Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-H-69
Clash
by Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Nov. 15, 2016 ( NAN) A member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr Idris Idako has called on the Police to immediately halt the incessant Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashes in some parts of Lokoja Local Government.

Idako, who made the call on Tuesday in a statement in Lokoja, said that the crises should be nipped in the bud to prevent its escalation.

He particularly called on Gov. Yahaya Bello to act fast, saying that the recent killing of a farmer, Malam Kachalu, on his farm at Kupa village, could lead to reprisal attacks by villagers.

“Security agents should move in quickly as reports reaching me suggested that Fulani herdsmen are planning to ransack more villages,’’ the lawmaker said.

Idako, who is representing Lokoja Constituency 11 in the State House of Assembly, promised to sponsor a cattle grazing bill as a lasting solution to the problem.

He urged the Federal Government to work with other stakeholders to arrest the worsening Fulani/ farmers clashes across the country.

“I must say that the incessant attacks by herdsmen on communities across the Lokoja Constituency 11, has brought a lot of anxiety.

“Government needs to act fast. I am surprised that security agencies have not been able to arrest killings in Kupa, Egan and other communities in the constituency,” the lawmaker said.

Idako expressed his heartfelt condolence to the family members and traditional leaders of Kupa village over the killing of Kachalu.

He appealed to them to remain calm and allow security agents to get to the roots of the matter. (NAN)
KKA/AJA
========
(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-S-3
Boxing
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) says plans are underway for an amateur boxing competition scheduled for Dec. 5 in Lagos.

Jerry Okorodudu, Nigeria’s boxing hero, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that the one day event would be a spectacle of awesome boxing fights.

Okorodudu said the competition would have the best armature boxers that had been tested and deserved recognition.

“We are organising a one day boxing competition that will host the best young boxers in the armature level, who are yearning for the opportunity to prove their competitiveness.

“The event is bankrolled by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) and it is going to be the best event to crown the year at the armature boxing level.

“It is an event that we want many fans of boxing to witness because we know there is so little that is being done to promote good boxing bouts in the country.’’

He also urged sports journalists to throw more weight on local content rather than concentrate so much on foreign competitions.

“This is because, there are so many things happening in the boxing world in Nigeria but unfortunately, we hardly see the media reports on them daily.

“When you look up the news on our dailies all that we see is the news from foreign lands occupying front pages, this is not fair.

“I oblige that they should do more on local competitions and find out more on what is happening locally,’’ Okorodudu said.
BAO/ENN/MO
========
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Morayo Omolade

NAN-AE-9

Materials

By Kudirat Ogunyemi

Abuja, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAP), said it assisted no fewer than 2.5 million farmers to access genetic materials of improved crops, seeds and fingerlings across the country.

National Project Coordinator, WAAP-Nigeria, Mr James Apochi, disclosed this at ongoing wrap-up meeting on its implementation support mission in Abuja on Monday.

Apochi said that WAAP had recorded tremendous achievements in support of Federal Government’s agricultural agenda in different areas.

“ WAAP has facilitated over 2.5 million farmers’ access to genetic material in improved crops, seeds and fingerlings and pilot new models of advisory services with adoption of improved technologies in 500 schools.

“ It implemented climate smart agriculture through the multiplication and distribution of drought-tolerant and early-maturing seed varieties and supported the Restructuring of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

“ The project supported human and infrastructural capacity development of National Agricultural Research System and National Agricultural Seed Council and imported technologies from the sub-region to help curtail wastages and post-harvest losses,’’ he said.

Apochi commended the efforts of the ECOWAS member-states and West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) to increase agricultural productivity, food security and reducing poverty in their regions.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said that the WAAP’s objective of increasing agricultural production through the generation and dissemination of improved technologies was commendable.

Represented by Mr Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ogbeh praised the ECOWAS Commission for its initiative in coming up with the project to address problems in the agricultural sector.

“The Federal Government is giving agricultural sector the priority it deserves in the ongoing national development efforts.

“ The priority of government over the years is the achievement of self-sufficiency and excess in our local staples like cassava, rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, fruits and vegetables, poultry, beans, soya, oil-palm, fish and milk.

“Through the cooperative efforts of all key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, we are expecting development partners to key into this vision and help us to actualise it,’’ he said.

According to him, the vision of the ministry is to grow Nigeria’s agricultural sector to achieve a hunger-free Nigeria through an endeavour that drives income growth, food and nutritional security.

He said this would assist, “ to also transform Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets to grow wealth for millions of our farmers.

“ The roadmap recognises the key roles of both the smallholder farmers and the large-scale farmers in maximising agricultural output, to achieve increased efficiency of agricultural operations and practices through private sector engagement.

“ The private sector is saddled with the responsibility of creating linkages with small holder farmers by availing them of better organisation methods, technological access, financial services, linkages to input supply chains and markets.’’

The minister added that the implementation of the Green Alternative would reduce the estimated 32 billion dollars spent by Nigeria on food importation annually.

He said that this would enable agriculture to start earning the needed foreign exchange for the nation’s goods and services.

“ Linkages and multiplier effects enable growth originating in the agricultural sector to spill over into other sectors e.g. processing, input supply industries, etc.

“ Effective demand for outputs of agricultural and non-agricultural sectors as rising incomes of rural farming households generate demand for a wide range of goods and services,’’ he said.

Ogbeh said that agriculture contributed to wider economic growth through three key channels of Technical Innovative change which rapidly transforms traditional agriculture through adoption of science-based technology and increasing productivity gains. (NAN)

ROK/MOL/OPI

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Olisa Ifeajika

=======================

NAN-HE-7
Recovery
By Simon Akoje
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) A finance analyst, Mr Chris Nemedia, on Monday urged the Federal Government to design a road map for the country’s economy recovery.

Nemedia, a former director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the recovery initiative was commendable but coming late considering the challenges faced by the economy.

“We wish the blue print came earlier but it is never too late, especially when it deals with policy and recovery programmes.

“So long as the policy contains detailed ideas to revamp the economy and boost productive activities, it is welcome,’’ he said.

He also urged the government to stimulate the economy by expending on critical infrastructure that would accelerate growth in the economy.

“Spending on housing and more on power projects as well as agriculture will empower the people of all cadre in the society.

“However, emphasis should be on the implementation of various programmes because it is the key instrument that will pull the economy from recession and position it on the part of growth,’’ he added.

NAN reports that the FG plans a national economic reconstruction and growth plan that will reposition the economy on the path of success.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, announced the plan in Abuja recently. (NAN)
STA/ENN/MVO
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Mbadiwe Okwor)

1. The Commission of Inquiry investigating Sen. Jonah Jang’s tenure as Plateau governor probes the use of eight billion dollars World Bank loan by the administration.

2. Provost, Niger State College of Education, Minna, addresses newsmen on  newly accredited courses in the college.

3. 042 Sports Festival Elimination for Nsukka Zone continues.
4. The member representing Funtua/Dandume Constituency in the House of Representatives distributes working tools to women and youths in his constituency.
5. 2016 convocation ceremony of the University of Ibadan takes place.
6. The Nigerian Basketball Federation begins Division One league.
7. FCT Principal Cup continues in Abuja.
8. British High Commission celebrates its Remembrance Day in memory of soldiers who died in World War II.
9. The trial of the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Olisa Metuh, continues at the Federal High Court-Martins
10. FCT High Court continues hearing of case on allegations of contract breach filed against Stephen Adeje.
11. The Federal High Court to rule on a bail application filed by retired Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi.
12. All Progressives Congress National Working Committee meets.
13. Luftansa Airline holds news conference in Ikeja.
14. Federal Fire Service holds campaign on Fire Safety awareness in Abuja to mark the fire safety week.
15. Chief of Army Staff’s visit to troops in Borno continues.

NGO pays N3.5mln WAEC fees of 1,650 students in Kogi

NAN-H-4

WAEC

Egbe (Kogi), Nov. 13, 2016 ( NAN) An NGO, Stanley Jegede Foundation, has released N3.5 million for the payment of 2016/2017 WAEC fees for 1,650 students in the six secondary schools at Egbe town, Kogi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mr Stanley Jegede, the Executive Chairman and Founder of the NGO, presented the cheques on Sunday, at Egbe in Yagba West Local Government.

In a brief speech at the ceremony, Jegede said that the payment of the WAEC fees represented his modest contribution to the educational development of his community.

He said that the donation, made under the Educational Development Programme ( EDP) of the SJF, was to support and encourage indigent, but brilliant students, to retain their interest in education .

Jegede, Chief Executive Officer, PHASE – 3 Telecoms, Abuja, listed the schools to include Titcombe College, Heritage College, Ambassadors College, ECWA George Campion Academy, Government Secondary School and St. Peters College, all in Egbe.

According to him, the payments are to be made directly into the accounts of the secondary schools for onward payment to WAEC.

He also distributed past question papers of WAEC, from 1985 to 2015, to the students to enable them to prepare well for the examinations holding in May/June 2017.

Jegede promised to grant full scholarship to any of the students that gained admission into any Nigerian university at the first attempt.

According to him, the NGO with its partners, within and outside the country, will also assist any willing students to read up to masters and PhD levels.

The Chairman described education as “very key to the development of any country”, saying that the gesture would reverberate across the country as majority of the beneficiaries were from other parts of Nigeria.

He said that the organization, which had supported more than 20 projects under various initiatives since it was founded in 2003, would also empower young widows and train some youths under its youth apprenticeship scheme.

Jegede also announced a personal donation of N2 million towards the completion of the Elegbe of Egbe’s palace project.

Speaking at the event, the Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Irukera, described the gesture as a divine intervention in view of the effect of the current recession on parents and guardians in Egbe.

“Education is the main enterprise of a Egbe people. Unfortunately, that enterprise is now under threat as parents are now barely managing to eat, thereby making schooling almost impossible for their children,” the Oba said.

He said that since the state government stopped its policy of settling WAEC fees for final year secondary school students in 2014, parents had been compelled to sell off their property to pay the fees of their wards.

Oba Irukera commended Jegede for coming to the aid of the community at a critical period, and urged other indigenes to emulate him.

He pleaded with Jegede to assist the community to secure a JAMB examination Centre in Egbe, and stated that the current situation where students had to travel to Lokoja, Kabba and Oye Ekiti in Ekiti State to write JAMB was “not god enough”.

An SSS 3 student of Heritage College, Egbe, Miss Oreofe Babatunde, while responding on behalf of the benefitting students, expressed gratitude to the NGO for the gesture.

She described the intervention as timely, noting that it came at a time many parents were owing school fees and unsure of where to source funds for the WAEC fees. ( NAN)
KKA/ETS/ETS
——————–

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Kogi elders tasked on children’s future
‎
NAN-HG-7
‎Children

Lokoja, Nov.‎ 11, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Stella Olukeyi, a former Women Leader from Yagba West in Kogi, has appealed to elders in the state to protect the future of their children.

Olukeyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday that selling of votes to politicians by parents in the state could affect the future of children.

She said such monetary politics as the root of corruption in Nigeria.

The politician pointed out that positions that were meant for youths in the country have been given to elders just because politicians have bribed their way to those positions.

Olukeyi also appealed to Nigerians to embrace politics like the Americans ‎whereby a person’s integrity and achievements would speak rather than money and gifts.

She said that governance in Nigeria has become very expensive just because everyone wants to benefit from aspirants.

Besides, Olukeyi urged Nigerians to ensure that only aspirants with clean records are made to contest elections in the country.

However, she expressed optimism of better changes in future ‎electioneering, saying that is the only way development could be recorded in the country. (NAN)

WAL/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-40

Advertising
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Some foreign and local exhibitors at the ongoing 30^th Lagos International Trade Fair have tasked the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), on the need for proper advertisement of the fair, ahead of its 31^st edition.

The exhibitors made the remark in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Mrs Marie Louise, a crafts woman, said that the market at the fair had been dull and boring for her, adding that this was as a result of improper advertising ahead of the fair.

She urged the LCCI to run jingles on various radio and television stations, make handbills to be distributed at strategic places and engage in other forms of advertisements, for its forthcoming fairs.

“The LCCI must engage in other forms of advertisements to project the fair, next year. It must not continue like this,” Louise said.

Mr Joel Soh, from Cameroon, said that the year’s sales had not been encouraging, compared to last year.

He attributed this to insufficient advertisement and has urged the LCCI to make adequate preparations ahead of the fair’s 31^st edition, next year.

“There is need for proper advertisement of this fair. I feel it’s declining by the year,” Soh said.

Mrs Caroline Jegede, the proprietor of Carol Kitchen, lamented the poor sales of food at the ongoing fair.

Jegede, however, demanded for effective adverting of subsequent fairs, so as to enable them to be able to  attract foreign tourists.

“The trade fair is not only meant for Nigerians but also for foreigners who love Nigerian dishes.

“We need to also work on bringing in the foreign tourists.

“Last year, people were struggling to sit in various canteens but this year, very few people come to eat and many of them want the food to even be discounted,’’ she added. (NAN)
PTB/PIO/PIO
===========
Edited by Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-H-12
Arrest
Dutse, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa says it has arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly stealing a bull, valued at N180,000.
The State Commandant of the corps, Mr Muhammad Durumin-Iya, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse.
He said that the suspect was arrested on Thursday in Maikwaki village, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.
Durumin-Iya said that the suspect (name withheld) hailed from Yabaza village in Kiyawa Local Government Area.
He said that the stolen bull belonged to one Malam Muhammad Sani of Zarenawa village in Birninkudu town.
Durumin-Iya said that the suspect was taken to Federal Medical Centre in Birninkudu for the head injuries he sustained from the beating he received from local people.
The commandant added the suspect, who was in possession of a machete during his arrest, would be charged to court as soon as he recovered.
Sani, the bull owner, told NAN that the suspect arrived his home at about 12 midnight and released four of his cattle from their tethers.
Tether is a rope or chain by which an animal is fastened so that it can range only within a set radius.
“I was already asleep when I heard some noise around midnight, so I decided to peep and see what was happening.
“Surprisingly, when I pointed my torch toward where my cattle are tethered, I discovered that four of them are missing, so I shouted for help.
“So, my neighbours and other villagers woke up and began to look for the animals where we found three in the bush.
“So, one of us sighted the thief trying to do away with a bull, we trailed him and we were able to catch him in Maikwai village.
‘’We immediately called officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in our area and they got him arrested,” he said. (NAN)
MNB/DUA/WOJ
(Edited by Dada Ahmed / Wale Ojetimi)
=================================

Man, 62, seeks dissolution of 32-year-old marriage over religious differences

NAN-H-8
Religion
By Tomisin Erogbogbo
Lagos, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) A 62-year-old man, Adesanya Akanni is seeking the dissolution of his 32-year-old marriage to Florence Akani, over religious differences.

Adesanya Akanni approached a Lagos Island Customary Court, Lagos on Thursday complaining that wife’s continued practice of her Christian faith was adversely affecting the family.

The petitioner claimed that his marital problems started about 26-years ago, when his wife, Florence resumed the practice of her Christian faith.

He also alleged that she changed the names of their five children to Christian names without his consent.

“Our five children were given Muslim names at birth, Kaosara, 32, Kudirat, 25, Mubarak, 22, Azeez, 19 and Musa, 17.

“Their mother and the Church she attends, have now changed their names to Oluwatomi, Victoria, Oluwasegun, Oluwarotimi and Peter respectively.

“I did not know until I went to the school of my last two boys to ask for Azeez and Musa but officials of the school claimed they did not have students bearing those names.

“It was when I mentioned their surname that I was told that they now bear Oluwarotimi and Peter,’’ Akanni claimed.

The petitioner also said he was not informed when his first daughter got married and gave birth to her first and second children.

“The Church and my wife gave out my daughter, without informing me; she gave birth to her two children. My wife and daughter did not tell me anything.

“We live under the same roof and over the past two years. My wife has stopped cooking my meals. She does not allow me to make love to her,’’ Akanni said.

Akanni, however, prayed the court to dissolve their marriage and award custody of the last two children to his wife, Florence, 61, who denied all the allegations.

She explained that Akanni did not insist that she should convert to Islam after their marriage, stressing that at the time of their marriage, “my husband was not a practising Muslim.

“I started attending Church when I had an 8-year delay after our first child; he used to accompany me to Church but later stopped and then prevailed on me to discontinue attending Church.

“This our fight over religion has been ongoing for years, but I have refused to stop going to church because God has been answering my prayers.

“After eight years of believing God for the fruit of the womb, God gave me, not just one but three other children. I have been taking them to Church ever since.

“When our first daughter wanted to get married, I informed my husband but he said our daughter should go and `meet her father in the church’.’’

He had vowed he would be part of the wedlock, unless our daughter  re-converted to Islam’’.

The mother of five, told the court that she still loved her husband but, “I cannot convert to Islam.’’

The president of the court, Mr Awos Awosola, adjourned the case to Nov. 30 to enable other members from both families to mediate on the matter. (NAN)
TME/DEB/TON
============

Edited by Debo Oshundun/Tony Nezianya