminal code law cap C21VO/1 laws of Delta State, 2006. The accused person had at the cause of his arrangement pleaded not guilty to the one count charge and was subsequently granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Mike Maidu in the sum of N100, 000

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Page 9

News

Saraki’s Borno visit to supplement Buhari’s efforts-Group

From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

he ABS Leadership Forum has clarified that there was no political motive behind the recent visit of the

MDG’s: Zamfara executes N9b projects, says Officer

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and other Senators to Borno state. The group said that Saraki’s initiative was to complement efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in tackling insurgency in the country. The ABS group stated this while reacting to a publication, titled “Bukola Saraki in Maiduguri: Tentative first step for 2019 presidency”, authored by Modibbo Ishaq Kawu. The Coordinator of ABS Leadership Forum, Alhaji

Usman Bibire Ajape, said that Saraki should be commended for his ingenuity rather than being vilified. Ajape, who insisted that the visit was not the making of the Senate President, said that it was a product of the resolution of the Senate during a plenary. He also said that there could not have been a better way to show the troubled people of Borno state and the North East that the entire nation feels their pains than by the visit of the legislators stressing that Senators would

assure them that the Senate would pass legislation that would help restore normalcy in the state. Ajape expressed the hope that the Senate would use the visit to initiate moves to provide succour for the victims of insurgency, as well as prepare for their rehabilitation, reconstruction of infrastructure and rebuilding of their economy after achieving quick resolution of the crisis. He also said that the visit to Borno state by the Senators had provided the icing on the

cake of the change mantra by the present government, describing it as sacrifice. He said that the antics of the writer of the article and his co- travellers would not deter the eighth Senate and its leadership from carrying out duties that would benefit the nation. The group urged President Buhari, the party leadership, the Senate, the House of Representatives and other relevant stakeholders to work with the Senate President as partners in progress.

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

he Zamfara state Million Development Goals office (MDG’s) yesterday said over 9 billion naira developmental projects have been executed under the Conditional Grant Scheme Programme (CGSP) for the benefit of the people across the state since 2007 to date. Speaking with newsmen in Gusau the state capital, the state Focal Officer (FC) of the MDG’s, Lirwan Musa Zurmi said, numerous economic developmental programmes initiated by the state government has been actualised in terms of health, energy, transportation, agriculture, human capital development, education, rural water supply and poverty reduction. Lirwan Zurmi further informed that, Zamfara state government was able to accessed over 4 billion naira from the debt relief gains and contributed over 5 billion naira being state and local governments counterpart funding which gave the total of over 9 billion naira utilised for the targeted purposes in the state. He claimed that the MDG’s has succeeded to have eventually facilitated lucrative projects to meet the state government policies on various fields comprised of constructions and rehabilitation in the sectors of education, health and the skill acquisition programmes as well as women empowerment aimed at alleviating poverty. “In education sector alone, the MDG’s had provided 79 primary and secondary schools with units of desks and chairs as well as the construction of staff quarters with a view to ensure enabling environment for both teaching and learning in the state”, Zurmi stressed. He however said, all the sectors in the state have benefited immensely towards lifting the state to the greater height, adding that, “Though, the MDG’s is ending by this month of August but, would henceforth convert to the Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) to formally continue to render the expected services.

L-R: Secretary to Bauchi state Government, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, Bauchi state Governor Muhammed Abubakar, and Permanent Secretary, General Services, Alhaji Ahmed Jarmajo, during the permanent secretaries and head of parastatals briefing to the governor, yesterday in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

Motorists decry FERMA inability to fix deplorable highways in Delta From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

he pace at which the Asaba/ Agbor portion of the BeninAsaba Federal highway in Delta State is deteriorating calls for the immediate interventional attention of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Also crying for the immediate rescue or emergency remedial operation of FERMA is the accident-prone Ugbolu/Illah/ Ebu axis of the Asaba/Abuja Federal Road, especially in Ebu community (Ega-Ebu Stream/ Ebu Market, Post Office parts). The seemingly neglect of this constitutional responsibility by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency is not only affecting economic prosperity of Nigerians many of whom have lost assets worth millions of naira on badroad-assisted accidents while many lives have been claimed in avoidable accidents. Only recently, a 14-seater

commercial bus was involved in a ghastly accident at the Asaba portion of the Benin/Asaba Expressway which claimed many lives. The pothole related-road accident reportedly sent the bus to derail and landed on top of high land over 60 metres. Last Friday, a multiple accident involving a trailer, bus and cars left many passengers in a bus lifeless and others with different degrees of injuries. The cause of the accident was simpleallegedly a deep pothole at the former Custom Offices road block. it was learnt that the heavily loaded trailer, in an attempt (by the driver of the truck) to avoid the bad portion of the road, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into one of the commercial buses, which in turn, crashed into others, causing the bloody multiple accident. Only recently, a 14-seater commercial bus was involved in

a ghastly accident at the Asaba portion of the Benin/Asaba Expressway which claimed many lives. The pothole related-road accident reportedly sent the bus to derail and landed on top of high land over 60 metres. Last Friday, a multiple accident involving a trailer, bus and cars left many passengers in a bus lifeless and others with different degrees of injuries. The cause of the accident was simpleallegedly a deep pothole at the former Custom Offices road block. it was learnt that the heavily loaded trailer, in an attempt (by the driver of the truck) to avoid the bad portion of the road, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into one of the commercial buses, which in turn, crashed into others, causing the bloody multiple accident. The Benin/Asaba axis of the busy expressway has been experiencing series of fatal

accidents resulting in the death of many people and the loss of property and the FERMA, an interventionist agency created, nurtured, fostered and equipped with modern equipment, procured with public fund, stares, perhaps busy doing nothing, especially in Delta State. At the scene of the road mishap, trapped victims tearfully moaned, seeking for assistance, as the reverberating echoes of weeping sympathize damned the air, “My countrymen, please help me, I don’t want to die”, mourned a trapped victim, a dying young man, but unfortunately, no such assistance came, not from FERMA, and the man died but officials of FERMA who did not want their names in the print, said efforts were being made to fix deplorable high ways around the state and warned motorists to avoid over speeding especially on highways where there are potholes.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

News

Delta: Council boss distributes relief items to flood victims By Adekola Eke

s part of palliative measure to ease the people of Onicha-olona in Delta State over the recent rain storm that ravaged the community, The chairman of Aniocha North, Hon. Chuks Oseme has commended the intervention of National Emergency Management Agency NEMA. The chairman, who made the commendation while distributing the materials to the victims at the community, noted that these items will go a long way in easing the affected people. The council boss noted that local government as a third tire of government work in tangle with others tires of government to ensure that the people at the locality feel the impact of government. According to him, “ there was a rain storm disaster that affected the community, then we reach the federal government through NEMA and we got the federal government intervention with the help of our immediate past member representing Aniocha/ Oshimili federal constituency who the is a son of the local government” “Later delegation came from Abuja to inspect the rate of damages at the community and thereafter made a promised to come to our aid with some house committee members, behold we got a message from Federal, sent the items through the state government and we got the items at the high quantity in which we the local government conveyed it with six trailers of the items to the community (Onicha-olona) While expressing joy for over the intervention, he noted that the items distributed were temporally base on the intensity of the damages among the victims. Meanwhile, items distributed were; 350 bags of cement, 157 bags of rice, 600 bundles of zinc, 160 bags of beans, 990 piece of rappers, 380 foams,200 bags of gari, 45 bags of nail, 100 bags of sugar, 75 gallon palm oil among others’.

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Modibo Adamawa University of Technology, Professor Kyari Mohammed, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Bogoro, and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, during the commissioning of TETFund project, recently in Yola.

Export Promotion Council seeks establishment of Cashew Board From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Deputy Director of Product Development, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) Chief Emmanuel Ezeagu has called for the establishment of Cashew Board to protect the interests of cashew farmers. Ezeagu who stated this in an interview with Journalists at the end of a two day workshop in Ilorin described cashew business as a money spinner because of the high demand for the cashew nuts added

that Government should assist farmers to improve and increase production. He appealed to Federal Government to assist cashew farmers and processors in the country through provision of special fund to boost cashew production. The workshop entitled: “Cashew business Competitiveness and sustainability”. He said: “Cashew right now is a money spinner; there are lots of Indians and Vietnamese coming to Nigeria to buy the

raw cashew nuts. “Market for cashew nuts is so huge that Nigerian cashew farmers should take advantage of,”. He also called on both state and local governments to encourage farmers to venture into cashew plantation stressing that the state governments can assist cashew farmers with improved seedlings, fertilizers and micro credit loan facilities. In his remarks, the President of National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr Tola Fasheru lamented over the high

cost of processing a ton of cashew in Nigeria stressing that it cost 500 USA dollars to process one ton of cashew in Nigeria, whereas it cost about $250 in India and $217 in Vietnam to process the same quantity of cashew. Fasheru said for Nigerian cashew industry to compete favourably with other countries, Government should set up special fund for the industry stressing that sustainability and competitiveness of the sector may be a mirage if government at all levels did not assist the cashew farmers and processors.

Stay out of centenary city project, group tells Ojuigboh By Osby Isibor

coalition of Northern activist groups led by Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), has condemned in strong terms the recent utterances made by National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South- south, Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh against the establishment of the Centenary City project in Abuja, urging him to stay away from the Centenary City project and face businesses that demand his personal concerns. Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the National Coordinator, Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), Comrade Ali Abacha, said though the group

is not averse to the present administration’s fight against corruption in Nigeria, they owe it a duty to alert Nigerians to false alarms as one being raised by the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South- south. He called on Nigerians to disregard the claims by Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh, describing him as ‘a false alarmist’. They also dismissed the claim by Ojuigboh that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the project was obtained under false pretense and cunningly contrived to look like a Public Private Partnership arrangement, pointing out that many prominent businessmen and other notable leaders across

the continent are part of the Centenary City project. A statement issued at the end of the briefing jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Ali Abacha, and Secretary, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa, reads in part, “As leaders of the Northern Patriotic Front (NPF) and frontline socio-cultural activist group in the north, we strongly condemn the ill advised and ill motivated comments credited to the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), SouthSouth zone, Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh, to the effect that the processes leading to the establishment of the Centenary City project in Abuja were “an elaborate scheme,

cunningly conceived to defraud the government and the good people of Nigeria. “The above statement is not only misleading, but also aimed at negating the good intentions of the project. More so, Dr. Ojuigboh’s attempt at disparaging the character and personality of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim is unacceptable to the good people of Nigeria; for whose pride of nationhood the project was conceived. We, therefore, declare such utterances emanating from Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh as baseless, directionless, and a desperate man’s reckless depiction of acrimony”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

EDITORIAL

Nigerian Navy and Maritime Security

ne of the most amazing Okonjo-Iweala said that Nigeria decisions of the was losing $1 billion or N155 billion government of Goodluck revenues every month to oil theft at Jonathan was the decision the time, adding: “We estimate total to award a multi billion loss at over 300,000 barrel per day’’. dollar contract to ex militants for The losses, blamed on pipeline vandals our maritime and pipeline security. are equivalent to the total production For a democratic government elected on a popular platform, this decision smarked of high treason. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expressly empowers the armed forces, ie, the army, airforce, navy and the police to handle all security matters. Aditionally, when Jonathan was campaigning to be elected President he never promised to hand over maritime and pipeline security to ex militants. Ironically, as one arm of the government doled out billions of dollars to ex militants for pipeline security, the other arm of the same government complained endlessly about the government’s apparent impotence in checking worsening and alarming oil theft. Speculations were rife that oil industry chieftains and political office holders were shielding perpetrators of the grand of Equatorial Guinea and larger national heist under the watch of than the entire production of Ghana, President Jonathan. The former Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon and chief executive of the Nigerian Gabon. These staggering losses were National Petroleum Corporation all recorded when the ex militants (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, and were over pampered with mouth ex Coordinating Minister of the watering contracts to protect the Economy and Minister of Finance, pipelines. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, lamented With the end of the Jonathan the systematic ruination of the administration and under present nation on several occassions. President Muhammadu Buhari’s

“

The government must henceforth entrust maritime security and that of our pipelines to the Nigerian Navy that is constitutionally charged with the responsibility to secure these sensitive facilities or infrastructure.

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”

prudent watch, the NNPC has refused to continue with these scandalous pipeline contracts. This has given rise to great anger by some of the beneficiaries of the bonanza like Mujahadid Dokubo-Asari, Frederick Fasehun and Gani Adams, all of them threatening to drag the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to court over payments on the contracts. Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) and Chief Bipobiri Ajube (aka Gen. Shoot-on-Sight) were also beneficiaries of the contracts. We call on President Buhari to ignore these threats. The government must henceforth entrust maritime security and that of our pipelines to the Nigerian Navy that is constitutionally charged with the responsibility to secure these sensitive facilities or infrastructure. We hail the decision of the President to inject new blood into the top echelon of the Nigerian military establishment. All the service chiefs are said to be hard core professionals with no known political godfathers. The decision to dethrone cronism and enthrone professionalism is in the best interest of our country. We note in particular that the new Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral IbokEte Ekwe Ibas is a fine, thorough and professional naval officer. He should be given all the support he needs to secure our pipelines and waterways.

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Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Hameed M. Bello

Editor, Daily

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

INEC: What is wrong with having a female chairperson?

ntil recently, the constant recurrent decimals in Nigerian elections had been electoral manipulation, violence and complicity of electoral officers. The origin of these election-related ills was blamed on various causes, but the most frequent was the perceived partiality of the electoral umpire. Since just before independence to date, Nigeria has witnessed different types and modes of election. From the Secret ballot to Option A4, to the Open ballot system and back, Nigeria and Nigerians have seen it all. We have seen men (please note not women) of different characters, dispositions and professional callings become chief electoral umpires. The origin of Electoral bodies in Nigeria dates back to the period before Independence when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was established to conduct 1959 elections. After independence in 1960, the Federal Electoral Commission, headed by Ayo Ita Esua, was established to conduct the immediate post-independence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965 respectively. The December 1964 elections were marred by irregularities, controversy and confusion. The resultant effect of this failure could be blamed for the military takeover of 1966. Twelve years after the dissolution of ECN, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was established by the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. FEDECO, headed by Michael Ani, was charged with conducting the election that ushered in the government of Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari. The election was seen to be neither free nor fair. One of the losers, Unity Party of Nigeria, took the electoral body and the winner to court but lost. In 1983, Justice Victor OvieWhiskey was appointed to lead FEDECO, and organized the general elections of 1983. The elections were marred by widespread irregularities, (including snatching of ballot

boxes), collusion of electoral and party officials, and outright rigging in favour of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN). FEDECO was succeeded by National Electoral Commission (NEC) which conducted the June 12 1993 elections, seen as the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history. NEC was rechristened National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) in 1994 and later metamorphosed into the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the over 50 years history of election in Nigeria, only men (from Michael Ani to the most recent Attahiru Jega) have held the position of Chief Electoral Umpire. Knowing the critical nature of this office, one may be tempted to ask why only men, for over 50 years? One may erroneously conclude that Nigeria tends to exclude women from offices that have direct impact to the survival of the Nation. It is common knowledge that where women have been given the opportunity in the past, their performance in most cases exceed our collective expectations. For example when NAFDAC, an agency whose performance is critical to the survival and continued wellbeing of Nigerians was chaired by a woman, Prof Dora Akunyili of blessed memory, her performance was so outstanding that it became a yardstick globally on how to run a regulatory agency. But INEC is even more critical than NAFDAC to the survival of Nigeria as a nation. The continued peaceful coexistence of Nigerians and Nigeria as a nation is heavily dependent on the perceived transparency of elections to our elective offices. Many Nigerians still remember the violence that erupted after the 2011 general elections. Some are still reeling from the effects 4 years on. The cause was simple. A perceived (not confirmed) manipulation of the polls. The blame might also be placed on

politicians and how they reacted to the outcomes of the elections. But given the apparent perception of a supposedly independent electoral body/umpire clearly favouring one party, who can blame them. Of course, the Chief Electoral Umpire’s office is one of the offices where the perceived partiality or impartiality of the holder of the office is actually more important to the electorate than the actual demonstration of partiality or impartiality. This in no way means that the electoral umpire should be partial. It only means that to the electorate, how they see the umpire goes a long way in inspiring their confidence in the overall electoral process. Electoral partiality, manipulations and violence is not the exclusive preserve of Nigeria and Nigerians alone. Many countries suffer the same ailments. Many also have taken series of steps and different paths to solving these problems. One that has become popular and is gaining increasing acceptance is that women make better electoral umpires. Some attribute this to their natural instinctive proclivity towards fairness and abhorrence of violence. Others postulate that consciously or unconsciously, women assiduously work to protect the integrity of their names and to show that they can do whatever men can do, if not better. The trend started in Africa by South Africa with the appointment of Pansy Tlakula as the chairperson of its Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) have been copied all over Africa. Countries where women have been saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections in Africa include Liberia (Elizabeth J. Nelson, Chairperson of The National Elections Commission of the Republic of Liberia), Sierra Leone (Dr. Christiana Thorpe, Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission of Sierra

Leone), Ghana (Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of The Electoral Commission of Ghana), Zimbabwe (Justice Rita Makarau, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) and a host of others. The United States of America and the United Kingdom are not left out. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) of the United States of America is chaired by Ann M. Ravel while Jenny Watson is the chairperson of the United Kingdom Electoral Commission. True to its mantra of change, the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be abreast of emerging trends in election management by appointing Mrs. Amina Zakari as the acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission. With this appointment, the government is sending a loud and clear message to everyone. The era of electoral manipulations including outright rigging and falsification of election results is over. The administration also hopes to cash in on the apparent superlative performance of women, when put in very sensitive posts. But who is Mrs. Amina Zakari? Appointed as an INEC Commissioner in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Amina was an integral part of the team that successfully delivered two elections in Nigeria, in 2011 and 2015. In her capacity as a National Commissioner, she supervised the Political Parties Monitoring Committee and her efforts to achieve common grounds for engagement of political parties led to the revitalization of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which helped boost cohesion and consolidation of Nigeria’s political party system. Her consultative style and engagement with the political parties helped to reduce factionalization and improve parwtnership with INEC in the run up to the 2015 elections. When INEC established its Planning, Monitoring and Strategy

Committee in November 2014, Amina was deployed to head it. The move was to help revamp the compliance monitoring mechanism of INEC through an internally driven process re-engineering and automation of the Election Management System (EMS). Her efforts and that of her committee contributed to an achievement of over 80% of voter material distribution recorded in the 2015 elections. She also oversaw the management of the INEC ad-hoc staff, particularly the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, a process was driven via a transparent online recruitment platform, complimented by training, sensitization workshops, seminars and conferences. A highly skilled and astute administrator, Amina is one of the few Nigerians who has worked with three Presidents. Prior to becoming an INEC commissioner, she had been Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR between 2004 and 2007, and posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where she served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development. A registered pharmacist and member of Pharmacists Society of Nigeria as well as a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Amina is a graduate of Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. She has also attended executive programs at International Drug Agency Netherland, Crown Agents UK and Harvard Business School. During one of his interviews, President Muhammadu Buhari said he will only appoint competent Nigerians to occupy positions in his government. The President is definitely a man of his word as he has already demonstrated that he means business by appointing Mrs. Amina Zakari to act as INEC Chair. Amaka Kalu wrote from Abia state

Open letter to President Buhari on behalf of Lagos State indigenes (2) By Biola Sobowale

iat justina et ruant coeli (Latin), meaning, Let justice be done though the heavens fall.” Lord Mansfield, 1705-1793. English jurist. Lagos State indigenes have no interest in political appointments in any other state. We don’t covet what belongs to our fellow Nigerians. All we are saying is simple. The WAYO involved in the prevailing situation in which others tacitly proclaim “What is ours is ours; what belongs to Lagos belongs to all of us”, must stop. Unless there is active reciprocity, it cannot be allowed to continue. The ethnic group whose members wrote to Ambode

demanding for appointments will not dare such a thing in Borno State. You see the difference? Lagos State was one of the twelve original states created by the General Gowon regime; it remains the only state that has not been carved up into more states despite the fact that it has a larger population than the four smallest states put together. At the time, Lagos State received one twelfth, or 8.5 per cent of all allocations made on the basis of equality of states. When Murtala/Obasanjo increased the number of states to nineteen, Lagos States share dropped to just over 5 per cent. Babangida increased the number of states from twenty one to thirty

over eight years; Lagos State’s share plummeted to 3.5 per cent. Abacha completed the onslaught against our state when he increased the number of states to thirty six; Lagos allocations went down to 2.7 per cent. By contrast all the other original eleven states have been split. Some now receive three times the percentage of allocations. Is it fair? Going back into history, records would show that political all appointments in all the original twelve states went to indigenes of those states. Under the government of Mobolaji Johnson, Lagos State was no exception. Even when under Murtala/Obasanjo non-indigenes were sometimes posted as military

governors to states, the pattern was maintained. The Second Republic, which started in 1979 and ended in 1983, also followed largely the same pattern. Former Governor Jakande’s cabinet consisted of people whose family roots are deep in Lagos. The same was the case in all the nineteen states which constituted Nigeria at the time. In fact, when the Governor of a Northern state wanted to appoint a Yoruba to the judiciary in his state, the lawmakers would have none of it. The change, as far as Lagos is concerned, came during the Babangida and Abacha era when non-indigenes of Lagos State started making appointments,

while non-indigene governors of other states continued to appoint only indigenes to political offices. Since 1999, Lagos State’s political appointments had gone to nonindigenes in large numbers. At one point, close to half of the cabinet came from other states or zones – including South East and North Central. Unless the reader can point to another state where this occurs, sending a text message protesting this article will amount to a waste of time. I never expect those cheating others to willingly give up their illgotten gains. Biola Sobowale is a Public Affairs Analyst

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Comment

The lure of constitutional and electoral design By Festus Okoye

have maintained and will continue to maintain that for us to sustain the gains of the 2015 elections and improve on it during the 2019 general elections; we must begin now to plan and prepare for it. Part of the planning and preparation must involve the institution of credible constitutional and electoral framework for the conduct of the said elections. This means that the Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society groups, political parties and other critical stakeholders in the electoral process must begin early consultation, networking and analysis on what has been done, what has been left undone and what needs to be done in the constitutional and electoral framework of Nigeria. But why is it that since 1999 we have been in the vicious web of electoral and constitutional reform and design? Why is it that we must always wait till elections are around the corner before embarking on the process of constitutional alteration and Electoral Act amendment? Why has it been difficult to carry out fundamental constitutional alteration and amendment to the Electoral Act that will be substantial, effective, sustainable, enduring and less controversial? Why have we been in these issues for too long and more or less going in circles? As my friend Udo Jude Ilo of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa posited in a programme

By Malam Ali Garba

e live in the age of unreason, an age where everyone expects some form of improvements in their lives while at the time being oblivious of their responsibilities. Everyone has developed the ‘entitlement mentality’ – he/she is entitled to some favour, job, benefit or otherwise preferential treatment. Consequently, everyone is on ‘autopilot’, as it were, and waiting for a ‘second person’ to act so that their problem would go away. A problem is always associated with and blamed on a ‘second person.’ Rare is the individual who blames himself/herself for a problem and takes the courageous next step to solve it. The vast majority blames others and waits for these others to change. Many others await the arrival of the Messiah or some form of a miracle or a Jegaquine drug to solve their problems. And so, where we should work we pray, and where we should pray we complain and where we should both work and pray we do nothing at all but despair. Take commercial and industrial activities in Kano, for instance. In the last several decades we have experienced ‘boom time’, ‘bad time’, and, in recent time, we seem headed to ‘burst time.’ In the Boom, the Bad and the Burst times three unreasonable species (the Good, the Bad and the Ugly) co-exist and combine to create a situation therein. First is the specie called customer (the Good), who demands for quality and functional goods consistent with his perception of their value in use. The customer is unreasonable and often

organized by a civil society organization, RECLAIMNAIJA “there are fundamental gaps in the way we have approached reform of the electoral process which makes it difficult for us to achieve substantial change that will make our electoral system sophisticated enough to protect the peoples mandate, limit the possibilities of manipulations by politicians and reduce the instability risk factors associated with elections”. But the truth of the matter is that the way we have handled issues around constitutional alteration and the reform of the electoral framework for the conduct of elections is consistent with our approach to serious national issues and challenges. Sometimes we find it difficult to confront and deal with issues that need sheer political will and conviction. Sometimes, we create institutions, assign roles and functions to them and yet find it difficult to submit our constitutional and legal problems to the interpretative and adjudicatory jurisdiction of such institutions. We go in cycles and pretend that all is well. But that is typical of the way we do things. Unfortunately, the moment a law is passed and policies and decisions are put in place, some of our compatriots move in to undermine the laws, policies and decisions. Sometimes, they move ahead of the law makers. They think ahead, imagine the next move by civil society groups and other reformists and put in place means and mechanisms to

undermine them. To some of these people free, fair and transparent elections are anathema to their physiology and psychology and must be undermined. Some of them cannot contemplate even remotely mounting the soap box to canvass for votes. It is not part of their psychological makeup. To some of them, it is more convenient to hire, drug and pay some skull crackers to create a state of mayhem around the polling units and scare away the voters and carry the ballot box and ballot papers. Some of them train their own Presiding Officers and use them to doctor and or fill fake result sheets. They do all these because they are afraid of the people and the power of the vote. But that is just part of the challenge. The point is that we can conduct credible elections with the present constitutional and legal framework. We can tame electoral fraudsters with the faithful implementation of the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended). Unfortunately, regulatory agencies created to regulate and ensure proper conduct and behaviors are in need of regulation. The enforcement agencies created and empowered to enforce the due observance of the law are also in need of monitoring and policing and the Nigerian people are left vulnerable in an electoral heist. Rather than confront the weaknesses of our regulatory agencies and our lack of

political will to submit to the rule of law and due process we run to redesign the constitution and the Electoral Act anytime we run into a cul-de-sac. Rather than carry out fundamental constitutional alteration and amendment to the law, we approach the exercise half heartedly. We make cosmetic and episodic alterations to aspects of the constitution with electoral flavour and return to the constitution for more alterations at the slightest sign of trouble. We aborted and rendered inchoate the 4th alteration to the Constitution that had more substance. I may not be totally correct on the 4th alteration to the Constitution as speculations are rife that the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan assented to it before he left office. But that is at the realm of speculation. Alteration to the fundamental law of the land cannot be reduced to market place gossip and speculation. The last I heard of the alteration was when the Supreme Court advised the Executive and the 7th Assembly to settle out of Court. But we have been on the road of constitutional alteration since 1999. On October 19, 1999 the Government set up the Presidential Technical Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution which received memoranda from the public, organized public hearings and submitted its report to the government in February 2001. The government processed

The age of unreason unpatriotic for his demands and more often buys from alternative sources, including and especially from overseas. The customer will go to any extent, including paying outrageously higher prices, to obtain what he wants. This action of the unreasonable customer is causing the extinction of many business firms that has failed over the years to give him the desired benefits and quality leading such businesses from boom to burst. Second specie is the businessman (the Bad) who is keen to reap much where he/she has sown little. The unreasonable Kano businessman makes little investment in technology and methods of doing his/her business, engages not with or seeks to refine his tools of trade, has no symbiotic relationship with his powerful stakeholders, and seeks only shortterm and maximum profit. The businessman also cares little for the laws of the land and stands accused for conniving with and bribing government officials to avoid taxes, levies, fines and punishment. This action, in part, has recently led to the extinction of a government but is, ironically also, leading to bad times and possible burst time for the businessmen. The third specie is the government (the Ugly), which is [was] corrupt, arbitrary, inconsistent, irresponsible, unaccountable and very, very, naïve. In the last several decades

businessmen and their customers had reason to wonder whether in fact there was a government. Basic and fundamental infrastructure, such as electricity, to support business operations has either failed or has become unavailable. Freedom of movement was restricted because of an insurgency, which the government had no clue of and no motivation or incentive to tackle. All over the place, goods of varying quality and relevance are ‘dumped’ in the market because of the failure of government officials to do their work. There appears to be no functional policy that supports or encourages the businessmen. While all this is going on the government is beating its chest for all kinds of funds and policies set aside and designed to support business. The only sound the businessman hears is the noise of empty drums, which are becoming an assault and insult to his ears and common sense. By its action, the unreasonable government has caused the extinction of many firms. And upon this entire crisis the species are living unreasonably – passing blame for the crisis to one another. One case in point is the recent impounding of Nigeria bound goods worth over N100.00 billion in Maradi, Niger Republic – a very fine example of government arbitrariness and unreasonableness. With the election of a new nononsense government with zero tolerance for corruption every

agency of government is suddenly awake and seeking to impress The Boss. And so, without warning and on the basis of a ranting of a latter day Robin Hood the Nigeria Customs Service decided to ‘work’ – to check and stop smuggling after being idle, turning their heads the other way and keeping a blind eye to it for ages. Interestingly, these same ‘smuggling’ activities are done ‘legally’ at the nation’s seaports in Lagos and Port Harcourt under the approval of the same Customs Service. All that the Custom Service needs to do, therefore, is to institutionalise the same ‘legal’ process and procedure – license clearing agents, set up offices to clear goods and collect duties, etc., in the dry-ports in relevant parts of the country. But as always in Nigeria, it is better to give an impression of action than to take real action. Why work if you could blame someone else for a problem? Why set up and institutionalise a proper and ‘legal system’ if it is easier to blame the businessman for conniving with the Chinese to smuggle goods? The former is hard work and routine, which no one would notice. The latter creates visibility, an impression of action and seriousness and a good sign of patriotism. There are many idle ‘professionals’ in the eco-system that have raised hyperbole and jargon to the level of an art – it is better to confuse the audience than to admit ignorance. These idle people try

the report into A Bill for An Act to provide for the Amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; 1999 and for Purposes Connected Thereto.” This Bill expired with the life of the National Assembly in 2003. The National Assembly again on the 30th day of October 2003 set up its own Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. Unfortunately, the joint committee could not fly as the Government thwarted their efforts due to lack of funds. On the 21st day of February 2005 the Federal Government set up the National Political Reform Conference. The question of revenue allocation, sincerity of the government and attempts to smuggle in a third term in office for the President bogged down the proceedings of the Conference. In September 2005, the National Assembly presented for first reading The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(Amendment) Bill, 2006. The Bill remained still born until the life of the Assembly expired in 2007. In 2007, the Federal Government set up the Electoral Reform Committee which made far reaching recommendations on amending aspects of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with bearing on the electoral process. The report of the Committee is still subject to debates and contestation. Okoye is a Civil Right Activist

to provide explanation and a way out for this ‘mutual death wish’ situation. Like the Ajino Moto Economists of the last two decades, these ‘professionals,’ are essentially bystanders with no commercial or intellectual engagement with the market. Detached and with little stake in the issues at hand (living at the expense of government and society), the Laxyconomists, Straytegists and Vodoopreneurs (yes, including yours truly), with a pretentious claim to expertise, but with neither rigour nor relevance, use flawed methodologies, reach ridiculous conclusions and prescribe simplistic, disintegrated, disjointed and unworkable solutions that lack synergy, track and tack. The new government is seen as the change agent. It won the election because of its promise to bring change. Almost everyone believes the government is capable and credible enough to bring, institutionalise and sustain the change. The customer wants change that supplies products to solve his problems efficiently, effectively and conveniently. The government wants change that creates employment, increases its revenue and facilitates economic and technological development at some reasonable pace and speed. The businessman wants change that ensures ‘investment friendly’ environment, which is secure, predictable, reasonable and competitive. Malam Ali Garba can be reached on babankowa@ me.com

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PAGE 14

News

Benue civil disturbances: NASME sets up panel to investigate soldiers role From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

he Nigerian Amy School of Military Engineering, NASME has vowed to mete out severe disciplinary actions on soldiers who are found culpable in last week’s destruction of property in North bank area of Makurdi, Benue State capital. Commandant of the school, Major General Bamidele Ogunkale who made the pledge in a press statement signed on his behalf by Colonel J.O. Attah, intimated that considering the scale of destruction witnessed and the various interests involved, a high powered Board of Inquiry headed by a Brigadier General has been convened to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the civil

disturbance as well as carry out a comprehensive assessment of the damage to property, adding that a detailed report of the boards is expected to be submitted within the shortest possible time. Major General Ogunkale narrated vividly incident that led to the civil unrest, explaining that at 9:30pm on August 14th, 2015, a soldier on course at NASME left the barrack to North bank to make cash withdrawal from an ATM machine and was later brought back to the barrack. Medical center with gun wounds on his neck bleeding profusely. “It was alleged that the solider was shot by unknown cult group operating in north bank area. It is instructive to note that several armed cult groups operate in North bank and they often

consider the military as a threat to their dominance of the area”, he said The commandant added that after the soldier was given first aid treatment and refereed to HQ 45 Nigerian Airforce Medical center for further management at about 11:10 pm, his course mates seeing their colleague in a pool,of blood and thinking that he is dead, decided to go after the cultists in North bank just as residents of the area on sighting soldiers took to their heels resulting in pandemonium. “A report of the pandemonium was received in thr barrack at about 11;50pm and immediately a fire alarm was rounded to muster all soldiers to the parade ground. Also, the barrack’s main gate and all known entrance

points to the barrack was sealed to prevent other soldiers from mobilizing to join the confusion as well as arrest those returning from North bank at that hour. So far, soldiers suspected tool have been involved in the incident, have been arrested and detained awaiting the outcome of investigation into the civil disturbance”, Major General Ogunkale said. He also, stated that apologies have been tendered to Governor Samuel Ortom, the Ter Makurdi Chief Sule Abenga as well as residents of the area during separate meetings with them, maintaining that they have accepted their apologies and expressed satisfaction with steps taken to investigate the ugly incident.

L-R: FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Managing Director/CEO, Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engineer Saleh Dunoma, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, all recipients National Productivity Order of Merit Award, during the 15th National Productivity Day celebration, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

All bodies in Indonesian plane crash retrieved

rescue official said on Thursday that the bodies of all 54 victims of last weekend plane crash in Indonesia’s Papua province have been retrieved. Bambang Sulistyo, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency said the remains were taken to the provincial capital Jayapura for identification. The ATR 42-300 plane crashed on Sunday minutes before its scheduled arrival at Oksibil in Pegunungan Bintang district on a 55-minute flight from Jayapura. Local military commander, Col. Sugiono, told local media that the missing flight data recorder had now been found. The cockpit voice recorder was found earlier on Tuesday. Papua relies heavily on air transport because of limited road networks through its jungle. The crash was the third major air accident in Indonesia in eight months, and is likely to raise more questions about the country’s aviation safety. In December, AirAsia flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea off Borneo midway from Surabaya to Singapore, killing all 162 people on board. In June, at least 141 people were killed after an Indonesian Air Force C-130 plane crashed into a residential area in Medan, North Sumatra and burst into flame. (dpa/NAN)

Fayose: We are destroying Fayemi’s legacies of debt, unpaid salaries

By Doyin Ojosipe

kiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that his government was destroying the legacies of huge debt, unpaid salaries, white elephant projects, bad governance and corruption left behind by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, declaring that; “Never again shall Ekiti be governed by those who will borrow billions of naira to plant flowers and create comfort for themselves alone.” Governor Fayose, who was reacting to Fayemi’s interview in some newspapers in which he said that “his legacy was being destroyed”, said no responsible government will sustain a

legacy of over N86 billion debt that was incurred on projects with no direct bearing on the welfare of the people. In a statement issued on Thursday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said it was necessary for Fayemi’s negative legacies to be destroyed, adding that; “Even in the APC, his legacy of betrayal of Senator Bola Tinubu, the man who made him governor is being destroyed.” “Today, Fayemi has been ostracized by those who assisted him to Office because he has betrayed all of them, including Tinubu. “Does he then wants us to sustain the legacy of serial betrayal of his benefactors?

“If he served Ekiti and its people well, why was it that he was roundly defeated in all the 16 local councils in the State in the June 21, 2014 governorship election and his party was also defeated 16 – 0 in the Presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections? “Even his own party men described his electoral defeat as the worst in Nigeria,” he said. The governor, who said it was shameful that Fayemi, who left two months’ salary and four months cooperative and unions deductions from workers salary, as well as pensioners pensions and gratuities unpaid could be talking about his legacies being destroyed, asked; “Did Fayemi leave behind any positive legacy in Ekiti?”

He said; “When Fayemi became governor, he choose to close down two universities established by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Segun Oni and abandoned the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, claiming that the State could not fund more than one university. “The same Fayemi, who said Ekiti had no money to fund more than one university preferred to take N25 billion bond to plant flowers that never germinated up till now and build a new governor’s lodge, civic centre, pavilion and execute other irrelevant projects. “Furniture alone, in the N3.3bn governor’s lodge that he built for himself and his wife cost N604.9 million and Fayemi wants such legacy of profligacy

to be sustained in Ekiti? We are sorry to tell him that we won’t sustain such legacy of waste. “Even vehicles bought for traditional rulers and political appointees, his government did not pay and uncompleted Oba Adejugbe General Hospital and State Pavilion were commissioned with fanfare. “Today, Ekiti State is under the yoke of debt, courtesy of Fayemi’s mismanagement of the State resources and what we are destroying are those legacies of mis-governance he left behind. “One bad news that we must however tell Fayemi is that; we won’t only destroy his legacy of mis-governance and betrayal in Ekiti, we will also make sure that economic devourers like him will never taste power in the State.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

INEC chair: I have seen its challenges, successes – Zakari

L-R: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Chairman, Association of Stock Brokering Houses of Nigeria (SBHN), Mr. Madubueke Emeka, and Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Dogowa, during a visit to the speaker, at the National Assembly, on Tuesday in Abuja.

By Doyin Ojosipe

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Bindow bars Chief of Staff from making policy statement From Umar Dankano, Yola

isturbed by the recent reactions that trailed a statement credited to Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta, Chief of Staff to the Adamawa State Governor, Muhammadu Umaru Bindo that the state government has earmarked N 200, 000.00 for prayer warriors in the fight against insurgency in the state, it appears the Chief of Staff has been barred from speaking on behalf of the government. Recall that last week, Adamawa State government has been managing its image in public domain over such statement that generated a lot of tension in the state and nation at large which has caused embarrassment to the government.

Investigation by People’s Daily in Yola revealed that most of the government functions of recent are taking place without the dominance of the Chief of Staff as usual. An impeccable source at the Government House who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the development has caused the government a serious setback in the eyes of the public. Recall also that Abba Jimeta was Nyako’s Chief of Staff after his name was rejected by the state lawmakers after he was accused to have chided legislatures. Jimeta who until the recent happenings was seen as “governor -de-facto” was known for making policy statements on behalf of the government. “Bindow was seriously

disturbed by the embarrassment caused by AbdurRahman Jimeta’s declaration, which caused an uneasy situation, so he had decided to ban the Chief of Staff henceforth from making policy statements. “In facts, the governor is shunning him, because even functions and other official engagements are not being communicated to him, “said an insider. Sources said that distraught by this development the embattled Chief of Staff too resorted to non active participation in public functions, “he was not even at the airport to receive the governor last Tuesday. “Though no official communication to that effect, I can authoritatively disclose

that the governor rhetorically barred him from making public statements,” a top government official further confirmed. Reports however indicates that the embattled Chief of Staff, has since begun making move to clip Bindow’s wings as he was said to have held a secret meeting with local government APC party chairmen. “Yes, its true there was a meeting, during which the Chief of Staff prevailed on the chairmen on the need to summon the governor so as to discuss vital issues affecting the party and its leadership. “But I cannot tell you whether he has asked us to defend him or not, it’s not your concern,” said a party chairman who doesn’t want to be quoted.

he Acting Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari has said that she is capable of handling the activities of the commission, especially as she is not oblivious of its challenges and successes. She said that aside being an INEC staff for long, working closely with the former Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has given her much exposure about the job, adding that what was needed at the moment was the will to build on the achievements made so far. In her words, “there shouldn’t be any problem, I have been part of the process, I know the problems, challenges and have equally seen the successes, what Is remaining g is to build on the success and to try and tackle the outstanding challenges.” Zakari who spoke with journalists in her office in Abuja yesterday, said though the bulk of the work has been done by her former Boss as regards election management, there was still much to be done, and improved on. She however added that the work can only be done successfully with the support of Nigerians. “Basically, with the cooperation of all, the support of staff and the people of Nigeria, we should be able to do the job, pending when a new commission would be put in place”, she said.

Akoko youths demand power shift to Ondo North senatorial zone From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Akoko Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (AYAGG) of Ondo State has said there must be power rotation among the three Senatorial Zone in Ondo state in order to sustain the dream of peace and progress laid down by the founding fathers of the state. National Coordinator of the group, Mr.Komolafe Oladimeji disclosed this in a press statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday. According to the statement Ondo State has been an example

in peaceful transition from one administration to the other, which is a result of the founding fathers influencing believe in fairness, equity and peace, adding that from late Chief Adebayo Adefarati (1999-2003) to the present Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (2009-2017), this principle has been held as necessary for unity and progress among the diverse ethnic people. “As we are preparing to go to the polls to elect the next governor that shall succeed Dr.Olusegun Mimiko in February 2017, it has become necessary to remind ourselves of this important belief

in natural justice, equity and peace. “It is worthy of note to remind new voters or youth who would be clocking the voting age of 18 in 2016 as well as our political parties of our founding fathers believe in equity and fairness hence the rotation of governorship position among the three senatorial zones. I am compelled to write this reminder because I am one of those youth that have firm believe in the Ondo State dream. “Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati who governed Ondo State between May 29th, 1999 to May 2003 was from Ondo North

Senatorial District. After his four year rule, he was succeeded by late Dr.Olusegun Agagu of Ondo South Senatorial District who ruled from May 29, 2003 to February 21, 2009. Although he could not complete his second term because of legal and other political challenges. He was succeeded by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, our present governor. He is also from Ondo Central Senatorial District “The cycle of rotation has come to an end. All the senatorial districts have had a chance to rule the state and push their vision for Ondo State. It is time now to

commence a new cycle. And the cycle must begin once again. The natural starting point should be Ondo North Senatorial District. “With this, Ondo State youths are surprised with the publication of Akure Renaissance Group in a national newspaper (not Peoples Daily) agitating for Akure indigenes for the next governor of Ondo state claiming that Akure has the largest voting power. This is quite ridiculous. The ARG should realise that the Akure voters are mainly settlers, mainly Ekitis’s, Ondo’s, Ikoles’s, Akoko’s, Ibo’s, Hausa’s and many non indigenes of Akure.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

UNIVESITY OF BENIN

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (CERHI) BUILDING PROJECT AT THE UNIVESITY OF BENIN 1. PREAMBLE The University of Benin is to implement projects to be financed with fund from World Bank, at the Ugbowo Campus. Consequently, in line with public procurement act 2007 the University is requesting qualified and reputable contractors to bid for the implementation of the projects. Interested contractors with relevant experience in construction and supply are hereby requested to submit their company profiles for consideration. 2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (i) LOT I: Construction of Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Research and Innovation (CERHI) Building. (ii) LOT II: Procurement of Coaster Bus (29-Seater) 3. TENDER FEE All interested contractors are to pay the prescribed tender fee as stated below. S/N

LOT

PROJECT

TENDER FEE

CONSTRUCTION OF CERHI BUILDING

50,000.00

PROCUREMENT OF COASTER BUS (29 SEATER) 20,000.00

4. BIDDING CRITERIA Your company should show the following mandatory requirement (i) Evidence of registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (ii) Evidence of current compliance certificate from PENCOM (iii) Evidence of current compliance certificate from Industrial Training Fund (ITF) (iv) Evidence of Tax Clearance Certificate for the last 3 (three) years (2012, 2013, 2014) 4.1 Other Requirement: (i) Company profile showing Organizational Structure, Names and Resume/ curricula vitae of key Administrative/Technical officers and their phone numbers, certificates of academic and professional qualifications of the officers. (ii) Provision of Company’s VAT certificate. (iii) Evidence of company’s financial capability or possible assistance from the Bank. (iv) Audited Accounts of the company for 2012, 2013, 2014. (v) List of verifiable projects previously handled by your company in the last 5 (five) years. You must clearly describe the listed projects, stating clients, dates of award, project duration, dates of completeion. (vi) Evidence of similar jobs done. (vii) Evidence of investment in the development of your community or the University of Benin as a social responsibility.. (viii) Health and safety policy of the organization. 5.0 COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS All Interested Contractors after paying the prescribed Tender fee at the University of Benin shall collect the Tender documents from the

office of the Director of Physical Planning Division between the hours 10am and 3pm weekdays from 21st August, 2015 to 2nd October, 2015 on presentation of the current Tax clearance report and required receipts. 6.0 SUBMISSION All bidders are to submit two(2) copies each of the commercial bid in conjunction with the Company profile in a sealed envelope with project title boldly written on the envelope and addressed to: The Registrar University of Benin P.M.B. 1154 Benin City Edo State The top left hand corner of the envelope shall bear the name of the project for which you are applying. Example: CONSTRUCTION OF CERHI BUILDING; The document shall be dropped in a tender box marked “TENDER BID” which shall be supplied for this purpose in Central Administration Office Block B (Registrar’s Office). 7.0 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION The document shall be submitted on or before 12 noon on 2nd October, 2015. 8.0 OPENING OF TENDER DOCUMENT THE Technical bids shall be opened on 2nd October, 2015 immediately after 12 noon in the University Senate Chambers. All bidders are expected to attend. Interested members of the Public and Private Sector, Non – Governmental Organization and Journalists are invited to witness the opening of the documents/bids. 9.0 LIST OF SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES The list of successful Company shall be displayed on the University Notice Board in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Registrar’s Office and the Director, Physical Planning Division office. CONTACT PERSON For all enquiries regarding the tendering process, you may contact: The Director Physical Planning Division Vice-Chancellor’s Office University of Benin, Benin City. PLEASE NOTE The Tender Fee is non-refundable. The University of Benin is neither obliged to shortlist any contractor nor to award the contract to any contractor or his agent. The University reserves the right to reject any bid. The University will not enter any form of correspondence with bidding contractors.

O.A. OSHODIN (MRS) REGISTRAR

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PAGE 17

Politics

Nasarawa election: Why tribunal may dismiss Maku’s petition Analysis By Umar Muhammad Puma

he chains of event at the Nasarawa State gubernatorial election petition tribunal sitting in Lafia, have clearly shown that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-mukura of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the the governorship election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), may once again be victorious against his opponent Labaran Maku of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Maku a former Minister of Information contested the election, amidst controversy, as he was said to have financially induced the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to deny the authentic candidate of the party, Mr. Ombugaku Mathew the chance test his popularity at the poll. Mr. Mathew however before the appearance on the scene by Mr. Maku, was the sole and authentic candidate of the party in Nasarawa State, before the latter was dislodged in a fraudulent way by the former minister who was said to have met all payment of dues and other financial obligations to the party. Upon losing the best, free and fair election in the history of Nigeria, Maku accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the security agencies of conspiracy in securing victory for Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by frustrating the voting process, which he claimed denied him the victory in the April 11 gubernatorial polls. Alleging that Governor AlMakura’s did not win the election and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate benefitted from a tainted mandate made possible by what he described as “to collaborate between his party, INEC and soldiers to frustrate the electoral process”. Key among his allegations was that the collation officers in four wards in Lafia where he was winning had to abandon the

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-mukura collation because soldiers to come in to seize results from returning officers to be presented to INEC. But an investigation into wards in question revealed that election had actually taken place with no disturbances from any of the security agencies, and that the election at those wards was generally peaceful. He also alleged that INEC deliberately under-supplied ballot papers in areas that are his stronghold, and he alleged that there were fraudulent cancellations of votes in polling units where he won. But one thing that is very clear in the minds of the majority of people of Nasarawa State is that the election has actually reflected their choices. For one thing, how can you as a judge reconcile these figures of someone who won 12 out of the 13 LGAs, and polled 309, 746, to defeat his opponent who came a distance second with 178, 983? Just recently in a press conference in Lafia, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in the state, Alh. Sidi Ndaji, while answering questions from

journalists revealed why his party and its candidate in the April 11th, 2015, governorship election, Yusuf Agabi did not gone to the tribunal to contest the victory of Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, saying the governor had actually won the election. Ndaji who is the zonal coordinating secretary in the southern senatorial district of the PDP, said that Governor Almakura has actually won his reelection squarely and that the election was free and fair which he said prompted the party and its candidate to jettison any idea of going to the tribunal.

Mr. Labaran Maku According to him, “we are baffled that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Labaran Maku has gone to court when it was obvious that to any observer that Governor Almakura won his election overwhelmingly”. He said the PDP has decided to respect the wishes and choice of the people because doing anythi g else would amount to questioning the collective resolve of the people which is not only disrespectful but inimical to the growth of democracy. The PDP chieftain noted that Mr. Maku only won the

“

Key among his allegations was that the collation officers in four wards in Lafia where he was winning had to abandon the collation because soldiers to come in to seize results from returning officers to be presented to INEC

governorship election in his local government area, Nasarawa Eggon as against APC’s eleven, insiting that APC’s victory in the 2015 election recorded the highest landslide since the inception of democracy in 1999. “We in the PDP are calling on the electorates not to play into the whims of desperate politicians,” warning that, “Nasarawa State has endured a turbulent past largely for the same reason and has now come out stronger”. The Nasarawa State governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last general elections, Labaran Maku, yesterday asked the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia to declare him winner of the election. Evidence provided by the counsel to Governor Almakura, Yusuf Ali (SAN) while closing his defence is enough to have sent jitters into the camp of Mr. labaran Maku, whose legal team was waiting to build their case on the flaws of the respondents witnesses who were earlier billed to present over 50 witnesses.

Cleric drums support for Buhari’s govt

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

cleric, Emmanuel Omale, has urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying their prayers would enable the change agenda of the government to succeed.

In a press statement issued in Abuja, Emmanuel Omale, who is the General Overseer of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, encouraged FCT residents, irrespective of their faith and denomination to support the government. Omole while urging Nigerians

to pray for the government of the day implored them to be good citizens of the nation. He stressed that ‘’there is no need blaming government all the time for our circumstances and predicament. Expecting government to do everything for us is no wisdom. God is inviting us to praise Him into our jobs,

choice homes and appointed destiny. This is a Divine invitation to the banquet of Praise and Miracles” he added. He enjoined Nigerians to pray for the government of the day, and be good citizens, adding, “As children of God, we must pray for the government of the day, no matter our political

inclination. Let us all strive to pursue peace and holiness as a prerequisite for divine acceptance. “The body of Christ should stand out as role model and good citizens, because God demands this of us, in order to fulfill His purpose in our national life” Omale added.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Politics

NYCN election: APC has no anointed candidate - Youth leader By Umar Muhammad Puma

L-R: Representative of Kaduna state Governor, the state Deputy Governor, Architect Bala Bantex, and Chairman, International Advisory Committee, Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr. Kole Shettima, during the public presentation of report of Research on Rural Banditry and Conflict in Northern Nigeria, yesterday in Kaduna. Photo: Bashir Bello

APC USA applauds presidential advisory c’ttee against corruption By Umar Puma Muhammad

he All Progressive Congress USA International yesterday commended the timely appointment of Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption by President Buhari. The APC USA said in a statement by Francis John, APC USA International Secretariat that the formation of the committee by President Buhari has not come

as a surprise,saying that “ it’s one of his campaign promises coming to light. For some time now, news from the grapevines and rumors indicated that nothing will be done about the abject corruption embedded in Nigeria. The general feeling by many who have expressed their opinion publicly in the media is that the previous regime performed below the expectations.” Speaking from Canada, Prof. Isa Odidi, Director General

Diaspora Campaign, Buhari Support Group Centre said “President Buhari in appointing the new Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has not only taken into consideration Nigeria’s diversity, geopolitical spread and ethnicity but more importantly He noted that President Buhari has appointed men and woman with exceptional personalities of the society throughout their careers”. When contacted for their

reaction, Barr. Solomon Dalung, Hon. Dr. Mohammad Sani Abdu (Member National Assembly) and Sen. Binta Masi Garba (Member National Assembly) in Abuja, Nigeria also echoed Prof. Odidi’s sentiments. APC USA International Secretariat agree with Prof. Odidi’s comments as a cursory analysis of the new Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption antecedents lends support to why they are the best choice.

Benue Tribunal: Moro raises alarm over possible President’s interference

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

mmediate past minister for Interior Comrade Abba Moro has called on President Muhammad Buhari to keep to his avowed pledge to be leader for all Nigerians and not a section by refraining from interfering in the case between PDP and APC candidates at the ongoing tribunal election in Benue State. Comrade Moro who expressed fears of the President’s interference during a parley with journalists, observed that the recent constitution of a 10 man committee by the President to salvage APC governors whose elections are been contested at the courts is a ploy to influence the decision in the case between Governor Samuel Ortom and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP

•••Berates Ortom over poor start in governance candidate Terhemen Tarzoor at the election petition tribunal. He added that the intervention by the President in resolving the impasse between the governor, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and Sen. Joseph Kennedy Waku who were contesting the emergence of Ortom as the APC flag bearer at a Federal High Court in Abuja, contradicts his stance on neutrality, justice and fairness. “There are fears that the President may tinker with the tribunal rulings. The president had told Nigerians that he is for everyone and no one. He has promised to fight corruption and Nigerians are watching keenly to see this happen. He should not interfere with the tribunal ruling as in doing so, will send a wrong signal in his fight against corruption and

cause a setback in our justice system. Jonathan had allowed free and fair election and so, Buhari will further deepen the process by allowing justice to reign”, Moro strongly maintained. The former minister berated Governor Ortom for the manner he has started in administering the state especially in the constitution of probe panels, positing that it is an unnecessary distraction and veritable avenue to extract money from people at a time when Benue people particularly, civil servants expect government to ameliorate their sufferings by paying their salaries. “This government has started on a faulty foundation. All we hear is billions of naira approved for

purchase of cars for government officials. Loans are taken to pay salaries of workers yet they are not paid. I leant that the office of the Secretary to the State Government was given billions of naira and cars purchased for local government chairmen worth over 7 million naira. These are missteps. There is high insecurity in the state. Innocent people are indiscriminately killed yet government is doing nothing apart from the amorphous amnesty program. Security agencies should be properly mobilized to go after criminals. The situation is an unfortunate one. It is haphazard. Ortom should take right steps for the destiny of the State”, he advised.

ational Youth leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo, has declared that the party does not have any preferred candidate as the next president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). The APC youth leader however urged Nigerians to disregard some of the aspirants already declaring themselves as the leader of the council or associating themselves with the APC. Speaking with newsmen at the party’s secretariat yesterday in Abuja, Hon. Dasuki Jalo, said that the Youth ministry and minister which coordinate the affairs of the youth has to be in place before any election could hold. He said: “There was supposed to be an election for the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) but we all witnessed what happened particularly that the election could not hold because of the crises, but for the reason that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is new, therefore they have to make sure that all things are in place before they can go ahead with the election. “Though, we heard that some people are saying they emerged the leadership of the council but to my own understanding there was no election and the party has not endorsed anybody and the party has not asked anybody to contest for any position. What we are looking forward to is to ensure that new executive council members are in place, particularly the Minister of Youth who will be responsible for the conduct of the NYCN election.” According to him, “Our advice is that if any election is going to hold there has to be mechanism in place to ensure that things are done in proper way and in proper manner. “Let me give example of my state, Gombe, from my investigation there was no youth council election for the past ten years, so if you want to build a structure you have to start from the foundation, so, youth council election to my understanding the youth council we election have to start from the local government to state and the federal, that’s how you get your delegates and know who and who suppose to come and vote for the national leaders.” Speaking on the crisis rocking the council, the APC youth leader said the problem has been lingering for a long time therefore APC cannot take responsibility for it. “We have to make sure that we look into it thoroughly and address some of the problems we inherited before we can come up with a position.” Jalo also assured that youth development is one of the major priority of President Buhari, adding that Nigerian youths will soon be better for it.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

US govt supports ongoing reforms in NNPC By Etuka Sunday

he United States Government yesterday welcome with gladness the ongoing restructuring in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), positive that such moves would lead Nigeria towards the path of growth and sustainable development. The US pledged its readiness to work with the new Management of the NNPC in achieving the Federal Government’s reform agenda in the oil and gas industry. A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Ohi Alegbe quoted the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador James Entwistle to have made the pledge on behalf of the US government during a courtesy call on the Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu at the Corporate Headquarters of the NNPC in Abuja. Amb. Entwistle said that the United States is willing to provide all necessary support to the new NNPC Management to realize its set goals and objectives. He noted that though the job of the GMD of NNPC is about the most challenging job in Nigeria, the US is convinced that Dr. Kachikwu has the skills, training and requisite experience to lead the oil and gas industry in Nigeria towards the path of growth and sustainable development. Commending the US for the pledge of support, Dr. Kachikwu reiterated the determination of the new NNPC Management to implement the spirit and letter of the President Muhammadu

...As GMD reiterates commitment to service delivery

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), in a handshake with Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs Seven Energy, Alhaji Abdullah Bukar (right), during a visit by the members of Indigenous Oil Producers, on Wednesday at the State House, in Abuja. With them is Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Ojunekwu Austin Avuru (middle). Photo Joe Oroye Buhari’s reform agenda in the petroleum industry. The GMD stated that the new NNPC would be driven by

a deep sense of commitment to service delivery anchored on the principle of transparency, efficiency, people, purpose

and profit. “My mission is to re-direct and re-energize the work force for greater value addition

and I believe that the NNPC, given the right leadership has what it takes to achieve this objective,’’ he said.

Meters: NERC begins enforcement on Discos for non-compliance of CAPMI By Etuka Sunday

igerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said it would commence enforcement action for non-compliance with implementation of the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) by majority of the distribution companies. A statement by the Head, Public Affairs Department, NERC, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi said, the Commission has given the distribution companies a seven day ultimatum to show cause

...Gives 7-day ultimatum why action should not be taken and sanction meted on them for non-compliance, stemming from violation of the provisions of the licence terms and conditions. This the statement said was contained in a letter to the defaulting utilities, namely Port Harcourt, Abuja, Yola and Enugu distribution companies. Others are Ibadan, Ikeja, Eko and Benin Disco. The warning read: “The Commission considers your actions as manifest and flagrant breaches and therefore requires

you to show cause in writing within seven days from the date hereon, why enforcement should not be commenced against you and sanctions meted accordingly for non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the license granted you and the order on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation’’. The order introducing the CAPMI scheme became effective on 14 May, 2013, in which NERC directed that the scheme should commence and be implemented at the same time

in all the distribution companies. Furthermore, the discos were to redeploy meters under the scheme to willing customers, including the installation of same within 45days from the date of the payment by any customer. In the letter to the Discos, NERC noted that it had been observed from public consultation and monitoring exercises carried out by the Commission to ascertain the implementation level; showed that the discos either failed or neglected to fully implement the CAPMI scheme. Condition 2(1) of the terms and conditions of the licence

granted the discos provides as follows, ‘’The licencee shall comply with the conditions of this licence and the requirements of the licenced business as set out in the Act and Regulations approved by the Commission in accordance with the Commission’s statutory duty to monitor all licencees’’. They also have been found to be collecting money from customers for credit meters not minding whether they opted for the scheme, including not publicising the scheme thus giving misleading information to customers.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Business

Railway workers pledge support for Buhari’s fight against corruption From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

nothing to recover the nation’s patrimony stolen by some unscrupulous politicians and greedy public servants. The Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Comrade Segun Esan, hinted that the Union rose from its Special Central Working Committee (CWC) summoned to discuss the state of the nation recently where all the members of the CWC agreed unanimously to support

and encourage the President in the quest of his administration to fight corruption. “The leadership of our great Union summoned a special CWC meeting where we considered various issues and challenges confronting our dear nation. There, we agreed most unanimously that corruption has been the major problem that has made true development elusive and largely impossible in Nigeria.

Regrettably, those that are involved in high-scale corruption that has crippled and robbed this country of greatness and sustainable development are the politicians and public servants who are trusted with our collective patrimony”, Esan said. He said railway workers commended President Buhari for starting right with the campaign against corruption and advised that the President

R-L: Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, Gombe state Deputy Governor, Mr. Charles Iliya, and others, during the inauguration of Bank of Industry (BOI) zonal office, yesterday in Gombe. Photo: NAN

should investigate all the politicians and public servants suspected to have enriched themselves through selfenrichment while in office. Esan also added that President Buhari should empower all anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC with more legislative power to deal squarely with ‘thieves of our national wealth’. “All suspected politicians and public servants who are proved beyond all doubt to be thieves of our national wealth should forfeit all assets and proceeds proved to have been earned through corruption to the federal government and beyond that, such politicians and public servants should be banned for life from holding public offices. This Administration should also come up with legal framework that will protect funds specifically appropriated or set aside for one national project or the other from being diverted to another project. “Diversion of loans or funds for a specific project or embezzlement of same can only be informed by greed and sinister tendencies just as the case is with the alleged diversion of $600 million out of the $1.05 billion loans taken from China Exim bank for the development of railway infrastructure. The President should take scrupulous advantage of the improving image and integrity of our nation to seek the cooperation of the international communities in locating and repatriating all stolen money and kept abroad”, Esan added. He appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to chart a new approach and muster strong political will towards sustainable development of rail transport system as public transport and epicenter of transport infrastructure in Nigeria.

DHL launches pocket-sized, all-touch computers for speedy delivery From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

he workers of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have expressed their support and backing to the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari in its renewed fight against corruption. The workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) said the President should stop at nothing to recover the nation’s patrimony stolen by some unscrupulous politicians and greedy public servants. The Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Comrade Segun Esan, hinted that the Union rose from its Special Central Working Committee (CWC)

summoned to discuss the state of the nation recently where all the members of the CWC agreed unanimously to support and encourage the President in the quest of his administration to fight corruption. “The leadership of our great Union summoned a special CWC meeting where we considered various issues and challenges confronting our dear nation. There, we agreed most unanimously that corruption has been the major problem that has made true development elusive and largely impossible in Nigeria. Regrettably, those that are involved in high-scale corruption that has crippled and robbed

this country of greatness and sustainable development are the politicians and public servants who are trusted with our collective patrimony”, Esan said. He said railway workers commended President Buhari for starting right with the campaign against corruption and advised that the President should investigate all the politicians and public servants suspected to have enriched themselves through selfenrichment while in office. Esan also added that President Buhari should empower all anticorruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC with more legislative power to deal squarely with ‘thieves of our national wealth’.

“All suspected politicians and public servants who are proved beyond all doubt to be thieves of our national wealth should forfeit all assets and proceeds proved to have been earned through corruption to the federal government and beyond that, such politicians and public servants should be banned for life from holding public offices. This Administration should also come up with legal framework that will protect funds specifically appropriated or set aside for one national project or the other from being diverted to another project. “Diversion of loans or funds for a specific project or embezzlement of same can only be informed by greed and sinister tendencies just as the

case is with the alleged diversion of $600 million out of the $1.05 billion loans taken from China Exim bank for the development of railway infrastructure. The President should take scrupulous advantage of the improving image and integrity of our nation to seek the cooperation of the international communities in locating and repatriating all stolen money and kept abroad”, Esan added. He appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to chart a new approach and muster strong political will towards sustainable development of rail transport system as public transport and epicenter of transport infrastructure in Nigeria.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Business

Remit aviation charges or risk being grounded, FG tells airlines T he Ministry of Aviation on Thursday directed airline operators to remit their dues promptly to avoid the embarrassment of their airlines being grounded by its regulatory agencies. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Mr James Odaudu. The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reports that the dues include en route, navigational, landing and parking as well as rent and passengers service charges. The statement said that the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Hajiya Binta Bello, gave the directive at a meeting with members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in Lagos. It said that the prompt payment of the outstanding charges owed

by the operators would enable the agencies to carry out their statutory functions effectively and efficiently. “Inspite of the perceived problems enumerated by the airline operators, the aviation sector has recorded commendable and laudable feats worth celebrating. “I do not want to believe that everything about the aviation sector is negative. “We have issues, challenges, but we have things that have worked

well. “If nothing, I have just received a certificate from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rating Nigeria 96 per cent after the security audit carried out recently,’’ the statement quoted Bello as saying. Bello, it added, informed the operators that the present administration was committed to repositioning the sector as a major player in the economy.

The statement said that the Chairman of AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison, decried the nation’s liberal airspace policy. According to it, the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) allows foreign airlines to operate multiple entry points within the nation’s airspace. The statement, however, said that the continued multiple entry would affect the development of domestic airlines. (NAN)

Eko Disco installs 8,133 smart meters in six months

he management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) on Thursday said that it had installed 8, 133 smart meters for consumers within its jurisdiction in the last six months. Mr Godwin Idemudia, the Assistant General Manager, EKEDP’s Public Affairs Division, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Idemudia said that the figure was from the 40,574 consumers that had applied for smart meters under the Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme. CAPMI is a credited scheme created by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enable consumers to pay for meters by installments. Idemudia also said that company would soon deploy no less than 41,000 meters to consumers who had applied for them after they must have satisfied the stipulated requirements. “The company has so far installed 8,133 meters in the last six months, but we have just received about 41,000 new meters awaiting installation. “After a consumer applies for the meter, a form will be given to him or her where he will state all his energy consumption. “This is to know if the consumer will require a one-phase meter or a threephase meter. “We have observed that after installation, some of our customers will add to their consumption which had led to meters being burnt or damaged in the past. “That’s why we opted for smart meters because they are strong and reliable,” he said.He appealed to the consumers to exercise patience, adding that they would soon get their meters. NAN reports that smart metering is the new technology in electricity metering, which creates an interface between electricity providers and consumers. The smart meters are available both in prepaid and post-paid formats. It also allows the electricity providers to access and monitor how their consumers are consuming electricity from their offices and ascertain the working conditions of such meters.(NAN)

L-R: Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Anambra state Governor, Mr. Willy Obiano, Kwara state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, jointly briefing journalists on the outcome of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Perm Sec advices govt on national productivity plan By Doyin Ojosipe

he Perm Sec, Federal Ministry Of Communication Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa has urged the Federal Government to involve every critical Sector in national productivity quest by directing that they all develop a mapped out productivity plan while following the agreed national benchmark. He said this at the 15th National Productivity Day in Abuja Yesterday, a ceremony which saw about 11 Civil servants and two Organisations conferred

with the Award of the National Productivity Order of Merit. The Perm Sec, who also urged Nigerians to be more proactive in the development of their country by making national productivity a matter of urgency, reasoned that while productivity has been a huge challenge for the country, the implication is Nigeria may not be able to lift her head among bother productive nations. He said, “Productivity cannot wait, it is essentially what defines national development and progress everywhere. “A nation that puts little value

on efficiency in management of its national wealth lacks maintenance culture…glorifies a culture of something for nothing in wealth acquisition”, he added. Olaopa who was also one of the awardees maintained that the national productivity goal is achievable and further enumerated ways the federal government could go about it. He said, “ getting the critical sectors of the economy to articulate their productivity plans based on agreed national benchmark; Strategic integration of the various productivity

plans and targets into the national plan by the National Planning Commission; Launch of productivity metrics and tools to be deployed to enable employers and employees to begin to sign on to productivity bargaining and gain sharing contracts, to institutionalise a new performance-driven compensation system and skillsbased workforce pricing in a broad sense and National-wide value system reorientation in the wings of a national integrity system that the Presidential AntiCorruption Expert Committee will institute, among others

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Business

Set target necessary to improve electricity-EMSG Chairman By Etuka Sunday

he Chairman of the just formed Electricity Market Summit Group (EMSG), Dr Shamsudeen Usman has said that set target was necessary in the Power Sector to improve generation and supply of electricity to Nigerians. The former Minister of National Planning who spoke yesterday at the Electricity Market Summit 2015 in Abuja said: “It is not normal to have the whole system coming down. Maybe we should have a performance contract that says if there is a system collapse, the Minister of Power should resign.” Such according to him, would put the minister to more action and enhance transparency and accountability in the reformed power sector. On setting achievable target, he said, “we need to set target for the sector as this is a government now that is talking of accountability and transparency,” as late President Umaru Yar’adua set a target of 6,000megawatts (mw) which was not achieved. But Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi said the inability to reach the 6,000mw was because of gas supply constraint to the Generation companies (Gencos) even as evacuation of power by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is still having some project management problem. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali said the power supply situation has improved. “People now have light in major cities for about 17 to 18 hours,” he said. Decrying gas supply constraints, Igali said the present 4,500mw average generation can move up with more gas. He said, “We hope the vandals cooperate in the spirit of change to sustain this. For three months now, our gas pipelines have been peacefully maintained.” Igali who assured on more power supply soon said more projects are ongoing to transform transmission especially the north-south loop and when completed, stranded power in plants under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) will be evacuated to add more capacity.

L-R: Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Engineer Shamm Kolo, Zonal Head (FCT1) of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Baldwin Onuigbo , a winner of generator, Usman Salisu, and Director Finance & Supply Suleja Local Government in Niger state, Mr. Iliyasn Zakari, during the grand finale draws of FCMB Millionaire Promo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Kwara House suspend permission granted for construction of oil stations From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

he Kwara State House of Assembly has directed that Issuance of Permit for Construction of new Petrol Stations in the State be suspended until new resolutions are communicated to the Governor. This was part of resolutions reached by the House following it resolution on the matter. A Member, representing Ilorin North West Constituency Hon. Abdul-Rafiu Abdul-Rahman had made a motion on Indiscriminate Proliferation of Petrol Stations in Ilorin Metropolis raised . While reading the resolutions

of the House, the Speaker Dr. Ali Ahmad noted that the Indiscriminate Construction of Petrol Stations could result in serious security, health and environmental hazards if not promptly checked. The Speaker House also enjoined the State Government to liaise with the Department of Petroleum Resources on the need to strictly adhere to laws, rules, environmental impact and regulations governing location of petrol stations. The House also directed the State Town Planning Authority, Department of Petroleum Resources and all relevant

agencies and stakeholders be invited to brief the House on the menance and constituted a fire man adhoc Committee to investigate and report to the House in the next two weeks. Hon. Abdul-Rahman had while raising the motion observed among others things that siting of Petrol Stations in some locations within densely populated residential environment like Muritala, Taiwo roads, Alawonla in Okelele, Ita Merin, Agbo-Oba, Alfa Yahaya, Alore, Alagbado, Sobi, Egbejila in Ilorin Metropolis had thrown caution and due process to the wind due to deliberate violation of

laws governing location of petrol stations. Members had while contributing on the motion praised the mover of the motion, noting that the situation had become worrisome and should be checked to ensure protection of lives and properties. The Speaker urged Civil servants in the state to emulate the sterling qualities of the retiring Clerk of the House Mr. Ayotunde Olaitan Oyeniyi. Ahmad explained that the retiring Clerk had rendered meritorious service to his fatherland, noting that he was a shinning example to others.

NIPC partners with council to attract foreign investments

he Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) says it will partner the Nigeria Investment Council in the U.S. to attract investment into the country. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Joel Attah, Head Media and Protocol of the commission, in Abuja yesterday. NIPC Executive Director Uju Baba pledged the partnership when she received the members of the council in her office. The recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the U.S. has

begun to yield dividend as members of the council are partnering with the commission to attract investment into the country. ``The council has already discussed with major investors in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure and energy sectors,’’ it quoted Baba as saying. She said the commission would ensure that investors who have shown interest to invest in Nigeria were provided with adequate information and given hand-holding support to actualise their investment. Baba commended the delegation

for their efforts in promoting the abundant investment opportunities in the country to investors in the U.S. According to her, the main focus of the commission is to identify and meet targeted investors who are committed and desirous to invest in the country as well as promote priority sectors. She said that the president’s visit to the U.S. opened windows of opportunities to potential and prospective investors for their presence to be felt in the country. ``The country is now on the right tract to economic recovery and

advancement,’’ Baba noted. The leader of delegation, Dr Chris Nwanoro, said that the council engaged top U.S. companies, seeking expansion of their businesses to Africa to consider Nigeria as the most preferred investment destination. ``We have identified some investors who have now indicated interest to invest in Nigeria,’’ Nwanoro said. He expressed the council’s readiness to partner with the commission to ensure that massive investments were attracted from the U.S. to Nigeria. (NAN)

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Stock Watch:

Thursday, August 20, 2015

PAGE 25

Peoples Daily, Friday, August 21 , 2015

PAGE 24

Special Report

What do Calais migrants know about the UK? What do Calais migrants know about the UK?

’m chasing my hope because I want to study in the University of Cambridge,” says Amaamer, 27, from Sudan. “It’s a famous university. Since I was in secondary school I wanted to go there.” And Amaamer is prepared to go much further than the typical applicant. His foot is in plaster after he broke a bone falling off a fence, but he says he will keep trying to reach the UK once it heals. “I’m not just going there because I think it’s easy,” he adds. Robah, 19, from Ethiopia says he wants to study in the UK, which he says is a “good place to be a student”. Diafu, 21, from Ethiopia, also thinks he will be able to study in Britain. Diafu is angry at Britain’s efforts to keep migrants out - which he sums up as “more fences, more security, sniffer dogs” - but he says whatever happens he will keep trying to cross the Channel. Amir, 24, explains that his home country of Sudan was under British-Egyptian “

Amir and Wiel spoke to the BBC from a hut they and their friends built in the Jungle camp

Migrants are eager to reach their destinations

rule until 1956, and says this historical link is still important. “People don’t know any country, only England,” he says. “I know the history of England.” He also says the process of applying for legal status in Britain is “very fast”. But Amir, who is helping to build a school to teach English and French in the Calais migrants camp, known as the Jungle, says he has decided to claim

asylum in France. “England is not a dreamland,” he says. His friend Wiel, 25, disagrees. Sipping sugary tea boiled on a stove in a hut he helped to build, he says England is his “dream country”, adding: “I will try until I cross.” Wiel, also from Sudan, says the existence of the Jungle camp has shown him France is not the place where he

Amaamer has his sights set on a place at Cambridge University

wants to live. “England is not France. There is no Jungle in England,” he says. This deep dislike of France is shared by many migrants. “England is more friendly than France. People in France reject us,” says Amir. Asked what he knows about the UK, Diafu simply says it is better than France - which he describes with a single expletive.

Ibrahim, 26, from Sudan, also believes better opportunities await across the Channel. “In England you get a big house,” he says. None of the migrants can say where they got their information about Britain’s housing system. “You can work in England [but] I will be a student there,” Ibrahim adds. He says he will try to cross the Channel “every

Robah says he wants to study in the UK

day” until he succeeds. “France is no good,” says Robah. “In France there is no home and you spend months sleeping in the streets. It’s different in England. They give you a house then you can wait while you get documents. “In England they give you documents after three months but in France you wait much longer.” “People speak English

there,” says 21-year-old Mole, from Sudan. It might seem strange, but many migrants give answers as simple as this when asked what they know about Britain. “People who speak English want to go there,” Mole says. He says English is “easy to learn” and is the language most often used between migrants who do not have the same mother tongue. Mohammad, 27, says

Thousands of migrants are camped around Calais in northern France. Many of them think life will be better in the UK than France - or many other EU countries - but are they right, asks Justin Parkinson.

Britain is a “good country”. “Everyone likes it,” he says. Asked what he knows about it, he shrugs and says:

Mustapha has already tried to reach the UK 20 times

“I have friends in Stoke.” He says he has been to Britain once - in 2004 - but was deported to Iraq. All he

is sure of is that he prefers Britain to France. “The UK government understand our problems and they would give us protection,” says 27-yearold Mustapha. He says he has tried to reach Britain 20 times, and getting there will “save my life”. If he succeeds, he says British freedoms will enable him to campaign for change in his “very dangerous” home country of Ethiopia. Mohamed, 43, has a wife and six children in his country, Egypt, and he believes if he reaches the UK they will be allowed to join him. “I want them safe and me safe too,” he says. “England is the best country to help them. In England they will keep me safe.” Some migrants have particular images of British

life or people that they latch on to. “There is a man I love so much - David Beckham,” says Alpha, a Mauritanian carpenter who has built a thatched house in the Jungle camp. “Even my house is called David Beckham House.” Alpha says he has accepted he will not cross the Channel - but like many migrants he still dreams of doing so, saying he would work “every day” in Britain. His home - complete with a separate kitchen building, chicken coop and seating area - is perhaps the best in the camp. Asked if he likes life here, he pauses for a long time. “Nobody chooses this,” he says. Source: BBC

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Islam

Before the divorcement...please! Allah says:

“For Hajj are the months well known.ifany one undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling In the Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear me, O ye that are wise.” [alBaqarah: 197]

n the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers till the end of time. Hajj exercise is the most all-inclusiverigorous pillar of Islam. Of the five pillars of Islam, it is the only one that that involves the remaining four. The aspect of the Kalimah is evident in the strong intention

The Ka’aba

of the intending pilgrim to have resolved to shelve every aspect of his personal, public and political activities throughout the hajj period. The ability to conquer one’s avarice and greediness in spending huge amount of money for the purpose of undertaking the hajjritualscan not be overestimated. Similarly, the ability to withstand the physical and corporeal demand of the rites of hajj is a clear indication of strong faith. In the resolute of an intending pilgrim to withstand and shun all satanic temptations during the hajj imply the level of one’s commitment to obeying Allah under all conditions of insinuation. Thus, Allah demands from all intending pilgrims to make adequate preparations in order to undertake the pilgrimage to the sacred House ones in a life time! The journey must not be corrupted and tarnished in anyway. Hence, He the Exalted admonished, thus: “…And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear me, O ye that are wise.”[al-Baqarah: 197] That is to say apart from the need to make adequate financial, physical and emotional provisions, the best of all is the determination to obey the rules of hajj with fear of Allah and good conduct. The fortitude to fear Allah under all conditions, as well as to exhibit good conduct and behaviour no matter the circumstances, ensure the acceptability of

islam explained By Husain Zakariyya Yawale

+234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com one’s hajj by Allah, the Most high! Thus, having all these conditions fulfilled, the first in importance has always remained knowledge. Every intending pilgrim must have good and adequate knowledge and education to successfully undertake the hajj in full alertness at every juncture of every aspect of the hajj rites from inception to completion. Where this is not attainable, the enthusiasm and morale to ask questions and get avail to proper and correct knowledge must be inherent. Hajj like all other aspects of Islamic acts of ibadats only Muslim are required to fulfill the following conditions should perform Hajj: a.Sound mind and in full control of his mental faculties. b.Maturity, and mature enough to understand the full import, and significance of what he is setting out to do. c.He must be financially capable enough to be able to bear all of his expenses for Hajj and to provide sufficiently for his dependents during his

absence and until his return. d.Ability to resolve your outstanding differences with others and seek forgiveness from those you may have hurt in any way in the past. However, along these major and important preparations, there are other provisions which are also important based on the individual condition. Some of these provisions include but not limited to: 1.Make a list of important things you want to do before leaving home and on your arrival the holy land before travelling so that you don’t forget anything. 2.Take medicine pack with you. Never waste time to take your drugs as soon as it is time. One can take Vitamin C supplements regularly during the trip. It is also a good idea to carry some packs of antiMalaria drugs in case some fellow pilgrims may need it. 3.You can some cooking items which are not readily available in the Kingdom due to unfamiliarity with their types of foods. 4.Make sure you are

immunized from poliomyelitis and related communicable diseases. 5.Learn from experienced pilgrims the safest way and method of preserving cash and travel document. There are also some crucial measures all intending pilgrims must observe for his or her hajj to be accepted and rewarded accordingly. •Free your belief from all aspects of Shirk, major or minor. Allah says: “If you associate (with Allah), your deeds will be ruined and verily you will be among the losers.” [al-Fatir: 65] •Completely preserve your Hajj purely and sincerely for Allah. This is a divine preparation; the acceptance and reward of your Hajj largely hinges on on your objective and piousness. •It is significant to utilize only Halal means to support your journey. The Apostle of Allah said, “Allah is pure and He does not accept but pure only.” [Saheeh Muslim] •The journey of Hajj involves a great deal of physical activities and thus you must be fully prepared to face these physical encounters. Thoughhajj involves a lot of labour and struggles, one must avoid static crowds and heavy traffic of men. •It is a good idea to accompany knowledgeable and righteous people, and to avoid the groups of the innovators (ahlulBid’ah). Keep away from all forbidden acts and places. •Safeguard your tongue from all vain talk, backstabbing, quarrelling and complaining. •Avoid imitation of actions or utterances without making sure that aspect is a genuine act of ibadah and is right. •Eat good food to keep you going. Make sure in your daily’s choice of food to choose protein, carb and fat to make a balanced meal. •7) It is a good idea also for fat people to lubricate the inside of their thighs. Rubbing baby oil or Vaseline between thecan prevent chaffing or rash. An intending pilgrim must use all resources available to him to fulfill every aspect required by the hajj rituals. Hajj should not be regarded as ordinary journeys where one obeys his whims and caprices. Hajj is a very special and privilege journey that must be respected and honoured every bit of it! May Allah accept our hajj and reward us with the permanent abode in the highest Jannah!

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

P A G E

International

Risking death at sea to escape boredom

ANALYSIS By Lucy Ash

any people trying to start a new life in Europe want to escape war or extreme poverty, but large numbers of young Algerians are willing to risk death crossing the Mediterranean because they are bored and fed up with the lack of opportunities at home. I crawl under a wire and nearly trip on a sleeping dog. “This way, quick!” hisses Rachid. It is pitch black so I gingerly follow the greenish glow from his mobile phone up four flights of stairs in a half-built apartment block. We’re up here because Rachid prefers to speak away from the prying eyes of the police or the twitching ears of informers. The warm wind is sweeping across from the sea. We are overlooking Sidi Salem, a rundown suburb of the Algerian port of Annaba. To our left a former French colonial army barracks has been turned into a shanty town. “Even though I’m free, my life here is like a prison,” Rachid says. “As soon as I get a call about a boat, I’ll be off again to try to reach Sardinia.” Rachid is a harraga. The word means “path burner” in Arabic, a runaway who flees his or her country for a better life elsewhere. It also describes the practice of setting fire to identity papers to avoid being traced and repatriated. Over the past decade, Sidi Salem has become a famous launch pad for illegal migrants. The Italian island of Sardinia can be reached in just 12 hours with the right weather conditions. The harragas often use boats like these to try to get to Sardinia Under cover of darkness, the migrants set out across the open sea, usually 10 or 12 to a boat, with jerrycans of petrol, food, blankets, an

outboard motor and a GPS tracking device. In 2009 the Algerian government made clandestine emigration a crime, punishable by fines and two to six months in prison. Equipped with new boats and helicopters, the coastguard has also stepped up night-time patrols along the country’s 1,200km shoreline. The Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a Fatwa against those who try to cross the border illegally - 14,000 mosques were instructed to preach against leaving. But the harragas keep trying to go. Rachid has attempted to escape three times already. Twice he made it across the Mediterranean, to Sardinia. On one occasion he managed to stay away for eight months and got into France, where he worked in a halal butcher’s shop, before being caught by French police and sent home. The second time he was sent back from Italy after 55 days. “The carabinieri told us that our President Bouteflika had paid 4,500 euros (£3,175) for each of us to be returned and put us on a plane home,” says Rachid. “I felt so depressed.” He admits his situation is far from desperate. He has a job, albeit a low paid one, as a security guard and a roof over his head. He does not fear for his life on a daily basis as many Algerians did during the brutal civil war of the 1990s, the period known as “the black decade”. Since then Africa’s biggest country has been largely peaceful. Thanks to vast reserves of oil and gas, there are plenty of imported goods in the shops. Healthcare and education are free for the country’s 35 million citizens. Young people make up more than two thirds of the population but the ruling elite consists mainly of men over the age of 70 - the ailing President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is in now his fourth term and many feel there is no prospect for change.

Rachid, aged 33, feels life is passing him by. “What kind of future can I have here in Algeria,” he says bitterly. “There’s nothing for me here.” On his last attempt to get to Europe he hid inside a cargo ship in the port of Annaba but was spotted and promptly arrested. He was fortunate. The prosecutor came from his neighbourhood and released him. But in practice few would be migrants spend long behind bars, says Kourceila Zerguine, a lawyer in Annaba. “Our prisons can’t accommodate all the hundreds of harragas who are arrested each year,” he says. “This law was imposed by the authorities under pressure from Europe. Algeria has become a guard dog for ‘Fortress Europe’.” There are no official figures to show how many harragas try to leave - and many of them never reach the promised land. Twenty-six-year-old Merouane Belabed disappeared one April night in 2007. He worked in his father’s graphic design company. The family has a comfortable home but Merouane wanted to visit his cousins in Europe. He applied for a visa five times but was always turned down. The night before he left he told his father, Kamel, that he was going to spend a few days in Tunisia on the beach with friends. “He said, ‘Don’t worry Dad, I’m not asking for money or to borrow the car and I’ll be back within 48 hours - three days at the most.’ “ But the family never heard from him again. He joined a long list of Algerians missing at sea which includes doctors, engineers and even the grandson of the country’s former president, Chadli Bendjedid. The harragas have become something of a national obsession in the Algerian media, cinema and

popular music. Azzedine Nebil, better known as Azzou - one of Algeria’s leading hip hop artists - has campaigned against clandestine crossings. His song Harraga tells the story of a journey to Sardinia which nearly ends in tragedy. The lyrics describe towering waves, a boat full of water and a group of terrified young men “looking death in the face”. They are rescued in the nick of time but not all harragas are so lucky. “When I perform this song at concerts, so many people are in tears,” says Azzou. “I have a friend, a boy I grew up with, who disappeared at sea, presumed drowned but they never found his body. “What is the point of making it to Paris if you are going to live a miserable hand-to-mouth existence selling contraband cigarettes on the street? You can create your own dream here, in your own village. You just need to think differently.” But despite all the subsidies for cooking oil, sugar, petrol and text books, hope is a commodity in short supply in Algeria. An Islamist opposition leader once described Algerian youth as having a choice “between death at sea and a slow, gradual death at home” given the lack of opportunities in a stagnant economy dominated by nepotism and corruption. President Bouteflika has blamed satellite TV for spreading propaganda about “a pseudo overseas prosperity”. And the internet may also have helped to give Algerian youth a chronic, collective case of FOMO - Fear of Missing Out as the diaspora relay tales of social, religious and sexual freedoms and a lively nightlife as well as better job prospects abroad. The government has urged young people to stay put to help build their own nation. Since the uprising in neighbouring Tunisia, which began

in 2010, the Algerian authorities have extended youth employment schemes and given young people interest free loans to set up their own businesses. Mourad Zemali who heads ANSEJ, the agency which funds entrepreneurs, says so far 340,000 projects have been financed which have created more than 800,000 jobs. At a time of plummeting oil prices, he tells me the state is well aware of the need to diversify the economy into areas such as digital technology and tourism. Despite stunning scenery and a wealth of cultural treasures - including well preserved Roman cities - incidents such as the murder of a French tourist last year and the hostage crisis following an attack on a gas plant in 2013 have discouraged visitors. And in a country where the state sector provides about 60% of jobs the service culture is sluggish, possibly a legacy of Soviet style centralised economy in the decades after Algerian independence. “We are helping to provoke changes in mentality,” says Mr Zemali. “As well as financial help, we are trying to give young people values, get them to take responsibility for themselves. So we’re creating a new generation which takes initiative, which is dynamic.” He admits that some of the companies funded by ANSEJ have gone bust but argues that bankruptcy for some start-ups is inevitable. “The fact that they have tried to create a business employing other people in itself counts as a success,” he says. Yet some are sceptical. Yousef Othomani, who went to catering school in Switzerland, worked in London and has just opened a restaurant in Algiers, suspects the fund is yet another way to mask the lack of real change in Algeria. Yousef Othomani’s restaurant Bad Buns - he calls it “New York without a visa” Source: BBC News

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

International

UN peacekeepers face new sex abuse allegations in CAR T

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza sworn in for third term

urundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has been sworn in for a controversial third term in office. The BBC’s Prime Ndikumagenge in Burundi says the ceremony came as a surprise, as Mr Nkurunziza had been expected to be sworn in next week. At least 100 people have died in protests since Mr Nkurunziza announced in April he would run for a third term. The government accuses the opposition, which says the third term is illegal, of causing the violence. In his inauguration speech, Mr Nkurunziza promised to end the violence within two months. No foreign head of state attended the inauguration. Burundi’s government says a number of countries apologised for not sending their delegates, because of the change of date. The African Union, European Union and the US State Department have all expressed concerns that July’s election was not free and fair. The UN observer mission said the election was not free and credible and was held “in an environment of profound mistrust” between political rivals. The African Union did not send observers - the first time it has taken such a stance against a member state.

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has been sworn in for a controversial third term in office

hree young females, including a minor, have accused United Nations peacekeepers of raping them in the Central African Republic, the global body has announced, taking the number of allegations to 13 since the UN stationed troops in the country in September. The announcement on Wednesday comes a week after Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretarygeneral, removed the head of the peacekeeping mission in CAR over the handling of a series of similar allegations in the conflict-wracked country. Vannina Maestracci, spokesperson for the secretary general’s office, told reporters that families of the three young females made the allegations on August 12 and that the alleged rapes occurred in “recent weeks”. Similarly, a statement from the peacekeeping mission said UN headquarters was “immediately informed” of the allegations and that it was collecting “all available evidence”. The alleged rapes occurred in the city of Bambari, where peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are stationed. Congo’s UN ambassador, Ignace Gata Mavita wa Lufuta, told The Associated Press news

UN peacekeepers earlier had been accused of sexually abusing children in Bangui and in the eastern part of the country [AP]

agency that three members of Congo’s military have been accused and that he had just met with UN officials about looking into the allegations. He didn’t address the allegations but said it’s “not normal” that vulnerable people would be victims of those meant to protect them. Congo’s troops serve in no other UN peacekeeping missions, and its nearly 900 troops were accepted into the mission in CAR

at a time when few countries were volunteering people to serve in the chaotic country, which has been ripped by unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims. Last August, the New Yorkbased Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict said Congo’s troops, which were already in the country as part of an African Union mission, should be excluded from the UN mission. The advocacy network pointed

out that Congo’s armed forces have been noted in Ban’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. They were included again this year. Last week, following the removal of the head of the CAR peacekeeping mission, Ban met with the Security Council and the heads of all UN peacekeeping missions to discuss new measures to swiftly investigate alleged sexual assaults and hold peacekeepers accountable.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa hospital for two weeks

elson Mandela appointed Archbishop Tutu to head the Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of apartheid South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu is to spend the next two weeks in hospital, according to a family statement. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation said he was on a new course of antibiotics to treat an inflammation. The 83-year-old Nobel peace laureate “is in good spirits and not in any pain,” the family said. The first black archbishop of Cape Town played a vocal role opposing white-minority rule in South Africa. This is his third stay in hospital in recent weeks. He was previously treated for an infection resulting from his prostate cancer treatment. Details of his current condition have not been released. Archbishop Tutu retired from public life in 2011 but continues to travel. The archbishop deeply appreciate the prayers and good wishes of so many, said his daughter, Reverend Mpho Tutu.

Desmond Tutu and his wife have four children and seven grandchildren together “While my father was very grateful to the media for its concern, he had humbly requested journalists not to anticipate daily updates on his condition so that he could rest peacefully while receiving treatment,” his daughter added.

Desmond Tutu Born 1931 • 1970s: Became prominent as apartheid critic • 1984: Awarded Nobel Peace Prize • 1986: First black

Archbishop of Cape Town • 1995: Appointed head of Truth and Reconciliation Commission • Became a fierce critic of South Africa’s ANC • Supports assisted dying for the terminally ill.

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outh Korea has ordered the evacuation of residents from an area of its western border after an exchange of fire with North Korea, reports say. North Korea fired a shell at a South Korean military unit on Thursday, prompting the south to retaliate with several artillery rounds, the South’s defence ministry said. South Korea’s National Security Council is due to hold an emergency session. The western sea border has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. North Korea fired a projectile towards Yeoncheon, a town northwest of Seoul, at 15:52 local time (06:52 GMT), the defence ministry said. Reports suggest the target could have been a loudspeaker broadcasting anti-Pyongyang messages. The South then fired “dozens of rounds of 155mm shells” towards where they thought the rocket was launched from, the ministry added in a statement. There were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage on either side. The two Koreas remain technically at war, because the 19501953 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The two sides have exchanged cross-border fire several times in recent years. A local official told AP news

Egyptian security building in Cairo rocked by bomb blast

powerful car bomb has exploded outside a state security building in northern Cairo, Egyptian security officials say. The blast, which was felt across large parts of the Egyptian capital, injured 29 people, six of them police. The explosion happened in the early hours of Thursday morning. There were no reports of any deaths. The militant group Islamic State (IS) says it carried out the attack “to avenge Muslim martyrs”. The statement was not attributed to IS’s known branch in Egypt, Sinai Province, but simply had a logo reading “Islamic State, Egypt”. A BBC correspondent in Cairo reports a heavy police presence on the streets. Residents across Cairo reported hearing and feeling a large blast just before 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT). There have been several bomb attacks by Islamist militants in Cairo this year.

International

Asia & South Korea evacuation after Middle East shelling on western border Yemen agency that about 80 residents in Yeoncheon had been evacuated, with other residents in the area also urged to take shelter. The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions between the North and South.

Seoul has blamed the North for planting a landmine that injured two South Korea soldiers earlier this month. Since then, the sides have begun blasting propaganda broadcasts from loudspeakers along the border

- restarting a practice both had suspended back in 2004. South Korea and the US also began annual joint military exercises on Monday - they describe the drills as defensive, but North Korea calls them a rehearsal for invasion.

crisis: Famine threatens war-torn country, warns UN

North and South Korea have exchanged cross-border fire several times in recent years (file photo)

Abu Sayyaf hostages escape in Philippine raid

he Philippines army has said two coast guard personnel kidnapped and held hostage by Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf managed to escape during a raid. The two men fled the jungle camp in the southern province of Sulu on Wednesday night during the two-hour gun battle. The army had attacked the camp to free them and other hostages. Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent group known for carrying out kidnappings for ransom, aims to establish an independent Islamic state in the south. One of the hostages, Rod

Pagaling, told the Associated Press: “When gunfire rang out as close as 15m from us, I thought it was my opportunity to survive so I ran away in the confusion.” Brig Gen Alan Arrojado told AP that Mr Pagaling and the other hostage, Gringo Villaluz, told him the militants “panicked and fled in different directions after seeing that the army had come so close and had begun the assault”. The two men sprinted through the forest and later found help at a nearby village. They only found out about each other’s escape when they saw each other at a hospital on Thursday, reported AFP.

Up to 15 Abu Sayyaf militants died, while the military had no casualties. The men were kidnapped in May in the southern city of Dapitan along with a village official, and later transported to the jungle camp. The militants beheaded the village official last week and threatened to kill the coast guard men next, after the Philippines government rejected the group’s ransom demand. The Abu Sayyaf is holding a number of hostages in various camps in the south of the Philippines, including Malaysians and a Dutchman.

Hamas ‘seizes Israeli spy dolphin’ off Gaza

he militant Palestinian Islamist group, which dominates Gaza, says the mammal was equipped with spying devices, including cameras, according to the newspaper Al-Quds (in Arabic). It was apparently discovered by a naval unit of Hamas’s military wing and brought ashore. No photographs of the alleged marine secret agent have been released.

Al-Quds said that the newest recruit was “stripped of its will” and turned into “a murderer” by the Israeli security services. It shows the extent of Israel’s “anger” and “indignation” at the formation of Hamas’s naval combat unit, the paper reports. Israeli authorities have not commented on the media reports. It is not the first time that Israel has been accused of using animals - and birds - for spying purposes.

In 2010 Israel dismissed Egyptian claims that a series of shark attacks in the Red Sea could have been the result of a Mossad plot. A few weeks later a vulture found in Saudi Arabia with a GPS transmitter was accused of being an unwitting Mossad operative. And in 2012, villagers in Turkey feared a small migratory bird found dead with a ring on its leg had been an Israeli spy. Their fear proved unfounded.

emen’s conflict has left it on the brink of famine, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. Food shortages, lack of fresh water, and low fuel stocks have created a “perfect storm” for the Yemeni people, the WFP’s Ertharin Cousin said. The organisation estimates nearly 13 million people urgently require help. The conflict has involved Houthi rebel fighters clashing with forces loyal to the Yemeni government and its allies, led by Saudi Arabia. Ms Cousin, who was speaking after a three-day trip to Yemen. said aid agencies were unable to reach areas of need because of the ongoing violence. She warned of “irreversible” damage unless food could reach the estimated 1.2m children suffering malnutrition. A recent WFP assessment of food security on the ground concluded Yemen was “one step away” from famine. In the latest violence, a bomb exploded next to the governor’s office in the southern city of Aden, killing four people. As grim as the humanitarian situation is in Yemen, the WFP stops short of declaring a famine there in its latest update. The UN uses the term sparingly and will only declare a famine once certain conditions are met. They are: over 20% of households in an area face extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope; acute malnutrition rates exceed 30%; and the death rate exceeds two per day per 10,000 people. Calling the situation in Yemen a famine would instantly raise awareness, but that labelling makes little difference to the Yemeni people already suffering. The UN says a “humanitarian catastrophe” is under way, and has called for urgent support from donors. Last month, government forces retook Aden from the Houthis in a major setback for the rebels. Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien, who has also just returned from Yemen, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that “the scale of human suffering is almost incomprehensible”.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

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International

UK approves e-cigarettes as healthier alternative

mokers in the UK could be prescribed e-cigarettes to help them kick the habit, after they were approved as a healthier alternative by the UK’s public health body.

The surprising decision comes despite Public Health England (PHE) having previously criticised e-cigarettes as a gateway to tobacco use. Now PHE is saying that vaping is safer than smoking and could lead to

the demise of the traditional cigarette. The health body has said in the first official recognition that e-cigarettes are less damaging to health than smoking tobacco. PHE concludes that, on “the best

estimate so far”, e-cigarettes are about 95 percent less harmful than tobacco cigarettes and could one day be dispensed as a licensed medicine in an alternative to anti-smoking products such as patches.

Migrant crisis: Greek ferry brings 2,500 to Piraeus port

Maggie Kirkpatrick: Australian actor found guilty of child abuse

ustralian actor Maggie Kirkpatrick has been found guilty by a court in Melbourne of sexually abusing a girl under 14 in 1984. Kirkpatrick, aged 74 and one of the stars of 1980s Australian TV drama Prisoner Cell Block H, had denied charges of gross indecency. But the court ruled she had abused the girl at her home in Prahan, Victoria. Kirkpatrick was ordered to return to court on Friday, when she will be sentenced to community service. In a statement read to the court, the unnamed victim said she had organised a meeting with Kirkpatrick through a TV producer while she was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. She said said she had not reported the abuse until recently because she feared people would call her “crazy”. Kirkpatrick played a warden called Joan, nicknamed The Freak, in Prisoner, a popular series set in a women’s prison.

he migrants, most of them Syrian refugees, boarded the Eleftherios Venizelos car ferry in Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Lesvos in the past few days. The influx of migrants in Greece has increased dramatically in the past month to around 50,000, officials say. Most then head north through Macedonia towards wealthier European countries. Germany said on Wednesday that it expected 800,000 refugees to arrive this year, four times the number who came in 2014. The EU’s border agency Frontex said on Wednesday that a record 107,000 migrants had arrived on Europe’s borders in July alone. Greece has become the main transit point for migrants into the European Union in the past few months, with UN officials estimating that almost 160,000 have arrived on its shores since January. The ferry was chartered in response to worsening conditions on the island of Kos, where small boats have been arriving every day from the Turkish coast. The authorities on Kos have struggled to cope with the surge in migrants. At one point up to 2,000 people were locked inside a stadium without water, as officials tried to register them. More than 1,300 of those on board had been picked up in Kos and some 700 from Lesvos to the north, Greek media reported. The ferry had been due to travel north to Greece’s second city Thessaloniki, but sailed instead to Athens, apparently

Europe and Americas

A Greek government-chartered ferry has arrived at Piraeus port near Athens, after picking up almost 2,500 migrants from islands near the Turkish coast.

after warnings from officials in the northern city that they would be unable to cope with the influx. After disembarking at Piraeus port, the migrants boarded buses en route to Athens train station. Although a newly-opened migrant reception centre will take

several hundred of the arrivals, most are expected to head north to the border with Macedonia. There have been chaotic scenes just over the Greek border in Macedonia in recent days, as migrants attempt to clamber onto trains travelling towards Western

Europe. The authorities in Skopje have also said they are unable to deal with the increasing numbers. “Everyone is rushing for himself. There’s a lot of danger of people being killed,” Najeem, 24, from Afghanistan told the BBC at Gevgelija station.

Kirkpatrick’s most recent acting role was in the stage musical Wicked

Fatal shooting of black teen in US city sparks protests

olice in the US state of Missouri have fatally shot a black teenager, who they say pointed a gun at them, and later faced angry crowds, reigniting racial tensions in the country. Sam Dotson, the police chief of the city of St Louis, said the shooting took place on Wednesday when young black men ran out of the back door of a house where two officers were carrying out a search warrant. Officers ordered the pair to stop in an alley behind the house. One suspect pointed a gun at officers who then fired four times, killing him, Dotson said. “Detectives were looking for guns,

looking for violent felons, looking for people that have been committing crimes in the neighbourhood,” he said. Police identified the slain suspect as Mansur Ball-Bey, 18. The second teenager fled. Both officers, who are white, were unharmed, police said, adding that they were on administrative leave. Following the incident, crowds gathered at a nearby intersection shortly after the shooting and then again in the evening. Three people were arrested for blocking traffic, police said. NBC television affiliate KSDK reported that some in the crowd threw rocks at officers, who responded with what appeared to be

tear gas. St. Louis television station Fox 2 showed officers in riot gear lined up across a street, a burning mattress and clouds of smoke or tear gas. St. Louis Alderman, Antonio French, posted on Twitter that a vacant house and a car were set on fire, and that firefighters were working under heavy police guard. Dotson the police chief told reporters that Ball-Bey’s gun was stolen and said officers recovered crack cocaine at the scene. The city police said the officers involved in the shooting were white, aged 33 and 29, each with about seven years on the force.

The shooting came 10 days after the city was flooded with protesters marking the anniversary of the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer on August 9 last year in Ferguson, not far from St Louis. Brown’s death helped spark a nationwide movement against what protesters say is police violence against minorities. Wednesday’s shooting also came as activists were in the area to mark the anniversary of the police shooting of another black man in St. Louis, Kajieme Powell. Police say officers shot Powell when he approached them with a knife.

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How FCTA can curb open defecation menace Feature By Stanley Onyekwere and Mashe Umaru Gwamna

espite the serious environmental health problems associated with the continuing menace of open defecation in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), manifesting in outbreak of diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, poliomyelitis among others, and ultimately death, yet the authorities are finding it very difficult to curb the scourge. Checks revealed an increased number of people defecating in the open with reckless abandon, especially in areas recording high human and vehicular traffic such as motor-parks, marketplaces, ministries, low- and mediumdensity residential areas in the nation’s capital city. In Particular, some of the notorious spots within the city centre include: behind the perimeter fencing of the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture centre in Area 10, the green areas around Berger bridge, before Maitama Junction (behind Wuse Market Bridge), Flower garden behind the FCTA Secretariat complex in Area 11, Utako Market through Jabi axis and off 3rd Avenue by Gwarinpa village. As expected, it is not alien to

A man answering nature’s call in the open, on a pedestrian walkway near Peace Motor Park, along Arab-Jabi axis, is one of the notorious places for open urination, in Abuja. see people rushing into nearby bushes to relieve themselves in the daytime or inside unfenced undeveloped plots at night- a horrible scene absolutely missing in similar world cities, which Abuja prides to chasing or at par with. In this connection, it is the glaring absence of

public convenience (what many understand as public toilets or rest houses) in public places that unmistakably makes the lingering open defecation in the city seemly insurmountable. Sadly, somehow it remains a common sight for pedestrians and commuters traversing the streets

Some FCT environmental health officers on duty, during a recent inspection of toilet facilities, in Jikwoyi, Abuja.

of Abuja to be accosted by hordes of human feces that perpetually saturate the environment with its bad odour, thereby posing a grave danger to hapless residents walking through or living around these places. However, a cross section of residents in separate interviews with Peoples Daily, spoke on how the FCT Administration can effectively tackle the menace, and ensure a healthier and cleaner environment for all and sundry, either visiting or residing in the nation’s capital. A resident in Maitama District, Eucharia Kalu, said over time, the issue of people indiscriminately defecating in the open, especially urinating along public places has been a serious concern to many residents in the Territory. She noted the menace is gradually becoming part of daily picture in the city, as when trekking along the streets, men are seen pulling down their trousers to urinate in the open. As a way out, she suggested that relevant government agencies need to as matter of urgency start educating residents on the dangers of open defecation especially urinating in public. “I wonder how any adult in his or her right senses would open their private parts in the public and begin to urinate. This is Abuja the nation capital where visitors from within and outside the country come in, all the time.

“But it is bad, because someone is littering the environment with their urinate , instead of rushing to a close- by shopping mall, designated public toilet or filling station, to ease themselves. “And those residents are bent defacing corridors of any bush or the wall they come across the road or streets, leaving others breathing the smell only can cause disease to a human health system, talk more of stepping on it,” she stressed. Another resident, Ajabola Kayode, in Utako District, who said residents are to be blame for the lingering menace, however noted the best thing is to give more enlightenment to the public, on the need to keep their environment clean for their own good. “I think the government may be doing a lot to tackle the menace but the awareness is not effective. You can see as early as 6pm officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) , are on the high ways to clean up littered places. “Some people believe they are doing it for the government, but most top government officials are living in nice places that are well ventilated. We are the ones who mostly trek in our environment, so we in hell living amid polluted environment. “We should make sure our city is kept clean, Ebola has come and gone, we do not know which one is coming again, therefore safeguarding our environment will reduce outbreak of diseases, in which we may contract. “Therefore, for efforts at keeping FCT clean to succeed, first step is for the government to ensure that the people are adequately educated on proper hygiene practices to boost healthy living in the Territory,” Kayode expressed . Similarly, Sunday Wabushi, who resides in Wuse District, says “Actually, it is not good for residents to be urinating in the open on the street; it shows how indiscipline individuals are in the city. “When one is pressed to urinate or defecate, there are public toilets in the markets, business premises or nearest public place close. N20 will save your integrity than opening your gentile for the public to see. “You can even see some residents urinating and this same time making calls moving their body, people are passing through those route and in dangerous Continued page Contiuned onon page 3333

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Profile

The new Accountant General, Alhaji Ahmed Idris

By our correspondant

he Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) is one of the vital offices required for the actualization of an open and transparent management of the Country’s finances. This is so, not only because it is saddled with the responsibility of handling all the receipts and payments of the Federation, but it also supervises the management of all the accounts of all the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. One would not be wrong so to say, that the Treasury House reflects the spirit and conscience of the nation in terms maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. The office is therefore very strategic to Mr. President’s anti-corruption and change agenda. Consequently the integrity of whoever occupies the position of the Accountant General of the Federation will no doubt to a very extent large determines how prudently and transparently the nation’s treasury will be managed. This is very pertinent in view of the recent revelations of the parlous state of the nation’s finances, with the various accounts of the Federation such as the Excess Crude Account (ECA), Sovereign Wealth Fund Account (SWFA) and other of such accounts being almost in red. Therefore the need to appoint a person with character as well professional competence to sanitize the operations in the management of the Nation’s, receipts and payments is very apt. It is therefore noteworthy that President, Muhammed Buhari, true to type, after a painstaking process, appointed Alhaji Ahmed Idris the new Accountant General of the Federation. Idris is reputed to be a man of vision with a sound track record of excellence, transparency and moral rectitude. He roundly fits into the role that the Accountant General of the Federation is required to play now, for the President and more for the Federation. With his strong character and personality, the new Accountant General of the Federation possess the required leadership skills to coordinate Public Financial managers to chart a new course in the country’s public financial management and to galvanize the necessary support for the anticipated reforms by Mr. President Indeed with the appointment of Alhaji Idris, President Buhari has once again demonstrated his astuteness in understanding the enormity of problems facing the nation and his ,_determination to confront them head-on, by appointing only reputable people to man top positions in his Government. Alhaji Ahmed Idris, the New

Alhaji Ahmed Idris Accountant General of the Federation Accountant General of the Federation is an astute and I forthright professional whose knack for excellence, details and openness is attested to by colleagues and superiors. He began his professional career in 1985 with one of the foremost and vibrant Chartered Accountants Firms in the Country, Muhtari Dangana and Co, as an Audit Officer. From there he moved to Continental Merchants Bank PIc, where he rose to the position of Head,

“

loan Syndication Unit. In all these positions, he acquitted himself creditably. After his long sojourn in the organized private sector, the New Accountant General of the Federation, decided to cross over to the Public sector in order to blend private participation in the real economy with the decision making sphere for the purposes of gaining more experience to enable him serve the nation better.

An erudite scholar and researcher, Alhaji Idris has a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University, Kano and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained his first degree in Accountancy

In the year 2000, he joined the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) where he served as Assistant Director, in charge of Financial Analysis under President Buhari, who was then Chairman of PTF. Having proved himself again, since moving into the mainstream civil service, Alhaji Idris, has served amongst others in the following roles; Assistant Director, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Ministries of Police Affairs and Interior. He was promoted to the position of Deputy Director and served at the Interior Ministry as well as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and later became Director in the same office in 2011. In all the places he worked, Alhaji Idris has stood out as a highly reliable team player among his peers due to his high level of diligence and professional prowess. It is on record that Alhaji Idris professionally an Accountant, and he is well respected in his home community in Kano. He has remained committed to the development of his community, in the area of infrastructure development and empowerment of people, especially the women and youths. His passion in helping the youth become self reliant and productive has endeared him to many people so much so that he has become a role model to others. An erudite scholar and researcher, Alhaji Idris has a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University, Kano and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained his first degree in Accountancy. He has equally attended many courses both within and outside the country and those organized by different bodies like the World Bank, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (lCAN), Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, (ANAN), Manchester Business School among others. Idris is a fellow and member of the following professional bodies: The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, (ANAN), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, (CITN), Association of Financial Analysis of Nigeria (AF AN) and Institute of Cost Managers of Nigeria (lCM). It is therefore against this background that we strongly believe that President Buhari’s mission for entrenching positive changes in all aspects of our national life will have a boost in the area of prudent, honest and accountable administration of human and financial resources in the OAGF. Indeed, the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Idris is one that will have far reaching positive implications in the management of the nation’s finances.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Metro

Save us from endless demolition, Kpaduma communities beg Buhari By Stanley Onyekwere

riginal inhabitants of nine (9) indigenous communities in Kpaduma 1 area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have sent a Save Our Soul plea to President Muhammadu Buhari, in order to prevent them from becoming refugees, even in their ancestral homeland, due to alleged ‘endless and cruel demolition threats’ by the FCT Administration. Making the call yesterday, the communities alleged that they have been going through rough times in the hands the FCTA, through it agencies- the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Development Control, since the administration of the past FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, where their houses were marked and demolished without recourse to due process. According to the leader of the community, Bala Iyah, who briefed newsmen on behalf of the indigenes, at the Chief Place in Kpaduma 1, the threatened communities have been their ancestral home for over 500 years, and after bringing the FCTA to Abuja by the federal government, nobody has engaged them in any move for resettlement or compensation. He noted that as a result of the constant harassment and threat of demolition against them, they decided to go to court, for the court to intervene in the matter, which granted them an interlocutory injunction, restraining the FCDA, Development Control and any other person from interfering with their communities in any way, until the determination of the case before it. He decried that despite the order from the court, FCDA and Development Control in company of well armed Military and Police personnel still accompany allottees to harass and brutalize inhabitants in the communities

Hon. Bala Iyah, a former councilor, who represented Garki ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and some community leaders from nine (9) indigenous communities in Kpaduma 1 area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), during a media briefing on alleged FCTA’s endless demolition threat against them, yesterday. on daily basis. Iyah, an immediate past councilor, who represented Garki ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), says “Our farmlands were forcefully taken over by the government and private allottees without compensations, and now our residential buildings are at the danger of been taken away too; the question is if we are removed from our houses without proper alternatives, where do we go to? “We thought that after the

administration of Sen. Bala Mohammed, things will change for the better and peace will return to this community, since the slogan of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is based on ‘Change’. “But, to our disappointment, things still remain the same way it was, because those two departments are still constantly harassing our people and threatening our lives. We have no other place or village to go to, and we have no other homes anywhere

else in this world. Do they want to make us homeless in our father’s ‘land? Continuing, he adds: “We want to categorically make it clear that we are not Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), we are not trespassers, strangers or settlers. We cannot bear these callous acts any more. Enough is enough! We are true Nigerians and we should be treated as such. Nobody should treat us as foreigners in our own country. “We are therefore appealing

to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our souls, by coming to the aide of Kpaduma indigenes and the indigenes of the entire FCT, to avoid us being turned into refugees in our own country. “We are also appealing to President Buhari to consider an indigene of the FCT, for the position of an FCT Minister, because he or she will know more about the plight of the people and how to improve on the living standard of every indigene and resident of Abuja.”

How FCTA can curb open defecation menace Contiuned from page 31 smells ,at times even water pipelines are close to the area where individuals urinate, and at the end we drinking dirty water.” Continuing, he added that “Government should be tougher in making sure such laws are adhered to. Example, consider re-introducing War Against indiscipline acts like open defecation in FCT, so we can still enforce such laws to make our immediately clean and free from any form of disease. “Also, the government should stationed law enforcement officers, which would ensure that immediately someone pulls his trousers or skirt to expel something, the individual should

be arrested and prosecuted in the court.” In the same vein, Joseph Edo, residing in Garki District, decried that in Abuja, people don’t always want to obey laws, as they do things recklessly in the public as if it is their homes, especially urinating here and there. “I feel government (FCT Administration) on its part does not take the laws even more serious. In Lagos state public laws are been enforced, even though ordinarily, Abuja should be a place where these laws are first observed. “The FCT administration should make laws like that of Lagos state, to stern the menace of urinating in open places in Abuja, who is now becoming a

norm,” he said. For one James Mba, who resides in Jabi, “keeping one’s surroundings clean is a gate way to long life, just like the saying that says cleanliness is next to godliness; and how does a person feel when he or she urinates and do not flush the toilets, the next hours you smell bad odor? “When some of us see people urinating on the streets, one begins to wonder, do these people have hygiene in their dictionary of healthy living. Urinating without drinking a lot of water comes with a bad smell, talk more of public places where many individuals urinate in the open on the streets, where some others even stand and sell things around those avenues.

“ Individuals who urinate where others have the chance of coming in contact with it, which may result to urinary tract Infection or urinary system diseases. We should be cautions of our behaviour in public places, because it definitely cause harm to others. “Government should provide public places where residents can urinate when they are seriously pressed. This will curb the menace.’ Not left out, a private security guard, Friday Inusa, in Maitama District, decried that he usually used to have quarrels with people urinating on the perimeter fencing and walls of his boss’s house, and when he talked to them, they will reply “where do

you want us to pee when we are pressed, as government have not provided public toilets for us around this environment.” “The problem is that people liter the environment with urine and it makes everywhere smelling a lot; and it does not allow me to sleep well. When it rains especially the pee will be mixed up with water, which people who are passing by unconsciously wash their legs inside it, which can cause various diseases to human beings. “Government should please come to the aid of residents by providing basic social amenities for passers-by, this will encourage people to love the environment, and thus they will keep it clean,” he stressed.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Money Sense

Save money by reducing paper consumption in your office

here are many easy ways for businesses and organizations to reduce their paper use and costs. Reductions of 20 percent or more are possible in most offices. Here are practical tips to help your company implement a cost-saving, paper reduction program: 1 Think before you print It is simply too easy to push the printbutton. For example, much paper is wasted by printing out single line emails or printing out unnecessary copies of documents. Departments should carefully assess their needs before ordering bulk print copies of information materials, like annual reports or brochures. In many cases hundreds if not thousands of un-used copies end up in storage rooms clogging up storage space. The golden rule of saving paper: Think twice if you really need to print – if it is necessary to print make sure you print on both sides (duplex). This is a really easy way to reduce paper consumption by half. Easy ways to reduce wasteful paper use: a) Post in-house reminders near the copy machine or at individual desktops. Use catchy slogans, for example: “Do you really need to print that?” or “Do you know how many sheets of paper you used last month?” b) Track the personal printing footprint in your office. Create systems that allow staff to measure how many print copies they are personally responsible for each month. Most people are shocked to find out their individual cumulative number of copies. This knowledge will motivate people to reduce their personal paper footprint. Create a checklist for those departments which order informational materials. The checklist should include question such as: Please identify the target group for the brochure. Verify the number of required recipients and the number of back-up copies needed. Are you sure these target groups will need a hard copy of the report or is it enough to point them to a website?

Do they need to be proactively sent the hard copy or is it sufficient to make it available upon request? Do you need inhouse copies for all staff or can copies be held in communal areas/on notice boards? How many reserve copies do you require and why - for what events or purposes? Who will distribute or oversee the distribution of the reserve copies? Simply by addressing these questions, it is highly likely that the quantity of future print runs will be more realistic. d) Review distribution lists frequently. Eliminate outdated or unnecessary recipients. See if destinations with many recipients can make do with fewer copies. e) Conduct paper-less meetings When you hold a meeting, do you really need to have hard copies of preparatory materials available for each participant? Encourage people to use their computers for reviewing documents and note-making Make sure meeting participants have electronic access to all the materials beforehand; encourage those using computers not to print out copies. If you must supply additional materials at the meeting, consider burning CDs for all participants. Make copies “as needed” rather than in large batches at one time. Frequently, extra copies of important internal documents become outdated quickly and only end up being discarded. Making copies as needed can reduce this problem significantly. 2) Use paper more efficiently Duplexing (copying images onto both sides of a sheet of paper), can save up to 50% of paper costs. Duplexing saves money on paper purchasing, as well as on storage and mailing. Duplex copies are also easier to fold and staple. While some prints and copies need to be single-sided, most do not. a) Set defaults on computers: Set defaults to double sided - select one-sided printing only when really needed. Print double-sided

for bills, applications, licenses, and other paper-intensive activities.

5) Use less paper by effectively using computers and other technology

3) Use thinner paper

Today’s information and communication technologies provide many opportunities for businesses to function with far less paper. Electronic mail, Intranets, Internet and document scanners can radically reduce paper use, while also saving time and money. Use electronic means to communicate with customers, for press release/media relations, use e-mail instead of memos and faxes for inter-office memos, announcing meetings, and targeted communications. Use group e-mail lists to “broadcast” important messages efficiently and inexpensively. For editing and reviewing of larger documents, transfer documents on disk or by e-mail rather than sending a printed copy. Use electronic communications for directories, forms, bulletins, manuals, reports, and storage when possible (don’t print them unless absolutely necessary); Store documents in electronic archives using data compression software this saves on filing cabinets and floor space Employ office intranet solutions that allow open or password-protected access to important documents, presentations, or databases Use electronic data interchange (EDI) technologies like web-based secure credit card transfers and order forms to reduce the need for cumbersome paper invoices, transaction records, and confirmation letters Use Revision Features in Word Processing Software. Take advantage of onscreen editing features when making changes to draft documents, and then send the new draft electronically. Have several people edit the same copy of a document using different colored inks, or edit computer documents on-screen using different fonts, or learn to use the commentary function in word.

The thickness of paper we use makes a big difference both in terms of cost as well as the amount of paper used. You can find the reference to the thickness of paper on the package, mostly ranging from 60 gsm or g/m2 (grams per square meter) to 100 gsm. a) Use lower grammage paper for your printing, copying etc. Obviously heavier weight sheets use more fiber, cost more per sheet and cost more to post. Most printers work well with 70 and 80 gsm. Using thinner paper most often does not change the performance and can save money for you too. 4) Reuse paper a) Put adequate paper collection systems in place. Provide clearly labeled recycling bins near copiers, shipping and receiving areas, and in employee eating areas to collect white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard as well as non-paper products (glass, aluminum, plastic, etc). Provide desktop recycling containers for employees. Advise your cleaning staff on where to place collected paper without polluting it through contact with other waste. Estimate how much waste paper your office produces and arrange to have it picked up by your waste hauler or a recycler. If your office is small, consider combining your recyclables with other small offices nearby. b) Encourage staff to reuse papers Use the blank sides of unneeded singlesided copies for printing drafts. Use outdated letterhead for in-house memos. Designate a printer for draft printing, and use only used paper in its paper tray.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Strange World Is this proof of why you shouldn’t use your mobile at a petrol station? internationally accepted advice that it is incredibly dangerous to use a mobile phone in a petrol station.

By JOHN HALL • CCTV footage shows fire at a petrol station in the southern city of Hyderabad • Motorcyclist was engulfed in flames when his mobile burst into a fireball • Rider had placed the phone on the vehicle’s dash seconds before it exploded • Quick-thinking by station attendant prevented the flames spreading to pumps

It is believed the phone caught light because it started ringing seconds after he placed it on the motorcycle’s petrol pump. Reacting to the footage, Facebook users praised the swift actions of the station attendant, who they said prevented the dramatic but small fire turning into a potentially fatal disaster.

This is the terrifying moment an Indian motorcyclist was engulfed in flames when his mobile phone appeared to explode in a petrol station. CCTV footage taken from a station in the southern city of Hyderabad showed the man ride in to a busy petrol station and prepare to fill his vehicle’s tank. Seconds after he places his mobile phone on the vehicle’s dash, the device explodes in a large fireball, covering him in flames and setting the front of the motorcycle alight. Explosion: The motorcyclist places his mobile phone on the vehicle’s dash but the device explodes in a large fireball. The man is covered him in flames and setting the front of the motorcycle alight Thanks to the quick actions of a nearby attendant, the fire doesn’t spread to the petrol pumps, which could have caused a devastating and potentially deadly explosion. Despite cheating death himself, the rider also moved quickly to drag his burning vehicle away from the pumps successfully preventing the flames spreading any further. Seconds later the fire is out, with the shocked Indian motorcyclist appearing to have escaped the terrifying ordeal uninjured. Due to the flames quickly being extinguished, the damage to both the petrol station and the rider’s vehicle also appears to be minimal. It will no doubt make the man reluctant to use

‘The attendant’s quick action is appreciable,’ wrote Shivaswamy Bhoopalam, to which another user named Mohammed Yasser Baig replied: ‘Absolutely, even I observed the same thing.’ DailyMail on Facebook his mobile in a petrol station in future, however. Before the flames: CCTV footage taken from a station in the southern city of Hyderabad showed the man ride in to a busy petrol station and prepare to fill his vehicle’s tank (far left) Contained: Thanks to the quick actions of a nearby attendant, the fire doesn’t spread to the petrol pumps, which could have caused a devastating and potentially deadly explosion The CCTV footage was released as a warning to others in the city to follow the

ABUBAKAR TATARI ALI POLYTECHNIC, BAUCHI INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS/SUPPLIERS FOR 2012-14 TETFUND BOT NORMAL INTERVENTION PROJECT The Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State wishes to bring to the notice of interested competent and reputable Contractors/Suppliers that the Polytechnic would carry out works under the 2012-14 TETFund Special Intervention Project. • • • • •

LOT 1: Construction of School of Engineering LOT 2: Construction of School of General Studies LOT 3: Construction of Drawing Studio LOT 4: Procurement of Laboratories Equipment LOT 5: Procurement of Computers

Pre-qualification Requirement: • Certificate of Incorporation/Business Registration • Current Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years • Value Added Tax Registration Certificate • Verifiable Evidence of previous experience in area of interest • Company Profile • Three years Audited Accounts/Evidence of Financial Capability • Evidence of compliance with Pension Reform Act, 2004 • Evidence of compliance with the statutory provision of Section 8 (1) – (3) of the Industrial Training Fund Amendment Act, 2011 • Registration with Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi Submission of Documents: The application of Pre-Qualification must be submitted in sealed envelopes and boldly marked “PREQUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS FOR LOT 1-5 and should be addressed as follows: The Registrar, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State. Closing Date: Eligible Contractors/Suppliers are expected to submit relevant document within Six (6) weeks from the date of this publication and the pre-qualification documents will be publicly opened for processing at 12.00 noon on 02nd October, 2015 at the Polytechnic Conference Room, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State. Only qualified companies will be short listed and invited to Tender Please Note that: The pre-qualification invitation shall not be construed to be a commitment on the part of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State nor shall it entitle any company to make any claim what so ever and or seek any indemnity from the Polytechnic by virtue or such company having responded to the advert. The Polytechnic is not under any obligation to include your company on its list contractors.

Signed: REGISTRAR

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

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Politics

Ogun assembly constitutes standing committees From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Members of ‘BringBackOurGirls’ (BBOG), Lagos state branch with Senator Oluremi Tinubu (4th right), during a sit-out session with the senator on the kidnapped ‘Chibok Girls’ and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

I’m not bothered about Kogi primary election - Wada

By Ahmed Abubakar

ogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada has said he was not disturbed by the party decision not to offer automatic ticket to him against popular tradition of the party to have naturally allowed the incumbent governor to contest for his second and last term. The governor stated this yesterday during a press briefing after collecting his nomination of

interest form for the re contest for his second term in as governor of Kogi State. The governor, who also said he is not worried over the PDP decision to allow for a primary election to hold, stressed that there is no provision for automatic ticket in the party’s constitution. He added that he was ready to work with any of the party aspirants that emerge as PDP candidate, saying it is not a do or die affair.

“I will put in my best to win and if I win glory be to God but if I don’t, and if it is a fair primary, I will support any candidate that eventually emerged,” Wada said. The incumbent governor however expressed optimism that he would emerge the party’s candidate given the massive support he was already receiving from the state. He said that there was no doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari’s factor had impact on

the country’s last general election stating that PDP still had good performance in the state. “You will see that while he won the presidential election in Kogi State, PDP clearly won the state assembly positions. “That shows that PDP is clearly on ground in the state. With the work we have done in mobilizing the youth, the women and the elders of our party to analise what led to our performance in the last election.

Fayemi betrayed Tinubu who helped him to power – Fayose From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose yesterday described his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi as a serial betrayer who betrayed his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who helped him to power. Fayose who was reacting to claims that Fayemi’s good legacies are being destroyed, said his government was destroying the legacies of huge debt, unpaid salaries, white elephant projects, bad governance and corruption left behind by the All Progressives Congress, APC, government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, his immediate predecessor. Fayose in a statement issued by Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said no responsible government will sustain a legacy of over N86 billion debts that were incurred on projects with no direct bearing

on the welfare of the people. He noted that it was necessary for Fayemi’s negative legacies to be destroyed, and that “even in the APC, his legacy of betrayal of Senator Bola Tinubu, the man who made him governor is being destroyed. “Today, Fayemi has been ostracized by those who assisted him to office because he has betrayed all of them, including Tinubu. “Never again shall Ekiti be governed by those who will borrow billions of naira to plant flowers and create comfort for themselves alone,” Fayose declared. “Does he then want us to sustain the legacy of serial betrayal of his benefactors? “If he served Ekiti and its people well, why was it that he was roundly defeated in all the 16 local councils in the state in the 21 June, 2014 governorship election and his party was also defeated 16 to 0 in the presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections?

“Even his own party men described his electoral defeat as the worst in Nigeria.” The governor, who said it was shameful that Fayemi, who left two months’ salary and four months cooperative and unions deductions from workers’ salaries, as well as pensions and gratuities unpaid could be talking about his legacies being destroyed. Fayose wondered: “did Fayemi leave behind any positive legacy in Ekiti? “When Fayemi became governor, he chose to close down two universities established by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government of Segun Oni and abandoned the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, claiming that the state could not fund more than one university. “The same Fayemi, who said Ekiti had no money to fund more than one university preferred to take N25 billion bond to plant flowers that never germinated up till now and build a new governor’s lodge, civic centre, pavilion and

execute other irrelevant projects. “Furniture alone, in the N3.3 billion governor’s lodge that he built for himself and his wife cost N604.9 million and Fayemi wants such legacy of profligacy to be sustained in Ekiti? “We are sorry to tell him that we won’t sustain such legacy of waste. “Even vehicles bought for traditional rulers and political appointees, his government did not pay and uncompleted Oba Adejugbe General Hospital and State Pavilion were commissioned with fanfare. “Today, Ekiti State is under the yoke of debt, courtesy of Fayemi’s mismanagement of the state resources and what we are destroying are those legacies of mis-governance he left behind. “One bad news that we must however tell Fayemi is that we won’t only destroy his legacy of misgovernance and betrayal in Ekiti, we will also make sure that economic devourers like him will never taste power in the state.”

n its bid to ensure smooth running of legislative business in the State, the Ogun State House of Assembly has constituted twenty Standing Committees to oversee the affairs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The constitution of the committees was sequel to the presentation of the report of Selection Committee on the constitution of House Standing Committees, by the Vice Chairman and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo after which a motion for the adoption of the report was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Adeyinka Mafe, seconded by Hon. Yetunde Adekanbi Sogbein and supported by the Whole House. The committees constituted include the House Committee on Works to be headed by Hon. Olayiwola Ojodu, Transportation Committee would be chaired by Hon. Israel Jolaoso, while Finance and the Appropriation Committee would be led by Hon. Akanbi Bankole, and Health Committee is to be administered by Hon. Akinpelu Aina. Also Education, Science and Technology Committee has Hon. Victor Fasanya as its Chairman, just as Agriculture and Forestry Committee has Hon. Harrison Adeyemi as its Chairman, while Environment as well as Women Affairs and Social Development Committees have Honourables Tunde Sanusi and Yetunde Sogbein as their Chairmen respectively. On its part, the Committee on Youth, Sports and Employment Generation Committee is to be headed by Hon. Ganiyu Oyedeji, just as Information, Culture and Tourism Committee has Hon. Kadiri Dare as its Chairman, while Lands and Housing as well as Special Duties Committees are to be headed by Honourables Adebiyi Adeleye and Adebowale Viwanu Ojo as their Chairmen respectively. Others are Commerce, Investment and Industries which would be administered by Hon. Bowale Solaja, Public Accounts and Anti-corruption Committee has Hon. Oyenuga Olufowobi as its head, while House Services Committee would be led by Hon. Juliana Akintayo, Hon. Oluwasesan Soyebo would take charge of Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters just as Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions has Hon. Adebowale Ojuri as its Chairman. The rest are Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which is to be overseen by Hon. Olusola Sonuga, while Committee on Oil, Gas, Energy, Water Resources and Rural Development has Hon. Rasaq Oduntan as its helmsman, not leaving out Cooperatives and Community Development Committee which would be chaired by Hon. Jimi Otukoya.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Feature

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Can Iraq’s army dislodge Islamic State? On 1 March about 27,000 Iraqi troops commenced their attack on Tikrit, a city 150km (93 miles) north of Baghdad that has been occupied by Islamic State (IS) since June 2014.

he assault is the first attempt to evict IS from a major urban centre that they have controlled and fortified, a test case for the planned operation to retake Mosul - the Iraqi capital of the IS caliphate. The Tikrit operation will be scrutinised to shed light on two main uncertainties. Can predominately Shia volunteer forces play a productive leading role in operations within Sunni communities? And can the Iraqi military dislodge IS defenders from fortified urban settings? Iranian input The assault has been billed as a joint operation involving the Iraqi army, the paramilitary federal police, the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF), and the predominately Shia Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU), the volunteer brigades and militias that have been formally integrated into the security forces since June 2014. The one element conspicuously absent from the mix is the US-led international coalition. No requests for coalition air strikes have been made by the Iraqi government, a common feature of operations led by the PMUs. Indeed, some 18,000 PMU fighters are providing the bulk of the troops for the assault. The PMU are led by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was labelled by the US as a “specially designated global terrorist” in 2009 for his part in attacks on US forces and other targets. He and many other PMU commanders have worked intensively with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and continue to draw Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah advisers into their operations. The apparent exclusion of coalition support by Iranian proxies was confirmed by Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who stated on 3 March that the battle had seen “overt conduct of Iranian support, in the form of artillery and other things”. Logistical challenge Though Tikrit itself has been largely depopulated, the behaviour of the predominately Shia PMU forces - who are not subject to Iraqi military discipline - will be closely watched as they clear IS fighters from rural Sunni communities. If the attack on Tikrit is successful it may increase the likelihood that Iraq will replicate the model further north in Mosul, deploying PMU units to bolster the Iraqi military effort to retake the city of one million, the capital of Sunni Iraq. This might again preclude or complicate international support for the operation. Though the battle of Tikrit will provide many insights into the offensive urban warfare capabilities of Iraqi government forces, it is a stretch to say that the Tikrit operation is an accurate predictor

Iraqi government troops are backed by militias in the battle for Tikrit of the outcome of a battle for Mosul. Tikrit is relatively close to Baghdad, and Iraq forces have been operating in Tikrit’s vicinity since August 2014. In contrast, Mosul is 350km north of Baghdad, and about 150km north of the most advanced Iraqi army outposts at Beyji. Just projecting Iraqi forces up to Mosul and supplying them will be a major logistical challenge. Tikrit is also small - the city itself is only 15sq km versus the 400sq km sprawl of Mosul city. Ammar Hikmat, the deputy governor of Salahuddin province, where Tikrit is the provincial capital, told the Associated Press that soldiers had found about 100 mines and bombs on a single 8km stretch of road. IS is likely to contaminate many areas within Mosul in this fashion, creating a mass of explosive hazards and buildings to be painstakingly cleared. And urban Tikrit is almost wholly depopulated whilst IS has deliberately kept over 750,000 citizens in Mosul. There is no guarantee that Mosul’s independent-minded citizenry, which is well over 65% Sunni Arab, will welcome PMU forces. The PMUs could also get bogged down in indecisive operations in Tikrit and other areas short of Mosul. Unintended consequences? These outcomes could throw the weight of the operation on the US-supported Iraqi army, which is marginally better respected by Mosul’s citizens. The operational concept outlined by a US official in a much-discussed 19 February briefing suggested that eight Iraqi army brigades would take the lead in liberating Mosul. Preparing Iraqi army units for the Mosul battle is potentially the slowest aspect of the effort to liberate the city and could stretch into the

Islamic State militants seized Mosul in June 2014 summer, derailing a possible start date for the operation in April or May. The Iraqi army remains in very poor shape, boasting a frontline combat strength of about 48,000 troops versus nearly 210,000 at the height of its effectiveness in 2009. The Mosul fight is scheduled to draw at least three of the army’s

“

stronger remaining brigades north from Baghdad, halving Iraqi military strength in the capital. This will leave Iraq’s government centre largely secured by the Shia PMUs and ministry of interior units, which are also led by Iranian-backed fighters with connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard that span decades.

One of the unintended consequences of the fight to retake Mosul could be a critical weakening of state control of the security portfolio in Baghdad itself, a situation that may prove difficult to remedy in future years - as history has shown in other regional capitals such as Beirut and Tripoli, Libya. Source: BBC

Though Tikrit itself has been largely depopulated, the behaviour of the predominately Shia PMU forces who are not subject to Iraqi military discipline - will be closely watched as they clear IS fighters from rural Sunni communities. If the attack on Tikrit is successful it may increase the likelihood that Iraq will replicate the model further north in Mosul, deploying PMU units to bolster the Iraqi military effort to retake the city of one million, the capital of Sunni Iraq. This might again preclude or complicate international support for the operation.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

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Weekend Revue

With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com

Diamond hitz top 5 The realm of music in the country has been an interesting one. Several songs on the Diamond Music Entertainment were responsible for the buzzing in the music world. Some of the songs that stood out this week included the following.

A A

t no 3 is ‘My air’ by one of tops Nigerian Female artiste, Papa. The artiste was a

t 4

former member of the female group ‘Desperate Chicks’. The song is a beautiful slow rock reggae tune with a Jamaican

opping the chart is Crazy G, with ‘Invisible’. She is one of DME’s fastest rising stars. The dance hall tune is making huge waves in some parts of the country like; Plateau, Nassarawa , Lagos and the FCT . Crazy G who took a little vacation from the industry is doing well as she makes her comeback to the music scene.

feel. The song is getting a lot of airplay and also getting lots of downloads.

no is

DIamond Music Family and Friends with the song “Stand up for Nigeria’. The song is the voice of various artistes. The classic RXB was dictated for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria . The song is trending on Diamond Hitzs platforms

t no 3 is ‘My air’ by one of tops Nigerian Female artiste, Papa. The artiste was a former member of the female group ‘Desperate Chicks’. The song is a beautiful slow rock reggae tune with a Jamaican feel. The song is getting a lot of airplay and also getting lots of downloads.

gain at no 5 is multi talented Maxsteel, with ` X vs Zero’. The song is a Hard Rock Metallic tune.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

Weekend Revue Michael Jackson’s kids cost £2.75 million a year

Noizy-Kash set to release ‘Peace call’ September

Prince, Paris and Bigi

ichael Jackson’s children cost £2.75 million to care for in one year. New court papers filed by the late ‘Thriller’ star’s lawyers show the huge sum was spent on Prince, 18, Paris, 16, and 13-year-old Bigi - who was previously known as Blanket, though his real name is Prince Michael II - two years ago, with expenses including £290,000 on a house in Calabasas, California, which is rented for the kids at the cost of £22,000 a month. A total of £48,000 in fees for Buckley School was also

spent for Prince and Paris, before the latter dropped out, with £19,000 also being spent on a separate school for “young performers” according to The Sun newspaper. Other expenses included chartering a private plane for £90,000, £300,000 on staff at their properties as well as £30,000 on other workers, £600 on Bigi’s 11th birthday bash and £274,000 for a trip to Hawaii with Prince and Paris’ biological mother, Debbie Rowe. The children are cared for by the music icon’s 85-yearold mother Katherine, whose

Noizy- Kash Hayvenhurst home has been purchased by the estate and renovated for in excess of £380,000. Michael - who died of cardiac arrest in 2009, aged 50 - left £320 million worth of debt when he passed away, although his assets have been valued at £160 million, with others suggesting they could be worth over £1 billion. The three children are set to inherit equal shares of the estate, but not until they reach the age of 33, where they will receive half, with the rest being given to them aged 40.

Dwayne Johnson to star in ‘Jungle Cruise’

Dwayne Johnson

wayne Johnson is teaming up with Disney to translate a theme park ride to the big screen. Johnson is attached to star in Jungle Cruise, based on the classic ride, while John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, the duo behind the Will Smith heist movie Focus, have been tapped to write the script. The duo, who have directed movies such as Focus and Crazy, Stupid, Love, are not attached to helm at this stage.

John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment, the banner behind Man From U.N.C.L.E., are producing. Johnson’s involvement once again puts the Jungle boat back into the water after a multiyear dry-dock phase. Disney has been trying to mount a movie based on the popular ride since at least 2004, during the years when the success of The Pirates of the Caribbean set sail many ridebased projects. The studio last tried to develop the project as a starring vehicle for Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in early 2011 with writer Roger S.H. Schulman.

Academy can reclaim auctioned Oscar statuette for $10

he ruling was made after an agreement was reached between the Academy and Nate D Sanders, an auction house that specialises in movie memorabilia. The golden statuette in question was awarded in 1942 to Joseph C Wright for his colour art direction on My Gal Sal. His heirs sold the Oscar in June 2014. The Academy tried to prevent the sale, claiming it breached a rule, instituted in 1951, that Oscar winners and their heirs cannot sell

statuettes without first offering it to the organisation for $10. The Academy’s lawyers argued that Nate D Sanders was aware of the requirement when it bought the Oscar at a sale organised by Rhode Island firm Briarbrook Auctions. Nate B Sanders previously handled the auction of 15 Oscar statues, a collection whose sale fetched more than $3m (£1.9m), in 2012. “The Oscar is perhaps the world’s most distinctive and prestigious award for achievement

in the arts,’’ said Gary E Gans, the lawyer who represented the Academy in the protracted litigation. “This case established that the Academy can maintain the dignity and value of such an award by keeping it from becoming a commodity.” Last year the Academy took legal action against the heirs of another Oscar winner - cinematographer Robert Surtees - after they allegedly sold one of his awards on eBay.

By Felicia Zingfa & Tahab Maryam

oizy-Kash, a group of young talented Afroraggae dance hall artist have concluded arrangements to release music titled; ‘Peace call ’in September, Manager of the group, Em, told our reporter yesterday. She said the group consisting of Benue born artists, Elijah Tordue Asev and Ayoosu Kator Kelvin is to celebrate Nigeria at 55.

The manager said the young graduates of University of Agriculture, Makurdi have been making waves in the industry. Em, said the group took over from pop and reggae artists around the world, “some of the artist are; Nas, Damian Marley, Immortal Technique, R. kelly, Usher, Chris brown and 2face amongst others”. She called on young artists in the country to drive hard and remain focus in achieving their goals

Jessica Alba frustrated by Gwyneth Paltrow comparisons

Jessica Alba

essica Alba thinks it’s “unfair” and “sexist” that she is regularly compared to Gwyneth Paltrow. The 34-year-old actress, whose eco-friendly brand, The Honest Company, was recently valued at one billion dollars, is frustrated that she is often lumped together with the ‘Iron Man’ star, 42, simply because she also runs her own lifestyle brand, Goop. The brunette beauty said: “What I think is unfair is to lump actresses together. People aren’t lumping Justin Timberlake and Ashton Kutcher together. They do other businesses. I think it’s expected that when you get success in one area, you’re supposed to evolve and try to do something else - especially in

business, and especially if you’re a man.” The ‘Sin City’ star credits her husband, Cash Warren, with whom she has daughters Honor, seven, and Haven, four, for enabling her to become a successful entrepreneur. She told the September issue of Allure magazine: “It wouldn’t really be possible without him. He helped me put together my initial business plan. He was always my biggest cheerleader. Having someone who genuinely has your back, no matter what, there’s nothing like that... It’s a real unconditional love... The partner that you choose to go through life with you, that’s your chosen family.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Eaglets will shine at World Cup in Chile, says NFF By Albert Akota

eneral Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi visited the Golden Eaglets at their Katsina Motel camp in Katsina, with a message of goodwill and support from the NFF Executive Committee, as the team continues preparations for this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile. Also on hand to encourage the team were NFF Board Members, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh. Speaking to players and officials just before dinner, Sanusi harped on the team’s discipline while commending the technical and back-room staff for their commitment to the job. “I bring greetings to you on behalf of the NFF board led by the President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and we have no doubt you would enjoy the best of hospitality here in Katsina,” began Sanusi. “But I want to remind you that without discipline, you cannot go far in your career and give your best.” Speaking further, he said the NFF has implicit confidence in the ability of the technical crew in picking the best squad to represent the country in Chile, explaining to the players to give their level best. “I want you to know that no coach would overlook a good player and no coach wants to lose, so it is now left for you to do your best,” he said.”The officials you have with you are responsible and diligent persons because while in Niger Republic for the Africa Championship, I saw the kind of good job they did with the team and I believe they will be fair to all of you.” Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, who gave vote of thanks, said the Golden Eaglets would give a good account of

Golden Eaglets themselves in Chile, adding that team selection had always been done without fear or favour. Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets continued their countdown to the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a double-header friendly match against a selected Katsina State U-17 side on Wednesday and Thursday at the Karkanda Stadium. In the first game, Victor Osimhen and Funshado Bamigboye secured

the goals for the Golden Eaglets but chances were few on Thursday as both sides settled for a 1-1 draw after Chinedu Madueke’s opener for the Golden Eaglets in the 60th minute was cancelled out by Muntari Abdullahi in the 82nd minute. Veteran Coach Aminu Musa, who was in charge of the Katsina side, was full of praises for both teams, advising the Golden Eaglets’ technical crew to

improve on the team’s scoring ability. “The two teams have done well in these two matches and I’m quite impressed with the Golden Eaglets because they were very fit,” said Musa who has some 25 years experience under his belt. “The Golden Eaglets look well trained but they need to work more on their scoring abilities because they created some chances against us and failed to score them.”

Pedro signs for Chelsea after turning down Man United

pg43

Stop talking to the press, Yakmut tells official, Athletes

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Sport

Stop talking to the press, Yakmut tells official, Athletes The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has practically instructed all the Athletes and official preparing for the All Africa Games to stop talking to the press. The instruction is coming against the backdrop of the recent complain by some of the officials and athletes about the shoddy condition of the camp and the training facilities for the Games. The NSC officials have even threatened to drop some of the coaches who had complained about the poor state of the training facilities from the camp of the All Africa Games camp. Most of the Athletes had also complained about the reduction of their daily allowance from one two thousand Naira to one thousand Naira, with some of them threatening to talk more after the Games. But, the NSC leadership have moved swiftly to stop further talking, by instructing them to stop talking to the press. Attempt to talk to some officials and Athletes about the level of their preparation Games met a brick wall

Mallam Alhassan Yakmut

Lobi Stars battle Akwa United for Federation Cup final

his year’s men’s Federation Cup final will be contested by two time champions Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Akwa United of Uyo, who will be aiming to win the trophy for the first time.

Akwa United shocked Nasarawa United 1-0 in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the goal coming in the 26th minute through Udoh Aniekpemo. At the Karkanda Stadium in

Katsina, Lobi Stars sent packing five –time winners of the Federation Cup, Enugu Rangers, also by the odd goal. Bayelsa Queens and Sunshine Queens will contest the final of the

women’s Federation Cup, after the girls from Yenagoa prevailed by a lone goal over Confluence Queens of Lokoja conquerors of Cup holders Rivers Angels in the quarter -finals. That match was played in Oleh.

LMC drums support for FCT principal’s cup By Albert Akota

he League Management Company has commended the FCT Football Association for its initiative in introducing the Principals Cup in the Capital City. Receiving the FCT Principals Cup Committee members in their Corporate of Office in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chief Operating Officer of the Comapany, Mallam Salihu Abubakar said the initiative of the FCT FA is in line with the new policy of the organizers of the Nigeria Professional Football League that has emphasis on ensuring that all the Premier League Clubs in the country have a viable youth development programme. Quoting his words, Mallam Abubakar said “ we have made it mandatory that before we register any of the Premier League Clubs, they must be able to present to us their youth development programme. We have taken it a step further, by allowing them to register any of such players that graduated from their youths teams to the main team, at any point of the season. This is to give the players from the feeder teams of the clubs the opportunity to be part of the League at any point in time. With these, we would be able give the young players the sense of belonging in the system”. Continuing, he said “we at the LMC are very proud of

efforts of the FCT FA Principals Cup Committee, and the concept of the programme, most especially the idea of allowing the corporate bodies to be part of the programme. This, we want to say, will ensure sustainability, transparency and accountability”. He promised that the LMC will surely support the Committee in own ways, while imploring other Corporate bodies to embrace the programme to the totality, as the future gains would surely surpass the immediate”.

Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Principals Cup Committee, Mr. Patrick Ngwaogu had commended the LMC for the giant strides they have taken in ensuring that the Nigeria League is equated with what happens in other climes. He said that the recent successes recorded in the League, showed the genuine interest of the League Managers to turn the League around. He solicited for the moral, technical and logistics support of

the LMC to ensure that the 2015 FCT Principals Cup is a success. He said that the concept is purely aimed at ensuring that the real age grade players are discovered from the schools, and also returning the glamour that is associated with secondary school football to FCT. He said that tournament will kick off on 12th October, while pre tournament seminar for all the games masters of participating schools will hold on 29th September.

FCT FA chairman, Musa Talle

Eagles fly out to Tanzania on September 4

Sunday Oliseh

igeria plan to charter a plane for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania and will fly out to Dar es Salaam from Abuja on the eve of match day and depart immediately after the game, officials have disclosed. The 2017 AFCON qualifier has been fixed for Saturday, September 5. The Super Eagles will thus fly out on Friday, September 4, and head to Port Harcourt after the match on Saturday. The team are scheduled to take on next-door neigbours Niger in Port Harcourt in a friendly on September 8. Nigeria is drawn in the same qualifying group with Egypt and Chad.

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Sport

Pardew rejects Bolasie, Murray exit talks

Roma completes Gyomber loan deal Serie A side Roma have completed the signing of Catania defender Norbert Gyomber on a season-long loan, with the option for a permanent deal. The Slovakia international has spent the past two seasons with Catania, scoring one goal in 26 appearances. Gyomber now moves to Stadio Olimpico and becomes Roma’s second defensive signing in as many days

Alan Pardew has rejected speculation Yannick Bolasie and Glenn Murray could leave Crystal Palace before the transfer deadline. Winger Bolasie has been linked with a move to Tottenham after catching the eye with some lively displays for Palace. Pemier League new boys Bournemouth are reported to be keen on striker Murray, but Pardew is determined to keep the duo at Selhurst Park. Pardew did hint that Dwight Gayle could leave the club despite a potential move to Bristol City breaking down, stating: “Gayle remains our player until such time that another club puts a bid in that we accept.”

following the arrival of Germany international Antonio Rudiger from Stuttgart. “Roma are without doubt one of the world’s biggest clubs and I’m happy to be here,” Gyomber told Roma’s official website. The signing comes on the same day Catania was demoted to Lega Pro from Serie B for the club’s part in a match-fixing scandal.

New Roma defender Norbert Gyomber

Strip Otamendi joins Manchester City from Valencia Otamendi Otamendi told the club website: “I Otamendi, who has been capped team that finished runners-up to Chile Manchester Nicolas Manchester City has completed am here to give my best, to fight game 25 times by his country, has been in the Copa America last month. the signing of Nicolas Otamendi on a by game and push City to the highest given the No. 30 shirt at the Etihad The former Velez Sarsfeld five-year deal from Valencia. peaks for as long as possible, and I Stadium. and Porto player becomes a sixth United can withOtamendi, 27, was also linked wish we will be able to win several cups The Argentina defender joined Argentinian in the City squad, along Manchester United and Real and titles. Valencia last summer from FC Porto with Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta, Madrid but chose to move to the The defender’s arrival gives and scored six goals in 25 league Martin Demichelis, Willy Caballero League for fee that sources City five centre-backs, along with appearances to help Los Che finish and Bruno Zuculini. win EPL with Premier said is £31.5 million. Demichelis, Captain Vincent f o u r t h The Argentine becomes City’s Kompany, his former Porto teammate in La CHANGE OF NAME fifth summer signing, after record buy Eliaquim Mangala and youngster Liga last Depay Raheem Sterling, midfielder Fabian Jason Denayer. s e a s o n . I formerly known as miss Vivian Delph and young forwards Enes Unal Mangala had been linked with a T h e and Patrick Roberts, and takes their loan move to Valencia in return for c e n t r e - Ekine now wishes to be known Robben spending close to the £100 million Otamendi but sources told ESPN FC back was as Mrs Vivian Isreal. all former Memphis Depay not only has the ability to become one of the world’s best players but can also inspire Manchester United to Premier League glory, according to Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben. Depay stole the show at Old Trafford on Tuesday, steering United to a 3-1 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg win courtesy of a first-half brace. The 21-year-old’s two goals were his first in competitive action since arriving from Eredivisie champions PSV in a deal worth around £25million. Robben knows Depay well, having played alongside the highly-rated youngster at the 2014 World Cup, and the Bayern winger believes his Netherlands team-mate can help United claim their first Premier League title for three years.

mark. The transfer was facilitated because Valencia still owed City money after signing Alvaro Negredo for €30m.

he was going nowhere and Denayer’s agent has admitted the 20-year-old Belgian may look for a temporary switch elsewhere.

also a member of the Argentina

Pedro signs for Chelsea after turning down Man United Chelsea has completed the signing of Barcelona winger Pedro for a fee of €30 million (£21.4m), €3m of which are add-ons. Pedro, 28, had grown frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunities at Barcelona behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but was on the verge of signing for Manchester United, having agreed terms with the Old Trafford club, only to choose Chelsea instead. A statement on the Barcelona website read: “FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Pedro Rodriguez for €30 million, of which €3m are

dependent on performance. The club wishes to publicly express its gratitude to Pedro Rodriguez for his professionalism and dedication while with the club, as well as to wish him all the best in the future.” The former Barcelona teammates such as Cesc Fabregas and Victor Valdes caused Pedro to reconsider his first preference and United ended their interest in signing the winger, despite Louis van Gaal’s previous praise for the player. Chelsea is now expected to sell winger Juan Cuadrado less than nine months after his £23m move from Fiorentina last February.

documents remain valid General public take note. PUBLIC NOTICE SOULS LIBERATION EVANGELICAL MINISTRY The General Public is hereby informed that the above named association has applied for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Rev. (Mrs.) Vivian Edet – Coordinator 2. Rev. Jonah Samuel -Assistant Coordinator 3. Pastor (Mrs.) Excel Alozie- Secretary-General 4. Pastor Paul Okere - Financial Secretary 5. Deacon Isaac Eneduwe- Treasurer 6. Mr. Joseph Esoh Edet. The Objectives are: 1. To support and advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ 2. To serve as interdenominational forum for the followers and adherents of the teachings of Christ. 3. To aid and support church growth and Missions’ works and activities. 4. To propagate and emphasize evangelical work and revival. Any objection should be forwarded to: the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Eric Oba Esq. (Barrister at Law and Notary Public). 08034536352. Email: ecoba99@yahoo.com.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALVATION-GATE CHURCH INT’L

MAYCHILD SAFETY INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the corporate affairs commission CAÇ Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters 1990.

ROAD ACCIDENT PREVENTION NETWORK CENTRE CAC/IT/NO:37979 THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY (CTC) TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DR. NNABUGWU IROMUANYA - CHAIRMAN 2.BARR. TOCHI NWFOR - MEMBER 3.BARR. ROSEMARY NWOKOAGBARA - MEMBER 4.MRS. UCHENNA ANEKWE - MEMBER 5.MR. IKENNA UCHE - SECRETARY 6.BARR. AMARACHI UFOMBA - MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.EMPOWERS AND EQUIPS THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABDUCTION, SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION. 2.STOPING ABDUCTION AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY PROMOTING LEGISLATION THROUGH ASSESSING EXISTING LAWS. 3.PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CRITICALLY NEEDED AND ADVOCATES THROUGH STANDARDS, ACCOUNTABILITY. 4.PROSECUTION FOR THOSE WHO SEXUALLY EXPLOIT CHILDREN. 5.TO SUPPORT CHILD EDUCATION. 6.TO END SEXUAL AND GENDER BASE. VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA THROUGH; PREVENTION, ADVOCACY, SENSITIZATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OFOBUIKE JOSEPHINE 08035242696

PUBLIC NOTICE

TRUSTEES: 1. Rev. Uduak Sunday Josiah 2. Rev (Mrs) Victoria Uduak Josiah 3. Pastor Emmanuel NaanweanyieNbaga 4. Maria Akpan 5. Deaconess (Mrs) Peace Moses Sylvanus OBJECTIVES: To seek and save the lost souls. To preach the undiluted truth of the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. To bring total deliverance and freedom to the bound and oppressed. To proclaim the glory and power of Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General corporate affairs commission plot 421 Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street PMB 198 Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

FAITH TABERNACLE CONGREGATION NIGERIA CAC/IT/NO 246

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR ALFRED UCHENDU NWEKE 2.PASTOR OKON EDEM ESSIEN 3.PASTOR MASHALL WELLINGTON BARA 4.ASSO-PASTOR JOHNSON IJOMA OKORO 5.PASTOR JOHN OWO AKUMA 6.PASTOR GABRIEL FARAYOLA 7.PASTOR ISRAEL TAM NYEDUKO 8.PASTOR JOSHUA JAMES UMANA - REMOVED THE NEW TRUSTEE: 1.PASTOR UWEM TOM UDOETTE - APPOINTED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES REMAIN THE SAME THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

Ediyie Obio Canaan initiative

IMMACULATE YAHWEH MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION 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 FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.BARR.APOSTLE NKUME SIMON IKECHUKWU-Gen.Overseer/ Chairman 2.REV.MOTHER GLORY NKUME 3.AUGUSTINA UGONMA NKUME 4.GODSON CHIMAOBI NKUME-Secretary THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To preach the word of God among other lawful objectives. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Chairman.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 . Henrietta Effiong Edem 2.Lillian Abigail Alfred THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.welfare of members. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: Henrietta Effiong Edem

PUBLIC NOTICE

Edeh international peace centre , elele

NKPOR BUTCHERS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990. The Trustees Are: 1. Kingsley Obadiegwu 2. Chief Okeke Sylvester 3. John Afoke 4. Chief Nwibe Bernard Chukwujindu 5. Augustine Nweke 6. AmaechiOnukwube 7. Vincent IkechukwuNwibe 8. IfeanyiUmeh 9. Sunday Igwe Aim and Objective: 1. To promote peace unity understanding fraternal love and cooperation among the members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this Publication

JESUS THE WATER OF LIFE AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY INT’L

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev fr.Emp Edeh OFR- Chairman 2. Rev .fr Jude okenyi 3. Rev.fr pius abuchi 4. Brother Leonard chukwu -secretary THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.Achieving peaceful eradication of conflict and violent extremism and promotion of peace in the world. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR LEO OHAGBA.

PUBLIC NOTICE

- Founder - Chairman

- Secretary

Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this Publication Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: ALOZOR TOCHUKWU LAZARUS; 08035003122

PUBLIC NOTICE

KPAKPANDO BROTHERS SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA

PROPHETIC YASA MINISTRY OF CHRIST

TASHADAVE DIVINE FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Obi Henry Chika 2. Ezeh Augustine Odinaka 3. Osualla Casmir Emeka 4. Akabuogu Callistus Chigozie 5. Okpara Peter Ogemdi

The Trustees Are: 1. Evangelist Azeez Abraham Olushola 2. Mrs. Bolaji Gladys Abdulasi 3. Mr. Falana Kola Kunle 4. Mrs. Ogbomo Roseline 5. Mr. Olawale Oladaja

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

Aim and Objective: 1. To foster unity and peace among members.

Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: BARR. PUJA SOLOMON

Signed: SECRETARY

The Trustees Are: 1. Eze Kingsley Ogom 2. Roseline Oluchi

- Chairman - Secretary

Aim and Objective: 1. To assist orphans and the less privilaged.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE NGOZI CHILAM FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES Are 1. Francis Chilam Dimkpa 2. Precious Ngozi Chilam-Dimkpa 3. Captain Chilam-Dimkpa 4. Idoka Chilam-Dimkpa Aims and Objectives are: 1. To promote social development and economic empowerment. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsistreet, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this publication. Signed SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALUMA NKELE FOUNDATION CAC/IT/NO. 77824

GRACE SPIRIT EMBASSY

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of trustees and amendment of constitution under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu - Retained 2. Barr. Ikechi Kalu Uko - Retained 3. Dr. John Egbuta - Retained 4. Chief Okiyi Okonkwo Awa - Retained THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Chinyere Nkele Nkele - Newly Appointed 2. Mrs. Eberechukwu NwochaAgu - Newly Appointed 3. Mrs. Nnennaya Grace Nwokede - Newly Appointed 4. Mr. Okechukwu Aluma Nkele - Newly Appointed 5. Mr. Ogbonnaya Aluma Nkele - Newly Appointed 6. Onyemaechi Aluma Nkele - Newly Appointed Reasons: The removed trustee is due to the fact that he is out of town and cannot participate actively in the activities of the foundation. AIM AND OBJECTIVE REMAIN THE SAME AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION To alter and amend Article 7 (2), Functions of the executive committee No. 3, removal of the functions of office holders (Vice Chairman, Financial Secretary, Public Relations Office, Social Secretary And Welfare Officer) of the constitution in order to increase the number of Trustees to enhance capabilities and to achieve the foundation’s aims and objectives. Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Michael EyamAbima - General Overseer 2. Egbe Obiom Agban - Secretary 3. Abima Nancy Ohama - Treasurer 4. Ukam Jane Ekup - Financial Secretary Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To build him a healthy Church. 3. To teach and to evangelize the world. 4. To do and to promote all that is good in accordance to the word of God. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: BARR. AYUK EGAR (LEGAL ADVISER) 07034924662

PUBLIC NOTICE

SMILE FOR HELP FOUNDATION This is to inform the general that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and allied matters act of 1990.

SAFINATUL NAJAT FOUNDATION This is to inform the general that the above named 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. Safina Asibi Mohammed 2. Chidera Peters 3. Ajus Sanusi AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To give care and support to the less privileged in the society.

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

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

HOMES OF HOPE FOR YOUTH WITH A MISSION This is to inform the general that the above named 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. Olawale Oluwafemi Samson - Chairman 2. Olawale Juliet Chinonyerem - Secretary 3. Mrs. Peace Kalu 4. Dr. Ajani Magdalen 5. Pastor Ajayi Samuel 6. Mr. Tamunoemi Afibeboala 7. Mr. Anthony Oimiete 8. Pastor Timothy Ibrahim AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. The purpose of the corporation is, but not limited to evangelism in any of its forms to share the love of Christ. 2. Training and educating in all spheres of life according to the word of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28days of the publication.

BINI LAWYERS FORUM

GLOBAL FAMILY SERVICES NETWORK OF NIGERIA

PROJECT FEED AFRICA INITAITIVE

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990 NAME OF TRUSTEES 1. Barr. Cliff Osazee Otasowie 2. Barr. Augustin Osaretin Uwangue 3. Barr. Paul Osasumwen Eboigbe 4. Barr. Aiyamenkhue Augustine 5. Barr. Vera I. Olaye Hamm 6. Barr. Osaigbovo Ehigie Arase AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote unity and co-operation amongst members. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Garkia, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to CAC for registration under the Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ikegwuonu Obinna Chijioke - Chairman 2. Osakwe Wealth - Secretary 3. Obiorah Goodness 4. Odibeli Emeka 5. Onuchukwu Micheal 6. Udueze Ikenna 7. Okorondu Chris 8. Ukeoma Jeffery AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Helping the needy of less priviledge in the society. 2. Empowering youths through information technology. 3. To promote unity and peaceful co-existence of communities. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CAC, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi, Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this Publication.

Signed: BARR. OSAIGBOVO EHIGIE ARASE

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to CAC for registration under the Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Benjamin Igwe - Chairman 2. Oladeji Oluyomi Bolaji - Secretary 3. Louis Amadigwe 4. Benarge Igwe 5. Felicitas Ifeoma Igwe AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide and coordinate needed health and human services to individuals and families in Nigeria innercity communities. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CAC, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi, Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this Publication. Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON EDUCATION AND AUTISM INTERVENTION

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part (C) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Cap. 59 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 1990. Name of Trustees 1. Christine Umanu Gabriel-Brisibe - Chairman 2. Warebi Gabriel Brisibe 3. Chinyere Nnenne Pedro-Egbe 4. Abigail Chinenwo Enigbokan - Secretary Aims and Objectives: 1. To carryout research and education on autism and related disabilities. 2. To carryout educational intervention for autistic persons and migrant fishermen children. 3. To establish educational trust fund for talented singers and instrumentalist. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Signed SECRETARY

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE 12 DISCIPLES WOMEN AND YOUTH INITIATIVE

BRICS PAPER RECYCLING INITIATIVE

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990. The Trustees Are: 1. Xsara Akpobome - Secretary 2. Gloria Ibru - Chairman 3. Titilope Aladesuyi 4. Taiwo Adegbe 5. Elvina Ibru 6. Lolo Omotunde Davies 7. Ogechi Chuma-Otteh 8. Elsie Oluku 9. Itoro Ugorji 10. Busola Adenuga Aim and Objective: 1. To provide education that will positively influence micro business to imbibe proper business methods that guarantee productive and sustainable development. 2. To reduce the increasing number of micro businesses that close up due to lack of training and proper business practice by providing trainings to micro businesses through government, private and individual mentoring. 3. To successfully monitor, mentor and promote women and youths in micro scale business to succeed. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, 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

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990. The Trustees Are: 1. Dr. Ahmed Dankishiya 2. Anita Otubu 3. Omololami Ajani 4. Reverend Mathew Daniel 5. Olufunto Boroffice Aim and Objective: 1. To promote and encourage recycling used paper and saw dust into a sustainable source of cooking fuel with a higher environmental footprint. 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

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORDI IBEKWE FOUNDATION

NAZARETH DELIVERANCE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

THE MIGHTY FINGER GLORIOUS CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Prophet God’Power Abraham Barnabas 2.Mr Alimi Oluwafemi Paul 3.Mr John Chigozie Okoye 4.Mr Ogbu Chukwuemeka George 5. Mr Okafor Chukwugozie Kingsley THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. We committed to build up and equipping good’s people,and sharing the love and gospel of Jesus Christ with others. 2 To set free those who are in bondage or danger. 3.For the equipping of the saints for the work of service.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EVANGELIST EMMANUEL JOHN 2.EVANGELIST CHINWE EMMANUEL 3.PATIENCE MONDAY 4.DANIEL AKPAN SANDU 5.CHIBUEZE JOSEPH 6.EVANGELIST EMMANUEL MATHEW 7.GIFT UWA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SINGED CHUKWUMA .T. NWAKAEGO.

SIGNED: BAR. AJIBO KENNETH

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS MORDI IRENE ONYEMURU 2. MRS GERALDINE OKOSUN NKECHI 3. PRINCESS JUDITH AKIRI 4. ERHIATAKE IBORI 5. ESHEMOKHAI PRECIOUS (MRS) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MRS MORDI IRENE ONYEMURU

PUBLIC NOTICE DANJUMBO YOUTHS ASSOCIATION BONNYTOWN RIVERS STATE

MARGHI CREATIVE REAWAKENING FOUNDATION

HOPEFUL MIND INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. RUTH KEFFAS GADZAMA - CHAIRMAN 2.ROSE KEFFAS - SECRETARY 3.JOSEPH MAINA KEFFAS 4.SARAH KEFFAS 5.SAMUEL KEFFAS THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO INITIATE OR CREATE A PLATFORM AND PROGRAMMES FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE YOUTHS VIA SKILL ACQUISITION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES TO SHOWCASE THEIR POTENTIALS.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.SIR ANOSIKE HUGO (KSM) 2.EPHRAIM IKENNA ORAMASIONWU 3. OKEKE CHINYERE DEBORAH 4. NKECHI OKORO 5. CHIEF VICTOR OGUAMA 6. ONYEKWELU UDEZE 7. ANDY NZUBE UDOJI (LEGAL ADVISER) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To establish an organisation for the advancement of the interests of the less privileged. 2. An Organization to teach skills and educate the disabled. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: by Andy Nzube Udoji- legal adviser.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.CLINTON DAN-JUMBO 2.FUBARA DAN-JUMBO 3.CYRIL DAN-JUMBO 4.TAMUNO DAN-JUMBO 5.KENNEDY DAN-JUMBO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE MEMBERS. 2.TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE UPLIFTMENT OF THE CULTURE AND TRADITION OF BONNY PEOPLE. 3.TO DO ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH 1 & 2 ABOVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SPRING PALM DEVELOPEMENT FOUNDATION

SANCTUARY OF FIRE GLOBAL MISSION

LIFEGATE SCHOOLS TRUST FUND

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION 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 HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED: BARR. OGECHI

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OLUTAYO DAYO SAMUEL 2.OLUTAYO BOLUWATIFE OLUFUNMILAYO 3.ADETAYO TUNDE MARK 4.ADENIKE ADEREMI ADEYEMI 5.GABRIEL OLAIYA JOLEDO 6.BABATUNDE ABIODUN OYEFESO 7.UCHENNA KINGSLEY ENEH 8.BEATRICE OGODOBIRI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ENGAGE IN ALL FORMS OF CHARITY WORKS, PROVISION OF TUITION, FEEDING AND CLOTHING OF THE NEEDY AND LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. 2.PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIP FOR WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION TO INDIGENT STUDENTS. 3.PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR LEARNING AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. 4.CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS AT NO COST TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BABATUNDE OYEFESO 0802325288

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE RETINA FOUNDATION FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.UGWU ONYEKACHI CLEMENT - CHAIRMAN 2.EGWUONWU EDMUND UGOCHUKWU - SECRETARY 3.EMEKA-AMADI MIRIAM ADA - TREASURER 4.OBIORAH EKWUEME 5.VIVIAN ADAEZE NNAMANI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.YOUTH EMPOWERMENT. 2.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.BISHOP EMMA NWANYA 2.SAMUEL ONYECHI AZOKA 3.AUGUSTINA EMMA NWANYA 4.MAURICE NWACHUKWU 5.CHARLES DURUSON 6.EMMANUEL PROSPER ONYEUKWU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

PLATINUM FITNESS CLUB

HASKEN MUSULUNCI FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EZIDIMMA KELVIN 2.UDUJI EDWIN CHIBUEZE 3.PRINCE OGAGA ERHIRHIE 4.GODWIN DIKE 5.VINCENT EKPEOGU 6.EZIRIM OBINNA GEORGE 7.OJUKWU COSMAS ANAYO 8.IKECHUKWU OKONKWO 9.ANAELE MARK 10.CHARLES EMEKA OKEBANAMA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE SPORTING ACTIVITIES AND FITNESS AMONG MEMBERS. 2.TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, UNITY, PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED:BARR O. E. OHAKWE

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.ABUBAKAR YAKUBU - CHAIRMAN 2.ALIYU MUHAMMAD SADISU - SECRETARY 3.ABUBAKAR BALADUKKU ATTAHIRU - TREASURER 4.MUHAMMAD MUSBAHU ABDURRAZAK - PRO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE BASIC TEACHING OF ISLAM. 2.TO IMPROVE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AMONG THE SOCIETY. 3.TO CONTRIBUTE IN BUILDING ISLAMIC SCHOOLS AND MOSQUES. 4.TO EDUCATE MUSLIM LEADERS HOW TO MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE IN THEIR FIELD OF PREACHING. 5.TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE CHARITY AMONG NEEDY. 6.TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED TO BE SELF RELIANCE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OSARETIN AIBUEDEFE 2.THOMAS UHUMWANGHO 3.IYAYI ENABULELE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1, TO ORGANISE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES FOR ITS MEMBERS. 2,TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES TO WOMEN AND OTHER ELIGIBLE PEOPLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, august 21, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE GOLDEN FRIENDS SOCIAL CLUB THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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. LEVI AKANO 2. COSMAS OKORIE 3. KELECHI EZEJI 4. CHIGOZIE ONWUKA 5. ERNEST MBAH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO UNITE MEMBERS. 2. TO PROMOTE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS. 3. TO BE A FORUM FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. 4. TO PROMOTE GOOD HUMAN RELATIONS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGERIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. LUCKY C. DURUEKE

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original certificate of occupancy in respect of plot no. BA/7083 as a result of fire incident. BELONGING TO YAHANUWA SARKI ZAINABARI. THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE ADVISED BY THIS PUBLICATION TO TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, formerly known as EMMANUEL TORIA NWODO now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL TORIA TITUS. All former documents remain valid. First Bank PLC and the general public should please take note.

This is to notify the general public of the Loss of Original Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy in respect of Plot No.1112 having an area of approximately 2215 Sq.M in Cadastral Zone B19 of KATAMPE FCT Abuja belonging to LETICIA ERUBA. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Miss Victoria Iyabo Nwodo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Iyabo Titus. All former documents remain valid. Fisrt Bank Plc and the General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I,FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS ADEBAYO SARAH MAGBAGBEOLA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS SARAH OLADUNJOYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, KOGI STATE POLYTECHNIC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TATE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as ISYAKU,ISIYAKU and ISHAK USMAN now wish to abe known and addressed as ISHAK USMAN. All former documents remain valid. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University , Bauchi and the general Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as HABIBA ISHAYA SHADE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GRACE ISHAYA SHADE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Signed LETICIA ERUBA 07062243384, 08033007427

PUBLIC NOTICE MILLENIUM YOUTH AGRICULTURE AND SELF RELIANCE 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 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. VALENTINE OGEDEGBE - CHAIRMAN 2. PRINCE EKPEN EREDIAWA - VICE CHAIRMAN 3. JULIET URUBUSI 4. DR. MOHAMMED ISAH 5. BARR. FEDELIS ULINFUN - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE UNITY AND PEACE AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: AMI SESOO OAKFIELD CONSULTING CHAMBERS, 72, AHMADU BELLO WAY, C.B.D. ABUJA-FCT, 08039167996

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QUOTABLE QUOTE You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board.

friday, AUUGUST 21, 2015

SPORTS

latest

Manchester United can win EPL with Depay - Robben

emphis Depay not only has the ability to become one of the world’s best players but can also inspire Manchester United to Premier League glory, according to Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben. Depay stole the show at Old Trafford on Tuesday, steering United to a 3-1 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg win courtesy of a first-half brace. The 21-year-old’s two goals were his first in competitive action since arriving from Eredivisie champions PSV in a deal worth around £25million. Robben knows Depay well, having played alongside the highly-rated youngster at the 2014 World Cup, and the Bayern winger believes his Netherlands team-mate can help United claim their first Premier League title for three years.

Mourinho must understand player safety - Muamba

helsea manager Jose Mourinho must trust his medical staff and understand that a player’s wellbeing is paramount, according to former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba. Chelsea’s club doctor Eva Carneiro and first-team physiotherapist Jon Fearn were absent from the side’s bench for their 3-0 loss at Manchester City on Sunday after they angered Mourinho. The Chelsea boss was angry that Carneiro and Fearn rushed onto the pitch in stoppage time of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Swansea to treat Eden Hazard, meaning he had to leave the field and reduced the team to nine men. Muamba, who retired from football in 2012 after suffering an on-field cardiac arrest, said in The Sun: “Player safety is key, a player’s life is important. Once a player is injured, the doctor Chelsea had academy doctor Chris Hughes and physio Steven Hughes on the bench for the defeat at City, although Mourinho has said that the absence of Carneiro and Fearn need will not necessarily be permanent.

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. . . putting the people first

– President Buhari to Police Service Commission

In defence of Buhari’s anti-corruption war Friday Column F or most dispassionate observers of the Nigerian political scene, the only thing which has destroyed the fabric of this country even more than any conventional war, is corruption. This hydraheaded monster has seemingly become Nigeria’s middle name. Aside from the untoward image this menace has wrought on the country and the insult and embarrassment it has caused innocent Nigerians abroad, it has inflicted irreparable damage to the basic foundations that held the country together. Corruption has stunted our economic growth, our social and physical infrastructure, our technological and industrial advancement and has decapitated our institutions, which is why our over 40 research institutes are no longer functional because they are headless. Even our academic and military establishments and other security agencies cannot, in all sincerity, be exonerated from the deadly effects of unbridled corruption. The determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to combat corruption and to go after suspects irrespective of their ethnic or political leanings should enlist the sympathy of all wellmeaning Nigerians. It is the more reason why even the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which controlled the central government and a greater number of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, recently endorsed the corruption war. As Nigerians we certainly do not need any soothsayer to tell us that ours is a corrupt country. We see corruption live everyday. We see Mr. Corruption stalk the streets, the roads and the highways across the country. We see Mr. Corruption bid us goodbye at the airports and welcome us back into the country. We Nigerians greet Mr. Corruption at the seaports and border posts as we clear our cargoes into the country. We shake the juicy hands of Mr. Corruption as we savour the winning of a lucrative contract. Truly, Nigeria, which in 1996 was ranked by Transparency International as the second most corrupt country in the world, achieved the utmost when in 1997, it was voted the most corrupt country on the face of the earth. Ever since, the country has had the misfortune of being grouped among the five most corrupt countries in the world. There can

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By Dan Amor

President Buhari never be any stigma as heinous as this in the comity of nations across the world. Since the current democratic political experiment started in May 1999, all successive governments have had to place anti-corruption war as part of their programmes of action, popularly known as manifestos or agendas. Yet, all had paid lip service to the fight against corruption except the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which is showing signs of its determination to tackle the monster head on. As can be deduced from the body language and actions of the President himself, Nigerians are now confident that this battle will commence with the resoluteness it deserves. Successive administrations, in spite of their much vaunted hoopla over corruption war, were ironically refuting the claims of the Berlinbased Transparency International (TI) that Nigeria was stinking with the evil stench of corruption. For instance, in 2004 following TI’s categorization of Nigeria as the third most corrupt country in the world, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, instead of looking inwards and soberly reassessing its anti-corruption programme to find out why the campaign had neither secured credibility even among Nigerians nor yielded any positive dividends worth

commending, decided to lambast the agency. Unfortunately, the government did not sound convincing to Nigerians. That the government had tried to dismiss the TI verdict did not make the unwholesome factors that informed the reports disappear. Besides the COJA profligacy and bazaar and the allegation that various state governors were exporting state allocations monthly, there was also the theatre of shame in the National Assembly where quarrels over sharing of state funds had led lawmakers to assault each other. Indeed, until the exit of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Commission saw nothing wrong, heard nothing wrong and did nothing about former President Obasanjo or any of his ministers and advisers in spite of mounting evidence of stinking corruption that is now in the public domain, including the Siemens bribery scandal, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, the Transcorp shares, and the Schneider scandals. As if there is an atmosphere of total impunity, we behave as though we don’t care about other corruption scandals that have rocked the national boat. These include the National Integrated Power Projects in which over $16.5 Billion was stolen, the

Aviation Fund, the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, the Rural Electrification Agency scandal, the Federal Government Borehole Project, and the Halliburton Bribery scandals. There are still the Universal Basic Education Commission scandal, the National Identity Cards Project scandal, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigerian Ports Authority scandals, and the N1.1Billion National Gallery of Arts fraud, etcetera. Lest we forget, the Jonathan administration actually exposed some of these frauds but lacked the political will to prosecute the offenders. While the Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and two of his Executive Directors were being sacked as a result of the turmoil in the power sector against the backdrop of the $16.5Billion House of Representatives Power Probe, the then Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and six of his commissioners were removed over an alleged N1.5Billion fraud. At the time, the Senate also directed the probe of the National Poverty Eradication Programme, NAPEP, citing lack of direction, administrative perfidy and the failure of the programme to register a formidable impact on the lives of Nigerians despite huge government investment in it. Nothing came out of the exercise. Dan Amor is Public Affairs Analyst Contd on Page 47

DAN GAYE

Court grants Ohakim N270m bail for N270m fraud – News

No harm in eating and vomitting

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: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141