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Plateau lawmakers exchange blows at stormy session

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Vol. 16 No. 65 N150

Nigerians world most optimistic people-Study << pAGE 4>>

We got no bailout from FG- Gov.Yari

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during the president’s arrival from three-day official visit to the United States of America, at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

I’m Boko Haram target, says VP

By Lawrence Olaoye

Gombe blast toll hits 36

Contd on Page 2

466 Days after >> pages 3

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

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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, july 24, 2015

We got no bailout from FG-Yari By Ahmed Abubakar

GF Chairman, AlhjiAbdulazeezYari, who is the governor of Zamfara state, told journalists after the meeting that “What had been shared were monies from (payments made) by NLNG and FAAC and as we have been saying, we have not been looking for bailout. “Instead, we have been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation, most especially we are talking about some of the monies that are hung around the coffers of government to be brought together for the purpose of sharing.” Yari added: “The CBN governor raised some issues

that taking the monies from those accounts, most especially as our reserves are going down, will affect the exchange rate and also the naira will come under pressure; so they decided to make the naira available or its equivalent so that those can be taken as loan by the states for some of us complaining about salaries”. In that sense, he argued, “we are not taking any bailout from the federal government and the federal government did not give us any bailout.” He, however, said the states would welcome a bailout at this time. “But we are talking on how best the intervention will happen within these days so we will be able to settle the issue of

salaries and other operations “. The governors also resolved to support President MuhammaduBuhari to make the National Health Insurance (NHI) Scheme work, and they would “aggressively support the total eradication of Polio” in the country as a follo- up to a presentation by the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation.The governors whose meeting lasted into the midnight of Wednesday said they would ensure that the one per cent funding provided for in the national budget to accommodate “this critical layer” of health services to the citizenry. Meanwhile, the communiqué of the meeting, read by Yari, stressed that while the governors never received any bailout money

from the federal government, the Forum would continue to demand from the federal government its legitimate earnings in the Federation Account. It said the NGF also resolved to work with the President to pursue a policy direction that would “accelerate domestic production for the stability of the economy”, even as it assured that governors would meet the president to seek lasting solutions to the worsening macro-economic challenges confronting the nation, especially foreign exchange stability. The governors, according to him, would discuss with the President “coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction for the country and stimulate domestic production.”

on the Service Chiefs to increase their efforts in fighting insurgency. There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television.” The meetingmandated all 36 states to consider a reduction in their overhead costs in order to stay afloat and be able to settle their financial obligations. At the meeting, governors from the North-east and North-west presented updates on the security situation in their areas, including cattle rustling and banditry. Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi took turns to inform the Council of security concerns in those regions On Boko Haram, the governors of Yobe and Borno states said five local government areas were still in the hands of the insurgents. They called for increaseddeployment of military personnel and sophisticated hardware to dislodge the terrorists. Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, in his comments on cattle

rustling and banditry, informed the Council that most of the cattle rustlers were in Kumuku National Park and if not dislodged, the park could very easily become another Sambisa Forest. On his part, Osun state governor, RaufAregbesola, suggested that special economic angle should be introduced in addition to military intervention to deal with the Boko Haram problem. On the report on the Excess Crude Accounts, the Council received a presentation from the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance on the Excess Crude proceeds. He took the council through the summary of inflow and outflow of Excess Crude Savings account from January 2011 to 21 July 2015. According to the Permanent Secretary, the ECA currently stands at $2.078 billion. The Council directed that the Committee on ECA should work with the Accountant General’s office to resolve the gaps observed

in the presentation. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Lagos state governor, AkinwumiAmbode, said the Council mandated all the 36 states to find ways of reducing their cost of governance. He said “We do not have a uniform template on how to reduce the cost of governance but it’s very clear that states in the specific situations will find different ways and means of ensuring the cost of running governance is not as huge as it has always been. “It’s left for the states in their respective situation to find the different ways of cutting costs. But, what is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge burden or huge cost we are applying to run our government. A situation where you are having a huge percentage of your budget as recurrent expenditure is obviously not acceptable. And you must look for ways in reducing the cost of administration in the various states.”

It was learnt that most members argued over the content of the day’s “order paper”. The Speaker, Peter Azi, who represents Jos north west, had insisted that the first item on the “order paper” should be the reading of a letter from the governor, Simon Lalong, nominating transition committee chairmen for local government councils. The argument that followed soon resulted in physical clashes that lasted for about 15 minutes

before security personnel intervened. Chairs of the chambers were destroyed by the irate lawmakers. No member of the assembly spoke with journalists on the matter; therefore, the main reason for the fight could not be ascertained. It was also learnt that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had walked out when the speaker, Mr. Azi, attempted to read the

letter from the governor. Recall that governor Lalong, recently sacked the chairpersons of the 17 local government areas of the state ahead of the expiration of their terms in February 2017. Councilors from the 17 council areas who were also sacked alongside their chairmen were beaten at the assembly complex on Wednesday, when PDP and APC supporters clashed over the dissolution.

minimum of 15 and not more than 20 years. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced the apex bank’s restructuring at the National Economic Council meeting yesterday. A four-man probe committee, which was constituted at the NEC’s inaugural meeting in June to review the books of the NNPC, Excess Crude Account as well as the

federation account, failed to submit its report at the almost five hours meeting. The NEC also admonished state governors to find ways of reducing their cost of governance.The NEC was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Governors of the 36 states and Permanent Secretary (or Minister) of the Federal Capital Territory, are members of NEC, which is the

highest economic advisory body to the President on the economic affairs of the nation. The state governors had in June while seeking bailouts tabled some requests before President Muhammadu Buhari. The governors requested amongst others an extension of repayment periods of loans’ balances owed by states from durations normally between four and seven years to 20 years.

I’m Boko Haram target, says VP

By Lawrence Olaoye

Former Governor, Babangida Aliyu – Page 18

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

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ice President YemiOsinbajo has raised an alarm that intelligence security at his disposal indicates that “miscreants, masquerading as scavengers” have been commissioned to bomb his official residence. Osinbajo’s alarm was reflected in a resolution passed at the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday in Abuja. The Vice President recently undertook a tour of the troubled North eastern states under siege by the Boko Haram insurgents. The resolution read: “The Vice President disclosed that security report has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the house of the Vice President. “The Vice President regretted that the insurgency has affected the economic life of the North-east and the country as a whole. “He called for the council to speak as a team to put pressure

Plateau lawmakers exchange blows at stormy session From Ado Musa with agency report

he sitting of the Plateau state House of Assembly was on Thursday disrupted when lawmakers physically attacked each other before the commencement of the session. Journalists covering the assembly, as well as staff of the assembly, were sent out of the chambers before the fight started.

Bailout: CBN extends loan repayment period for states By Osby Isibor

s part of bailout for financially ailing states, the Central Bank of Nigeria has restructured existing bank loans owed by state government from a short term repayment period of about seven years to a minimum of 20 years. Bank loans acquired for salary arrears will also be extended to a

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

News

Saraki challenges workers on antigraft war By Ali Abare Abubakar and Ai’sha Biola Raji

enate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has challenged Nigerian workers to play their part in the war against corruption to which the present administration in the country has committed itself. Saraki while addressing the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) lead by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who visited him in Abuja, said the Senate under his leadership was ready to work for Nigerians despite the erroneous impression being currently propagated by some persons outside the Senate. He said it was time for workers to help the government succeed in decisively and successfully tackling the corruption menace once and for all. He noted that while the Senate has interacted with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), it also intends to engage the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look at the areas where the National Assembly can assist to ensure that the fight against corruption is efficiently prosecuted with positive results that will be glaring for to see. Saraki said past excuses will no longer be tolerated since the country now has the right leadership with avowed political will to fight corruption. “This should not be a headline-grabbing approach because at the end of the day, you are workers, when you talk about oil theft; we have Nigerian workers at the terminals who surely must know when this thing is going on. Everywhere that there is corruption, some workers are there either participating or observing. We now have a great opportunity to win the war against corruption because we have a leadership led by President Muhammadu Buhari that we believe has the political will to do the right thing”, he said.

Victims of bomb blast at Dadin Kowa and Dukku motor parks in Gombe on Wednesday night, being treated, yesterday at Gombe General Hospital. Photo: NAN

I’ll lead from front - Buhari By Lawrence Olaoye

resident Muhammadu Buhari has said that he would lead Nigerians “from the front”, but he expects every other citizen to do their part to get the economy back on track. He spoke on Wednesday at the United States Institute for Peace, Washington, before flying back to Abuja where his plane touched down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 5 am Thursday. “I will, as President, lead from the front, but all Nigerians, including the opposition parties, civil society organisations, business and religious leaders,

public servants, labour unions, the youths and professional associations, all have important roles to play to get our country back on a sound economic footing’’, he said. Buhari said he would work hard to sustain the goodwill his government had received at home and abroad in response to a question as to how he intended to leverage on the enormous goodwill being enjoyed by his administration and meet the huge expectations of the people. He said despite his perceived slowness and the reality of lack of resources, he would work very hard “so that people will see and believe that we are trying

and can deliver and hopefully become less critical.” Buhari acknowledged the huge challenges confronting his administration such as the crash in the price of crude oil, its theft, and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, hostage taking and insecurity in the North East. He restated his determination to sustain the goodwill by working very hard. “And I believe I will succeed.” Earlier, the President said “despite our current challenges, Nigeria’s commitment to good governance, anti-corruption, democracy and security of lives and property remains firm. “Similarly, I must reaffirm

that despite the current challenges that we face domestically, we are ready and willing to face our duties – fixing Nigeria’s problems as formidable as they are the responsibility of Nigerians.’’ According to him, international community can only assist, but the hard work belongs to Nigerians and their government. Former US Secretary of State for African Affairs, Amb. Johnnie Carson, had described President Buhari as a “very humble and strong personality with enormous integrity and commitment to good governance and uplifting the lives of the citizenry.’’

the land are so immense that we need to cleanse the land for the President to succeed in taking Nigerians to the promise land”. She therefore called on all federal, states and local government coordinators of Agro Allied in Nigeria to embark on 7 days fasting and prayers for the nation, beginning from Wednesday 22nd July 2015 to Thursday 30th July 2015 to change Nigeria for the better. She also tasked the coordinators and other Nigerians to pray for all elected officials

including members of House of Representatives and the Senate. “What is happening in the National Assembly today requires spiritual intervention from God. The plan of the devil is to create crisis for the President through the National Assembly so as to prevent President Buhari from moving Nigeria to the greater heights. “It is very important to begin this fasting and prayers from Wednesday 22nd July, 2015 to free our nation from the oppression of the devil and for

the atonement of our sins for a better tomorrow under President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda”. Prof. Aladejobi decried the continuous bloodshed in the country such as the insurgency of Boko Haram in North East, ritual killings and assassinations as a clog in the wheel of the nation’s progress. She further used the medium to thank President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration for their continuous support for Agro-allied farmers in Nigeria.

Nigeria needs our prayers - Prof. Aladejobi

By Osby Isibor

he National Coordinator of Agro Allied Cooperative Society in Nigeria and researcher into Agro allied products, Prof. Queen Victoria Aladejobi Adesuyi, has called for a 7-day fasting and prayers for the triumph of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and for the survival of the Nigerian nation. According to Professor Aladejobi, “The evil forces in

Buhari urged to restructure river basin authorities By Usman Shuaibu

n environmental expert, Alhaji Mohammed Guwa Lamorde, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to deem it necessary to restructure the river basin authorities across the country in order to generate jobs for the young graduates as well as

youths in the society. Lamorde, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in his office in Kuje, said that the Buhari-led government would bring the needed transformation in agriculture sector, because when he was a military head of state he was able to give priority attention to agriculture. He also pointed out that when

Buhari was a military head of state he was able to revive Nigeria economy for better, saying that he is optimistic that the president will do same in this present democratic dispensation. He called on Nigerians to be patient with the Buhari-led administration, as according to him, people will feel the impact of the present government if they

are patient enough. He expressed hope that Nigeria will witness tremendous changes under the administration of Buhari in terms of infrastructural development and employment, while urging Nigerians to always give maximum support and cooperation to Buhari’s government to achieve his dreams for Nigerians.

Lamorde who was a retired civil servant in the FCT Area Council Service Commission, however, appealed to the elected politicians as well as politicians to join hands with the president to transform the country to its former position, and advised them to shun politics of sentiments and work for the progress of the nation.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

News

NASS earnings outrageous - NLC By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has decried the fat salaries and allowances paid to the Nigerian lawmakers, just as the labour union accused political office holders in Nigeria, elected and appointed, of being the major drain pipes on the nation’s economy through their monthly fat salaries and allowances. The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this yesterday when he led the Labour Unionists on courtesy visit to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. He said Nigerians are not

Lawmaker’s name in Roll Call sheetwitness

*Demands further reductions in their salaries and Allowances satisfied with the 50% reduction in monthly salaries recently announced by President Muhammadu Buhari and some state governors, as well as the fraction reduced by the Nigerian lawmakers on their fat allowances. This was even as he called on the National Assembly to make its annual budgets transparent and open to Nigerians as against the secrecy nature the budgets have been over the years. The drain, according to him, was captured by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) in 2009 when it revealed that annual salaries of just about 17, 474 certain political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria was N1.126trillion. He said: “Information available to us indicate that as far

back as 2009, the RMAFC put the salaries and allowances of “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office holders-numbering 17,474 at N1.126 trillion annually. “This indicates that the earnings of political office holders were such a big drain on the revenue of the country and were clearly unsustainable. “The level of financial expenditure were such that a Senator and a Representative earn more than 100 times what a graduate on grade level 8, step 15 earns annually. The ratio, when compared to what a level 17, step 9 officer in the federal civil service earns annually, was more than 20 times. “Your Excellency, you need not to be told that we are again back to poor revenue from our main source of foreign exchange –crude oil. This, combined with

the excesses of our political elite in the mismanagement of our national resources, has once again called to question the issue of the high cost of governance in the country. “In response to this, some state governors have reduced their salaries by 50%, and the President and Vice President recently joined by ordering that their salaries should also be reduced by 50%. The National Assembly has also acted by reducing its annual budget from N150 billion to N115 billion as symbolic gesture that our legislators are in tune with our austere times. ‘Your Excellency, Nigerians generally do not believe that these gestures from the two arms of government are far reaching enough to address the question of high cost of governance in the

land. “For the President, the Vice President and the governors, the point had been rightly made that they do not depend on their salaries and allowances for their upkeep anyway, as the state provides for them 100%, therefore even if they part with 95% of their entitlements, it will not affect them in any material way. He however solicited for support of the National Assembly on new National minimum wage that will be submitted for approval, saying the current N18, 000 minimum wage was no longer realistic in the face dwindling value of the Nation’s currency ( Naira ) which presently exchanges at the rate of 242 to a US dollar as against 140 it was to a dollar when the N18, 000 minimum wage was approved in 2010.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

n a case filed by Ali Yakubu and the All Progressives Congress, against Honourable Sabo Garba, Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission for the Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency, the Yobe House of Representatives Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in the FCT had heard a statement by the 2nd witness, Malam Adamu Musa called by the 1st and 2nd respondents. The second witness, Mr Adamu Musa, Principal Executive Officer, National Teachers Institute, Kaduna testified during yesterday’s sitting in Abuja. Musa during cross examination by counsel to the 3rd Respondent, Yusuf Alhassan testified that the first Respondent, Hon. Sabo Garba’s name was in the roll call sheet tendered by the petitioner and marked as Exhibit M by the tribunal. Musa went further to tell the tribunal that Sabo’s name appeared with the number, 0159 in the Roll call sheet. Meanwhile, during cross examination, the first respondents’ witness, ASP Kennedy Egwuoke told the tribunal that he was subpoenaed by the first petitioner but when the time came for evidence he dropped him. Recall should be made that the petitioners had alleged that the lawmaker did not attend the schools he claimed to have attended in the INEC forms he filled. The petitioners alleged that the lawmaker averred in the affidavit in support of Personal Particulars INEC forms CF 001 `that he attended Teachers College Bama, Borno State, from 1979 to 1984, but there is no record from the school and National Teachers Institute, showing that he attended such institution`

L-R: Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Patrick Agholor, representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Goddy Anyankpelle, and Chairman of the occasion, Dr Tom Adaba, during presentation of the book: “The Nigerian Navy: Developing Amidst Challenges”, written by Commander Idris Yusuf (rtd), yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Nigerians world’s most optimistic people –study By Ochiaka Ugwu with Agency Report

hree African countries of Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso top the list of world’s most optimistic people, a research done recently has revealed. In a research conducted by Pew Research Centre on March 25 through May 27, the survey placed Nigeria higher that these two countries stating that world’s most optimistic people live in Africa. It was stated that Nigerian and Ethiopian respondents believe that when their children grow up, they’ll be better off financially than their parents. According to the research,

“The three countries with the brightest prospects in the next year are all emerging or developing economies in Africa, while three with the bleakest outlooks are advanced economies. It was revealed that Nigeria tops the charts, with 92% of respondents seeing their economy improving in the next 12 months, compared with a net 5% who said it would stay the same or worsen. Moreover, residents in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia were similarly upbeat, with more than 80% of people in each country projecting economic progress. On the other end of the scale, Poland was home to the smallest

share of respondents seeing faster economic momentum in the next year, with just 16% holding that view. France — where almost half of those polled thought things would get worse — showed the weakest readings among advanced economies. Nigeria and Ethiopia also ranked high on Pew’s survey of longer-term prospects. Each of those two had 84% of respondents judging that when their children grow up, they’ll be better off financially than their parents. There was widespread pessimism in richer countries like France, Japan and Italy. As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Ethiopia next week in a first for a sitting U.S.

president, after a three-day stop in Kenya, there are solid indicators of faster growth. The government will boost spending by 20% in the budget year that began in July, with more than half allocated for roads and higher education, State Finance Minister Abraham Tekeste announced last month. Growth in Ethiopia has beaten every other sub-Saharan country over the past decade and is projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to exceed an annual rate of 8% over the next two years. The Pew data is based on 45,435 in-person and telephone interviews in 40 countries with adults 18 and older.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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News

Insurgency stalls Great Green Wall Project - Perm. Sec.

L-R: Representative of Bauchi state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, welcoming Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, during IG’s visit to the Government House, on Wednesday in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

Normalcy returns to Gombe parks after attacks, says Police T he Police have confirmed the return of normalcy in Dadin/kowa and Dukku motor parks in Gombe, after the twin-blast that occurred on Wednesday night at the parks. DSP Fwaje Atajiri, the spokesperson of the Gombe Police Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday that people were going about their normal activities at

the parks. Atajiti said that security personnel had cordoned off the parks Wednesday after the incidents, to protect lives and avert possible looting by hoodlums masquerading as sympathizers. He said the parks were opened for normal activities after the anti-bomb squad had combed the environment to ensure safety of

people. “You know when things like this happen, it is not everybody that goes there to sympathize; some people will go there with a different miotive,’’ he said. Atajiri called on the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement or unusual parcel found around them, to the security agents. According to him, the official casualty figures secured from the

hospitals in respect of Wednesday’s blasts, are 30 dead and 105 injured. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that there were explosions at Dadin/kowa and Dukku Motor Parks on Wednesday night. The first explosion at Dadin/ kowa park occurred at about 7:30 pm, while the second followed at about an hour after the first one. NAN)

Customs begins anti-smuggling operation in South-West

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday said its new anti-smuggling squad ``Hawk Descend’’ would dismantle illegal routes within the South-West. Mr Wale Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer of the service, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the area was very notorious for the smuggling of poultry products. Adeniyi stressed that

imported poultry was still on the prohibition list, adding that the clamp down on smuggling of the products would be extended to other zones in the country. He said that the squad known as ``Hawk Descend’’ was established to cover the SouthWest area for a period. ``The focus on the South-West zone is because we discovered that the access for smuggling of the products through the border

areas from Benin Republic is highest. “We did this to ensure that the concentration of the ‘force’ to fight the smuggling activities become hard enough to break the guard,” he said. He disclosed that in the first week of its operation, ‘’Hawk Descend’’ impounded frozen poultry worth over N12 million. Adeniyi said that the seizures consisted 1,803 cartons of the

banned products. According to him, a significant number of the seizures were made on the Iyafin-Badagry waterways, which stretched through the Nigeria and Benin Republic border. NAN reports that the operation ‘’Hawk Descend’’ was launched by the NCS on July 8, to check the activities of smugglers of frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry products.

Police caution companies, individuals against illegal guards

he Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, cautioned corporate organisations and individuals against illegal hiring of police personnel for their services. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Force Public Relations Officer, in Abuja. ``It has come to the notice

of the Police High Command that some corporate bodies and individuals have taken the illegal route of hiring police personnel for their services. The statement recalled that an oil company had hired a dismissed police officer, who engaged the services of miscreant armed to serve the company.

``A recent case is that of an oil services company that hired a dismissed police officer, who in turn procured miscreants, dressed them in what looked like police uniform and armed them to serve the company,’’ he said. It stated that it was the duty of the Nigeria Police to warn the public of the dangers inherent in

this unlawful practice. ``The Special Protection Unit of the Force is available and equipped to meet the special protection needs of corporate bodies and individuals. It advised those interested in hiring police personnel to submit their application to the InspectorGeneral of Police for approval. (NAN)

he Adamawa Government says the activities of Boko Haram insurgents has stalled the National Great Green Wall Project in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was designed by the Federal Government to combat desertification over a 1,500-km from Kebbi to Borno State. Mr. Barnabas Pata, the Permanent Secretary, in the state Ministry of Environment, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Thursday. Pata said that the project was located in six communities in three local government areas of the state. They are Vintim and Muchalah in Mubi North local local government area; Moda and Tudun Wada of Bazza District in Michika local government area as well as Gulak and Waga communities in Madagali local government area. According to the permanent secretary, the project was established in the late 2013 and it covered over 76 kms hectares of trees and orchards. “The project was established in the late 2013 and due to inadequate water supply, the seedlings could not survive. “In 2014, in order to address the situation, six boreholes were sunk in each project site. “Unfortunately, in September the same year, Boko Haram invaded the whole communities and destroyed the entire orchards.” He said that the insurgent invasion had damaged the project sites, seriously affecting the performance of the project in the state. Pata said now that the insurgents had been flushed out from the areas, the Federal Government had resolved to replant the areas destroyed. He further said that the project had been expanded in 2015 to cover additional three local government areas of Guyuk, Hong and Song local government areas. “We plan to establish additional 60 hectares of orchards and trees in three more local government areas. “Already, contract has been awarded for the raising of 236,000 tree seedlings for the project.” Pata added. The permanent secretary said that 29 forest guards had been recruited to protect the shelterbelt. Pata identified lack of community awareness and sensitisation as among the major problems affecting the smooth implementation of the project in the state. (NAN)

Lagos: NSCDC arraigns 4 men over leeged illegal petroleum products

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday in Lagos arraigned four men over alleged illegal distribution of petroleum products. The accused -- Owobobola Damilola, Roju Gbokan, Akinyemi

Micheal and Ogbolo Godwin -are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in petroleum products at a Federal High Court. The prosecutor, Mrs Alimat Owomunigbo, told the court that the accused committed the

offences on May 8 at 1.00 p.m. at Majidun near Ikorodu, Lagos. She said the accused were arrested by NSCDC while carrying out the illegal business of distributing petroleum products. She said the offences contravened Sections 1 (17) of the

Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation 2004. Owomunigbo urged the court to remand the accused in prison pending trial. The accused pleaded not guilty. Counsel to the accused, Mr Ebunola Ogungbamila, however,

urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms. The judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000 each with one surety each in like sum. He adjourned the case to Sept 24 for trial. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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News

Bauchi pilgrims board declares Friday 24th July, deadline for payment From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

L-R: Director, Political and Public Affairs Section of the Chinese Embassy to Nigeria, Mr. Guanda Yang, Director, Centre for China Studies (CCS), Mr. Charles Onunaiju, and Mr. Amaechi Anakwe of the Diplomatic Desk of AIT Television, during an interactive seminar organised by the Centre for China Studies for diplomatic correspondents, in Abuja.

Federal High Court reaffirms ban on electricity tariff increase F ederal High Court in Lagos on Thursday reaffirmed its order restraining the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from increasing electricity tariff. Justice Mohammed Idris, who gave the ruling, also struck out the preliminary objection and application to nullify the order brought by NERC. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, had instituted the suit seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without significant improvement in power supply. Idris struck out NERC’s preliminary objection on the basis that it did not comply with Order 29, Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules. The order provides that such objection must be filed within 21 days after the suit was served. Idris said:``By my records, the NERC’s objection was filed outside the 21 days prescribed by the rules. ``In the circumstances, I hold that the preliminary objection was

filed in breach of the rules of court. ``The objection filed is, therefore, in my view incompetent and is hereby struck out.” NERC had also argued that the motion ex parte was incompetent, and that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant it. The judge said the application challenging the motion ex parte also failed to comply with Order 26, Rule 11 of the court. The rule states that where a court makes an order based on a motion ex parte, any person affected by it may apply to vary or discharge it within seven days. The judge held that the order was made on May 28 and served on NERC on June 3, but “the application to discharge the order was only filed on July 6 outside the seven days period prescribed by the rules.” Idris, however, said the relief for extension of time was not sought. ``It is clear that this second application was also filed in breach of the rules of court and is also incompetent. ``Both applications -- the preliminary objection and motion

to set aside -- are all hereby declared incompetent and are hereby struck out. ``The order of court maintaining status quo remains until further order is made,” he said. Idris adjourned the case to Sept. 23 for hearing of the plaintiff’s substantive motion. NAN also reports that the court had restrained NERC from implementing the new tariff which was scheduled to take effect from June 1. The court barred the respondents, including electricity distribution companies, from effecting any increment in electricity tariff until the substantive suit was heard and determined. NERC had objected to the suit and urged the court to discharge the restraining order. Mr George Uwechue (SAN), counsel to NERC, argued that the motion ex parte on which basis the restraining order was granted was an abuse of court process. Uwechue said the plaintiff’s failure to file the ex parte application along with a motion on

notice was fatal to the case, adding that Adebiyi lacked the locus standi to file the suit. Adebiyi is asking among others, an order restraining the NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters because consumers should not be paying a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used. The plaintiff wants the service charge on pre-paid meters not to be enforced until there is ``visible, efficient and reliable power supply’’ as applicable in foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed. Adebiyi is further asking for an order of court mandating NERC to generate more power to meet the country’s power needs, and to develop a multiple long-term financing approach sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors to finance the power sector. The lawyer also wants the court to mandate NERC to make available to all Nigerians within two years, prepaid meters as a way of stopping estimated or crazy bills. (NAN)

he Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board gave Friday 24th July dateline for the completion of payment of hajj seats from this years’ intending pilgrims in the state. Speaking to our reporter in his office yesterday, the Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Aliyu Suleman, said intending pilgrims have up to Friday 24th of this month to complete their payment or forfeit their allocation. Alhaji Aliyu Suleman said all states Muslim Pilgrims boards were directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, to submit to the commission, complete payment of their pilgrims as well as detailed information of every pilgrim. He warned that after the expire of the dateline; the board will have no option other than cancel the allocation to enable it met NAHCON’sdateline. Suleman disclosed that Governor Muhammad Abubakar has approved the renting of the accommodation close to Ka’aba in Mecca, to enable the pilgrims perform the pilgrimage without hitches. According to him, the state Governor has also approved the distribution of pilgrims Ihram before departing to the holy land, stressing that this development will greatly assist towards bringing an end to the sufferings of pilgrims while performing the pilgrimage. On the airlift of pilgrims, the Executive Secretary said that new date for the flagging off of the airlift of intending pilgrims in the country is now 16th August 2015. Alhaji Aliyu Suleman therefore enjoined all intending pilgrims in the state to comply with the directive to enable the board conduct a hitch free exercise. He used the medium to commend Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar for his tremendous support to the board as well as for his concern on the welfare of the state pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia.

Kwara Police apprehends four kidnappers, eight robbers From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Kwara State Police Command has apprehended four suspected Kidnappers, eight armed robbers and cultists who have been throwing their victims to series of trauma. The Commissioner of Police,Mr. Saliu Garba who paraded the suspects in Ilorin on Thursday said that some guns, live Cartriges,cars were recovered

from them. Garba who was represented by the Command Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO),ASP Ajayi Okasanmi disclosed that four Kidnappers;Musa Kadir,Isah Salihu,Suleiman Abubakar and Abdullahi Babatunde were arrested in connection with the kidnap of Sarkin Fulani,Aliyu Harande who was kidnapped in a Mosque behind PHCN office Omu-Aran while praying.

The Police boss said that the group of kidnappers after taking him away on 09-07-2015, demanded for ransom from the family which was paid and the victim released. “On receipt of the report, the Command’s anti-kidnapping team swung into action, working on intelligence, four suspects were arrested, their operational vehicle and guns were recovered. They confessed to have been responsible for the kidnapping cases around

the Omu-Aran axis. The leader of the syndicaye, one Tunde Mumuni and one Saad are presently at large”. Similarly, the Command arrested four armed robbers, Moshood Sanni,Oladimeji Sanusi,Emeka Eyinna,Emeka(at large),Uche(at large), for alleged robbery which took place at house of one Adeoye Adewale Femi of Alhaji Abdullahi Housing Estate!Abike Ade Street,Danialu Gaaa-Akanbi,

Ilorin on 6th May,2015. Garba disclosed that the Security guard who was shot and attacked by the suspects die in hospital on 23, July, 2015. Some of the items stolen from the Estate such as Honda Odyssey 2005 model with registration number’s 915 CP, telephone handsets of different make, one tablet and undisclosed amount of cash were recovered from the suspects.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Tax Alert

Fundamentals of capital gains TAX A

Capital Gain may be defined as profit arising from increases in the market value of capital assets to a person or corporate body, who does not habitually offer them for sale and in whose hands they do not constitute stock–in–Trade. It is gain from sales of any capital asset where the sale price exceeds the purchase price of the investment. Therefore, it is a tax chargeable at the rate of 10% on the capital gains arising from the disposal of capital assets. A Capital Asset These are investments such as stocks, mutual funds, real estate, precious metals, Art works and other collectibles. The increase or decrease in the value of such capital assets is taxed when sold. Income produced by investments is taxed as the income is generated. Treatment of Capital Gains Tax The CGT is under the management of the Board of The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and it is administered by the FIRS in respect of corporate bodies and individuals resident in the Federal Capital Territory including members of armed forces, police and foreign serving officers. The tax is also administered by the State Internal Revenue Service in respect of individuals based on the rules of residence. Under the provisions of the Act, tax liability will arise on Actual Year Basis (AYB) when a chargeable asset is disposed. An aggrieved taxpayer or the respective tax authority can appeal against the decision of the tax authority to a conventional court or to the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) as the case may be.

Some Highlights of some of the provision of CGT Act • CGT is chargeable at 10% on capital gains from the sale of capital assets. • Capital loss on disposal of any asset is not deductible from capital gains on disposal of any other asset even if both are of the same type. • Where consideration is payable by instalments over18 months, the chargeable gain shall be apportioned to the affected assessment years in proportion to the amount of the instalments payable in each of the years. • Chargeable gains are assessed on current year basis, • Roll-over relief is available to any company acquiring a new asset to be used for the purposes of the trade in replacement of an old one. • Gains arising from disposal of shares and stocks are currently exempted from CGT Chargeable Persons and Chargeable Assets A chargeable person is one who deals in a chargeable asset. A chargeable person may be: • A limited liability company, • An individual A limited liability company will remit its tax liability to FIRS while an individual will remit to the SIRS, with the exception of individuals resident in the FCT. Chargeable assets include are all forms of property for the purpose of the Act whether situated in Nigeria or not. Including: • Options, debts and incorporeal properties. Incorporeal properties are assets that have values but are not tangible, e.g. goodwill, copyrights and patent rights. • Disposal of currencies other than Nigerian currency. • All qualifying capital expenditure under CITA, PITA, PPTA or any form of property created by the taxpayer • Chattels sold for more than N1, 000 in any tax year Gains chargeable by tax Disposal of assets Disposal of assets by a person where any capital sum is derived from sale, lease, transfer, assignment, compulsory acquisition or any other disposition of assets Disposal of assets: provisions as to considerations:

1. Subject to the provision of this Act, a person’s acquisition of an asset and the disposal of it to him shall be deemed to be for a consideration equal to the market value of the asset 2. Where a person disposes by way of gift of an asset acquired by him by way of gift or otherwise, the person acquiring the asset on the disposal shall be deemed to have acquired the asset. 3. In relation to any asset held by a person as nominee for another person or as trustee, this Act shall apply as if the property were vested in , and the acts of the nominee in relation to the asset were the acts of the person or persons for whom he is the nominee or trustee 4. The conveyance or transfer by way of security of an asset shall not be treated for the purposes of the Act as involving any acquisition or disposal of the asset 5. Where a person entitled to an asset by way of security deals with the asset for the purpose of enforcing or giving effect to the security shall be treated for the purpose of the Act as if it were done through him as a nominee 6. An asset shall be treated as having been acquired free of any interest by way of security subsisting at the time of any acquisition of it, and as being disposed of free of any such interest or right subsisting at the time of the disposal 7. Where an asset is acquired by a creditor in satisfaction of his debt or part thereof, the asset shall not be treated as disposed by the debtor or acquired by the creditor for a consideration greater than its market value at the time of the creditor’s acquisition of it, and if a chargeable gain accrues to the creditor on a disposal by him, the amount of the chargeable gain shall be reduced so as not to exceed the chargeable gain which would have accrued if he had acquired the property 8. Death: On the death of an individual, any asset of which he was competent to dispose of shall for the purpose of the Act be deemed to be disposed by him at the date of his death and acquired by the personal representative(s) or other person on whom the asset devolve 9. Compulsory acquisition of land – a person shall not be chargeable to tax under this Act in respect of any acquisition and the disposal of land by reference to a disposal to an authority exercising or having compulsory powers 10. Any asset acquired or disposed of by any person chargeable to capital gains tax shall be deemed to have been so acquired or a binding duty to dispose of the asset or any right or interest Exclusion of losses In the computation of chargeable gains under this Act, the amount of any loss which accrues to a person on a disposal of any asset shall not be deductible from gains accruing to any person on a disposal of such asset. Computation

The computation of any chargeable gains shall be the difference between the consideration accruing to any person on a disposal of assets and any sum to be excluded from that consideration, and there shall be added to that sum the amount of the value of any expenditure allowable to such person on such disposal. The basic steps are: • Identify the sales proceeds on the disposal of the chargeable asset • Deduct allowable expenses from the sales proceed to obtain Net Sales Proceed. • Deduct cost of acquisition and other capital costs from the Net Sales Proceed to obtain the Capital Gains • Compute the capital gains tax liability by applying the applicable rate of 10% on the Capital Gains obtained above. The above steps can be placed in a better format as follows: N N Sales Proceeds xx Less: Allowable Expenses (xx) Net Sales Proceed xx Deduct: Cost of Acquisition (xx) Capital Gains/(Losses) xx Capital Gains Tax @ 10% ROLL OVER RELIEF • This arises where a sole trader, partnership or limited liability company carrying on a trade, dispose of one eligible business asset and replaces it with a new asset of the same class as that sold. The seller will be entitled to deduct the capital gain arising on disposal from the cost of the new asset thereby postponing the payment of CGT on such a gain. • Roll over relief can be full, partial or no roll over relief. • The effect of this roll-over relief is to reduce the cost of acquisition of a new asset with resultant increase in the capital gain arising on eventual disposal. Classes of assets eligible for roll-over relief: Class I: • Any building or part of a building and any permanent and semi-permanent structure in the nature of a building, occupied and used only for trading; • Any land occupied and used only for trading. • Fixed plant and machinery which does not form part of the building Class II - ships Class III - Aircraft Class IV - Goodwill. However, the consideration arising on the disposal must be re-invested within Twelve months before or after the disposal before the rollover relief can be granted.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Page 9

News

Polio: Group urges parents to immunize children under 5 years From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

and Vice-Chairman, Messrs Innocent Odika and Mohammed Mudashiru Lawal respectively, said there was no truth in what the FHA boss said, because all the contracts values to build houses for the authority passed through due process before being given out, adding that with this process it was very difficult for any contractor to collaborate with anybody to over bloat the contracts values. While regretting the statement coming at a time when the authority was heavily indebted to many contractors, the union challenged Al-Amin to disclose names of alleged fraudulent contractors and their collaborators; otherwise he should stop blackmailing the

contractors and find a way of paying them what the authority owed. The union, however, wondered how it has become the responsibility of the contractors to determine viable or unviable locations when it comes to award of contracts. “We consider it necessary to make a response to the allegation of Prof. Al-Amin in some newspapers, because our integrity and credibility are at stake, we cannot accept somebody to come up with a sweeping statement that many of us are fraudulent in our dealings” the statement read in part. He noted that contrary to the

claims of the FHA boss that the houses could not be sold for the reason he adduced, “as we speak now, most of the houses we built across the country have been sold”. “For instance, a 3-bedroom terrace duplex awarded at N84.5 million was sold at N180 million and a 4-bedroom semi-detached duplex which was awarded at N60.8 million also sold at N140 million, while a 4-bedroom detached duplex and 5-bedroom duplex awarded at N33.8 million and N60.7 million were sold at N90 million and N110 million respectively”. He said their houses in Lagos were sold more than double of its cost

group under auspice of Journalists Initiative against Polio (JAP) Kaduna State chapter has appealed to parents to cooperate and ensure their children under five years of age are immunize against polio virus in the state. The fourth coming immunization plus Days (IPDS) is scheduled for 25-28 July, 2015. According to the group, parents full support will lead to total eradication of Polio virus in the state and the country at large. JAP made this called in a statement signed by its Acting Chairman Alhaji Lawal Dogara made available to newsmen in the state. Alhaji Dogara also appealed to parents and caregivers to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated during the exercise. “ JAP urge Local Government Areas that are neighbouring with Kamacha River to intensify effort toward sensitizing parents/ caregivers on the circulative polio virus which is a threat to the progress so far achieved,” he said. JAP said all adequate arrangement by State Primary Health Care Agancy (SPHCA) and stakeholders have concluded for the smooth conduct of polio vaccination throughout the state. He then Commended Development partners and State Government for giant strides aim at eradication of polio virus and other children killer diseases in the state

extent and for the director of finance to say we made over N9b a year is not only mischievous but wicked,” he added. Orhii also refuted allegations that due process was not followed in the agency’s dealings with contractors adding that contractors who have been dealing with the organization before his arrival remained same as he never had reasons to suspect them. Recall that a group known as whistle blowers have petitioned the president alleging that the DG had dabbled into corrupt practices including fraud and therefore called for his sack. However, a coalition of 14 civil societies has warned against what it termed petitions from promoters of false allegations and fifth columnists against the Director General of the Nigerian Agency For Food and Drug

Administration (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii. The Civil Societies, under the aegis of African Arise for Change Network, who condemned the recent allegations leveled on the DG of NAFDAC, said their decision to support the anticorruption fight of the present administration has thus spurred them to raise the alarm over fifth columnists who are already positioning to truncate the gains of the change. Speaking for the CSOs, the Secretary General, Samson Bello lamented that unfortunately, the plan of such groups are couched to mislead Nigerians into thinking such individuals behind them are against corruption while the reverse is the case. The anti-corruption crusaders said their investigation into the matter revealed that the petitioners’ plank rests on the

petition by a whistle blower who only started his crusade of righteousness after an internal re-organisation moved him from his erstwhile juicy position in the agency. “Chief, among their strategy is to use disgruntled elements within government offices, agencies and parastatals to pose as whistle blowers to media house and consequently send operatives of anti-corruption agencies on wild goose chase. “The re-organisation was in turn the product of when staff realized that the celebrated whistleblower has an agenda to amass wealth for himself while the DG was been busy working round the clock to improve on the high standard he met at NAFDAC. “Our greater worry is however about the impact that such frivolous petition would have on the ability of Nigerians firms to

export their produce at a time the nation is looking to diversifying its revenue base. “The stories online about the petition have been dispersed in cyberspace and any search about made in Nigeria goods will return results that will suggest that the regulatory framework is corrupt contrary to the reality on ground. The allegation also have the potential to distract the anti-corruption crusade as the relevant agencies could soon become wary of chasing shadows when they found out that many of the petitions and demands by agitating groups are unfounded. “There is also the ugly aspect of national productivity plummeting as jobbers and conmen use anti graft agencies to harass and distract wellmeaning chief executive officers of government agencies”. They lamented further.

L-R: Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman and Commander, Special Investigation Bureau, Nigerian Army, Lt.-Colonel Kennedy Okoro, during a news conference on the arrested syndicate that specialised in extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of enlisting them into the Nigerian Army, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

FHA contractors frown at MD remark on house worth By Ochiaka Ugwu

he contractors under the aegis of FHA Contractors Union have condemned in totality the statement credited to Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Prof. Mohammed Al-Amin describing it as falsehood, blackmail and a figment of the MD’s imagination. The MD was reported to have said that many contractors working for the nation’s housing authority were fraudulent in the contract they did which has made it difficult for the houses to be sold. In a statement in Abuja, jointly signed by the union’s Chairman

NAFDAC DG refutes corruption allegation, says ‘my hands are clean’

By Doyin Ojosipe and Stanley Onyekwere

irector General of the Nigerian Agency For Food and Drug Administration ( NAFDAC ), Dr. Paul Orhii, has refuted allegations of corrupt practices leveled against him by a group. Briefing newsmen yesterday, the DG who was obviously surprised said, “first and foremost, I want to tell you that all the allegations are false, and I am going to talk on them one by one. “I want to say that when I came to NAFDAC, I met an internal revenue generation of N2.5b, as at last year, we have been able to generate about N8b, I think that should be a credit to me because I plod the loop holes, I even blocked the leakages and I made sure our revenue generation improved to a good

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

News

Death toll in Gombe bombings rises to 36 By David Hassan, Gombe

eaths from Wednesday’s multiple bomb attack in Gombe State has risen to 36, according to hospital authorities 30 people had been reported dead in three explosions that occurred at two motor parks.

But the Chief Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital in Gombe, Reuben Ardo, said on Thursday that 86 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 15 died. A pregnant woman was among the injured. Ardo said the injured woman underwent an emergency

caesarian section and was delivered of a baby girl ahead of her due month. Of the 71 injured people, 56 were discharged and 15 admitted in the hospital, he said. At the Federal Teaching Hospital, the Deputy Director Public Relation, Haruna El-

Rasheed, said 66 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 21 died. Thirty six were admitted and nine discharged. Two explosions occurred at Dadin/Kowa Wednesday night, followed by third blast at Dukku motor parks, all in Gombe town. Fwaje Atajiri, the Police Public Relation Officer, said

that the Dadin/Kowa park blast occurred around 7:50 p.m. The Dukku motor park blast occurred nearly two hours after. A witness, Suleman Isa, told newsmen that the Dadin/kowa park bomb exploded between a Mosque and the motor park, as people were filing out from the Mosque.

NYSC introduces selfdeployment scheme From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced a self-deployment scheme making it possible for prospective corps members to determine where they wish to serve. The move, according to the NYSC authority, is expected to curb fraud which it said was often associated with the earlier method of deployment of prospective corps members. The development is part of resolutions after an NYSC 2015 Batch ‘B’ pre-mobilisation workshop held in Kaduna. In a communique at the end of the workshop yesterday, the NYSC said that, “in a bid to tackle the problem of deluge of concessional requests with which the NYSC is being inundated, prospective corps members will henceforth be given the opportunity to choose states of their choice outside their socio-cultural and linguistic areas, using ICT solution. “Given the negative implications of assigning invalid or wrong JAMB numbers to prospective corps members during the mobilisation process, corps producing institutions have been advised to always take advantage of the window of opportunity created by the JAMB and regularize the admission of their graduates and advise the affected graduates to activate such numbers before presenting them for mobilisation. “For us to bring administration nearer to everybody, complaints and issues arising from the on-line registration from prospective corps members and corps producing institutions will henceforth be lodged with the Deployment and Relocation officers at the NYSC stage secretariats for onward transmission to the ICT department for necessary action. “It was further resolved that pregnant women and nursing mothers and students engaged in postgraduate studies should not bother to enlist for service until they are free to participate effectively.” The communique said that participants at the workshop included directors and heads of units at the NYSC, representatives from the NBTE, JAMB, Nigerian Army, universities, polytechnics, monotechnics as well as from the colleges of education.

The Nigerian Prisons Service’s staff bus which broke down in the flood on Nyanya-Keffi Road, yesterday at Mararaba, in Nasarawa state. Photo: NAN

NUC disowns Maryam Abacha American University, Niger

he National Universities Commission (NUC) has warned that degrees obtained from Maryam Abacha American University of Niger Republic (MAAUN) are substandard and will not be accepted in Nigeria. The NUC Director of Information and Public Relations, Malam Ibrahim Yakasai, handed down the warning while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja. According to him, NUC has been inundated with inquiries from some Nigerian students who have been offered admission in MAAUN on part time with a graduation time of four semesters. He listed some of the programmes as Nursing , Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health, among others. He explained that ``in Nigeria, the duration for a full-time degree programme is not less than three years for direct entry and at least six years for part-time. ``Professional programmes in Science, Engineering and Health Sciences-Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Public Health are not offered on parttime basis in Nigeria. ``More so, their graduation time is far less than the graduation time in Nigeria-they admit students with HND on direct entry and they give them two

years to do a degree in Nursing or Health Sciences. ``We wish to restate that as the only Quality Assurance Agency for universities in Nigeria, NUC is maintaining its stand that degrees from MAAUN will not be accepted in Nigeria.’’ Yakasai said that the university admitted students who ordinarily would not get admission in any Nigerian tertiary institution. He expressed displeasure that rather than addressing the issues raised by NUC, MAAUN resorted to campaign of calumny against the commission. The NUC spokesman advised parents to always crosscheck with the commission before sending their wards to foreign institutions. On his part, the NUC Director of Academic Standards, Dr Gidado kumo, urged students to be wary of Houdegbe North

American University, Cotonou, Benin Republic. According to him, Houdegbe is one of the controversial universities that have been having issues with NUC in the last four years. He said that the institution was once operating in Badagry and Kano and then relocated to Jos; but was recently running Bachelors Degree in Public Health in Gombe State. ``We have made it very clear that any degree obtained in Houdegbe North University within the shores of Nigeria is not accepted. ``In Feburay 2015, we had cause to request for a joint assessment visit to the university with the Council for Legal Education. ``At the moment, the institution has been graduating

over 600 students from its law faculty whereas in Nigeria, the highest output from any law faculty is about 200. ``We requested a joint accreditation visit but we were flatly refused by Houdegbe North American University. `` So, our decision is that no law graduate of Houdegbe University will be moblised for the BL programme with the Council for Legal Education.’’ However, Gidado said that any degree obtained in Houdebge North University within Benin Republic was acceptable if it met appropriate conditions. He listed the conditions as `` the degree programme must be full time, fully residential and evidence of residence permit at the time of programme must be available at the time of graduation.’’ (NAN)

PDP govs want military to step-up fight against Boko Haram By Ahmed Abubakar

he state governors under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have charged the Nigeria military to step-up their fight against the outlawed Boko Haram sect in the NorthEast part of the country. The governor of Akwa Ibom

state, Udom Emmanuel who spoke to the press yesterday after their meeting at around 10 pm, said they have deliberated on several issues, “however what we feel should be known to the press is our stance on the insurgency issue which we felt shouldn’t be happening”. The governor said, “Despite

the new strategy adopted to fight. The insurgents it seems they are still formidable enough to also renew their attacks especially on Gombe people of recent”. He said, “We are asking the military to redouble their effort and re-strategise in their fight against the Boko Haram sect”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

EDITORIAL

The avoidable NASS leadership crisis

to fish in troubled waters. The result was that while the President called for a meeting of the APC members in the National Assembly, the renegades of the party defied both the party and the President to go ahead with an election that was a clear violation of democratic conventions and party directives. The most obscene aspect of this revolt is that the Senate, the upper

“

he crisis rocking the National Assembly today is quite avoidable and Nigerians have expressed understandable concern about its crippling effect on the “change” mission of the new Buhari government. The crisis is, of course, a result of the abuse of parliamentary and democratic conventions. All over the democratic world, when an outsider party defeats an incumbent government in an election, the minority leaders in parliament are elevated to the status of majority leaders. This process is guided by the political parties concerned that use the whip to ensure compliance by their members in parliament – be it presidential or parliamentary democracy. In our own situation, the amalgam of political parties that merged to form the APC had clear leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate when they were in the minority. For some strange reasons, the party wanted half-hearted compliance with this well known democratic tradition. While it directed that party members vote for the House Minority Leader, it did not do the same in the case of the Senate Minority Leader.This failure to stand by principle weakened the moral muscle of the party and thus opened the gate for indiscipline, allowing adventurers and opportunists

There is need for an early resolution if the Buhari government is to fulfil the electoral promise of change. chamber, is saddled with a leadership that is beholden to the PDP, with a PDP hot head loomimg menacingly at the back of the Senate president, preying to take over from him any day. Understandably, this has heightened tension in the National Assembly itself and between the the leadership of the National Assembly, on the one hand, and the Presidency

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”

and the party on the other hand. The President has failed to grant audience to the Senate President as has become custom and the leadership of the House has continued to defy directives from the party on how the legislature should compose a management team. All these are unhealthy indicators and there is need for an early resolution if the Buhari government is to fulfil the electoral promise of change. If the stand-off continues, Buhari’s innitiatives will continue to suffer in the hands of the legislature. Already the impasse has led to a free for all fight in the House by members who enjoy advertising themselves as Honourable. As the popular, time worn saying goes, ‘when two elephants fight, the grass suffers’. The grass in this case is the common man who will bear the brunt of the sumo wrestling match between the legislature and itself and between the legislature and the executive.Already, because of the tension between the two opposing camps, both the Senate and the House took an ill timed holiday and have been shifting thereumption date in a desperate attempt to postpone a doomsday scenario in waiting. The first step to get us out of this mess is for the APC leaders of both the House and the Senate to accept party discpline and supremacy.

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

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Reliving my last encounter with the Wambai Katagum By Y. Z. Yaú

n his Monday Column, Mahmud Jega on 20th penned an article titled “Failed biography of Hassan Usman Katsina”. It was about his experience in the attempt to write the biography of General Hassan Usman. For some reason, I found myself rereading the article. I had just returned from the Azare, the previous, day Sunday, where I had gone to condole the Wamban Katagum, Alhaji Aminu Saleh over the death of his last-born son. We had not seen for long so there was much of catching up to do in spite of the huge audience which included several title holders from both Katagum and Fika Emirates. We had a long discussion which was occasionally enlivened by the jokes of the Dallatun Fika. In one moment he had joked about the Wambai living past his time, arguing that the original Wambai died at the age of 72 when this Wambai was over 86 and still strong. We had a good laugh and everyone agreed that the voice of the Wambai had returned. He had over the last two years lost much of his voice especially since the Boko Haram attack in his house. He had also been sick and seemed to have recovered. This Sunday he was strong, his voice steady and strong, and the only complain was his hearing. All the guests had to speak loudly for him to hear. He said that his Doctor had explained to him that this was due to age, which was logical. He had twice asked me about his

biography which I was writing. I had explained that his long absence and the instability in the country coupled with perilous security situation in the region had affected the pace of things and that now we could resume. As a community leader, his sitting room was always full, sometimes with over 30 people. So, it was not an ideal place to do an interview for a biography. But they were also sessions that his guests did enjoy as they brought out the memories of years past of the Wambai, explaining the rationale for certain decisions by governments. Clearly he felt the loss of his son but did not show it. He was stoic about it but he was also willing to share the circumstances of the death. It probably was therapeutic. There was in a way, a certain ambiguity about the setting: some were coming for condolence, others for the usual Sallah greeting as it was only two days after Sallah. In the end, the ambience was conviviality and everyone seemed happy in spite of the sad event that had brought most to the place. I had presented him our book on insurgency, titled Insurgency and Human Rights in Northern Nigeria and asked him to read. He had said he never agreed with us on the human rights issues (and he stopped to challenge how the woman could not change her voice or refuse to observe her menstrual period) but he wanted to know what we had written on the insurgency .Isah Garba, who was his Arabic language test board pointed to the chapter on “Insurgency,

Community Resilience and Human Rights Abuse: A Northern Bauchi Case Study” which had documented among other things, the attack in his house. He brought out his reading glasses, ran them over the table of content of the book and settled on the particular chapter. He resumed the conversion, declaring that he now was sufficiently challenged to read the book and to offer his critique of it. We then shifted to the new project that CITAD was doing in the north east which was revamping the education sector as part of responding to the development challenge of the country. He liked talking about education and this day he was at his best. He offered his suggestions. First we must interrogate why we have the long vocation (he explained this was meant for the colonial education officers to travel by sea back to their country, spend a couple days for the holiday and return as it took more than a month for the ships to reach UK from Lagos). He argued that cutting the holiday would give us an extra semester and thus reduce the number of years students have to spend before graduating. Second, he suggested as a way of tackling shortage of science teachers, a crash programme for the conversion of the non-science teachers to science teachers should be arranged. He said when Murtala regime faced the problem of shortage of telecommunication technicians in the country, he suggested for a crash programme, taking failed school leavers and giving them a six-month

training to sit the City and Guilds exams that resulted in the setting up of the Post and Telecommunications training schools in Oshodi, Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi. It was also the same reasoning that led to the pivotal teacher training programme in which secondary school leavers were made to spend one year at a teacher college to take the grade 2 examination. This was successful in producing more qualified teachers. Both of these experiments were huge success and he thought we could learn from them. His third suggestion was that in spite of our linguistic differences and the politics surrounding the choice of language of instruction in schools, we must return to mother tongue as the language of learning. He had explained this was why countries like Malaysia, Pakistan, China and host of others are successful in domesticating science, which has remained alien to us. He could ask, is the pupil in the classroom trying to understand the English Language or the subject that his being presented in English Language? In the end, he neither could master either. Wambai could shriek at the fact the classroom size is now over 120 pupils in a class. His fourth suggestion was that any major intervention should be parallel to the ministries of education which he argued have been part of the problem and therefore cannot be part of the solution. Bringing them on board will only give them opportunity to think of how they would nest their interests in the bargain. Again his

was an idea that was tested when he was in government as the Secretary to the Federal Government when Mohammadu Buhari was made to head the PTF which ran parallel to ministries and delivered very well in the areas of health, education and rural roads. We spent over three hours talking various topics including the challenges the Buhari government faces, shortage of fertilizer in the country (the Wambai was also a farmer), ways to tackle the insurgency and his Islamic studies lessons that he had been taking. His teacher of the past 20 years, Malam Adamu Kila was in the audience. Malam Adamu Kila runs a popular Islamic commentary programme on Freedom Radio Jigawa sponsored by the Wambai. I left Azare for Kano that afternoon, making a stopover at Jamaare where my grandmother who was over 120 years, had died four days earlier. This morning as I was getting set to go to office, I got a phone call from Azare that the Wambai had just passed away. It was a shuttering phone call. All of a sudden rereading of Mahmud Jega’s article not only came to mind but seemed to invite a different interpretation: was Jega sending a message that the fate of the biography of the Wambai could just be stillborn like that of General Hassan Usman?

normal political dispensation, such a high ranking functionary will have been escorted by a horde of selfserving aides more for ego boosting than humanitarian feelings. Thirdly, his choice of places of visit in Gombe was well-thought out, relevant and devoid of political colouration. He visited the hospital to sympathize with the wounded; then the sites of the blast to see the extent of their devastation; then the house of one of the victims as a collective symbol of his sympathy to all those affected: and lastly to the Emir’s Palace who is the royal father of the emirate through whom he extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to all those affected. Fourthly, his choice of words, comportment, facial expression and general body language were abundant evidences of a man genuinely in sorrow and dejection, who spoke nothing but the truth that flooded from the inner recesses of his convictions. It was a leader whose mind was truly with the grieving people of Gombe state, especially in a holy season that could have been marked with festivities, merriment and pious celebrations. A remarkable point of note, however, was his free flowing eulogy of Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo at the Emir’s Palace during which he could not hold back commending the leadership qualities of the Governor as Gombe State

helmsman. Dankwambo received the Vice President during the trip and conducted him round all the places of the visit. The Vice President lauded and encouraged the people of Gombe State in these touchy words: “I am so happy and encouraged to see that the good people of Gombe state are not in anyway defeated by this terrible experience. They are standing like men. They are standing solid. Despite the fact they are mourning, they are not afraid, they are not cowed. They did not feel that there is no hope. They are resolute. They know that it is God who protects, and government can only do its best”. Politics aside, the comments of Osinbajo on Dankwambo simply affirm what every fair-minded person knows about the governor’s capabilities, modesty, moderation and result-orientedness; as well as a confirmation of the genuineness of the assessment of the choice of Gombe state citizens as reflected in the declared results of the last governorship elections of the state. The Vice President proved what a true leader should be: fair, truthful, honest; and putting politics and party differences aside in assessing or judging the character or performance of others: whether super-ordinates, equals or subordinates; whether in the same party or in the opposition. These fine qualities of political accommodation, humane feelings and promptness in responding to matters of urgency exhibited by

President Buhari and his Deputy Professor Osinbajo are similar attributes always manifested by Governor Dankwambo which earned him the trust, confidence and electoral votes of the majority of Gombe state citizens in the last gubernatorial polls. In fact consistent with these political virtues, only recently, precisely Tuesday July 21, 2015, Governor Dankwambo flagged off the distribution and sale of fertilizer to the farmers of the state. During the event, he was categorical that the fertilizer should reach out to every deserving farmer of the state irrespective of gender, economic class, religion and above all, political leaning. He insisted that the fertilizer is for every bona fideGombe state farmer, warning that he will not tolerate any form of discrimination or abuse by those entrusted with it during the distribution or sale of the commodity. He then directed that the fertilizer should reach every nook and cranny of the state and only at the approved government subsidized rates. This is clearly in tune with the change and transformation our citizens have yearned for; which are well embedded in the character and style of Governor Dankwambo. This is why Gombe state electorates did not need to change their leadership in the last gubernatorial election because all the qualities of fairness, moderation, good governance and transformation that will yield the desired dividends of democracy are

in Dankwambo, and thus justifiably massively voted for his re-election. Vice President Osinbajo as a Statesman, Legal Luminary and Frank Politician has taken the lead in telling Nigerian politicians in whatever camp they may belong that honesty and frankness in telling facts as they are should be the sacrosanct tenets of our modern politics. He has lain worthy examples and standards in public comments which even opposition politicians should imbibe. He has acknowledged in clear terms Governor Dankwambo’s exemplary antecedents even in this most unlikely circumstance and place. Let us therefore give the President, the Vice president and Governor Dankwambo the kudos they all individually and collectively deserve, especially for the very fine political qualities they share. This is also a telling reason why Gombe state citizens and indeed the nation at large should extend similar support not only to Governor Dankwambo for his track record of achievements but also to President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo in their determined journey to lift this country to the desired new heights. NB: As I was concluding this piece Wednesday night on July 22, 2015, the same agents of destruction sadly struck again in two motor parks in Gombe at DadinKowa and Dukku Parks respectively.

Y. Z. Yaú wrote in from Abuja

Buhari/Osinbajo’s sympathy for Gombe people By Bashir Bello Akko

r e s i d e n t MuhammaduBuhari’s recent prompt and decisive message to the people and government of Gombe state immediately after the sad, senseless and devastating bomb explosions in the state capital a day to the last Sallah is no doubt an affirmation of such visionary and progressive qualities. Vice President YemiOsinbajo is an unassuming legal expert who has earned the dignified title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. On the eve of Eid-el Fitr, marking the end of the last Ramadan fast, it will be recalled, some sinister persons detonated twin bombs at the crowded streets of Gombe main market which killed scores of innocent people and wounded many more. Less than 24hours after the incident, Vice President Osinbajo flew into Gombe, sent by Mr. President, to commiserate with the people of the state on this needless, in fact senseless, destruction of lives and property. His visit is instructive for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was a festive public holiday which he sacrificed and travelled to condole with the bereaved and commiserated with the people of the state. Such promptness in response to human tragedy is surely commendable. Secondly, Osinbajo travelled to Gombe without the retinue of protocol, security and press personnel to underscore the apolitical intention of the visit. In

Bashir Akko is on the Media Committee of the Northern State Governors’ Forum

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Comment

Who is stealing Nigerian crude? By Biola Sobowale

s Nigeria lurches dangerously towards another debt trap; and as it will become increasingly difficult for the Federal and State governments to meet their financial obligations to a wide range of stakeholders, the most important item on the national agenda is to find out who are those stealing Nigerian crude oil. Next to that is to also find out who are the buyers of the stolen crude. But, let me pose a question to all Nigerians. Supposing the members of a household engage security people to guard their residence and pay them extremely well. Yet, thieves break into the household every night and steal their most precious properties, what would the owners of the household do? Retain the security staff or sack them? If the answer that comes to your mind is “sack them”, then why do we continue to retain the security people, the oil workers, the NNPC and top government officials, as well as the militants who have collected fantastic salaries and huge contracts to protect our oil installations and are not doing it? Ask anyone who had ever gone far into Nigeria’s territorial waters and you will be amazed

how extremely difficult, if not impossible, for any maritime vessel to enter our coastal waters to do any business. Last week, I talked to a former owner of a trawler about my experience aboard another trawler whose owner had asked me to go out to sea with his crew to find out from first hand experience what the security forces, pirates and militants do to fishing boats. I went and to my utter surprise, the former owner, now in his late 70s told me his own experience when he went out in his boat with the men. There was no way of escaping from the Navy, the Marine Police, the militants and the pirates who board the boats and shake down the staff or get killed. To the best of my knowledge, no single trawler escapes the vigilant mafia consisting of officials and criminals on Nigerian waters. The question is: if people engaging in lawful business cannot sail into Nigerian waters undetected, how is it possible for criminals to so without being apprehended? The answer is obvious, our security people, like the guards in the fictitious house above are the thieves. The story had been told about the man in rural Russia who could predict when a goat would be stolen – until people discovered that he was the thief.

The Ministers of Petroleum and Finance, as well as the President have told us that 400,000 barrels per day is being stolen with the calm assurance that another 400,000 barrels will disappear tomorrow and next week. They stay in Abuja mostly, but they have staff in the oil producing areas. The questions that arise are: how do they know it is 400,000 a day? Whose oil is stolen and from which location and yet the owners have not been able to put a security blanket over the areas involved? Again, let us return to the analogy of the household. Is it possible that the home owner will continue to suffer the breaking and entry

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into his premises every night without taking measures to put a stop to it and to find out who is behind the relentless attack on his property? That is what the Federal Government will want us to believe. A top official of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, DPR, last week announced without embarrassment that “there is nothing” that can be done about it. Nigeria must be the only oil producing nation in the world where the oil resources are being stolen and government proclaims that it is powerless to put a stop to the atrocity bordering on economic sabotage involved. The obvious question now is:

The question is: if people engaging in lawful business cannot sail into Nigerian waters undetected, how is it possible for criminals to so without being apprehended? The answer is obvious, our security people, like the guards in the fictitious house above are the thieves.

if this government cannot stop the loss of close to one quarter of our annual budget, should’nt we look for a government which can do it? The reason for that question should be clear. With Nigeria incurring more debts daily, and with our pledge to repay anchored on our crude shipments, nobody needs a doctorate in economics and finance to know that Nigeria might again be in default of repayment of external loans. In other words, we are again headed for the debt trap from which Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala released us in 2003-4. The truth now confronting Nigerians is clear. The Federal Government either has no clue about how to stop this economically ruinous erosion of the national income or it has no intention to do so. There is no other alternative.That again raises the question: if this government has no ideas or is not interested in solving this life-and-death problem for Nigeria, shouldn’t they admit it and allow Nigerians to find a solution? BiolaSobowale via biolasobowale@yahoo. com

As Buhari opens the anti-corruption dragnet By Soji Apampa

ould it be that President Muhammadu Buhari will be shown in the end to have been a wise old owl in his approach to restarting governance after a period of reckless spending by his predecessors? They left Nigeria in serious financial difficulty despite a decade of unprecedented levels of earning. He has now delayed the announcement and appointment of ministers till September 2015, however each month that he doesn’t put ministers in place, about US$3bn (going by what was announced after the first month) seeps into Nigeria’s foreign reserves; so by the end of September, as much as US$10-12bn could have accrued since his inauguration. Is this his ploy to allow funds to be replenished first before starting to execute on the mandate? What happened to a good part of the money that should have been surplus at the end of the Jonathan administration? The belief seems to be that a good part of it was corruptly spent. Whichever way you choose to cast it, Nigeria has lost a lot of money to corruption over the last decade. Premiumtimesng. com suggests that as much as N11.56tr (approx. US$84.52bn) may be missing from Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) between 2007 and 2014. PMB, in his recent meeting with President Barak Obama, suggested that

about US$150bn might have been stolen from Nigeria over the last 10 years. The Global Financial Integrity 2014 report suggests that about US$157bn was lost from Nigeria to Illicit Fund Flows between 2003 and 2012. Since the APC victory in the presidential poll, Nigeria has been awash with rumours of highly placed former state functionaries offering to return portions of the monies the people suspect they had stolen. There is actually very little truth to these rumours but they raise an important issue: does Nigeria have an Assets Recovery Policy or other processes for handling the repatriation of stolen funds? Ex-Governors, Ex-Ministers, Ex-Service Chiefs, Ex-National Security Advisers, Ex-Top civil servants and their private sector collaborators are suspected to have been behind the disappearance of large chunks of public funds, or so the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department for State Services (DSS) would like us to believe going by their recent actions aimed at causing such persons to give account of their stewardship. Was the Abacha money simply received and redistributed or God forbid, re-exported? In 2004, the Nigerian government agreed with the Swiss government that some $505m from the Abacha loot when received would be used to finance some projects

in sectors such as Education, Health, Water, Roads and so on and that this would be monitored by civil society. By the time the money arrived in 2005 and was monitored in 2006, the Nigerian government claimed it had already spent the money in the 2004 budget. It also admitted it did not specifically mark any projects as being funded by the Abacha loot and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies spending the money had no idea there was any Abacha money mixed in. In short, the government found it very difficult to explain what they had done with the money and civil society found it almost impossible to monitor what the government had done with the money. Should the Swiss authorities still be enthusiastic about

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helping to trace and repatriate such funds? They have once again told the Nigerian government they have frozen another US$303m of the Abacha loot, which they want the country now to claim. The debate now is, should they place conditionalities on the use of the money? Or since Nigeria is a sovereign state, should it simply be repatriated and left to the country to decide what should be done with it? Just before the end of the Jonathan administration, the Attorney-General was permitted by the President to enter into a special agreement with the Abacha family to exempt them from any further action by the Nigerian government in the matter of the loot. The Nigerian lawyer involved in the transaction we are told received

Since the APC victory in the presidential poll, Nigeria has been awash with rumours of highly placed former state functionaries offering to return portions of the monies the people suspect they had stolen. There is actually very little truth to these rumours but they raise an important issue: does Nigeria have an Assets Recovery Policy or other processes for handling the repatriation of stolen funds?

US$5m (N1.23bn at today’s rates) for his services. According to the Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development, her department has helped the Nigerian Government recover some GBP1.5bn in recent times but when pressed by civil society at the just concluded Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa, she was unable to say precisely what the Nigerian government has done with the money. President Buhari needs to sign the Proceeds of Crime Bill into law and establish transparent institutional arrangements for how repatriated funds or funds recovered from corrupt persons would be received, declared and utilised. He needs to learn from Peru how they managed to trace, freeze and repatriate funds stolen by Alberto Fujimori within 8 months: he needs to learn how in the Philippines and Azerbaijan, citizens groups have been involved in the process of ensuring that the monies returned are not simply re-distributed to a new set of crooks or re-exported by public officials. We see the different strands of moves that PMB is making and it appears that for the corrupt in Nigeria, the plot now thickens. Soji Apampa from Lagos.

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News Beware of Villa military attaches, Group cautions Buhari From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

resident Mohammed Buhari supporters group in kebbi State has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful with the military intelligent attached to

him at the villa. Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the leader of the group and also a retired military sergent, Alhassan Mohammed lamented that he is not comfortable with the military officers attached to the Villa

rather he should work with the DSS and SSS in order to save and protect his lives. “Am a retired military man, I know what they can do, I don’t trust my people, Buhari should work closely with the DSS and SSS to ensure smooth security

success operative”, he added. The group who condemned the report on the former Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dansuki over his bad plan towards Buhari administration and the issue of money involved on purchase of ammunition.

“Buhari visit to US is a blessing to the country economically and security wise”, he said. He then called on Nigerians to remain calm and support the present administration’s mission and vision in piloting the affairs of the nation.

Association to Ex-TUC Chairman condemns govt officials 50 percent pay cuts establish first From Mohammad Ibrahim, for the reduction of cost of said. not a realistic . Kaduna Comrade Jahzi added that governance. “ It is better they look for gold refinery in “It can be reduced to sizeable reasonable things to do to make Nigerian workers are only looking ormer chairman of Trade Nigeria a better place for all citizens for a leaving wages to rely on, one if you don’t have many Zamfara Union Congress ( TUC) to leave in. Pay cut is not the way instead of politics of pay cut they advisers or ministries, but we must

resident, Miners Association of Nigeria, on Thursday said the association would establish the first Gold Refinery in Nigeria in 2016. Shehu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Her said the association had concluded arrangement with a Dubai Gold Refinery Company, United Arab Emirate, to establish the refinery in Zamfara. He said the refinery, which would be fully funded by its counterpart in Dubai, would create job opportunities for Nigerian youths and generate foreign exchange earnings for the country. ``The Dubai refinery company sources for gold from parts of the world; establishing a refinery in Nigeria is like an expansion of the company. ``There will be no need for miners to take their raw gold outside the country for sale or refining when the refinery is established,’’ he stressed. He also said that Nigeria had no database on the quantity of gold being extracted on a daily basis, adding that a good quantity of the mineral was being mined every month and taken to Dubai for refining. According to him, the global business environment is being financed by financial institutions, but in Nigeria, financial institutions find it difficult to invest in the sector. ``Our financial institutions find it difficult to invest in the mining sector because they believed that mining is a risky business. ``We are advocating that government should conduct seminars for the institutions to educate them on the need to invest in the sector.’’ He said Nigeria could generate more money from solid minerals than oil if developed. ``If solid minerals are developed just like oil sector, the country will generate more income from the sector. ``The price of oil is dropping everyday and the international politics on oil prices is worrisome; we cannot experience such in solid minerals because their prices are fairly stable.’’ (NAN)

Kaduna State Council, Comrade Paul Yaro Jezhi has condemn government policy of 50 percent pay cut from salaries by some executives of the present government. Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, Comrade Jezhi said as far as his concerned, the policies are

out and solution to hard times we find ourselves in this country. “ I look at the policies as a strategy used by political office holders to try to arrive at pay cut for civil servant. Majority of these political holders are doing well financially, most of their children are not schooling in Nigeria, “he

should focus at the real issues confronting Nigeria and see how they tackle it permanently. He commend some policies of Governor El-Rufai of kaduna for reducing the numbers of ministries from 19 to 13, that civil societies, activist and labour organisations have been agitating

be mindful that if doing so will not cause a lot of unemployment in the state. “ On the issue of recovering of government lands, it is okey by me but it should not be done on the basis of individuals who supported one particular political party and ones who did not”, he said.

Federal road along Obehira-Okene washed off by erosion in Kogi state.

Photo: Raji S. O.

Benue First Lady advocates strengthening of immunization against childhood diseases From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

ife of the Benue state governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom has said that the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms by all stakeholders in the health sector would go a long way in achieving 100 percent coverage of immunization days in the State. The governor’s wife who said this at the flag off of the 2015 maternal, new born and child

health week held in Daudu,Guma local government area of the state, noted that it is only through this way that government can increase commitment towards the eradication of preventable diseases. Mrs. Ortom averred that great success has been recorded in the past by the state ministry of health in eradicating childhood diseases, assuring that this administration will continue in the direction to achieve desired goals.

She appealed to mothers, traditional, community and religious leaders as well as caretaker chairmen of the 23 local governments in the state to mobilize caregivers and women to avail their eligible beneficiaries of the opportunity to access the free intervention services. “I shall play the role of an advocate to ensure adequate budgetary provisions and funding of health programmes during the tenure of governor Samuel Ortom”, she promised.

Earlier, permanent Secretary in the state ministry of health Dr. Jonathan kwaghtsule intimated that Benue state has achieved a feat by being the first state in Nigeria to distribute micronutrient powder, MNP for the fortification of food for children under five during the last two years and promised continuous provision. He also assured of distribution of vaccines, vitamin A, albendazole, iron tablets and long lasting nets to all children in the state.

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Rivers Tribunal: Court reserves decision on admissibility of evidence by APC By A’isha Biola Raji

he Rivers State tribunal sitting in Apo, Abuja yesterday reserved its decision on whether to admit evidence; a letter tendered by counsel to All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Dakuku Peterside until its ruling on the main application. Mr. Olumide Olujimi (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the application by counsel to … to strike out most of the paragraph of the petition saying the first petitioner, (APC candidate Dakuku), was properly nominated and sponsored by duly registered party APC. While opposing the application, counsel to Governor Wike, Chief Emmanuel Ukala had urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the ground that the candidate is not qualified due to the less than 21 days notice it had given INEC before holding its convention. While tendering a certified copy of the letter written by APC to INEC dated 19th September 2014 delivered same day as evidence before the tribunal, Olujimi objected the application of Ukala saying the case of notice to INEC for conducting convention is a fact that can only be resolved at the trial and not preliminary issue at the tribunal. He said, “It is settled that when there is an issue of facts arising in a case, the court cannot isolate that issue of fact and try it as part of the rest of the case unless our party consent. “The issue of non qualification of a candidate is a ground that a petitioner can raise but cannot be used as a defense except with cross-petition according to section 138 of the 2010 electoral act,” he pointed. Meanwhile counsel to Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu had earlier argued that APC counsel is out of time as there is no way he Ikpeazu could react or verify the authenticity of the letter. He said, it is not just illegal but prejudicial to the tribunal proceeding. After listening to arguments from counsels in respect to the main application, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Pindiga reserved ruling to Wednesday 29th of July.

Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (middle), during the inauguration of sale of fertilizer, on Tuesday in Gombe. Photo: NAN

NASS crisis: it’s time for legislative business – Dogara

By Umar Muhammad Puma

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said even though the National Assembly has had serious distractions since its inauguration on May 9, it is time to put what happened behind and get on with the job for which they were elected. The speaker stated this yesterday while inaugurating the committee to review existing laws and law reform, saying the 8th House of Representatives is resolutely committed to expeditious passage all major bills before it or submitted to it that will impact positively on the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians. He noted that the major reason that informed the setting up of the committee was the urgent need to review the various laws in the statute books which had become obsolete, anachronistic and outdated. He explained that by the provision of Sections 315 of the constitution, all existing laws, including the military

•••inaugurates 12-man law reform c’ttee

era legislations, were deemed to be Acts of the National Assembly “Laws that aid the anti corruption struggle, infrastructure renewal, efficient and optimal utilization of our petroleum resources, solid minerals, education and social services, agriculture, diversification of our economy and massive employment of our teeming youthful population should engage our undivided attention as a parliament. He stressed that law reform was one of the most critical and indispensable part of all reforms in a given society. The speaker pointed out that Nigeria was currently in a new era where things were expected to be done differently, more efficiently and more effectively, adding that the change expected in the country cannot be achieved without an effective legal framework that serves the needs of the people. He said the committee was being

inaugurated to assist the House in cleaning up its Statute books and bring all laws up to date in order to meet the social, political and developmental needs of the country. He urged President Buhari to take early advantage of the 8th Assembly that is poised to cooperate and ensure speedy passage of Bills. “Our experience shows that bills introduced early into the life of a parliament have better chances of expeditious consideration. That is why the work of this committee is so important. We shall welcome executive bills from Mr. President on various subjects but we shall also introduce Private Members Bills where necessary to fast track legislation. He also pledged to introduce and enforce strict time frames for passing legislation, stressing that they must build necessary synergy with their counterparts in the Senate to coordinate activities of both chambers

and avoid duplication, overlap and waste of time and resources. Members of the committee are: Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno; Hon. Razak Atunwa; Hon. Ken Chikere; Hon. Madubueze Peter Obiano; Hon. Olabode Ayorinde; Hon. Simon Arabo; NBA President, Austin Alegeh; NBA Secretary, Mr. Afam Osigwe; Prof C. O. Okonkwo; Olisa Agbakoba; Prof Auwalu Yadudu. Other members include: Barr Kefas Magaji; Mrs. Oguneye; Mr. M. A. Sani Omolori; Hon. C. I. D. Maduabum; Dr. S. A. Danwanka and Prof Ade Adekunle. Prof Oyelowo Oyewo; Prof Joash Amupitan; Dr. Ladi Hamalai and Prof Okechukwu Okoli. The committee’s terms of reference are to advise the Speaker and the House of Representatives on the legislative action required for revision of all existing laws with a view to incorporating all amendments and adaptations made earlier.

Zamfara killings: Senator assures of plan to end attacks From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

enator representing Zamfara north Federal Constituency comprising of Kaura, Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji local government areas, Alhaji Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, has pledged to stand firm in effort to ensure that the high profile criminals attacking innocent communities are made to face the wrath of the law.

Tijjani Kaura, who dropped the hint in his Sallah message at his residence in Kaura Namoda local government area said, measures by the security agencies in collaboration with relevant bodies to tackle the incessant killings and cattle rustling across his constituency have reached an advanced stage. Kaura disclosed that he is also making adequate arrangements and necessary consultations

with stakeholders across the four local government areas of the constituency with a view to arriving at a work plan to be presented before the national assembly for necessary actions. “The provision of security to my people is the main reason of my being at Senate, so that I must ensure the restoration of peace and the lost commercial enterprise in my constituency before any other

developmental programme”, Kaura stated. While condoling with the families of those who lost their lives during various attacks across the constituency, the lawmaker informed of the plans embarked upon by both the federal and state governments for the provision of job opportunities and youth empowerment as well with a view to ensure crime-free constituency.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Politics

Buhari to restrict probe to Jonathan’s govt - Presidency *As PDP backs him on corruption By Lawrence Olaoye and Ahmad Ibrahim, Lokoja

R-L: Plateau state Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Professor Suleiman Bogoro, and TETFUND Director Corporate Planning and Development, Malam Aliyu Naiya, during the governor’s visit to the TETFUND headquarters, on Wednesday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Appointments: It’s too early for Igbos to complain again - Osita By Umar Muhammad Puma

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast, Osita Okechukwu, said it is too early for the Igbos to complain of marginalization in Buhari’s government, saying the administration still have more than five hundred appointments to make. Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Okechukwu said the appointments made so far were solely based on professional competency, expressing confidence that Igbos won’t miss out in Buhari’s government. “My message for my people is that in next one year or two years they will have nothing to complain because the federal government of Nigeria is a big Elephant. He has more than five hundred appointments to be made and the

juicy ones are also there, and even the sensitive ones are also there. We cannot miss out. “My people from the Southeast are complaining over the appointments made so far, yes and valid argument. But the arguments could be assessed on two grounds. One, President Muhammadu Buhari has 48 months mandate, he has just completed one or two months which is far below five percent of the mandate he was given. On the other hand, he has over five hundred appointments to be made no matter how delay, to be made between now and December or by this time next year. “I personally feel it is very much on the side of impatience to start assessing the President with less than 30 appointments. No matter how sensitive because there other crucial appointments that are still waiting. I think what

we could do on the charitable side for President Muhammadu Buhari is to give sometimes to have a good profile ranking of number of appointments. It is too early to criticize him now. He also explained that the appointment of the service chiefs could not be politicized considering the level insecurity the country is going through. “Mr. President must have seen some things because this is a crisis of over six years and no one region has not headed these services in the past before. So, I see Mr. President trying to narrow himself to look at who is better qualified to do the job. Though, I know that about three of them are from North-east, but no one is from North-west. “So, I’m trying to say that the federal government is a big elephant and going by section 14, 2, 3 of the constitution of the

federal republic of Nigeria, I do not see President Muhammadu Buhari whom I have work with for over 12 years neglecting or try to breach that area of the constitution that says the appointment and conduct must reflect federal characters to promote national unity and national loyalty. He said he has also observed what he called “contradiction and stereotype” of some people believing that because they didn’t vote for President Buhari that’s why he is marginalizing they, “But I said no, because of his antecedent with Igbos.” He revealed that the Igbos are in the compendium of Buhari administration. “He has similar agenda for every political zone but as I said it is very easy to start on time may be some of our people think by making noise they will achieve more and in political arena that doesn’t count.”

N/Assembly crisis shameful -Lafia emir By Umar Muhammad Puma

he Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II has described as unfortunate the recent crisis in the two chambers of the National Assembly. He said Nigerians toiled, sacrificed their comforts in order to effect leadership change in the country with lots of expectations only for the crisis over leadership positions in the national assembly, describing it as disheartening and unfortunate.

The emir stated this yesterday while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara paid him a condolence visit in his palace. “The things we are seeing happening in the two chambers of the National Assembly are not encouraging,” Agwai said. According to him, people sacrificed even their lives for the present crop of leaders to be elected with the expectation that they will deliver on the mandates given to them and provide good

leadership. He said it will be disappointing if elected officials fail to learn from history and provide solutions to the many problems bedeviling the country. “You have asked us to pray for peace in our land and for all leaders, we are also appealing to you our leaders to put your individual ambitions and interests aside because it is God who gives power to people.” Speaking earlier, Dogara called on the emir not to relent in

praying to God over the security challenges bedeviling the country especially the North East region. He said God will not send angels from heaven to solve Nigeria’s problems which is why the people must intensify prayers for God to guide the present crop of leaders. The speaker, in company of other lawmakers was in Lafia to condole with Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahiru representing Lafia/ Obi Federal Constituency over the death of his father.

resident Muhammadu Buhari has clarified that he would probe only the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and leave out the tenures of those before him. The President had last Tuesday vowed to arrest and prosecute past ministers and other officials who stole Nigeria’s oil and diverted government’s money to personal accounts. Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Buhari, Femi Adesina, said the president will limit his anti-corruption war to the immediate past administration in the country. He said his boss will not waste time in probing the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida. He said even before he was sworn in to office on May 29, the president had categorically stated that he would not extend his corruption probe beyond the Jonathan government. “If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated as president. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past,” Adesina said. “The far past will include Obasanjo and others. But the president has said he will not waste time to go that far.” Before leaving office, Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration. Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh has said that his party fully supports the war on corruption being waged by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration. Speaking in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Lokoja, Mr. Metuh pointed out that his party would back any efforts aimed retrieving stolen funds, since it would be for the overall benefit to the country. Metuh who was in Lokoja to supervise the congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, added that the recovery of illegal money would not be an achievement for the APC or Mr. President alone, but for the overall progress of the nation. However, Mr. Metuh opined that laid down procedure must be strictly followed in prosecuting those found wanting.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Politics Reps crisis: Northern youth roots for Ado Doguwa for Majority leader By Stanley Onyekwere

L-R: Special Representative and Head, United Nations Office for West Africa, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Former Ekiti state Governor/Guest Lecturer, Dr kayode Fayemi, Ghanaian Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, and Chair, Governing Board of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, during the 3rd Annual Prof Atta Mills Memorial Lecture, on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana.

Nigerians need action, not integrity to feel change - Lawmaker tells Buhari By Stanley Onyekwere

member of Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, Prince Idongesit Ituen, representing Ilu state Constituency, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to translate his integrity clout into strategic action that would bring an end to prevailing socio-economic and security challenges threatening the survival of Nigerians and the nation at large. Ituen, a former Council Chairman and State Assistant Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is now the Chairman House Committee on Works and Transport in the Assembly, gave this charge yesterday in a chat with newsmen on state of the nation under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Abuja. He reminded President Buhari that Nigerians voted him because of his integrity and change mantra, to engineer

social security, unemployment benefits, job creation and resolve the lingering Boko Haram issue amongst others. This is coming on the heels of mixed feelings over the delay in appointment of ministers and other cabinet members by President Buhari, which had allegedly, slow down activities in the country, barely two months into his reign. According to the lawmaker, “Mr. President has integrity, but for average Nigerians; integrity is not the main thing they are looking for; how he is going to translate it into action that would fight corruption, arrest the issue of Boko Haram, create employment and provide social security for the citizenry. “So far, I think Nigerians are not happy that the new government led by APC is not starting on fast note. Therefore, Mr. President needs to fast-track many issues of governance. On the issue of appointments, after

running for elections for some times, my thinking was that it won’t take Mr. President long a time, to be able to put his cabinet together.” Commenting on the rationale given by the President for the delay in assembling his cabinet, which was to enable him clean up the existing system and set a new paradigm for would be team to work with, he dismissed the excuse as untenable, if critically looked into. “How do you clean up the system, and set up a complete new one, what Nigerians need is for you as their leader to constitute a team (cabinet) and come out with a strategic policy direction. Nigerians wants to see members of the President’s team, and be able to judge with their past involvement in governance, present state of mind and ideological stance. On the ongoing probe of some persons, who served in the last administration, the lawmaker

who said there is not wrong with the development; however notes “what Nigerians won’t take is witch hunting under the guise fact finding. “The current condition of the nation gives the government and even the citizens the right ask former President Goodluck Jonathan and everybody who served with him during his tenure, in order to find out how they fared during the period in question. “So Mr. President has the right to probe anybody he wants to probe, but then the probe must be massive in nature, if you are going against former governors, it has to be all of them, irrespective of their party affiliation, but immediately you deviate a little, Nigerians may loss trust in your sense of reasoning and leadership, and they will begin to say; may be you’re not after fighting corruption but after witch hunting people. We love and trust him to do the right thing,” he stressed.

Bauchi Federal Constituency too big for my projects - Rep Shehu By Chris Alu

ep. Shehu Aliyu Musa, APC member representing Bauchi Local Government Federal Constituency has raised alarm over the stretch of his constituency, saying it is too big for him to execute projects as dividends of democracy to the people. Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the lawmaker said his

constituency funds will not be enough to capture all projects within the metropolis because the area is large compared to other states. He explained that Kano metropolis alone has seven federal lawmakers in the seven local government councils, while Lagos has eight. Rivers has five and Ibadan has four, with Bauchi remaining the biggest among them with only one local

government council, he stated. The lawmaker called on the federal government to do something in order to balance the equation. “For now I cannot meet up their demands the local government is too big for me to deliver projects”, Shehu said. He said that Bauchi Federal Constituency should be divided into two or three local governments with each one having a representative so as to

enable them attract development to the people and even make it a senatorial district instead of living it for a single constituency. Shehu said his priority areas are to dig boreholes because of the scarcity of water in all wards as well as provide skills acquisition to the numerous unemployed youths in the state, adding that he intends to support women by giving them financial grants to assist their businesses.

s the storm raised over the appointment of principal officers of the House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly is yet to settle, some Northern youth are rooting for the nomination of Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, for the position of Majority Leader of the House. The youth under the Coalition of Northern Youth Association (CNYA), expressed confidence in the capacity of Ado Doguwa, who represents Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency is surely the best man for the job. They described Ado Doguwa as a democrat of no mean repute in the politics of the House of Representatives, who was the first member that led a caucus to pay a solidarity visit to the current, Speaker after his election, despite being a staunch supporter of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The Youth Group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Abubakar Muhammed, opined that it would only be just and equitable for the position of the House leader to be allotted to the North West Zone. “Our resolution is borne out of the fact that by every consideration, North West Zone deserves to present the next House Leader to consolidate on the gains so far achieved by the party (All Progressives Congress, APC). “He is a fourth termer and has cognitive experience in the House of Representatives; and has chaired sensitive committees in the house and made impressive marks as the Chairman of the MDG committee. “His track record in the House is legendary as such we strongly believe that his leading the majority party in the house would ensure the change agenda of the present government would yield dividend. “We want to reiterate that his political background coupled with his vast legislative experience and intellectual pedigree stands him out over many old and new members from the North West geo political zone,” the group stressed.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Politics

How Nigerlites will remember former Gov Aliyu INTERVIEW From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

he immediate past governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who was first sworn into office on 29th May, 2007, has finally left the mantle of power having exhausted the two tenures provided by the constitution. It remains however for the people to now reflect back on his eight years stewardship under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Many are of the believe that former governor Aliyu rode into power without the consent of any godfather but left as one through the alleged imposition of candidate of his choice for the PDP during the last guber election in the person of Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, which pundits say led to the disastrous performance by the once united, strong PDP now in disarray. Recall that when governor Aliyu came onboard, the PDP had three senators from the senatorial zones of the state, six House of Representatives as against three from opposition parties, as well as fourteen state assembly members, leaving 11 for the opposition political parties. However, the guber seat has been taken away by the erstwhile opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), with the PDP losing almost the entire elective positions in the state except for two state assembly seats. Most significantly, Aliyu will be remembered for the manner in which people of the state bid farewell to him after 8 years holding the reins of power, particularly as it unfolded at the Bako Kontagora stadium venue of inauguration, when the large crowd that turned up to witness his handing over, booed Aliyu as he took his exit from the Minna Government House. Shouts of “Barawo”, “thief”, “ole” rented the air when the former governor mounted the podium to greet the mammoth crowd who were present at the venue of the inauguration. Obviously disappointed by the level of debt Aliyu incurred for the incoming government which was alleged to be to tune of about N56 billion coupled with the perceived non performance as well as the mountain of unfulfilled promises, Nigerlites were left with no option than to chant, “Change has come!” The newly elected Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has asked top functionaries of the previous

administration to return back to the government some of the money they misappropriated. This was contained in a statement by his chief press secretary, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba issued in Minna, where the governor told the officials in the past government to return a whooping N2.9 billion. “They took this loan on the eve of their departure. And as was customary with that administration, they did nothing with the money,” Dooba alleged. “You can’t collect a loan on behalf of the people and share it among yourselves. That’s literally what they did. They simply raised a list and allocated money to those on the list. “The office of the SSG for example, was given 600 million naira. What he would do with the money, the records did not say. Well, we want our money back. However, former Secretary to the Niger State Government, Hon. Saidu Ndako Idris Kpaki has described report in the media that the past administration secured N2.9 billion loan and his office received N600 million on the eve of it departure as untrue, baseless and a figment of the imagination of its author. This was also contained in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Musa Umar Bologi saying that the past administration neither approached any financial institution for loan nor secured any at the last minute has alleged by the present administration. Kpaki wondered how the new government didn’t know of a federal government circular which placed embargo on granting of loans to states, emphasizing that Governor Abubakar Sanni Bello’s spokesman must have made the allegation out of ignorance. The former scribe said the fact that the APC government is not able to produce the list of the purported beneficiaries of the loan goes to show that the government was only out to blackmail the immediate past administration. On the allegation of N600 million given to the SSG’s office, Kapki said there was no way such money could be given to his office at that time when the state was battling to pay workers’ salaries. Although there were large number of security men present, the aggrieved crowd mostly youths kept booing Aliyu chanting “Barawo” (Thief) while hailing the Governor-elect then, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello shouting “Sai Lolo” who they expected to usher in the positive change.

Former Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu The police had to use teargas to dispatch people when the crowd became uncontrollable while some shot in the air to protect Aliyu from been attacked by the angry youths as he was leaving the venue of the inauguration. Security agents were forced to provide cover for the outgoing governor when stones, bottle and shoes started flying on air toward his direction that prompted many observers to quit the venue even before the end of the event for fear of being victims. Governor Abu Lolo had to follow Aliyu to his residence at Tunga to ensure he got home with his wife safely without been

lynched by the angry youths who were stationed in various streets of Minna in strategic points brandishing catapults ready to use it on the former governor. Still, many said former governor Aliyu will be remembered for relocating the Minna Central Market to the new structure built by his predecessor (Kure). He will equally be remembered for consistently paying civil servants salaries in which his predecessors did same during their tenures. Also governor Aliyu will be remembered for banning of commercial motorcycle riders which has in no small measure reduced to the minimal accidents

“

Many said the Chief Servant is a visionary leader whose ideas couldn’t see the light of the day, whose administration is consistently known for various project reviews in the name of improved standard and quality but which allegedly ended up in the pockets of few

on the township roads which should be sustained by the APC government in the state. But offenders who were arrested and their motor cycles seized which were later auctioned to an individual businessman from the southern part of the country at the sum of alleged over N50 million was not accounted for as many of them told our reporter that they will never forgive the case still ongoing at a High Curt in Minna. Political observers said governor Aliyu brought the PDP to the old dark days of ridicule and turned the party into a laughing stock after eight years of leading the state as number one citizen, a technocrat who feel he knows everything and who has led Northern State Governors Forum throughout as well as leader of G-7, who refused to defect with his progressive governors because of fear of federal might that has finally collapsed. The revelations made by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwonkwoso of Kano State said it all about the two G7 governors and their result at polls, they led the group of G7 but with the fear of almighty EFCC and ICPC belonging to federal might, they couldn’t break away with the progressive hero’s like the Rochas, Ameachi, Kwankwoso, DanKwambo’s. He will be remembered for the roles he played and subsequent failure of his party at the polls. He shall be remembered for building many houses at the state capital Minna and the three major towns of Suleja, Bida and Kontagora in which many have been occupied but sold at exorbitant prices to the people. The former governor will also be remembered for his inability to complete the 5-star hotel opposite Government House Minna, for abandoning the Minna City Centre, the three arms zone and 10 kilometres roads of 25 LGA’s several months before elections that abruptly ended his political career in the state. Many said the Chief Servant is a visionary leader whose ideas couldn’t see the light of the day, whose administration is consistently known for various project reviews in the name of improved standard and quality but which allegedly ended up in the pockets of few. Senator David Umaru has variouly described Aliyu’s administration in the state as “the worse in the history of the state creation in 1976, it has been characterized by ineptitude, corruption, incompetence and misappropriation of public funds and very high level of impunity, his government is deceitful and eloquently clueless.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

World Bank raises forecast for 2015 global crude prices T

he World Bank is nudging up its 2015 forecast for crude oil prices from 53 dollars in April to 57 dollars per barrel after oil prices rose 17 per cent in the April to June quarter. The forecast is contained in the bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook released on Wednesday. The bank said energy prices rose 12 per cent in the quarter,

with the surge in oil offset by declines in natural gas and coal prices. However, it said it expected energy prices to average 39 per cent below 2014 level. ``Natural gas prices are projected to decline across all three main markets including the United States, Europe and Asia. ``Coal prices are likely to fall 17 per cent”, it said.

Excluding energy, the bank reported a two per cent decline in prices for the quarter and forecast that non-energy prices would average 12 per cent below 2014 levels this year. ``Demand for crude oil was higher than expected in the second quarter. Despite the marginal increase in the price forecast for 2015. ``Large inventories and rising

output from OPEC members suggest prices will likely remain weak in the medium-term,” said John Baffes, Senior Economist and lead author of the report. The bank said Iran’s new nuclear agreement with the U.S. and other leading governments, if ratified, would ease sanctions, including restrictions on oil exports from Iran. It said downside risks to the

forecast included higher-thanexpected non-OPEC production supported by falling production costs and continuing gains in OPEC output. It also predicted possible upside pressures from closure of high-cost operations as the number of operational oil rigs in the U.S remains down 60 per cent since its November high. (Xinhua/NAN)

R-L: Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Head of Service, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Ade Ipaye, Secretary, National Economic Council (NEC), Mr. Bassey O. Akpanyung, and Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emordi, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by the vice-president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

NNPC shuts product supply to put off fire from pipeline explosion at Arepo

he fire from the explosion at the NNPC pipeline at Elepete, Arepo in Ikorodu area of Lagos had been put off as the corporation shut down product supply through pipeline. A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

who visited Arepo to check the effect explosion reports that the area is calm. NAN, however, observed that there were about five speed boats carrying some men suspected to be vandals, who came to the scene of the incident to search for their dead colleagues.

NAN reports that each boat left the scene after about an hour carrying suspected dead bodies. Some policemen who were in mufti were seen around with one of them carrying his rifle. Some of the residents of Beachland Estate, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity

said the explosion and vandals activities were becoming worrisome to them. One of the residents was said to have died of heart attack when the explosion happened. When NAN in the company of other media men visited the street where the victim died,

they were told to leave the area so as not to put the family in trouble. ``We don’t want press people here. The man that died was a banker not vandal,’’ a resident said anonymously and gave no further detail about the deceased. (NAN)

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Business Analysis

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Customs begins anti-smuggling operation in South-West T

prohibition list, adding that the clamp down on smuggling of the products would be extended to other zones in the country. He said that the squad known as ``Hawk Descend’’ was established to cover the SouthWest area for a period. ``The focus on the SouthWest zone is because we discovered that the access for smuggling of the products through the border areas from Benin Republic is highest.

“We did this to ensure that the concentration of the ‘force’ to fight the smuggling activities become hard enough to break the guard,” he said. He disclosed that in the first week of its operation, ‘’Hawk Descend’’ impounded frozen poultry worth over N12 million. Adeniyi said that the seizures consisted 1,803 cartons of the banned products. According to him, a significant number of the seizures were

made on the Iyafin-Badagry waterways, which stretched through the Nigeria and Benin Republic border. NAN reports that the operation ‘’Hawk Descend’’ was launched by the NCS on July 8, to check the activities of smugglers of frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry products. At the ceremony in Lagos, Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, said that the squad would operate in the

border area of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. He also said that the operation would be for an initial period of three months, from July to September, 2015. He had explained that the exercise was aimed at achieving national food security and protection of the Nigerian economy against saboteurs, adding that the service had zero tolerance for importation of frozen poultry products. (NAN)

L-R: Secretary to Katsina State Government, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, Katsina state Governor, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, the Executive Director, Abuja & North, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Adam Nuru, and Zonal Head, Kano West, Mr. Abdulahi Mainasara, during a visit by the officials of the bank to the governor, on Wednesday in Katsina.

Slot boosts e-transaction with new App

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

n an effort to redefine online shopping and encourage consumers in the country embrace online transaction; Slot Systems has introduced Slot.ng and Slot App. This according to the company will make online shopping experience easier and more convenient for customers. Speaking on the new initiative, the Slot’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Ezeigbo, said: “As we are all aware, we now live in an era where business transactions are carried out electronically.

In essence, you don’t need to be physically present before you can engage in the business of buying and selling. As a company we are fully aware of this new reality, hence the creation of Slot.ng and the Slot App”. He said “With Slot.ng, you can buy all your quality phones and accessories online using the Slot App; it’s like having the 50 Slot shops nationwide at your fingertips. With this new service from Slot, we want to ensure that our valued customers get a whole new shopping experience and also get value for money,”

The Managing Director said that to get started all one needs is to download the Slot App free Google store, click and it takes you to the online store where one can buy his or her phones, accessories, Laptops and i-pads, from the comfort of their home or office and have it delivered to them within 24hrs of Payment. “It’s stress free and it’s convenient,” added Ezeigbo. As an indigenous company, Slot doesn’t sell phones, the company also provide standard after sales support that meets global standard in any Western African sub region. The company

has consistently been in the front row to announce new phones, functions, features, and upgrades. Recently, Slot launched a service tagged ‘Slot Trade-In’ in partnership with Matrix Certified Pre-Owned Nigeria Limited, a leading name in pre-owned devices. The essence of this service is to enable customers’ trade-in their old phones for brand new ones. With the ‘Slot Trade-In’ the value of a phone can be used in exchange for another, thereby making the value of customers money work more for them. According to the company

consumers can benefit from this service, by walking into any SLOT store, hand in their old phone, pay the price difference and walk out with a brand new phone. Another initiative from Slot is the screen insurance project, which enables customers replace their broken screen at no extra cost. This initiative is reportedly backed IGI, one of the nation’s leading Insurance brands. To benefit from the scheme a customer needs to to pay is 5per cent of the cost of phone at the point of purchase and the insurance cover is provided for the phone for one year.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Business Nigeria’s capital market drops further by N18bn

rading activities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the second consecutive day remained on a negative, with the market capitalisation dropping by N18 billion. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation on Thursday lost 0.16 per cent to close at N10.685 trillion against N10.703 trillion recorded on Wednesday following price loses.

Also, the All-Share Index which opened at 31,267.25 lost 50.53 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 31,216.72. Mobil topped the losers’ table, declining by N2.82 to close at N153.18 per share. Nigerian Breweries came second with a loss of N1.15 to close at N129, while Northern Nigeria Flour Mills dipped 90k to close at N17.15 per share. Unilever garnered 78k to close at N37.32, while Lafarge

Africa increased by 50k to close at N99 per share. On the other hand, 7UP led the gainers’ table, increasing by N9 to close at N194 per share. Beta Glass followed with a gain of N1.80 to close at N39.50, while Berger Paint appreciated by 95k to close at N10.31 per share. Ecobank Transnational inched 29k to close at N19.89, while National Salt went up by 25k to close at N6.90 per share.

Also, the volume of shares traded dropped by 36.68 per cent as investors bought and sold 208.49 million shares worth N3.24 billion transacted in 3,727 deals. NAN reports that this was against the 329.26 million shares valued N2.58 billion traded in 4,457 deals on Wednesday. Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services was most active stock in volume terms, accounting for 70 million shares worth N35 million

achieved in two deals. Access Bank trailed with 17.49 million shares valued at N90.91 million traded in 101 deals, and Transcorp sold 13.26 million shares worth N31.11 million exchanged in 160 deals. FBN Holdings exchanged 12.65 million shares valued at N98.65 million traded in 403 deals and GT Bank transacted 9.21 million shares worth N324.55 million in 333 deals. (NAN)

Trading floor of the Nigerian StockExchange

European shares fall after U.S. data, Aberdeen AM leads

uropean equities fell in late trading on Thursday, with disappointing updates from companies including Aberdeen Asset Management and British energy supplier SSE putting pressure on their share prices. U.S. data showing the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits last week fell to its lowest level in more than 41 years also weighed on sentiment as these numbers further strengthened the case for a U.S. interest rate hike, analysts said. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down

0.6 percent at 1,577.48 points by 1342 GMT. This extended the index’s fall in the previous session, when tech stocks dragged down the market after Apple’s revenue forecast fell short of estimates. Aberdeen Asset Management was the biggest decliner in the FTSEurofirst 300 index. Its shares fell 7.3 percent to their lowest in 1-1/2-years after the fund manager said it saw net outflows of 9.9 billion pounds ($15.5 billion) in the April-June quarter as institutional investors cut exposure to Asia and emerging markets equities. “We have got concerns about

the eminent prospect of a U.S. rate hike in the next couple of months and this is getting reflected in outflows. Those companies which are heavily dependent on the emerging market for their final product may struggle,” Peter Dixon of Commerzbank said. Investors kept a close eye on earnings reports, which have the potential to set the market’s direction in the near term. SSE fell 4.9 percent after it predicted lower profits from its retail business this year, some weeks after the competition watchdog found households had been

overcharged some 1.2 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) a year. But Credit Suisse rose 7 percent, the top gainer in the FTSEurofirst 300 index and on track for its biggest one-day percentage gain since March. It had posted better-than expected earnings and improvements to its capital cushion ahead of a strategy shake-up under its new chief executive. “The Q2 results season is up and running and the early indications are positive,” said Robert Parkes, equity strategist at HSBC. “We believe there is plenty more to come and see the

improving global business cycle taking over from currency as the key driver of earnings in 2016.” Power and automation firm ABB rose 2.3 percent after its net profit beat analysts’ expectations, while Unilever added 1.3 percent after reporting better sales than forecast. Analysts said that attractive valuations could make European companies appealing to some investors. The STOXX Europe 600 index trades at 15.7 times its 12-month forward earnings, against 16.7 times for the U.S. S&P 500 index, according to Thomson Reuters Datastream. (Reuters)

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Business Japan’s Nikkei buys Financial Times in $1.3 billion deal

apanese media group Nikkei agreed on Thursday to buy the Financial Times from Britain’s Pearson (PSON.L) in a $1.3 billion deal that brings together two leading financial news operations from Europe and Asia. The deal marks the biggest acquisition by a Japanese media organization and is a coup for Nikkei, an employee-owned firm which also lends its name to the main Japanese stock market index. The Nikkei newspaper, which

has a circulation surpassing 3 million for its morning edition alone, enjoys a must-read reputation for financial and business news in Japan but has struggled to break out of its home market. “I am extremely proud of teaming up with the Financial Times, one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world,” said Tsuneo Kita, chairman and group CEO of Nikkei. “We share the same journalistic values.” Analysts and bankers had for

years been waiting for Pearson to sell the trophy asset, although the names most closely linked with a deal were Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters (TRI.N). A person familiar with the situation had also recently told Reuters that Germany’s Axel Springer (SPRGn. DE) was working on a buyout. Reuters reported earlier on Thursday that the 171-year-old Pearson had finally decided to sell the business daily as it expanded more into education. As the news broke of the

Nikkei deal, an FT journalist tweeted a photograph showing staff in the newsroom crowded around a television watching the developments. FT Editor Lionel Barber said on Twitter he would address the staff shortly. The sale of the FT Group, which is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2015, does not include its 50 percent stake in The Economist magazine nor the London headquarters of the newspaper on the banks of the River Thames.

In a joint statement, Pearson said it believed the time was right for the FT, which was first printed on pink paper in 1893 to stand out from rival titles, to be part of a global, digital news company. It had owned the paper for nearly 60 years. Analysts and one shareholder told Reuters they welcomed the deal. “It is hard to argue with the price,” said Richard Marwood, senior fund manager at AXA Investment Managers, a shareholder in Pearson.(Reuters)

Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Abdullahi Dikko (middle), discussing with Executive Secretary, Shipper Council of Nigeria, Mr. Hassan Bello (left), during a meeting on Technical Committee on areas of collaboration between Nigeria Shippers Council and Nigeria Customs Service on the inland container depots projects, on Wednesday in Abuja. With them is Director Commercial Shipping Services, Nigeria Shipper Council, Mrs. Dabany Shall-Holma (right). Photo: NAN

Kaduna Electric to supply power to KRPC quarters By Etuka Sunday

aduna Electric, the operators of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company is to supply electricity to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company’s quarters and water treatment plant. This is part of the strategic business partnership agreed upon by the two companies during a courtesy visit by the Management

of Kaduna Electric on KRPC today. The Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Garba Haruna who led top Management of Kaduna Electric, disclosed that the Company is on “the mission of identifying and harnessing the potentials available at KRPC with the view to tapping same”. He identified the area of power purchase whereby Kaduna Electric shall be selling to or buying excess energy from Kaduna

Refining and Petrochemical Company as a “business strategy the two Companies should take seriously”. According to Engr. Garba Haruna, the Kaduna Electric has the capacity to distribute 700 megawatts of electricity in its franchise area but its current allocation from the national grid is just about 200 megawatts. He also revealed that the new management of the Company is working tirelessly to reduce the

average technical, commercial and collection losses (ATC&C), which he put at about fifty percent as at the time they took over the Company in December last year. Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, Engr. Sa’idu Aliyu Mohammed disclosed that KRPC is one of the major hydrocarbon processing plants in the Country. According to Engr.

Mohammed, the plant has both the traditional and unique refining capacities. He applauded the visit saying that “it shall trigger further discussion and business relationship between the two Companies”. High point of the visit was the constitution of a joint technical working group to study the needs and potentials of the two organizations that could be beneficial to the two parties.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Stock Watch:

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

PAGE 25

Peoples Daily, Friday, July 24 , 2015

PAGE 24

Special Report

Where is my daughter? Searching for Kenya’s last Garissa victim

r Mutisya is a slight man with a delicate frame but he has an inner strength that only a restless father would acquire. Nearly four months after the Garissa university attack, he is still searching for his missing daughter. While most families and parents have managed to lay to rest their sons and daughters killed in the Garissa attack, 23-year-old Risper is yet to be found - dead or alive. The family mourns the child they are yet to see or bury. Risper’s mother has sleepless nights. Mr Mutisya has worked tirelessly to find her because, “When I sleep, I see her coming towards me, sometimes she extends her hands towards me, but when I reach out she disappears these dreams haunt me a lot.” “This will continue until I know the whereabouts of my daughter,” he says. Since the attack, the 51-year-old maths teacher has been to Nairobi more than seven times, making the sixhour round-trip from Kitui, a town approximately 180km

“

Isaac Mutisya is a Kenyan father on a mission to find his daughter Risper, who’s been missing since the attack on her university in Garissa. She was on the campus on 2 April when militants from the Islamist group al-Shabab attacked, killing 148 people. Her body has never been found.

(110 miles) east of Nairobi, by matatu (minibus). He is searching for answers, asking questions, waiting for any information about his beloved daughter. He exudes pride when he talks about his daughter, who joined Garissa University in 2013 to study business management. “Risper grew up a very disciplined girl, she was very good in maths and I must say that she took after me, because I’m a maths teacher. “She was also very beautiful, and I feel very hurt that I don’t know where she is. “Risper told me that after her studies in business management, she wanted to become a business consultant, and I’m very sure that, had she finished her course, she would be somebody in Kenya in the future.”

There is a deep sadness, a deep pain, hidden behind this father’s pride - while he talks about his daughter, he looks lovingly at the photographs he’s brought. Mr Mutisya has documented everything. He carries a suitcase with him, from where he pulls out the many photographs of Risper. He goes back to his bag again and carefully lifts out sheets of paperwork from a plastic bag, showing us written details of all the documents he has put together. When he speaks he is determined, but concerned that his interest in finding Risper will not upset the Kenyan government who, he feels, haven’t done enough to help him find the answers he is looking for. “I don’t believe they are doing their best,” he says.

Morgue workers drive the bodies of suspected Garissa University College attackers

Before Mr Mutisya agreed to this interview, he told us he would like the Kenyan government to respond to his questions. We approached the Ministry of Interior who declined this specific request and instead sent this reply: “Please ask Mutisya to report the matter to the National Police Service where he can get assistance because as far as I know, that matter has not been reported to the police. I have no doubt that reporting to the police will be more helpful to him than media interviews.” But Mr Mutisya is angry and shakes his head, he pulls out yet another document showing evidence that the matter was reported at the police station in Garissa. He insists he has also told government officials who visited him at his home about

While most families and parents have managed to lay to rest their sons and daughters killed in the Garissa attack, 23-year-old Risper is yet to be found - dead or alive. The family mourns the child they are yet to see or bury. Risper’s mother has sleepless nights. Mr Mutisya has worked tirelessly to find her because, “When I sleep, I see her coming towards me, sometimes she extends her hands towards me, but when I reach out she disappears - these dreams haunt me a lot.” “This will continue until I know the whereabouts of my daughter,” he says.

23-year-old Risper is still missed by his father

the police report. “They have a copy of this,” he says. A day after the attack, Mr Mutisya heard that there were injured students at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, and he made his way to the city. “I was waiting to meet her alive,” he says. But to his disappointment, he did not find Risper there. He was then asked to go to down to the Chiromo

Will she ever return?

mortuary, also in Nairobi. Here he joined hundreds of “wailing” parents looking for their children. The mortuary contained most of the 142 students who were killed in the attack. Doctors and mortuary workers helped to turn over the already decomposing bodies so they could be identified. “On the second day, there were about 119 bodies

all on the ground, and it was such a fearful sight. It was very traumatising, very overwhelming,” he says. Mr Mutisya’s search at the mortuary lasted a week. At one stage he had identified a body “resembling Risper” but his hopes were dashed when another family had marked and identified this as their own child. During this process, Mr Mutisya claims there was no

proper identification. “Bodies were just being given to people,” he says. “Finger-printing or proper identification only took place on 7 April, five days after the attack, when bodies were too decomposed to identify.” Mr Mutisya thinks that in the days before a more formal process began, a mix-up could have occurred. The government denies that the identification of

victims was badly handled. In a statement to the BBC they said “all the victims were properly identified and the government took the extra step of assisting families in burial arrangements, counselling and other posttrauma support.” There was another glimmer of hope - not long after the initial search, he was told there were three bodies of female victims left at the mortuary, but by the time he got there, two of them had been identified and taken away by their respective families, this time using DNA. Mr Mutisya and his wife

Bereaved father displaying the picture of his daughter

offered saliva swabs with the hope that the last remaining body was that of Risper’s. Days later they were told the tests were negative. That body is still believed to be at the mortuary, yet to be identified by the family that might have claimed the wrong one. Mr Mutisya says he knows it would be a big task for the government to exhume the bodies, but they haven’t told him if they are going to go ahead with this procedure. “They have kept me in the dark and I am not getting any official communication from the government about what

they are doing to find my daughter - dead or alive,” he says. Mr Mutisya has been to the Kenyan parliament, where on 16 June he spoke to MPs. He was told that the government had been unable to locate Risper’s body. “I was told to wait and they said they are trying their best, I am still waiting.” Mr Mutisya is quiet for a moment and says he hopes this search is not seen negatively by the Kenyan government, but points out that if he had found his daughter he would not be talking about it today. All he is looking for is closure. “If I had got my daughter and buried her I would not be talking today - I would be a very settled person - but now, three-and-a-half months on, I’ve never heard from my daughter or seen her. “Very little is being done to help me get her back - dead or alive.” The family still grieve for their daughter, their sister, their child. “Until I find the body of my daughter I will not rest, I will not keep quiet, I will keep on talking and asking - friends, organisations, the government - how I will be able to find my daughter.” “I am not looking for a goat or a hen - I am looking for a human being.” Source: BBC

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Islam

What is in a symbol?

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. This is an expatiated response to a question put before me from a friend on the Islam’s position of posting stickers with some Islamic inscription on vehicles, usually meant to represent the religious identity of the owner. I realized that this trend isnot only in vogue with Muslims but also with our Christian neighbours. More correctly! It is all over the world! Every religious, social, local, international and even terrorist group has evolved certain kind of insignia to serve as identity and love with pride what he or she believes or belongs. Fundamentally speaking, and from the perspective of ‘pure Islam’, Islam has no logotype of any sort; image, symbol, sign or communicatory inscription. In fact, there was nothing whatsoever that was adopted and adapted by the Messenger of Allah during his time to signify Islamic or muslimic. In other words, Islam has no any divine symbol akin to that of the Christians, Judaism or Hinduism. For the Christians, the cross has been accepted by almost all Christendom from time immemorial as the symbol of both Christianity as a religion, and Christians as believers. I know the Jehovah do not believe in the cross as their spiritual identification. The Christians, contrary to the teaching of Prophet Jesus, may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him, share the belief that the cross has innate divine power capable of repelling the Satan and deterring away the devils. It is to them like the amulet, talisman or what greegree is to the pagans around the world. The Jews use the Star of David or the Shield of David or Magen David as their religious symbol. However, despite thesecond commandmentprohibits the use of anything that represents God or could easily become an object of worship: “You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4), yet the Jews and the Christians attribute tremendous reverence and veneration to their thought up symbols. Although I am not the first to write about this delicate topic, my intention is to share with you how Shari’ah views the use of the star and crescent, as well as other newly

introduced symbols identified with either Islam or Muslims or both in many parts of the world. History chronicled that Mohammed II (1432-1481), otherwise known Faith or Conqueror, conquered the city of Byzantium alias Constantinople and Istanbul was dedicated to Diana, goddess of the hunt and crescent was her symbol. It was his conquest of Constantinople in 1453 that guaranteed the consolidation of the Ottoman Empire.He was the son of Sultan Murad II (reigned 14211451), Mohammed II assumed full sovereignty on his father’s death in February 1451. Though, by 330 CE, Constantine devoted the city to the virgin

Allah says: “Such (Is the Pilgrimage): Whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, for Him it is good in the sight of His Lord. lawful to you (for food In Pilgrimage) are cattle, except those mentioned to you (as exception): but shun the abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false, Being true In Faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to him: if anyone assigns partners to Allah, is As if He had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (Like a bird on its prey)

islam explained By Husain Zakariyya Yawale +234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com from Allah) as against the white colour with black eagle inside it used by the Meccanoligarchy; the Quraish leaders. However, during the subsequent dynasties, various colours were used as banners representing various governments. For example, the Umayyad fought under white banners, the Abbasids chose black and the Fatimid used green colour as their flags and battle standards.

Nevertheless, today various M u s l i m s ’

M ary, who was represented by star. By the time the Turks brought Byzantium to its knee, and found many flags with the symbol of crescent they simply adopted it with modification by conflating and coalescing the star as a symbol of good premonition. Thus, the star and crescent as Muslims’ symbol was originally heathen icon which wasthen hoisted by the Ottoman armyofMohammed II after the capture of Constantinople in 1453 CE. Earlier on, it was Richard I, who about 250 years before Constantinople fell, used star within a crescent as official badge. Later on, however, ‘the crescent and star are often said to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the Ottoman Empire was part of booties of war, and not of Islam at all! The Qur’an has specifically mentioned symbol not in relation to flags, banners, badges or insignia, but in relation to all act of worships. In essence, Allah is telling us that the only Islam’s symbol is the practical aspects of worship and obedience to Allah, in open or in secret, rather than mere hanging or wearing “Islamic dressing or symbol.”

a n d thrown Him into a far- distant place”.[al-Hajj; 30-31] Allah says again: “Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. so if those who visit the House In the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin In them. and if any one obeyeth His own impulse to good,- be sure that Allah is He who recogniseth and knoweth”.[Al-Baqarah: 158] Indeed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has used flags of different colours and shapes as means for identification during the war or as a point of assembly and dismantling. Thus, banners or flags are customarily what unite around or behind in both wars and in peace. They do not necessarily have to symbolize any or some characteristic about them. In the Islam’s Chapter of Medina, the Messenger of Allah first used completely black flag with inscription, ‘NASRUM MINALLAH’ (success comes only

predominantnations on the Persian Gulf, Asia and Africa have chosenassorted colours of red, white, greenor black as their national banners and flags. There are also, certain words in Arabic script or characters either from the Qur’an or Hadith which are regarded as visually representing Islam or Muslim, such as “Allah”, “Muhammad”or the Kalimat elShahadah, in full or in parts, the picture of “ka’abah”, the” golden dome” of Quds dangling or posted on walls or vehicles, and many more, are mere hope and imagination. The Shiites use the sword as their symbol believing that it was the sword of Imam Ali which he fought with and gave his life to Islam. The general law in Islam is that anything depicting inscription from the Qur’an or Hadith, in Arabic or Latin, must be respected and handled with care. The inscriptions peddled and posted on cars, trucks and bikes must be highly respected and held in absolute reverence. Above and beyond all the aforementioned, the most important and true symbol of Islam is the performance of all the acts of worship ordained by Allah and His

Messenger, as, at and when they are due. These forms of worships include but not limited to ablution, prayers, timings of the obligatory prayers, Hajj (pilgrimage), fasting, payment of annual Zakat, respecting the lives of men, protecting his properties,etc, are actually the Islam’s symbolic expressions of various realities and aspects that the Muslims must uphold true. The Qur’an says: “Muhammad is the apostle of Allah, and those who are with Him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst Each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (Being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude In the Taurat; and their similitude In the Gospel is: like a seed which Sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and Delight. As a result, it fills the unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness and a great reward”. [Al-Fath: 29] This has rest the importance of any symbolic item; visual, aural or otherwise as null and void without practically and sincerely obeying the all the loftyteachings of Islam as brought by the last and final Prophet. In Islam, symbols are distinguished by act of worships and places of worships. That is why ‘as-Safa and al-Marwah’ are singled out as signs of Islamic rites during hajj, while sacrifice of animals is also mentioned clearly in the Qur’an. “O ye who believe!Violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the people resorting to the sacred house, seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. but when ye are Clear of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people In (once) shutting you out of the sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another In righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another In sin and rancour: fear Allah. For Allah is strict In punishment”. [AlMa’idah: 2] Thus, it is significant to bear in mind that what are said or presumed to be Islam’s symbols are neither ordained by Allah or His Messenger (pbuh)! In essence therefore, they are customary symbols recognized by some Muslims during the expansion of Islam. Thus, the connotation of many of all the many symbols with Islam was, and still purely cultural and traditional usually influenced by civilization. Islamexplained35@yahoo.com +2348052952900 (text only)

P A G E

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Mother Earth

Still on the cactus opuntia

n 2013, there was an unprecedented case of the trial and sentencing of six scientists to jail over the L’Aquila earthquake of 2009 in Italy, with the global scientists’ community watching in disbelieve. They were jailed simply for not been able to predict the 2009 deadly earthquake that killed 309 people before it occurred. But world leading scientists said it was unheard of, claiming that till date, there is no instrument to predict major earthquakes before they occurred. So, why were theseismologists and geological experts convicted, if that is true? I must say that the onus of this case was not lost on the people of Italy. The reason would have been to ensure that in the nearest future, people entrusted with public responsibilities should be thorough in their assigned duties, especially, when it concerns the people and the environment. If it were in Nigeria, the trial and sentencing of these imminent scientists would have been given different interpretations. Some people would have called it political persecution, either for not supporting the government in power, or for other superfluous reasons. But this happened in Italy, a very prominent and a democratic country in Europe. My preamble here is about the issue of Cactus Opuntia plantation being established in some northern states to fight desertification that has become an all time fraud. If it were in China, by now many heads would have been chopped off over this monumental fraud. But this is Nigeria; those involved are still prowling the streets with exotic cars; building houses in choice areas of the country. If it were in other developed countries, panel of enquiries would have been set up to investigate this matter, not caring whose ox is gored. But this is Nigeria, anything goes. It is quite obvious that officials of the Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office are aware of this, but choose to look the other way, while millions of Nigerians who live in that harsh environment have continued to be suffering from the monumental impacts of desertification and other ecological problems. And who knows how many people would have died and livestock perished in the process; which would have also created internally displaced persons. And we do know that the Sahel and the Sudan savannah regions of Nigeria are characterized by a hostile environment of erratic rainfall, high temperatures, low humidity, abnormally low precipitation, all culminating into a poor and degraded environment devoid of productive forests. Some notable foresters have been palpably angry that the proponents of the establishment of Cactus Opuntia plantation program did not have the benefit of taking a basic course in forestry sciences. If they did, they simply choose to ignore the advice of

experts and foresters, and went ahead with the program, obviously for pecuniary reasons. Some prominent foresters have called for the investigation of the case of the Cactus opuntia as a species to check desert encroachment. They claim that for a species to be qualified or considered for checking desert encroachment, the said species must have three basic attributes. First, the species must have dense foliage to act as wind break thereby protecting the arable lands. The foliage does not only protect the top soil from the Northeast hostile wind, but also ensures that the heavily force of rain drops are physically broken prior to hitting the soil. This cushioning effect of rain drops protects the soil against water erosion to which arid lands are very vulnerable. The plant species in question, Cactus opuntia does not meet this natural silvicultural requirement. The second requirement is that the species should possess the natural attributes of allowing undergrowth vegetation imperative for checking both water and wind erosion. Scientific research on Cactus opuntia reveals that the species is negatively allelopathic, secreting poisonous exudates that discourage the growth of lower vegetations around the plant. This unwanted attribute definitely disqualifies Cactus Opuntia as a choice species for checking desert encroachment. The third attribute to be scientifically and silviculturally considered here is the root

Cactus opuntia

structure of a species for obstructing desertification. The tap root must be deeply rooted at least one-half the height of the tree to resist high wind velocity and also to tap water from lower aquifers. The horizontal spread of the root must also be considered, this attractive necessary to hold the soil texture firmly for the protection of the soil against erosion of all types. This cactus opuntia is totally devoid of this natural and important attribute for checking desert environment. Against this advice, in 2010, the Federal Ministry of Environment placed advertisement in several national newspapers for qualified contractors to apply and bid for the establishment of cactus plantations in northern states. At the end of the day, powerful politicians, qualified or not were the beneficiaries. Some of them brought in Lebanese to help them run the project. The contracts running to billions of Naira were to be completed within six months, but till today, most of the contracts have either been abandoned or haphazardly done. From all indications, the only notable work done by the contractors was the importation of miserable and implantable cactus plants, dumped and rotten away at different locations, while officials of the federal ministry of environment looked the other way. It is quite unfortunate that officials of the Ministry of Environment and the Ecological

Ambrose Inusa Sule environment watch globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only)

“

It is quite obvious that officials of the Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office are aware of this, but choose to look the other way, while millions of Nigerians who live in that harsh environment have continued to be suffering from the monumental impacts of desertification and other ecological problems.

Fund Office had not deemed it fit to carry out an inspection of the sites and the plants to ensure compliance.

The federal government must not fail to investigate this matter, knowing it’s proclaimed zero tolerance for corruption?

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

International

Report: Burundi police used ‘excessive lethal force’

P Amnesty International demands Angola release activists

leading rights group has called for the release of at least 13 people, including a rapper and an academic, held in Angola for allegedly plotting to oust the president. The detentions were a “ploy to suppress dissenting voices”, Amnesty International said. The group was arrested last month after attending a meeting to discuss the human rights situation in Angola. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has governed the country since 1979. The former Portuguese colony is Africa’s main oil producer after Nigeria, and the biggest military spender in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Those detained include Luaty da Silva Beirao, a rapper who goes by different stage names, and Domingo da Cruz, an academic and journalist. In a statement, Amnesty International described them as prisoners of conscience. Their arrest was “yet another attempt to intimidate anyone who has a differing view”, it added. Angola’s attorney general Joao Maria de Sousa said at the time of the arrests that the group was planning collective disobedience “to overthrow the government,” Bloomberg news agency reported. “These acts constitute crimes against state security, more precisely a crime of rebellion,” he added. In May, Angolan journalist and anti-corruption activist Rafael Marques de Morais was given a six-month suspended jail sentence for defaming army generals after he wrote a book, Blood Diamonds: Torture and Corruption in Angola. The southern African state is rich in diamonds, which fuelled a 27-year civil war in the country. Since the end of the conflict in 2002, the country has witnessed an economic boom, though critics of the elected government say the wealth has only benefited a small elite.

olice in Burundi used excessive lethal force against protesters opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, says a new report by Amnesty International. The rights-advocacy group, which released on Thursday its report Braving Bullets - Excessive force in Policing Demonstrations in Burundi, said that authorities “repressed demonstrations as if they were an insurrection”. “It is a tragedy that demonstrators had to brave bullets to try to have their voices heard,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. Nkurunziza’s decision in April to seek a third term in office led to protests that have resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. Nkurunziza is expected to win the elections as it was boycotted by the opposition groups. On Wednesday, a prominent opposition leader called on Nkurunziza to form a national unity government to avert a conflict. Vote counting is under way and the results are expected to be announced on Friday. Amnesty International, which investigated cases between May and June, also warned that “the country appeared to be on the verge of conflict”. “Despite dozens of protesters

The report said that though most of the protesters remained peaceful, some used violence in response to police action [EPA] killed, and a myriad more injured by police, the Burundian authorities have failed to investigate,” Jackson said. The report says the police shot at unarmed protesters running away from them, and even children and women were not spared. A witness told Amnesty International that the police “shot at people who were demonstrating

peacefully”. “It was unbelievable. People were fleeing in the river, the police shot at people running away in the river,” Ntahangwa Bridge, who was present at a protest site in Bujumbura on May 4, said. The report says that though most of the protesters remained peaceful, some used violence in response to police action.

The government also cracked down on the media, the report says. “From the first day of the protests, authorities prevented radio stations from broadcasting outside of Bujumbura. On May 13, after military officers staged an attempted coup, the police physically attacked independent media facilities, and they have since been unable to broadcast,” it says.

Kenya demands CNN apology over ‘hotbed of terror’ slur

enya’s interior minister has called on US news channel CNN to apologise for calling East Africa a “hotbed of terror” ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit on Friday. It would make an apology “if it was civilised enough”, Joseph Nkaissery said at a news conference. The hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN is trending worldwide as Kenyans condemned CNN, which has not yet commented. Its report focused on the threat posed by the al-Qaeda linked alShabab group. Mr Obama was “not just heading to his father’s homeland, but to a region that’s a hotbed of terror”, said the CNN report. With its headquarters in neighbouring Somalia, al-Shabab has carried out a spate of attacks in Kenya.

In the worst atrocity, 148 people were killed when it carried out a day-long assault on Garissa University College in April. Mr Nkaissery said Kenya was at risk of attack like any other country, but this did not turn it into a “hotbed of terror”. “I urge Kenyans to treat the @ CNN report with the contempt it deserves,” he said, according to a tweet by Kenya’s privately owned Daily Nation newspaper. CNN quoted security analyst Seth Jones analyst as saying that al-Shabab could carry out an attack during Mr Obama’s visit. “Security for the president is likely to be very significant and that means what Al-Shabaab is likely to do, based on what it has done very recently, is go for a soft target,” he said. On Twitter, Kenyans criticised

Barack Obama is visiting Kenya for the first time as president the report. On Wednesday, Kenya’s civil aviation authority said the East African state’s airspace would be shut for a 50-minute window ahead of Mr Obama’s arrival in the capital

Nairobi. A ban on planes flying lower than 20,000 feet will remain in place in Nairobi for the duration of Mr Obama’s three-day visit, it added.

South Africa MPs say shocked at Zuma’s Nkandla home upgrade

South African parliamentary committee has found that work on President Jacob Zuma’s private home were not worth the $23m (£15m) it cost taxpayers. A visit to the residence in Nkandla also revealed that the upgrades suffered from poor workmanship according to the MPs. The government said the refurbishment was for security reasons. But a 2014 corruption investigation said the president “benefited unduly” from state money. In a more than 400-page report, Public

Protector Thuli Madonsela accused Mr Zuma of unethical conduct. Her report found that a pool, chicken run, cow enclosure and amphitheatre had also been including in the controversial upgrades, and she recommended that the president repay some of the money. But Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko who released a separate report on 28 May cleared Mr Zuma of any wrong doing saying all work done on the property was necessary for his protection.

According to Mr Nhleko’s calculations, the barracks and clinic outside the president’s property cost $10.8m to build. But MPs from both the governing ANC and opposition parties, who are looking at what steps should be taken following their visit, now agree that the prices were grossly inflated. “We were also shocked with the workmanship of the clinic... At the moment, I would say that facility requires a lot of work because it is clearly visible that money has been wasted,” said chairperson of the committee MP

Cedric Frolick. They do not however agree on who should held accountable for the wasteful expenditure Mr Zuma supporters insist it should not be him. Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighter’s led by Mr Zuma’s former ally, Julius Malema, have been calling for the president to pay back some of the money spent on non-security features. The MPs have been talking about their initial findings but are expected to report back to parliament.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

International Iran nuclear deal: Kerry Israel accused of defends ‘only viable option’ advancing new settlement plans Asia & Middle East

S Secretary of State John Kerry has defended a nuclear deal with Iran, calling it the “only viable option” to a peaceful resolution of the issue. He told the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee: “We set out to dismantle [Iran’s] ability to build a nuclear weapon and we achieved that.” Mr Kerry is expected to face tough questions as Congress reviews the deal over the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Iran’s president has also been defending last week’s accord. Hassan Rouhani, in a speech broadcast live on television, said the deal represented “a new page in history” and was wanted by the Iranian people. Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006. The powers suspected Iran of pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, but Tehran has always insisted its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and energy-related. Mr Kerry told the committee hearing that the US administration came to the negotiating table with one clear objective - to address the issue of nuclear weapons. He said that it was pointless to insist on dismantling Iran’s whole nuclear programme, as it already had experience in nuclear technology and enough fissile material to build 10-12 nuclear bombs. “The choice we face is between an agreement that will ensure Iran’s

nuclear programme is limited, rigorously scrutinised and wholly peaceful - or no deal at all.” As part of the deal reached earlier this month, Iran has agreed to rein in its nuclear activity and accept a mechanism for inspections by nuclear officials, in return for the lifting of international sanctions. Congress has until 17 September to make a decision on whether to approve or reject the deal. Republicans have already said they would oppose it, and a number of Democrats have said they are

undecided how to vote. Mr Kerry appeared at Thursday’s committee meeting with fellow negotiators, the Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. But they faced a great deal of scepticism from committee members. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, opened the meeting by telling Mr Kerry that the deal simply prepared the ground for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. “I believe you’ve been fleeced,”

he told him. Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio told him the deal was “fundamentally flawed” and would “weaken our national security and make the world a more dangerous place”. He said under the deal, Iran would still be able to build long-range ballistic missiles “that know only one purpose and that is for nuclear warfare” and would provide billions “to a regime that... directly threatens the interests of the United States and our allies”.

The deal with Iran has encountered plenty of opposition, from within Congress to the streets

Yemen’s Houthis ‘pushed from last Aden stronghold’

ro-government forces have driven Houthi rebel fighters from their last remaining stronghold in Yemen’s southern port city of Aden, sources told Al Jazeera. At least 20 rebel fighters were killed on Wednesday in the fight

to control the city’s Masheeq neighbourhood, an area where a palace belonging to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is located. Sources told Al Jazeera that proHadi fighters recaptured the palace during the fighting.

Aid groups warn of deepening crisis in Yemen Masheeq was believed to be the last remaining stronghold in Aden for the Houthi rebels, who have been pushed out of Yemen’s second largest city over the past two weeks.

Fighters for the Popular Resistance - an anti-Houthi southern militia - have largely been responsible for the push to re-take Aden [AP]

Fighters for the Popular Resistance - an anti-Houthi southern militia - have largely been responsible for the push. The offensive came as Aden’s international airport reopened on Wednesday, with a Saudi Arabian plane landing with military supplies. Last Friday, exiled Vice President Khaled Bahah said on his Facebook account that Aden had been liberated and that the government will try “to restore life” to the city. The Houthis, however, have consistently rebuffed claims that they have lost control of the city, which they captured in March. Several ministers and top intelligence officials of the exiled Yemeni government returned to Aden last week, including the ministers of the interior and transport, a former interior minister, the intelligence chief and the deputy head of the house of representatives. The United Nations has declared Yemen a level-three humanitarian emergency, the highest on its scale. According to UN figures, more than 3,200 people have been killed since late March, when a coalition of Arab countries began air strikes after Houthis took over the reins of power in the impoverished country.

n Israeli settlement watchdog group says Israel has advanced plans to build or retroactively approve 1,065 housing units in illlegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Peace Now said on Thursday that an Israeli military committee retroactively approved 24 housing units in the Beit El settlement, though Israel’s Supreme Court ordered them demolished by the end of July because they were built on private Palestinian lands. The settlements are built on land that Palestinians claim for a future state. Most countries consider them illegitimate. In total, the group said, the Israeli military on Wednesday approved 541 new housing units, retroactively legalised 228 existing housing units, and approved infrastructure for a plan that includes 296 housing units. The military also approved the construction of two industrial structures, a Jewish religious school and a winery. It has been a year since Israel last approved any new settlement construction. Last May, the Palestinian Authority criticised Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, for forming a coalition government with pro-settlement far-right Jewish Home party, which opposes a Palestinian state.

Islamic State: Turkey soldier killed in crossborder fire

unerals for two police officers killed in Ceylanpinar were held on Thursday The faces of some of the victims of the bomb blast in Suruc Turkey’s military and Islamic State fighters have exchanged fire over the Syrian-Turkish border, killing one soldier, Turkish media report. The governor of Kilis province said another two soldiers were injured when a border post was attacked from Syria. Turkey responded with heavy weapons, reportedly killing one IS militant. It is the latest violence to hit Kurdish-dominated south-east Turkey, three days after 32 people were killed by a bomber linked to IS in Suruc. Turkish officials have blamed the Suruc attack on IS. The PKK added the Celanpinar attack was revenge for the Suruc killings, claiming the policemen had collaborated with IS. Many in Turkey feel the government in Ankara has not done enough to support the Kurds in their fight to combat the threat of IS militants across the border in Syria - something denied by the authorities. “Unfortunately, one of our noncommissioned officers has been martyred and two sergeants injured,” Kilis Governor Suleyman Tapsiz told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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International

Italy jails far-right militants for 1974 Brescia bombing A Milan court in northern Italy has handed down life sentences to two former far-right militants who killed eight people in a bomb attack in 1974. The Brescia bombing, which injured 100 people, hit an antifascist rally in a central square, Piazza della Loggia. Carlo Maria Maggi, 80, was a member of Italy’s far-right group New Order. He was jailed along with Maurizio Tramonte, a former intelligence agent. The Brescia bombing was one of several far-right attacks in the 1970s. The most notorious one was the Bologna train station blast in 1980 which killed 85 people. Maggi - who ran New Order’s Venetian cell - will not go to jail because of his poor health, reports say, but Tramonte, 63, does face jail. The Milan appeal court’s judgment can still be challenged in Italy’s top criminal court - the Court of Cassation - but it is likely to be upheld, Italian media report.

Europe and America Earth-like planet discovered using NASA’s Kepler space telescope

Brescia’s Piazza della Loggia: The 1974 bombing brought carnage to the historic square

Italy’s La Stampa newspaper calls the verdict “historic” because it is the first time that both New Order and the intelligence services have been so clearly linked to 1970s

far-right violence. Maggi ordered the bombing, while Tramonte helped to organise it and put police off their trail. Two previous investigations

had resulted in several acquittals and this was one of Italy’s longestrunning terrorism cases.

cientists using NASA’s powerful Kepler telescope have found a planet beyond the solar system that is a close match to Earth. The planet, which is about 60 percent bigger than Earth, is located about 1,400 light years away in the constellation Cygnus, the scientists told a news conference on Thursday. While similarly sized planets have been found before, the latest one, known as Kepler-452b, is circling a star that is very similar but older than the sun at a distance about the same as Earth’s orbit. “It’s great progress in finding a planet like Earth that is similar in size and temperature around a sun-like star,” Jeff Coughlin, Kepler research scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, told reporters on a conference call. Based on its size, scientists believe Kepler-452b is rocky and Earth-like and positioned at the right distance for liquid surface water, which is believed to be necessary for life. The research will be published in an upcoming issue of The Astronomical Journal.

French farmers to lift Lyon blockade Sandra Bland ‘left voicemail’ but crisis continues before death in Texas jail

rench farmers have begun removing hundreds of tractors from motorways around France’s second city Lyon, but the row over meat and dairy prices shows no sign of ending. Motorways were blocked, as was a major road tunnel in the heart of Lyon. President Francois Hollande met farmers’ leaders in Dijon in an attempt to solve the crisis. The government has presented a €600m plan to respond to the farmers, many of whom are said to be near bankruptcy. The row has brought chaos to roads in many areas of France and has threatened to hit families preparing to take to the roads on one of the main holiday getaway weekends. After his meeting in Dijon,

Mr Hollande went on French TV to call for supermarkets, food processing companies and abattoirs to help increase meat and dairy prices for farmers. “We have to act on the subject at hand - the price of milk as well as meat. And I’m thinking of the whole industry: pork, beef and others too.” Although farmers lifted a blockade of routes into the northern city of Caen, FNSEA union leader Xavier Beulin said there would be more in the coming two to three days. “I call for people to remain level-headed on the ground... but this anger must be allowed to express itself,” he told French radio. Mr Beulin was due to meet farmers in Lyon, and protesters said they would unblock the A6, A7, A42 and A46 motorways

during the late afternoon. On one deserted stretch of the A6, farmers had spelt out the phrase “Valls, we’re waiting for you”, a message to the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Farmers have been hit by lower meat consumption, reduced demand from China as well as a Russian ban on EU food imports. The Socialist government estimates that as many as 10% of French farmers could be facing bankruptcy. Last month ministers urged the food industry to increase the prices it paid to farmers. However, pork producers are still being paid below the target price of €1.40 (£1) per kilo, while dairy farmers complain they are being paid €300 (£210) per tonne of milk and need at least €340 to break even.

Tyres and farm waste were dumped outside a dairy plant near Nantes in western France

andra Bland, a Texas woman who police say took her own life while in custody, phoned a friend from jail to say she was “at a loss” over her arrest. In a voicemail obtained by the US TV network ABC, Bland said she could not understand why a traffic violation had led to her detention. The 28-year-old African-American was arrested after a confrontation with the policeman who had pulled her car over. She was found dead three days later. In the message to a friend she said: “I’m still just at a loss for words, honestly, about this whole process. How did switching lanes with no signal turn into all of this?” Her family have rejected the findings of a coroner’s report, which says Ms Bland hanged herself in her cell at Waller County jail. The voice message lasted for about 22 seconds and was made after an initial court appearance following her arrest on 10 July, ABC reports. It was one of three calls made by Bland that day. The others were to her sister and a bail bondsman. On Wednesday it emerged Bland had told a guard during the booking process that she had previously attempted suicide. Sheriff Glenn Smith said the comments were made after she was asked a series of questions that are posed to every person who is detained at the jail. Documents for Bland were inconsistent in citing when or if she had attempted suicide in the past. One questionnaire said she took pills in 2015 to try to kill herself after having a miscarriage. Another document said she attempted suicide in 2014. One form said she had not had suicidal thoughts in the past year and one said she did. Her medical history was also inconsistent on intake forms, with some saying she was on medication for epilepsy

and another saying she was not taking any medication. Mr Smith said another guard had also spoken to Bland. She told him she was upset but not depressed and both jailers insisted she appeared fine at the time. State senator Royce West said the kind of information on Bland’s forms should have prompted guards to put her on suicide watch and check on her more often. Full toxicology reports are pending, but Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis told CNN that an initial report from the medical examiner’s office showed that Bland had marijuana in her system. He also said he had been told it was the “opinion of the medical examiner” that she had what looked like “cutting scars on the arm”. State officials and the FBI are investigating her death. A video of the arrest shows white police officer Brian Encinia giving Bland a warning. The situation quickly escalates, with Mr Encinia appearing to threaten Bland after she refuses to get out of her car. He unsuccessfully tries to pull her out and tells her “I will light you up”. Cannon Lambert, the lawyer representing Bland’s family, said relatives have “no evidence” that she previously attempted suicide and denied she was suffering from depression. He also said the dashcam video of the arrest, which was released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), showed that Bland’s death “could have easily been avoided”. Officer Encinia, who has been on the force for just over a year, said he was kicked during the arrest. He has been put on administrative leave. Bland’s death is one of several cases under scrutiny in the US, in which a black person has died while in police custody.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Security checks around the worship centre, during Eid-El-Fitr celebration, last Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Environmentalist chides Councilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chairmen over poor waste mgt

By Usman shuaibu

n environmentalist and retired civil servant from the Department of Agriculture in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Mohammed Lamorde, has accused the six area councils chairmen of

failing to clean their respective areas as at when due. Lamorde, who made the accusation in an interview with newsmen in Kuje, alleged that the chairmen were no longer cleaning their environments, because they are saving their money, in order to make use of it for the upcoming campaign

for the 2016 Area Councils chairmanship election in FCT. He expressed dismay over the manner in which tons of refuse are being dumped along the roadside all over the area councils, as according to him, this is a big disgrace to the chairmen. He also expressed displeasure on the way in which the

refuse were dumped in the market places, noting that the councilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chairmen were not living up to their constitutional responsibilities to the people. He further alleged that some of area councils being taken over by the refuse mostly are Kuje and Gwagwalada area councils, saying that the attitude of these

chairmen towards environmental cleanliness was not impressive enough. Lamorde, however, admonished the chairmen to always deem it necessary to give priority attention to the sanitation of their environments, so as to avoid outbreak of the diseases.

Don makes case for promotion of Igbo language By Ochiaka Ugwu

orried by the threat facing the Igbo language which is capable of making it extinct, well-meaning individuals have been called upon to ensure that Igbo language is introduced as a means of transmitting news and programmes on international media organisations like the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC), Voice of America (VOA), amongst others. This measure, according to a lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Zuba, Mazi Marcel

Ezea, would stop the language said to be fast declining, from going into extinction. Ezea who spoke at a seminar organised by Centre for Igbo Art and Culture (CIAC), yesterday in Abuja further note that it would prevent the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) from carrying out their threat to delete the language from the curricular due to the low turnout of students for the Igbo subject during examinations. Other resource persons at the programme blamed parents for inability of the children to

speak Igbo language, decrying the failure of parents especially the mothers to speak and teach the language to their children in their infancy but rather prefer to communicate with them in English. Another lecturer, Mrs. Anthonia Opara traced the decline of Igbo from the colonial period when English was used as a language of teaching and learning in schools while the mother tongue universally recommended as the first means of teaching a child was relegated to the background. While regretting that

individuals and government has failed in their roles towards promoting the indigenous languages, she noted that the mother tongue not only contributes to the psychological wellbeing of the child but also leads to his growth and development. Similarly, in her own lecture, Lady Ngozi Okoye, stated that the only way a language can be killed is when the owners of the language stop speaking it noting that it is common knowledge that Igbo language is at the verge of extinction as the owners have stopped speaking it.

Okoye however urged the Igbo race to desist from acts capable of killing the language noting that anyone who is not grounded in his mother tongue cannot boast of knowing the culture and traditions as they are embedded in the language. She described mother tongue as a veritable means of consultations and passing secrets to children when speakers of other languages are present and as a means transmitting folklores to young people which are richly laden with wise sayings and proverbs that cannot necessarily be translated in English language.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Photo Splash

Chinese couple taking pictures of children having nice time, during the Eid-El-Fitr holidays, on Monday at Asokoro Children Park, in Abuja.

Local musicians entertaining picnickers during the Eid-El-Fitr holidays, on Monday at Asokoro Children Park, in Abuja.

Banex Junction during the Sallah holidays, on Monday in Abuja.

Cab driver taking nap, yesterday at Area 8, in Abuja.

Children having fun, during Eid-El-Fitr celebration, last Friday in Abuja. Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Metro

The scene of accident involving two vehicles, on Tuesday at Mabushi Bus Stop, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Again, FCTA vows to relaunch Park & Pay scheme

By Stanley Onyekwere

or the umpteenth time, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its readiness to re-introduce the suspended controversial Park and Pay scheme, in order to ensure sanity in the Territory. According to the Director, Traffic Management Department of the FCTA, Vincent Igberaese, who dropped this hint on

Wednesday, at a media parley with some Heads of departments and agencies under the FCTA, stated that the scheme has been repackaged for re-launching very soon. Although, the Director was not specific as to when the controversial Park and Pay system would make the anticipated return, but he insists: “that arrangement has been concluded, and the scheme is about to come on stream very soon.

“This is because, all that needed to be done have been carried out, to ensure its smooth re-introduction. On the rationale behind the FCTA’s insistence on returning the Scheme, he said: “when it was operative, the city was very decent, but since its suspension, the city has been a bit chaotic, as there is steady rise in reckless parking in the nation’s capital. “That’s why Park and Pay Scheme will be back very soon, so as to restore sanity amongst

the motoring public in the city.” Peoples Daily recalls that a judge of the FCT High court sitting in Apo, the nation’s capital, Justice Peter Affen, had on April 14, 2014 declared the park and pay policy illegal, which should be stopped forthwith. In his ruling, Affen, said there was no enabling law backing the policy, after a private savings and loans firm in the in the Abuja sued the FCTA. Following the court’s

declaration, there was a wide jubilation among residents over the suspension of the scheme, as many saw it as deep relief from the operators’ purported arbitrary charges and high handedness against innocent people in the city. But according to the FCT administration, had repeatedly maintained its plans to fulfill the legal requirements needed to reintroduce a modified policy, which would be acceptable to all.

Tribunal hinges operational failure on paucity of fund

he Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja, has blamed its inability to adjudicate on cases before it from outside Abuja on acute shortage of fund. The Chief Registrar of CCT, Mr. Abdulmalik Shuaibu, stated this in Abuja, in a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). NAN reports that the tribunal had not been able to hear cases brought before it in past two years from outside Abuja.

Shuaibu also blamed failure of the tribunal to sit in January and February on a scheduled trip outside the country involving its chairman and other government functionaries. “It was only in June again that we could not hold session because we had scheduled an antennary sessions in Enugu and Akwa Ibom. “ By this, we had planned to move the tribunal physically to other parts of the country but due to irregular releases of fund

by the government, our activities were hampered. “The issue of moving the tribunal from Abuja to these states involves payment of our core staff, judges and then fuelling and maintenance of vehicles,” he said. Shuaibu said that the tribunal had adopted a strategy of hearing cases of suspects in states, who could afford to come to Abuja. “What we now devised to get out of this problem of lack of

finance was to scrutinise the list of accused persons before us. “Identify individuals, like Permanent Secretaries, Directors and others that can afford trip to Abuja and summon them to Abuja for trial. “The remaining people on the list who are mainly civil servants and councillors cannot be classified as awaiting trials because they have not been arraigned in the first place,” he added. According to him, their

names are only on the list of defaulters sent to the tribunal by the bureau which involve either failure to submit or late submission of assets declaration forms. He said that the core mandate of the tribunal was to take justice closer to the people through antennary sessions in different parts of the country. Shuaibu, however, noted that the session would resume as soon as funds were made available to the tribunal. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Money Sense By Marianna Zanetti

he first thing I am going to say about wealth is that many authors who write about prosperity and wealth make it clear: A job will not make you rich. If you want to be wealthy, at some moment of your life, you will have to create a source of income other than your salary. This is an evident and crushing reality: If you sell your time to others, you will quickly reach a limit in your capacity to generate income. In his book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” Robert Kiyosaki said that the rich do not work for money; they generate assets that work for them. If you want to learn how to work for money, go to school. If you want to learn how to work even harder, you should get an MBA. OK, some top managers earn millions (and they are therefore millionaires). Some people still think they can get to those positions with an MBA — as if the Businessweek study, which found an MBA does not have a causal relationship with professional success, was not convincing enough. Do you want some more proof that an MBA will not get you there? If you look at the degrees of CEOs of the CAC 40 (the main stock exchange index in France), you will see that the MBA is nothing but an “optional” degree. In some companies, it is still desirable to climb the corporate ladder. These companies represent a very low percentage of the companies in the market, and

If you want to be rich, don’t get an MBA you do not need an MBA if your biggest ambition in life is to climb to a top management position. But let’s go back to the topic that interests you: how to be rich. If you want to be rich, you must be an entrepreneur, investor, or both. By a simple matter of statistics, your probability of becoming a rock star, sports star, or Standard & Poor’s CEO are very low (and believe me, the MBA will not increase your probability of becoming a Standard & Poor’s CEO). The richest men in the world are entrepreneurs and do not have MBAs. Many of them have no degree at all or quit college when they realized that it was only teaching them to be employees and to obey. Today these people hire the ones who have degrees. Consider the cases of Mark Zuckerberg with Facebook, Bill Gates with Microsoft, Steve Jobs with Apple, Amancio Ortega with Zara– Inditex, Richard Branson with Virgin, or Ingvar Kamprad with Ikea. And there are a lot of anonymous rich men and women who have never sat in a college classroom to learn how to be corporate slaves.

…and 15 businesses you can start with N1million or less (1) A

re you serious about starting a business, but lack the big bucks? Before you take out a bank loan, consider that you can start a number of businesses for as little as several hundred dollars. We’ve compiled a list of 15 proven businesses that you can start for N1,000,000 or less in overhead. Some require little outlay, but lots of time; others require more energy; still others don’t require much at all. One of the business ideas below might just be your next big thing. Virtual assisting: Virtual assistants help clients with a variety of projects from their home offices. Tasks may be administrative, but can also relate to marketing, Web design, IT, and other tasks. Virtual assistants communicate with their clients via Internet, phone, or fax. Overhead: Your computer, phone system, and Internet connection are your lifeblood in this industry. If you already own the relevant machines, make sure you have the means to pay for good connections on a monthly basis. Many virtual assistants come

from a non-virtual (on-the-job) background. Recurring expenses: A good Internet and phone connection. Subscription fees for job-finding services such as ELance. Time/energy requirement: You will need a solid business plan, marketing strategy, and training. At the beginning, you may work between 14-18 hours per day. Income potential: Most virtual assistants make money per hour, according to this survey. App development Apps are taking over the world! If you have a propensity for Web development, enough skill to work in various platforms (iPhone, iPad, Droid, etc.), it’s time to mine the app craze. Overhead: N500,000 – N1,000,000 Many companies now exist that will take your amazing Smartphone application idea and develop it into a real, sellable app for download. Upfront costs include a development period where they will work with you to best design the application. Most

of these companies charge from N200,000 – 400,000 and many keep partial ownership of the application as the developer. But you are also gaining entry into a highly technical marketplace. Recurring expenses: Ongoing marketing and spreading the news about your app will be your greatest time and money expenditure. You might consider hiring PR or marketing company familiar with getting new apps reviewed. Make sure that your app is included on the relevant blogs and news outlets who report on new apps. Time/energy requirement: Not very much if you have the next killer app idea. Filling out some forms and conceptualizing how the app will work is the hard part. Making sure the build does what you envisioned will be the second. Outside of that, the marketing effort and telling everyone you know about your app will be imperative. Income potential: Varies wildly. But, if you have an app priced at $1.99 and 10,000 people download it, you can always spend the N500,000 and start another one. However, even joke apps have sold hundreds of thousands, so it is worth the shot.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Strange World

‘I let my boyfriend drink my blood’: Woman offers her body to real life vampires

or more than a decade, Blut Katzchen, 28, has travelled across the US to satisfy the bloodlust of men and women who are convinced they need to drink blood to survive A young florist whose boyfriend is a self-proclaimed vampire allows herself to be cut with razors so he can drink her blood. For more than a decade, Blut Katzchen, 28, has travelled across the US to satisfy the bloodlust of men and women who are convinced they need to drink blood to survive. Her latest admirer is 43-year-old Michael Vachmiel from Houston, Texas, who claims her blood gives him the energy he needs to survive. The two get together a few times a year to perform the ritual. Blut, from Shreveport, Louisiana, describes herself as a ‘black swan’ which is the term for someone who willingly offers up her blood to drink. She said: “I have always been entranced with the whole vampire culture since I was very young. I found a book on vampires in my sister’s collection and became completely entranced with it. It takes a very specific type of mindset to enjoy being a swan - you have to be more submissive and enjoy giving.” The pair met two years ago at a Vampire Ball in Houston, Texas. Blut said: “You have to have a very strong connection to the person who is feeding off you. Michael and I have a very intimate relationship and I trust him completely.” Unlike in the films, where vampires sink sharp teeth into the

necks of struggling victims, Blut insists that the process is very clean, safe, and consensual. She said: “You have to have a very strong connection to the person who is feeding off you. I have specific tools that draw the blood and Michael will drink it from my body. “The cuts are about an inch long - it doesn’t take a very deep cut to draw the blood.” She uses a razor blade to make a cut and then uses a set of suction cups to draw the blood out. She said: “We’ll sterilise the area with alcohol and he uses mouth wash before drinking, so its very clean. There are some risks involved, but we do everything we

Food source: Blut Katzchen allows herself to be feasted on by vampires

Blood: Michael Vachmiel and Blut Katzchen use suction cups and razors to cut her back so he can drink.

can to keep it as clean as possible. I’ve been doing this for almost thirteen years and I have never had an STD or blood borne illness scare. “It’s a release like any other release people seek - if you’re getting something out of it and the drinker is too - then I don’t see a problem with it. “It’s a spiritual thing for me - to be able to give energy to someone even if it’s a small bit is an extremely liberation feeling.” After making a cut, Blut lays on her stomach and has the blood drawn from her shoulders or back for a few minutes. She said: “If you drink too much

sprayed onto a quad bike and I just spelled it out. “But I had to leave it at least a week before we flew up, so I did it the week before the flight on May 4. “When Di saw it she started crying, but when she stopped she couldn’t believe it had happened.

Thankfully she said yes! “It was perfect, exactly what I was hoping for.” Rick, who met Diana two and a half years ago at a dinner party, runs Newton Lodge farm in Milton Keynes, Bucks., where crops are used to sell flour for Tesco bread.

you do get sick - it doesn’t take much blood for Michael to get his energy.” Michael, 43, started drinking blood at the young age of 13, and does this type of feeding a few times a year. He said: “I started drinking blood by accident - it was during an intense sexual act where blood was drawn and touched my lips. At that point it was an awakening. Just like a person has a favorite culinary dish, vampires have a favorite spiritual culinary dish. “There are many ways to get energy, this is a more intimate way and its a ritual for vampires.

In doing such, we get the energy we need and the donor has their need to submit, so its completely consensual.”

Food source: Blut Katzchen allows herself to be feasted on by vampires

See brilliant proposal concocted by farmer for girlfriend using pesticide, quad bike and plane

ick Davies killed off an acre of wheat - worth around £600 - to write ‘DI WILL YOU MARRY ME?’ in huge letters then flew her over the field A charmer farmer popped the question to his girlfriend using weed killer to spell out his proposal in a wheat field. Rick Davies, 32, sprayed the pesticide from a quad bike as he rode through the crop to carve out his message. He killed off an acre of wheat - worth around £600 - to write ‘DI WILL YOU MARRY ME?’ in huge letters. He then took partner Diana Cull over the 20-acre field in a flight won at a charity auction for £50 - and she wept with delight at the surprise and said yes. Rick was doubly relieved because he carried out the work while his dad was away from the farm - and it meant his handiwork wasn’t totally wasted. He said: “I was really nervous about whether it was going to have worked. But it worked out even better than I had hoped. “I used a weed killer that was

Charmer farmer: Rick with fiancee Diana.

He added: “My dad would have been pretty annoyed if she had said no. Hopefully he didn’t mind what I did. “Looking back I was more nervous doing that than I was when we went up in the plane. If it was a mess I would have been a bit of a laughing stock. “No-one knew what I was doing, not even the pilot, so it was a big shock and he didn’t

really know what was going on.” Diana, 33, who works for the fraud department at Barclays Bank, said: “It was the most fantastic moment of my life and it was a big fat yes. “I only have 51 weeks to wait until he’s my husband. He is very romantic. I am the luckiest lady alive.” The couple plan to marry in July next year.

Sorted wheat from chaff: Diana has a creative fiance.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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Digest By Madlen Davies

o you join the gym with much fanfare in January only to cancel your membership by

May? Or are you the type that trains once a week but really wants to squeeze in another session, only to find you opt to watch TV instead? The trick to regular exercise is to make it a habit that is hard to break, according to new research. Focusing on cues that make the choice to exercise automatic increases the frequency of physical activity, a study found. It’s the ‘instigation habit’ – the trigger that makes a person exercise - that increases the amount of physical activity they do, researchers said. The type of exercise or routine they plan to do - the ‘execution habit’- doesn’t matter, they found. ‘From a health perspective, we

Here’s how to make your fitness regime stick want people to engage in physical activity frequently, and so instigation habit is the type of habit to promote that to happen,’ Dr Alison Phillips, of Iowa State University, who carried out the research, said. ‘Regardless of the type of exercise you’re going to do on a particular day, if you have an instigation habit, you’ll start exercising without having to think a lot about it or consider the pros and cons.’ As part of the study, Dr Phillips and her colleague Dr Benjamin Gardner, of King’s College London, asked 118 healthy adults to rate the

The cues that trigger a person to exercise can range from an alarm clock, to the end of the day, to internal cues like feeling stiff sitting at a desk. It can take up to a month for the cues to turn into a habit, experts said.

The trick to regularly exercising is to make it a habit that is hard to break. A habit can be formed by developing cues that make the choice to exercise automatic, a study found.

strength of their instigation and execution habit. Approximately 25 per cent of participants were overweight or obese. Around 5 per cent reported not exercising, while nearly 50 per cent said they had regularly exercised longer than 12 months. The study found execution habit had no effect on exercise frequency, after controlling for instigation habit. Focusing on the instigation habit - the triggers that make people exercise without thinking - increased the amount of physical activity they carried out. For example, many people exercise after work, with the end of the work day becoming the cue for

them to drive to the gym and work out, instead of driving home, Dr Phillips said. For others, the cue may be the alarm clock going off in the morning signalling that it is time to go for a run or a bike ride. Some research suggests that it may take a month or longer of repeated behaviour before a cue reliably and automatically triggers a behaviour. Sticking with the same time of day might help initially, Dr Phillips said. Internal cues, such as a feeling that you need to move after sitting for several hours at your desk, form the strongest habits, Dr Phillips said. But these are harder to train in people and must develop over time.

Dr Phillips stressed the execution habit still may be an effective option for some people starting a new routine. For anyone who is new to exercise or uncomfortable going to the gym, following the same routine can help build self-confidence at the activity and being active in general. However, for others the repetitiveness of sticking to a specific routine may be detrimental. ‘This study shows that you don’t have to be afraid of trying new things,’ Dr Philips said. ‘You can have an instigation habit and try new types of exercise without worrying about losing the habit. ‘It might be important for people just starting out to do the same thing until they realize they can do this, but in the long-term there does not seem to be a benefit of doing the same things over and over again.’ Dr Phillips says more research is needed to determine what cues work best. ‘I would caution people to not draw too many personal conclusions from this research because it is so preliminary,’ she said. ‘This doesn’t mean that one way is necessarily bad or this is the way you have to do it. It’s really just the first clue that maybe what we have been doing isn’t right for everyone. ‘And, I think it’s hopeful that the research shows you can keep up an ‘exercise habit’ without having to stick to the same boring activities over time.’ The research was published in the journal Health Psychology. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Is your medication affecting your morals? By Sophie Freeman

ommonly prescribed medications can influence our moral judgment, according to a study. Antidepressants made people behave more selflessly, while drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease made them more selfish, the researchers found. For the study, by University College London and Oxford University, a group of healthy volunteers were randomly given either citalopram - an antidepressant which affects levels of the brain chemical serotonin - or a placebo. Another group of healthy participants were given the Parkinson’s drug levodopa – which boosts levels of the brain chemical dopamine - or a placebo. The researchers found that citalopram-takers were willing to pay almost twice as much to prevent harm to others than those given placebo drugs in a moral decisionmaking experiment. In contrast, the levodopa made people more selfish, eliminating an altruistic tendency to prefer harming themselves over others. The researchers said their study

provides insight into the neural basis of clinical disorders characterised by a lack of concern for others, such as psychopathy. ‘Our findings have implications for potential lines of treatment for antisocial behaviour, as they help us to understand how serotonin and dopamine affect people’s willingness to harm others for personal gain,’ said study author Dr Molly Crockett. ‘We have shown that commonlyprescribed psychiatric drugs influence moral decisions in healthy people, raising important ethical questions about the use of such drugs. ‘It is important to stress, however, that these drugs may have different effects in psychiatric patients compared to healthy people. ‘More research is needed to determine whether these drugs affect moral decisions in people who take them for medical reasons.’ The study, which is published in the journal Current Biology, compared how much pain people were willing to anonymously inflict on themselves or strangers in exchange for money. A total of 175 healthy adults took part, with 89 taking citalopram or a placebo and 86 taking levodopa or a placebo. None of the participants

Hidden effects: The researchers said their study provides insight into the neural basis of clinical disorders characterised by a lack of concern for others, such as psychopathy (stock image pictured). knew which group they had been allocated to. Participants were randomly assigned to the roles of decider and receiver and anonymously paired up so that each decider did not know who the receiver was and vice-versa. All participants were given mildly painful electric shocks matched to their pain threshold so that the intensity was not intolerable. Deciders were told that shocks to receivers would be at the receiver’s own pain threshold. Deciders went into a room alone with a computer terminal, and each took part in 170 trials. For each trial, they had to choose between different amounts of money

for different numbers of shocks, up to a maximum 20 shocks and £20 per trial. For example, they might be offered a choice of seven shocks for £10, or 10 shocks for £15. Half of the decisions related to shocks for themselves and half to shocks for the receiver, but in all cases the deciders would get the money. At the end of the session, one of the chosen trial results would be implemented so that the decider or receiver received the shocks and the decider received the profits. As such, their decisions had real consequences. Deciders knew that their decisions would be kept secret so that fear of judgment or retaliation would

not skew the results. On average, people given a placebo were prepared to pay approximately 35p per shock to prevent harm to themselves and 44p per shock to prevent harm to others. Those on citalopram were far more harm-averse, willing to pay an average 60p per shock to prevent harm to themselves and 73p per shock to prevent harm to others. Over the course of the experiment, this meant that people taking the antidepressant delivered an average 30 fewer shocks to themselves and 35 fewer shocks to others than those taking a placebo. People given the Parkinson’s drug levodopa, however, were not willing to pay any more to prevent shocks to others than to prevent shocks to themselves. On average, they were prepared to pay approximately 35p per shock to prevent harm to themselves or others. This meant that they delivered on average 10 more shocks to others during the experiment than the placebo group. They were also less hesitant to deliver shocks to others, making the decision faster than those on the placebo. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Feature

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From pulpit to IDPs camp: A pastor’s heart of human kindness

astor Yakubu Samaila Bauchi of the Alpha and Omega Fire Ministry International, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi state is known for his expansive philanthropic endeavors. His heart of milk of human kindness has even transcended beyond his pulpit and even extended to those in the other religion. Recently, he shocked congregations at his ministry when it was revealed that he has taken up the responsibility in sponsoring 30 pupils from primary to secondary schools and five others already studying law in the higher institution. According to the man of God, “I was raised from a family that I don’t have the opportunity or privilege to attend higher institution with my peers , I struggled to attain the level of education I have know, so I will not like to see those children coming up to have same experience. “I want to see children become the future leaders. Without the required education how can you become the leader? That is why I took it open myself to see that anytime I have the resources I will continue to sponsor the less privileged to school. This should be a continue process because education is the bedrock of any type of development and achievement” Pastor Yakubu said. He noted that most of the children and the beneficiaries came from the less privileged families while some are orphans and children from the internally displaced persons. According to Yakubu, the reward of raising up such young people to become leaders of tomorrow in every field of expertise is immeasurable in monetary or material terms. “What you do for others, God will do for you. You are raised to raise others” he maintained. Pastor Yakubu exhorted the crowd, counseling them to consider the future of their own children and what they were doing with their lives. He informed the gathering that plans have reached an advanced stage for the ministry to establish primary/Nursery boarding school to cater for less privileged, while indigent women are to enjoy free empowerment programmes explaining that God has raised him to rescue Tafawa-Balewa community that has excessively bedevil by security challenges. Pastor Yakubu Samaila had told newsmen in Tafawa-Balewa, the birth place of the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, the late Sir, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa where the Ministry is located that, his decision to become pastor was masterminded by a spiritual calling from God even as he tried to dodge after repeated visions, but finally accepted the call in

Women IDPs in their good faith and hence commenced the ministry in Jos, later relocated to Tafawa-Balewa LGA of Bauchi state determined to impacted positively to people of the area ravaged by poverty, intimidation as well as needed God blessings in the wake of recurrent security challenges. Yakubu had express satisfaction that, barely two years in operation, Alpha and Omega fire Ministries had spiritually and positively impacted in the Christian life not limited from Nigeria, but, from Ghana, Cameroon and other countries through healing and deliverance from all kinds of diseases and did not intent to blow his trumpets unlike what is obtainable through some medium of communication where some churches and ministries exhibit, saying he believe God can blow the trumpets on his behalf. The philanthropic Pastor had added that his secret of success come from divine act of God and purposefulness especially to have decided to involve indigent women, children and victims of insurgency including those ravaged by poverty and security challenges in the area as beneficiaries that brought to the idea of distributing to the needy food items and household products to women. The distribution exercise was carried out in a grand style occasion and attracted Christian clerics, personalities and the beneficiaries from all walks of life thereby forcing activities in Tafawa-Balewa to stand still as people troop to see things for themselves with women and children sitting with rapt

attention apparently to feed their eyes at the historic gathering. The food items distributed to victims of the insurgency, Pastor Yakubu stressed is amounting to over N1 million ranging from bags of maize, rice birth kits including other household materials determined to cushion the effect of poverty among the needy saying as a man of God, there is no how, the people will listen where poverty is the order of the day as God himself, gave to the needy while preaching the gospel and this is done to demonstrate the will of God. “My God directed me through the spirit to come to the aid of victims of the insurgency, deliver and heal those with spiritual bondage as well as to put smile on the faces of those women that have not enjoyed the fruits of their womb since marriage and those that are in dear need of God’s presence in their life” said Pastor

“

Yakubu. The Pastor had reiterated that, if a person is not a cheerful giver, he will not witness God’s blessings regretting that those linking his gestures to blood money are ignorant of God abundant blessing and miracles desperate to save life through Alpha and Omega fire Ministries which had recently stood out to be an outfit to positively impact spiritually to the community at large and urges Christians not to relent in their efforts to embrace the love of God in their dealings. The Guest speaker, Bishop (Dr) Charles Yohanna, General over-seer Faith Revival Ministry, Bauchi had said, God had raised Yakubu Samaila as a turning point to Tafawa-Balewa in solution to their political, ethnic and economic domination, yet the development has resulted to the elections of one of its son Hon. Barrsiter Yakubu Dogara as the

number four citizen in Nigeria in spite of old odds. The Ministry, he added is a means to rescue the people who had suffered various intimidation, harassment and persecution in stand for Christ as their personal saviour and today we are witnessing a historic occasion where victims of insurgency including those delivered from their spiritual bondage are to enjoy a gesture from the Ministry apparently to cushion the effect of poverty among them. Hundred of victims of insurgency benefited from the distribution of the food items. However, one of the beneficiaries Shalom Haruna had on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed satisfaction for the gesture and charged government and politicians to copy from the Ministry’s effort for the yearning and aspirations of people enveloped by abject poverty.

The Ministry, he added is a means to rescue the people who had suffered various intimidation, harassment and persecution in stand for Christ as their personal saviour and today we are witnessing a historic occasion where victims of insurgency including those delivered from their spiritual bondage are to enjoy a gesture from the Ministry apparently to cushion the effect of poverty among them.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

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Weekend Revue

With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com

Diamond hitz top 5

In the entertainment world for this week, Weekend Revue has exclusively selected 5 songs making the boom under the Diamond Music Entertainment (DME). The songs were serious hit in the week, attracting music lovers and causing traffic online.

t no 2 is ‘My air’ by one of tops Nigerian F e m a l e 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.

opping the chart is Nigerian female artiste, Jlietta, with ‘Embermole’, (lets dance). The song is one of the latest released by the Queen of

t no 4 is one o f D M E ’ s gifted singer, Jayson Gold, with the song ‘Girl on fire’. The song is a Hip hop tune produced by ME. Dat Megabouy. The song is making huge waves on DME platform.

pop. The song, an Afro pop tune is a club banger. The song is trending on Diamond Hitz and getting a lot of downloads on social media.

t no 3 is ‘Jesu Feran mi’, by Tunde, a former member of Nigeria’s finest group, Style Plus. The song which means Jesus loves me is an amazing RXB

tune. The song is trending on Diamond hitz platforms and will soon hit the market. Rumour also has it that he recently shot the video.

t no 5

M y k e Wonder with the song ‘Sweetest thing’. The song, a fantastic Jazz piece is produced by Myke W o n d e r and MB Dat Megabouy. The song is a bang on the DME platform.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Weekend Revue Sir Ian McKellen reveals how Tom Cruise almost stopped him playing Gandalf and Magneto

Harry Potter director Chris Columbus with a young Daniel Radcliffe in 2000

Harry Potter: Can Chris Columbus persuade JK Rowling to make another sequel?

irector Chris Columbus has revealed he wants to make another Harry Potter movie about wizards Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Work is already underway on a film adaptation of JK Rowling’s spin-off book Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which will star Eddie Redmayne as magizoologist Newt Scamander. But Chris, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies The Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber Of Secrets, confessed to Entertainment Weekly he’d like to make another film about

the characters played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. The Home Alone director: “I would love to go back and do another one. Not Fantastic Beasts as much, which I think is going to be amazing, but I would love to do another movie with those three characters — Harry, Hermione, and Ron. “I’m just fascinated about what happened to them after the end of the last movie, because then they cut to 18 years ahead. There’s 18 years there of great Harry Potter stories.” Asked if he would ask JK about

writing another instalment in their story, he said: “I don’t have the courage to actually mention that to her because I have such respect for her. “She should do what she wants to do, but I really would love to know what’s in her head about those missing years.” At the end of the eighth film – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – school friends Harry, Hermione and Ron are seen as adults, waving off their own children as they board the Hogwarts Express train to the boarding school for witches and wizards.

Khloe Kardashian to host primetime talk show

he Kardashian brand is moving up the cable dial. A+E’s fledgling FYI network has ordered a primetime talk show centered on Khloe Kardashian. On the aptly namedKocktails With Khloe, Kardashian will be joined by celebrity guests and friends in the kitchen and around the table for a dinner party filled with cooking, pop culture, conversation and outrageously fun party games. The Los Angeles-based entry, which will be produced by Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Studios, is set to launch with eight hourlong episodes later this year. “I’m lucky that I’ve been able to invite fans into my life and home on a weekly basis and this show will give me an opportunity to continue to do that with new and exciting guests,” Kardashian, 31, said in a statement announcing the news Tuesday, with Piligian adding:

“Khloe Kardashian has emerged as a star in her own right with a gift for remaining funny, warm and relatable while still representing aspirational pop culture.” Khloe Kardashian is no stranger to the spotlight, having hosted shows (Fox’s The X Factor), fronted spinoffs (Khloe & Lamar, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami) and published dishy books (Kardashian Konfidential). She’ll continue to be a presence on cable rival E!, Lloyd Braun’s OTT hub and in myriad tabloids as well. And though there’s plenty of room for error, as her momager Kris Jenner learned during her 2013 stint as a daytime talk show host, Kardashian won’t lack for newsworthy topics, including sister Kim’s pregnancy, Kourtney’s split from Scott Disick and parent Caitlyn’s recent transition. News of Kardashian’s forthcoming show comes as the

Khloe Kardashian year-old lifestyle network looks to brand itself in an increasingly crowded cable landscape. FYI’s senior vp programming and development Gena McCarthy, who will serve as an EP alongside Kardashian and Piligian (The Ultimate Fighter, Fast N’ Loud, Wicked Tuna), noted that Kardashian is “an iconic millennial voice” that should help the network cut through the clutter.

New ‘spectre’ trailer takes James Bond to Mexico city

pectre, the 24th James Bond film, hits theaters on Nov. 6, but fans can already get a latest glimpse of Daniel Craig as 007. A new trailer for Spectre was released Wednesday and we see Bond get up to all sorts of bother in Mexico City and then Rome where he meets the sultry Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), described as a “beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal.” As usual, Bond did what he does best, namely blow things up, drive rather fast and recklessly in glamorous locales, smooch the girl and then seemingly infiltrate the super secret organization Spectre. From the trailer, it appears 007 is up against a malevolent Christoph Waltz, who very helpfully informs him that: “It was me James, the author of all your pain.” The new trailer for the 24th James Bond film also includes a brief glimpse of Ralph Fiennes, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw as Q, wrestler Dave Bautista and Naomie Harris.

James Bond

Sir Ian McKellen and Tom Cruise

ir Ian McKellen has revealed how he turned down the chance to work with Tom Cruise, because it would have clashed with Lord of the Rings and X-Men. Lord of the Rings wizard Gandalf and X-Men villain Magneto have become two of the 76-year-old actor’s most iconic roles, but he revealed to People how they almost didn’t happen, because he had been offered a part in Mission: Impossible II. Sir Ian explained: “It’s ridiculous that I’ve gotten to play both Gandalf and Magneto. How did that come about? One would have been enough. But two? And [they] also nearly might not have happened. “I got offered a part in Mission: Impossible II with Tom Cruise, but they wouldn’t let me see the whole script because I might have spilled the beans. I only got my scenes. Well, I couldn’t judge from reading just those scenes what the script was like. “So I said no. And my agent said, ‘You cant say no to working with Tom Cruise!’ and I said, ‘I think I will.’ “The next day, Bryan Singer asked me to play Magneto and then Peter Jackson asked me to

play Gandalf, and I said yes to both. “Then, Bryan Singer’s first X-Men overran its preparation. It had to delay, delay, delay, delay. So I had to call up Peter Jackson and say, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t play Gandalf because X-Men, which I agreed to do first, is overrunning.’ “And Peter Jackson said, ‘Well, I’ll keep it free for you. Let me know what happens.’ I told Bryan Singer and he said, ‘Well, you must do Gandalf. I’ll make sure you get out in time.’ And he did – with three days to spare. “Meanwhile, Mission Impossible was put off, put off, put off. And if I had decided to do that, I wouldn’t have been in X-Men and I wouldn’t have been in Lord Of The Rings.” The British thespian has been acting since he was at school and has won six Olivier awards and a Tony for his stage work. But on the big screen it is the roles of Gandalf and Magneto that have made him a global star and won him legions of fans all over the world. Sir Ian said: “It’s all about luck – being there at the right time and ready for it. “You can’t prepare for luck. I’ve learned that you’ve got to be ready for the luck when it arrives, but you’re going to need the luck.”

Only 4 Nigerian artistes dress well – John Agoha

ast-rising Nigerian singer, John Agoha, who was the first runner-up in a popular reality TV show in 2006, has lashed out at some Nigerian celebrities on their dress style, which he say is sometimes nothing to write home about. The singer, who has been doing well for himself in the industry, told Vanguard in a recent interview that some celebrities make some fashion blunders because of their poor background. John pointed out that among the stars in the music industry, he only respects D’Banj, Ice Prince, Darey, S3xy Steel, when it comes to fashion. According to him, “They wear busy on busy, and I think it’s because of their background. A lot of them were hit hard by poverty so it’s hard for them to know the right combination of attire to put on.

“We don’t have more than four artistes that dress well in Nigeria, and they are: D’Banj, Ice Prince, Darey, S3xy Steel.”

John Agoha

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY

24, 2015

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Oliseh’s appointment as Eagles coach is a gamble – Ladipo

s reaction continue to trail the hiring of Sunday Oliseh as the new Super Eagles coach, president general, Nigeria football supporters club, Rafiu Ladipo said the move is a gamble. Ladipo however noted that the gamble is a worthy one taken by the Nigeria Football Federation. According to Lapido, Oliseh has the qualification to coach the Super Eagles but there are doubts about his ability to deliver because he does not have the practical experience to coach at that level. “I know Oliseh as a very committed young man in his days as a player and i want to believe that if he applies that same commitment as a coach, then the Eagles will soar again. He can succeed as a coach if he humbles himself and carry his assistants and backroom staff along. “Oliseh has a 50-50 chance of being a success with the Super Eagles. He should be ready to work hard and listen to advise from his employers, former colleagues and fellow coaches to succeed. I want him to learn from the errors of his predecessor to move the team to the next level. For me i think it is a worthy gamble” Ladipo stated. He commended the NFF for hiring Oliseh even as he urged the football ruling body to give him all the needed support to succeed. Ladipo also campaigned for both parties to work in harmony and ensure that Nigeria do not only qualify for the Cup of Nations but win it. Meanwhile Godwin Izilein has also expressed his surprise that the Nigeria Football Federation decided to appoint Sunday Oliseh as the new manager of Super Eagles. Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Oliseh last week penned a N5m-a-month deal with the NFF to manage the Eagles for three years, following the sacking of Stephen Keshi, after the ex-Togo manager breached his contract by applying for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching role. And ex-Golden Eaglets coach Izilein condemned Oliseh’s appointment, saying the ex-Ajax player, who has only managed Royal Cercle Sportif Vervietois, shouldn’t have been given the job. Oliseh coached the Belgian third division outfit from 2008 to

Sunday Oliseh

2009. Izilein expressed doubts about the future of the Eagles under Oliseh, saying the NFF should have appointed an experienced coach to manage the team after sacking Keshi. “Oliseh is a newcomer. He has no experience in coaching,” the former Sharks manager, who guided the Super Falcons to their fourth African Women’s Championship glory in South Africa in 2004. “You must have experience

to manage the national team. Oliseh doesn’t have experience in coaching. “Coaching is different from playing the game. Yes, he was a good player. But he has not coached a big team to gain experience. You can’t compare a professor to a Lecturer 1 in the university. It’s the same with coaching.” Izilein lamented Oliseh would earn a much higher monthly salary than the NFF Technical Director Shaibu Amodu.

Eaglets shine in seven-goal thriller

>>>Pg 42

Former Eagles coach Amodu, who was confirmed as the NFF Technical Director recently, is said to be earning N800, 000 monthly. Izilein frowned upon the pay gap between Oliseh and Amodu, saying “Amodu should earn more than coaches under him”. “I’m shocked to hear that Oliseh will earn far more than Amodu,” the ex-Nigeria attacker said. “As the technical director of the NFF, Amodu should be

paid very well to enable him to concentrate on his job. “He oversees the training of the coaches, including that of the Super Eagles coach. It’s a taxing job and he should be treated with respect. “Amodu has done a lot for the country. He’s an experienced coach and he has an impressive track record as coach. “The NFF should increase his pay. In fact, Amodu should earn more than Oliseh.”

Balotelli will decide his future - Rodgers

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Sport

Eaglets shine in seven-goal thriller By Albert Akota

igeria’s U-17 side, Golden Eaglets scored their 170th goal in domestic friendly matches following a 6-1 victory against Henfield Football Club at the NFF\FIFA Goal Project in Abuja. Interestingly, Thursday’s match was watched by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board members, Chief Felix AnyansiAgwu, Alhaji Ahmad Kawu and Ahmed Fresh, and 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning coach, Manu Garba. Striker Orji Okwonkwo was the hero with a first half hat trick in the 5th, 10th and 45th minutes which incidentally pushed Golden Eaglets’ tally to 170 after 55 matches against domestic teams. The Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side continued

their scoring spree in the 30th minute when Promise Orji headed home Kelechi Nwakali’s free kick. Nwakali later scored the fifth goal at the stroke of half time with arguably the best goal of the match with a lively volley from the edge of the box. Amuneke brought in new faces in the second half including Emeka Ebere who stood in for Nwakali as captain. But against the run of play, Henfield’s Muhammed Abiola scored his side consolatory goal in the 70th minute while Ginika Ifeanyi scored Eaglets’s sixth goal in the 83rd minute. “I’m quite impressed with the way Orji and Nwakali took their chances which are very good,” Garba said. “The team’s general performance was very good especially in the first half and with many more matches, they would get better for the World Cup.”

Fed Cup - Heartland, Dolphins, Abia Warriors crash out

he list of eminent casualties in this year’s Federation Cup competition swelled on Wednesday after Glo Premier League side, Heartland FC, bit the dust in a Round of 16 matches against BJ Foundation at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. Abia Warriors and Dolphins FC were also bundled out. Little-known Edo State club, BJ Foundation, had beaten Kurmi Market of Kano in the Round of 64 and then got the better of Sportlight FC of Katsina in the Round of 32. On Wednesday, it recorded perhaps the biggest triumph of its history by beating Heartland 3-2. FC IfeanyiUbah defeated Taraba 4-2 at the Area 3 Playground, Abuja, and Abia Warriors fell 1-2 to fellow Glo

Premier League team Nasarawa United in Oshogbo. Remo Stars, which bundled out holders Enyimba in the Round of 32, came close to knocking out Lobi Stars, but lost 3-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Ogun State club scored its goal 30 seconds into the match. Plateau United, conquerors of Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Kano Pillars in earlier rounds, were thrown out this time,losing by a lone goal to El-Kanemi Warriors in Minna. Akwa United overpowered Prime FC in Oleh, by the same 1-0 scoreline. In Ado-Ekiti, Niger Tornadoes Feeders eliminated another top division club, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt 4-3 on penalties, after the match ended 1-1 in 90 minutes.

Obinna Stephen Nwachukwu

Green leads athletes to Warri for relays, CAA Grand Prix

ormer World and Olympic Champion, Maurice Green, has arrived the oil-rich city of Warri, Delta State, ahead of today’s 2015 CAA Grand Prix and the Warri Relays billed for the Warri City Stadium. The Head of Media for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Olukayode Thomas, said that Green, who is the Sprints/Relay Coach for Nigeria, came in from America alongside a couple of athletes that would be competing in the one-day Athletics Meet. “Maurice Green arrived yesterday with cream of Nigerian athletes like Olivia Ekpone, Gloria Asunmu and others for the Warri Relays and CAA Grand Prix fixed for Friday,” he said. Previously fixed for May 2015, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria announced that mouth-watering cash prizes are up for grabs at the 2015 CAA Grand Prix/Warri Relays. There would also be a category for International Relays as well as the Secondary School Relays organisers hinted. The National Events for the meet include: Male; 200m, 110mH, Shot Put, Javelin Throw and Female; 200m, Triple Jump, High Jump.

Maurice Green

Amaju, Green for Ogba grand reception By Albert Akota

T Obinna Stephen Nwachukwu

he Organising Committee for the Sunday, July 26 Grand Reception for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria President, Dr (Chief) Solomon Ogba, has announced that the event will be graced by former world 100metres champion, American Maurice Green. A statement by the Scribe of the Edo Sports Media Practitioners Forum, Smarts Ebodaghe, also revealed that the NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is expected at the event, with the powerful NFF Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Barr. Chris Green in tow. Respected Sportscaster of note Taiye Ige, has also been listed for the A-grade event that will

hold at the Adna Hotel, 28, Ladipo Bateye Close, GRA, Ikeja. A member of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the Edo FA, Frank Ilaboya, declared that in the coming days more dignitaries will be unveiled for the event that is expected to kick-start several others in honour of the sons and daughters of old Bendel State now Edo and Delta and Nigerian great sports achievers in general. Executives of the body have said that the event will assume a wider dimension in the coming days, as plans have reached advanced to also honour sons and daughters of the states and beyond who have made more than a passing contribution to sports development and growth in Nigeria.

Chris Green

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

GERAR INITIATIVE FOR EMPOWERMENT OF THE LESS PRIVILEGE

tHE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE 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. MRS ADEBIMPE ESTHER OGUNLEYE 2. MR BABALOLA MARTINS OGUNLEYE 3. MR OLUWASEYI TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO EMPOWER THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 2. TO ASSIST THE PRODUCTIVE AND ACTIVE POOR MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ESPICIALLY WIDOWS AND YOUTH INRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION OR TRIBE. 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: BARR. EYEE BLESSING 08032573457

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE 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. OKOYE JOY OLUCHI - PRESIDENT 2. TOJU MICHAEL OGBE - SECRETARY 3. SOLU DORGU ANUOLUWAPO 4. OLADIPUPO ADESINA 5. OLUWASEYI DADA 6. ISAAC LORDSWORTH OTORI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROVIDE SKILLS ACQUISITION AND ENTERPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ORPHANS, THE LESS PRIVILEGED AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS 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: BARR. IKEMEFULA ANUCHAUKA 09188154652

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MBAISE TOP SEED CLUB

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB 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. MR JOHN OPARA 2. DR. COLLINS UGOCHUKWU 3. MR EMEKA ONYEOKORO 4. MR KINGSLEY ANYANWU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL PROGRESS OF MBAISE PEOPLE AND THE UNITY AND PROGRESS OF MBAISE LAND. 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: DIOKA STAN & CO SOLICITORS 46 DURBAN STREET WUSE II

PUBLIC NOTICE HUGGING HEARTS INITIATIVE FOR KIDS

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.JOY ONYIDE ADOKWU (NEE EBA) 2.ARC. ERIC ADOKWU 3.GRACE UDU EBA 4.ONA ODE 5.CLEMENT WOODNEY ECHE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROVIDE AND EXPAND LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN. 2.TO GIVE VOICE TO THE HELPLESS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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OKANBHAMA CANCER 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. MRS BENITA EBEHI MADICHIE 2. MRS IZEGBUA AMUSU 3. MRS ANNE OMOSO OJEME 4. MRS IGUEHI CORDELIA ADETIBA 5, ILOKUGBE MARIA ONALAJA-ALIU 6. PROF. CHARLES UDENZE ILEGBUNE 7. MR CHARLES OSAZUA OMOIGHE 8. MR DICKSON DIKE-ISRAEL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROVIDE AIDS AND GENERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO CANCER PATIENTS. 2. TO PROMOTE RESEARCH FOR THE CURE AND TREATMENT OF CANCER DISEASES. 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: KELLY CHAMBERS

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ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS PRESERVATION EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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. MR WILLIAM ADEBISI 2. MR AMOS OLU ADU 3. MR POPOOLA ALFRED OLADOKUN 4. GANIYU AGBAJE 5. RICHARD UJADUGHELE 6. ABAYOMI MAKANJUOLA 7. TUNDE OGUNTIMEHIN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO SEEK FOR THE WELFARE AND INTEREST OF MEMBERS IN THE PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION, RIGID FOAM MAKING AND RELATED SERVICES. 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: SECRETARY

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THE CITIZENS RE- ORIENTATON SOCIETY

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CAST YOUR CARES 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. SAMPSON KPANDEI 2. PASTOR CHARLES KPANDEI 3. PASTOR TOMBARI VIGO 4. MRS EDITH KPANDEI 5. MR GIDEON SUNDAY LEDOR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO GIVE CARE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE NEEDY AND LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY. 2. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD. 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: SAMPSON KPANDEI 08033106224

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GREAT OAKS HEALTH INITIATIVE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE 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. IBANGA EKONG 2. MRS AYOWOLA ASUKPONG 3. MRS AMAITEM EKONG 4. MR INIBEHE NYA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES. 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: JOHN IYAFOKHAI ESQ 08064952567

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BAG SELLERS ASSOCIATION OF LAGOS STATE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1, 1990

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. Jummai Odawayi Molokwu 2. Olisemedua Jude Molokwu 3. Eunice Omoyeni Medubi

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.CHIEF AKUBOR DONATUS OFFOR - CHAIRMAN 2.MR. UCHENNA NWODO - SECRETARY 3.MR. PATRICK ANI (PATRON 2) - TREASURER 4.CHIEF JAMES ENEMAKWU - PATRON 1 5.MR. DONATUS CHURAH - PATRON 3 6.APT. KINGSLEY NWACHUKWU - PATRON 4. 7.MR ATTAN AKOGWU - MEMBER 8.MR FRIDAY CHUKWUONU - MEMBER 9.MR. FELIX MOHAMMED - MEMBER 10.MR. INNOCENT NWAKUDO - MEMBER 11.MR. KINGSLEY OFFORBUIKE - MEMBER 12.MR. JOHN NWACHUKWU - MEMBER 13.MR. CHIJIOKE NNAMANI - MEMBER 14.MR. MONDAY PIUS - MEMBER 15.MR. PATRICK NWODO - MEMBER 16.MR. SUNDAY IJOKWU - MEMBER 17.MR. CHRISTOPHER ILO - MEMBER

The Aims and Objectives are 1. To promote value reorientation and better involvement in social change efforts by developing and communicating to Nigerians values of probity, truth, creativity, responsibility, patriotism and honour. 2. To engage in a citizens – focused advocacy on ethical and values reorientation by Nigerians. 3. To work for change, order and decorum in the Nigerian society by identifying factors of disorder and disorientation, working alone or joining with or through individuals of repute , youth, religious, communal and other bodies to become an effective voice for change in the society. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registra – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent , off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. signed: John Mudiaga Omughele john – omughele @yahoo.com C.C 8 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, Nigeria.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IGEDE PROFESSIONALS FOR GROWTH INITIATIVE 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.SELVIS AMOGO EBA 2.JOY ONYIDE ADOKWU 3.IDUMOGO IDIKWU 4.SUNY EKA OKPENGE 5.JOHN OKWUTE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1.ARTICULATE AND DEFINE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF IGEDE PEOPLE AND HELP TO PROVIDE SOLUTION. 2.HELP TO EDUCATE AND ENLIGHTEN THE IGEDE PEOPLE AGAINST COMMON SOCIAL VICES LIKE DRUG ADDICTION, FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS, SCHOOL DROPOUT, AND UNCLEALINESS. 3.GENERALLY HELP THE UNDER PRIVILEGE. 4.PROMOTION OF ESSENTIAL IGEDE TRADITIONAL VALUES LIKE HOSPITALITY, LOVE, RESPECT FOR ELDERS, FARMING, PEACE UNITY. 5.PROMOTION OF IGEDE CULTURE AND WAYS OF LIFE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO CATTER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

HOPE FOR DISABLED AND DISPLACED PERSONS INITIATIVE

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.BARR. PRINCE ENYIOMA OKPANKU 2.DOMINIC NWANKWO 3.PROF. LUKE ONUOHA 4.JACHIMKE OKEZIE IKPEAZU 5.STANLEY NJIKE 6.OKECHUKWU OJOBO 7.IZUCHUKWUKWU UGBOGU 8.ADAORA ONYECHERE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO CATER FOR DISABLED AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 2.TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO THE DISABLED AND DISPLACED PERSONS. 3.TO FACILITATE THE ACCESS OF DISABLED AND DISPLACED PERSONS TO JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW. 4.TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGES AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE ‎LESS PRIVILEGED THROUGH ACCESS TO GOOD EDUCATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED:ENYIOMA PAUL OKPANKU ROYAL GATE ATTORNEYS, ABUJA. 08032250074

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE CENTRE FOR CHRISTIAN VICTORIES

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 TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EJUEYITSI OFEORITSE ANTOINETTE - CHAIRMAN 2.EGWEH JOSEPHINE EGUDE - SECRETARY 3.OMAMULI REWANE 4.YASHOBO EMIKO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED:NZEKWE OSTER SUITE C108 BANEX PLAZA, VINA, WUSE II, ABUJA-FCT. CAC/IND/ICAN/1536 OCCUPATION ACCOUNTING.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Final Land Of Peace Deliverance Ministry

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE The Great Joy Of Salvation Mission Int’l.

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.

Princess Suburbia Foundation

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Stephanie Funmilayo Ogunleye-Hancock (2) David Hancock THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.Alleviation of proverty and hunger among students. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Rev Angela Etim Ekereuke 2.Pst God’s Wisdom Etim Ekereuke 3. Pst Ndifreke Usen 4.pst Mrs Miriam Emmanuel Peter 5.mrs Sylvia Archibong Edem Archibong THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: I.U Idem Esq

PUBLIC NOTICE

NASIRU IMODAGBE FOUNDATION

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.

Calabar community progressives Association 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.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Apostle Bassey Sambo Aniedu 2.Evang Moses Christopher Sambo 3.Elder Michael Patrick Otu 4.Elder Mba Mba Eke 5.Deaconess Arit Bassey Sambo

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prof Mrs Alice Eta Asim 2.Dr Mrs Ruth Simon Bassey, CLN 3.pastor Sameul Udobong Edim 4.Dr Mrs Asari Effanga Young 5.Dr Mesembe Ita Edet

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Nasir Shaibu Imodagbe 2. Gloria Imodagbe 3. Commodore Timothy Tanko Dakwat 4. Hawa Al-Karim 5. David Omo Ayemoba

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.welfare of members.

The Aim and Objectives: 1. Philanthropy.

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

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: I. U. Idem Esq.

SIGNED: I.U IDEM ESq

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

Good Neighbours’ International Club of Nigeria 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.Godwin Ibegbu - Chairman) 2.Victor Nwajah - vice chairman 3.Daniel Mba - secretary 4.Charlse Alafin - Financial Secretary 5.Stanley Oguejiofor - treasurer 6. Ben Eze - Provost THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To promote the unity of its members. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEW AGE FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

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.Mr Emmanuel E. Ebek 2.Imaobong O. Ukpong 3.Asindi Akaniyene 4.Mr Victor C. Injeoma 5.EMEM BENSON, ESQ - (SECRETARY) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE YOUTH. 2.TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TRAINING AMONG THE YOUTHS. 3.TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: EMEM BENSON, ESQ (SECRETARY)

SIGNED: S A Adukwu

PUBLIC NOTICE

COLDROOM TECHNICIANS WELFARE ASSOCIATION ABUJA, NIGERIA

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.MR KINGSLEY OMOJAIYE 2.MR PIUS ODALUMHE UGHIOVBHE 3.MR VICTOR AYODELE S. 4.MR KASSIM IBIYEMI ADIO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1.TO HELP PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 2.TO HELP MEMBERS TO ACQUIRE AND UPDATE THEIR SKILLS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OLAWUNI G. O 08033114285

PUBLIC NOTICE GENERAL ARMY OF THE LORD OUTREACH

PUBLIC NOTICE REST & BLESSED GLORIOUS ASSEMBLY INT’L

PUBLIC NOTICE SCHOOL TO SCHOOL PEACE INITIATIVE

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.

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.ANUOLUWAPO OLAJIDE AMUWO ODOFIN 2.MARIAM AMUWO ODOFIN 3.PROPHETTES OLUWASEUN AMUWO ODOFIN

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR OMOROGBE EGUAGIE - CHAIRMAN 2.PASTOR MRS EGUAGIE JULIET 3.MR IGBUAN MONDAY IDEHAI - SECRETARY 4.APOSTLE LUCK UWA ODEH 5.MR UCHE NWABUZOR 6.MR JOSEPH IGBINEDION OSAKPOLOR

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. COMRADE OLIVER CROMWELL 2.OTUEKONG EDDY ETIM 3.AWAL GAMBO 4.COMRADE NNAMDI VINCENT AJIBO 5.PROF KINGSLEY AKPABIO 6.DAVID OKEY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2.TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.Awareness against Examination malpractices, drug Abuse and awareness on Hiv/aids.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 2.TO SUPPORT WIDOWS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN. 3.TO RAISE AN ENDTIME ARMY TO FUFIL GOD’S DIVINE MANDATE.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE Purple ribbon counselling centre

PUBLIC NOTICE PRESERVATION HOUSE ASSEMBLY

PUBLIC NOTICE GLOBAL GLUCK HUMANITY FOUNDATION

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.

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.

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.Malaka ajirioghene - chairman 2.oghenetega okodiya - secretary 3. Julie avwerosuoghene okoigun, 4.omomena Williams 5.orevaoghene odu therese 6.waziri farida Mahmud

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROPHET EMMANUEL OWOICHO 2. PST SOPHIA NWANNEAMAKA OWOICHO 3.PST AMEDU JOSEPH 4. PST ISIOBOR JOSEPH 5. OCHIGBO IDOKO

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) GOODLUCK UNACHUKWU - Chairman (2) AMBER MOSBY ( 3) FAITH UNACHUKWU - Secretary ( 4) VERNIA MOSBY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. THE HOUR AS COME FOR OPPRESSION TO BE DESTROYED GO INTO PRESERVING LIVES AND NOTHING SHALL HURT YOU.

1. TO PROVIDE FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE. 2. TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL FACILITIES. 3. TO PROVIDE MEDICATION FOR ERADICATION OF MALERIA. 4. TO TRAIN AND EMPOWER INTERNALLY DISPLACED WOMEN.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To educate n create awareness against all forms of bullying against children in whatever form. 2 to assist in eradicating bullying to children in any form. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE JESUS AT GRACE CITY CENTRE

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are; 1. Elder Abel Ochigbo -Chairman 2. Elder Charles Olumese -Secretary 3. Rev. Innocent A. Ogedengbe -G.O/Member 4. Mr. Oladakpo Adebayo -Member 5. Dr. (Mrs) Caroline Olumese -Member 6. Mr. Adebayo Ovieteme Ogedengbe -Member 7. Barr. Babatunde Esun -Legal Adviser Aims and Objectives 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2. To build and develop spiritual values in the Christendom. 3. To establish churches and worship centres in different parts of Nigeria and outside Nigeria Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication. Signed Rev. Innocent A. Ogedengbe

PUBLIC NOTICE CHIEF CHRISTOPHER EKEOBA FOUNDATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1). BARR. JOHNSON EREWELE - CHAIRMAN 2). CHIEF CHRISTOPHER EKEOBA 3). BARR. DANIEL AKHIDENOR - SECRETARY 4). CHIEF DANIEL OSARA. 5). EKEOBA ESTHER OMUEKPEN AIM & OBJECTIVE; 1). TO CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE PERSONS IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. LAWRENCE EREWELE ( 08033679234 ).

PUBLIC NOTICE

MERCY GROUND FIRE ASSEMBLY The General Public is Hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission, Abuja for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and allied matters act of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Rev. Tobechukwu Austin Chinyeaka Ezechukwu 2. Elder Benjamin Oraekie 3. Mummy Julia Ogochukwu Ezechukwu 4. Evang. Chinasa Ndigwe 5. Bro. Maduabuchi Ezechukwu Aims and Objectives 1. To teach and spread the gospel of God through the church. 2. To raise men and women who will serve God and humanity in the fear of God. Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 Days of this publication. Signed: BARR. BLESSING; 07067661516

PUBLIC NOTICE ZENITH ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHOSEN CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:. 1.PROPHET CHRIS AKHAGBEMHE 2.PROPHET ANGELA CHRIS 3.STEPHEN OMAME THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BURDEN BEARERS WOMEN INTERCESSORS FELLOWSHIP

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:. 1.REV SAMUEL IGWEBUIKE 2.PASTOR GRACE IGWEBUIKE 3.DEACONESS MRS ANIKE BELLO 4.DEACONESS MRS EBIOWO VICTORIA EKIYOR 5.MISS CHUKWUFUMNANYA IGWEBUIKE 6.MISS GIFT OGORCHUKWU IGWEBUIKE 7.MRS TOYIN BUORO 8.PASTOR MRS KATE OMORUYI NOSA 9.PASTOR MRS SARAH ONYINYECHI NWOKORIE 10.MRS NWAGBOLIWE THERESA AMAFONYE 11.PASTOR MRS EDOH GLORY ADIAGE 12.EVANG. MRS ISIOMA H. NWACHUKWU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and address as Ayashe Musa now want to be addressed as Ayashe Samaila Shandi all former document remain valid.general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Known and called as Kabiru Abdullahi now want to be address as Aminu Ibrhaim all former document remain valid, General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Known and called as FUNMILOLA ABIDEMI ALABA now want to be address as FUNMILOLA ABIDEMI ADEGBENJOall former document remain valid, General public should take note. PUBLIC NOTICE

PRIME DIAMOND INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH

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 TRUSTEES: 1. Chinasa Onukegbe 2. Chiwendu Ejidike 3. Nomso Odenigbo 4. Precious Hepzhibah 5. Ashafa Balarabe 6. Adedayo Mustapha AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote maternal and child health. 2. To reduce mortality via the use birthing kits. 3. To provide information on maternal health and family planning. 4. To train traditional and skilled birth attendants. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: ABUBAKAR ALIYU ESQ

PUBLIC NOTICE

GREAT MINDS SOCIAL CLUB OF PORTHARCOURT

PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION RESOURCE CENTRE

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Eddy Iyohokwa - President 2. John Obot 3. Jude Emeruwa 4. Ufot Nseyo Akpan 5. Remigius Meremikwu 6. Iriase Ohiose - Secretary Aims And Objective: 1. To cater for the welfare of its members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within TwentyEight (28) days from the date 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. Kingsley Archibong Umoh 2. Hosea Chibueze Igwe 3. Dera Nnadi 4. Emmanuel Monday Adiniyi 5. Steve Azuka Okonmah 6. Lurwanu Abdulkadir 7. Frank Mba 8. Olabisi Way 9. Chris Chidi Osunkwo The aim and objectives: 1. To create a forum and atmosphere where conflict amongst individual, organisations, etc can be resolved amicably. 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: SECRETARY

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

SIGHT RESCUE INITIATIVE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FAMILY SUCCOUR AND UPLIFTMENT FOUNDATION

EMECHIHU FAVOUR DISCOVERY FOUNDATION

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

This is to notify the general public that the above named has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters acts 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Barilee Abueh - Chairman 2. Engr. Joseph Abueh 3. Engr. Yeka Abueh 4. Mr. Omokaro Idemudia

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Nweze Augustina Rachel 2. Nweze David Umahi

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. Providing primary eye care and surgical intervention. 2. To eliminate preventable and treatable blindness in rural communities. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: 08080260567

PUBLIC NOTICE FATHER’S GLORY FOUNDATION

Anoruewhom-

The Aim and Objectives: 1. To care for widowers and provide support for young fathers and families. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: AKUEBUKA EBERE ANTHONY 08032620961

PUBLIC NOTICE SPIRIT OF FAITH CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act. TRUSTEES 1. Ike Akabogu 2. Jarilyn Akabogu 3. Jay Eberly AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration of the above named association should be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: BARR. OLUCHI IFEANYI-KANU

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. All round family support. 2. Empowerment of the masses. 3. Entrepreneurship development. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. UDOH ESTHER 08103685979

PUBLIC NOTICE FOUNDATION FOR BETTER EDO

Trustees are: 1. Ihuoma Emeruwa - President 2. Chief Abengowe Sunday 3. Mrs. Sandra Oronne John Owoferia 4. Mrs. Ahiaba Naomi Ojochoginu 5. Onyedikachi Emeruwa AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. To provide humanitarian welfare aid to vulnerable groups of society such as children, teenagers and youths. 2. To study and identify vulnerable groups in the society such as children, teenagers and youths. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Sign: CHIDINMA OSAROBO; 08082368899

PUBLIC NOTICE THE MANGER EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

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 General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ayowie Gertrude Osaghae 2. Isimeme Sado 3. Erabor Kenneth Irabor

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MrAdewuyi Iyanda Gabriel - Chairman 2. Dr. Ibitoye Charles Adebola - Secretary 3. Mr. Oyetade Benard Adeniyi 4. Mr. Akinyemi Adebayo Moses 5. Dr. Akinwumi Bamidele Emmanuel 6. Mr. Faleye Moses Niyi

The aim and objectives: 1. Women and youth empowerment in Edo State and Poverty Alleviation programmes in Edo State. 2. Organising free health awareness and medical outreach mission. 3. Supporting rural schools, through donation of educational materials, provision of scholarship to Edo students. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 Trustees Are: 1. Olusegun Idowu AderemiJp - Chairman 2. Adedayo Matthew Aderemi - Secretary 3. Adeyeye Isaac Okunola - Member 4. Sunday Bolarinwa Aderemi - Member 5. Lydia Folasade Olabode - Member Aims and Objectives 1. To teach values that will enhance and promote our culture heritage, self-employment and formal education. 2. To organise visits, supportive assistance and welfare packages for widows, less privileged inhabitants of orphanage homes, prisons, psychiatric and hospital. 3. To empower youths and children through provision of scholarship schemes law consult. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded ton the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, wuse zone 5, Abuja within 28days of this publication. Signed: PATRIARCH LAW CONSULT; 08023220392

ario Balotelli will have the final decision as to whether he leaves Liverpool this summer, manager Brendan Rodgers says. Balotelli, 24, appears to have no future at Anfield after being left out of Rodgers’ squad for a preseason tour of the Far East and Australia. The Reds are set to bring in Christian

Aims And Objective: 1. To preach and propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To win souls for the kingdom of God. 3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide. 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: OMEIZA IBRAHIM ESQ 08038645688

PUBLIC NOTICE ATAYERO ARAMOKO FOUNDATION

M Brendan Rodgers admitted last summer that Mario Balotelli was not Liverpool’s first-choice recruit.

- Chairman - Secretary

Benteke from Aston Villa to add to a strike force that will also include Danny Ings, Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge, with the latter expected to return from hip surgery in October. Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have both been told they can leave Anfield while Liverpool are also ready to listen to offers for Balotelli, with his former club Inter reportedly turning down the chance of a

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Rakiya Lawal now wish to be knows as Rakiya Muhammad Lawal. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as JAMES AGBO BANKU now wishes to be known and addressed as mrs blessing agbo baNku agwu. All former documents remain valid. Doben Poly Abuja, National Teacher Institute, Nigeria School of Accountancy take note.

Space for sale

loan deal. The Italy international, signed for £16 million from AC Milan last August, scored four goals last season as he struggled to make an impact. Speaking at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, where Liverpool will complete their tour by facing a Malaysia XI on Friday, Rodgers indicated that Balotelli’s future was far from decided.

Balotelli, who has remained on Merseyside to continue his preseason preparations, has two years left on his contract. The striker was criticised by Liverpool fans on Twitter after posting a message on Tuesday showing support for Raheem Sterling, who scored on his Manchester City debut following a £49m move from Anfield.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, july 24, 2015

Some Interesting Facts 1. Coca-Cola would be green if the food colorant wasn’t added. 2. During the 17th Century, the Sultan of Turkey ordered his hole harem of women to be drowned and replaced with a new one. 3. Coffins used for cremation are usually made with plastic handles. 4. “Almost” is the longest letter in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order. 5. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete. 6. Cockroaches can live several weeks with their heads cut off. 7. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. We dare you, give it a try! 8. A Ten Gallon Hat will only hold 3/4 of a Gallon.

Leisure

9. Of all the words in the English language, the word “SET” has the most definitions. 10. It is against the law to burp, or sneeze inside a church in Nebraska. 11. In 1386 a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child. 12. Earth is the only planet not named after a god. 13. The world’s oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9,000 years old! 14. Scientists have tracked butterflies travelling over 3,000 miles. 15. The silkworm consumes 86,000 times its own weight in 56 days. 16. If removed from the stress of the modern world, the average human would sleep about 10 hours a day. 17. To produce a single pound of honey, a single bee would have to visit 2 million flowers. 18. A colony of 500 bats can eat approximately 250,000 insects in an hour. 19. One in Five adults believe that aliens are hiding in our planet disguised as humans. 20. Travelling masseuses in ancient Japan were required by law to be blind.

quick crosswords

CROSSWORD SOLUTION 14

Say what?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Beauty: The Wodaabe tribe, who live in the Sahel, come together each year for arguably the most intense beauty pageant in the world. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

friday, july 24, 2015

QUOTABLE QUOTE Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the US government has aided and abated the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate… – President Muhammadu Buhari on US’ unwillingness to sell weapons to Nigeria

SPORTS Nigeria needs technocrats or latest

Liberia U-20 girls hit Abuja today By Albert Akota The delegation of U-20 Women National Team of Liberia to Saturday’s 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against the Falconets will arrive in Nigeria today. Inspired by a hat -trick from Yetunde Adeboyejo and a double by Amarachi Orjinma, the Falconets crushed their hosts 7-1 in the first leg played in Monrovia two weeks ago. The Confederation of African Football has appointed officials from Togo to take charge of the encounter, taking place at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Abuja. Vincentia Enyonam Amedome is the referee, with compatriots Kossiwa Kpadenou, Cherifa Moussa and Aissata Ameyo Amegee as assistant refeee 1, assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively. The match commissioner is Lea Annette Dabanga from Central African Republic.

Liberia FA president admits players trafficking errors

The Liberian Football Association should have done more to prevent the trafficking of 23 youngsters to Laos, according to its president. Investigation discovered that Laos side Champasak United imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy. Fifa prohibits movement of players to a foreign academy until they are 18. Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, but the club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing. Bility - who intends to run for the Fifa presidency - wants the remaining children to return home. Kesselly Kamara, 14, said he was never paid and had to sleep on the floor of the club’s stadium

Advert: 0806 business: 0704 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

patriots? A s I wrote, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria was on a four - day working visit to United States. He met with President Barack Obama. It is, however, the advice Vice President Joe Bidengave Buhari that spurred me to write this article. He advised our President to appoint technocrats into key positions. But who is a technocrat, and by extension, what is technocracy? A technocrat, defined by the Advanced English Dictionary, is “an expert who is a member of a highly skilled group”. Technocracy is defined by the same dictionary as “a form of government in which scientists and technical experts are in control”. Technocracy is, therefore, that society in which those who govern justify their legitimacy through an appeal to technical expertise; they appeal to some form of scientific of knowledge. It is possible, however, for a government to contain a handful of experts but they need not be in a technocracy. Were President Buhari to be open to receive a different form of advice, one would say that his government should not be cornered by technocrats. The reason being that we had followed that road before. Technocrats came into the limelight during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo. I remember Charles Soludo, Ngozi, Ezekwesile, El Rufa’i. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made her second coming along with an Aganga, who came from a foreign bank that was under investigation for a breach of the law - fraudulent practice. We are still deeply enmeshed in the financial quagmire created by Ngozi, the immediate past minister of finance. Whenever the problems of Nigeria are discussed, we want to assume that we are to blame rather than being the victims. To a certain degree, we contributed to the problem by being naive. We were colonised. We were colonised not because the colonisers loved our dark skin, but because we had, and still have, resources in which they were interested and still are. In a book I read on international politics by the American statesman Zbigniew Brezyzinsky, he made reference of France ‘s desire not to let go of her former colonial possessions. A case in point is her control of Niger’s uranium mines. President Buhari has repeatedly acknowledged his debt to America, in that America exerted pressure on his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan to play the game by the rules. Had America sided with Jonathan, itwas possible that Buhari would have either been killed or forced

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Friday Column By Abdullahi Musa

President Muhammadu Buhari

to go into exile, or be incarcerated like President Mohamed Mursi of Egypt, for daring to contest and win an election. So more than fifty years of our so - called independence, our existence as a stable political entity is dependent upon the pleasure of a foreign power! This is the meaning of weakness, this is the meaning of being a Third World country. There is an international economic and political system in place. Countries are classified according to their economic strength and politico-strategic relevance. Nigeria is an undeveloped nation, rich in resources over which it has no control, and a huge population which does not compete well in the international arena. To add salt to the wound of underdevelopment, the country is battling an insurgency which it can’t overcome without foreign assistance. In such a situation Nigerians voted for change: from the ravages of insurgency to that of peace, from darkness to steady electricity, from alarming youth unemployment

to absorption of a majority of productive hands and minds, from thieving leaders to patriotic ones. Note, not technocratic ones. Do we have home - grown technocrats? Even if we do, they are not the ones Biden had in mind. He meant the likes of Okonjo-Iweala, those groomed by the Bretton Woods institution, those who will drain your resources and call the plunder reform. It is not usually openly stated, but it is surely acted out: races are competing for what we refer to as scarce resources. It is the elite, of whatever hue, who rule in the world. And since the West created and is nurturing the existing system, it wants to ensure that key players are those who see the world as they see it. But more importantly, those who see the West as their first home.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala is Washington - based. President Buhari is not the ideal President the West is looking for. For one, he is too patriotic. He wants to serve Nigeria and Nigerians. Jonathan Goodluck jeopardised his chances by embarking on his ethnic politics that was threatening to disintegrate Nigeria. The West was not ready for that, at least not yet. The same dictionary describes a patriot for us: one who loves and defends his or her country. Someone may want to question me that why should I say the West does not love patriotism in other lands. I reply with a question: but why should they way? How was America built? How were Latin American states, Australia, New Zealand, and even South Africa built? The natives were vanquished, and the rest is history. We do not need technocrats fawned in the West. They will not serve us. We have an example

in Okonjo-Iweala. She handed Nigeria over to the West and one Western university gave her an honour. We may not have heard the last of Okonjo-Iweala. With an El - Rufa’i / Iweala ticket, the West can achieve a match made in ‘heavens’ (Remember when she became angry and left for her city, Washington, it was El Rufa’i who jetted out and brought her back) You can have the mythical Igbo bloc vote, while the Hausas might be fooled into believing that a Nasir is surely a Hausa man. He was, before they took him over. She was an Igbo before they took her over. Else how can a Hausa man take hawkers off the streets without a prior, well thought - out programme of rehabilitation? How can a Hausa man believe that feeding the poor, for just one month in Ramadan, is undesirable, parroting the worn - out IMF cliché that it does not benefit the poor? Let us agree it benefits the rich. But is that not a capitalist credo: to emasculate the poor and strengthen the rich? I am inclined to see Buhari as a prelude to El Rufa’i, just as Obama might be a prelude to Hillary Clinton. It surely must have been El Rufa’i who took Buhari to Chatham House while he was fighting for the Presidency of Nigeria. My sympathies for Buhari: I do hope he understands the tight corner he is in. Poor Nigerians will hardly forgive him if he fails. They do not know the trap they have walked intodue to ignorance and naivety. They want him to wave the magic wand. There is none. Abdullahi Musa via kigongabas@gmail.com

DAN GAYE

Buhari rejects gay marriage

“

We do not need technocrats fawned in the West. They will not serve us. We have an example in OkonjoIweala. She handed Nigeria over to the West and one Western university gave her an honour. We may not have heard the last of Okonjo-Iweala. With an El - Rufa’i / Iweala ticket, the West can achieve a match made in ‘heavens’ (Remember when she became angry and left for her city, Washington, it was El Rufa’i who jetted out and brought her back)

Kai, hope US wont seize foreign aid?

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