Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-H-87

Economy

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State said on Tuesday that the state was very crucial to Nigeria’s economic recovery and attainment of prosperity.

Bello spoke through his Director-General, Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, while addressing members of a socio-political group, Kogi Hope Alive in Lokoja.

According to him, 27 out of the 36 solid minerals found to be in large commercial deposits in the country are located in the state alone.

He said that the state, blessed with a large arable farmland suitable for cultivation of variety of crops, was also endowed with tourism sites that could be developed to global standards to attract foreign exchange.

The governor said that these factors, among others, had made the state to become one of the most important drivers for the anticipated diversified economy that would be less dependent on oil.

“The Ajaokuta Steel Company, if completed, can spark a beehive of economic and industrial activities. Steel production is one of the surest paths to becoming a global player politically, economically and industrially.

“Ajaokuta Steel can provide a steady path to national greatness,” he said.

Bello said that the state government was aware of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Company, but insisted that a private sector-led economy was the best way out.

“A private sector-led economy will reduce our cost of running government, as the size of the civil service will be such that our resources can manage.

“We call on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Ajaokuta Steel and the National Iron Ore Mining Company at Itakpe to help the administration’s quest for economic diversification and industrial revolution.

The two projects will have a massive impact on our economy as well as create thousands of jobs,” Bello said.

He expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s ability to weather the storm and put Nigeria back on sound economic footing.

Bello pleaded with investors to come to the state, saying that his administration had put in place a less rigorous process to enhance ease of doing business.

According to him, government will provide adequate security for all investments and  personnel. (NAN)
KKA/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-91

Deaths

Lokoja, Nov. 1, 2016 ( NAN) Six people , including a mother, three of her children and two of their neighbours on Tuesday lost their lives in Ogaminana area of Okene in Kogi  after eating a meal made from cassava flour.

The Public Relations Officer of the Adavi Local Government, Mr Abdulhamid Salahudeen told newsmen on phone that three of the victims died on Tuesday at the Okene General Hospital while the woman and two of her children had earlier died on Monday in their house.

He said that the woman died along side three of her children, two sons and a daughter

According to him two male children of her neighbour that partook in the meal also died .

He put the ages of the dead five children at between 9 and 15 years.

Salaudeen said that the mother had in the evening of Sunday, Oct. 30 brought the cassava flour ( white Amala) from her farmland at Ohuepe village.

He said that the woman prepared a dinner from the yam flour for the family and extended the food to her neighbour.

The officer said the victims later went to bed but developed severe stomach pain over the night which later resulted in the death of the woman and two of her children.

He said that neighbours who sensed that the sudden deaths might be due to the cassava flour dinner quickly rushed the remaining three children that partook in the eating to Okene General Hospital where they died on Tuesday.

Salaudeen said that the authority of the local government believed that the cassava flour was poisoned and had informed the police for appropriate  action.

A senior nursing officer at the Okene General Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death of the three victims at the hospital on Tuesday .

The nurse said that the victims were brought in late Monday afternoon. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ
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NAN-H-54
Hotel
By Taiye Baiyerohi and Idris Olukoya
Lagos, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) A Tourism Consultant, Mrs Aduke Gomez, has called on hoteliers to embrace the hotels classification by government, saying it would improve their services in the country.

Gomez gave the advice when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the closing of “AKWAABA Tourism Fair’’ on Tuesday in Lagos.

She said that because hoteliers shy away from hotels’ classification, they needed to be sensitised on the need for grading.

Gomez said that it would lead to the growth of hotel and hospitality businesses in the country if properly done.

She noted that hotels tended to benefit from the exercise as it served as an important marketing tool in local and international economies and demonstrated commitment to quality.

“Hotel classification provides assurance to local and international tourists that an establishment has been assessed and approved,’’ Gomez said.

Contributing, Mr Ayo Olowoporoku, the Group Managing Director of Hotel Support Group, also urged proprietors to embrace hotel classification.

Olowoporoku said the criteria sought for by the Hotel Licensing Authority were standards that obtained internationally, adding: “A customer must have access to the two sides of the bed in a standard hotel room.

“There must be a 24-hour reception service and the physically challenged should be considered in the course of equipping the hotel.

“There must be illumination commensurate with the rooms and the cuisine must cut across various ethnic groups,’’ he said.

On his part, Kushal Dutta, the Managing Director, Jumia Travels, urged hoteliers to digitalise the hospitality industry as it was obtainable in some developed countries.

“There are specific kinds of lighting in some hotels in Las Vegas which divulges some information as regards the hotel visited.

“These are artificial intelligence gadgets. There are also interactive walls in some hotels which tell a visitor what to do.

“The hospitality industry is moving to the digitisation era, we all need to follow suite,’’ Dutta said. (NAN)
PTB/SIO/PDE
==========
(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

60% of accidents in Ogun caused by articulated vehicles – FRSC
NAN-H-
Accidents
By Abiodun Lawal
Abeokuta, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says about 60 per cent of road crashes in Ogun are caused by drivers of articulated vehicles.
FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Clement Oladele, disclosed this when he visited the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta.
He added that most of the accidents that occurred on the highways were avoidable if the drivers shunned over-speeding.
According to him, some of the 10 most dangerous highways in the country are in Ogun, going by road accidents recorded in recent times.
He said that some of the highways in the state included Lagos/Ibadan, Lagos/Abeokuta, Abeokuta/Sagamu and Odeda/Ibadan roads.
The sector commander said that the number of road crashes recorded in Ogun rose from 32 in August to 47 in September this year.
Oladele expressed the FRSC’s commitment to address the root causes of high rate of road crashes in the state.
“We recognise that almost 60 per cent of these fatal crashes are caused by these articulated vehicles, so we want to get to the root, so that we can address it.
“The FRSC is beginning to remove abandoned vehicles; we have to ensure that there is no obstruction that can cause road crashes,’’ said the FRSC boss.
Oladele said that FRSC in Ogun had prepared a strategic document which would be driven by the people to reduce accidents and loss of lives on the highways.
According to him, the document would have the inputs of all stakeholders to devise means on how to make the roads safer.
On speed limiting device, the FRSC official said that majority of the drivers were yet to acquire the device introduced to check over-speeding and reduce road accidents.
“Between Oct. 1 and Oct 29, we have stopped 3,670 vehicles in the state and only 43 have the speed limiting device.
“We have encouraged transport unions to contact the vendors and be paying by instalment to enable them acquire the device.
“By Jan. 1, we are going to arrest any vehicle that does not have speed limiter,” he said.
Earlier, Alhaji Kunle Olayeni, the Chapel Chairman, assured of its readiness to collaborate with the FRSC in reducing accidents on the roads. (NAN)
LKA/DUA/WOJ
(Edited by Dada Ahmed / Wale Ojetimi)
=================================

Kevin-Prince Boateng cautious on potential Ghana return

NAN-S-7
Boateng
Berlin, Nov. 1, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has said he would like to return to play his National team but admitted negotiating an end to his suspension from the squad will not be easy.

The 29-year-old Boateng was sent home from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for disciplinary reasons but retains the hope of returning for Russia 2018 – which would be his third finals.

“It is for every player a big dream to play a World Cup,’’ Kwese Sports quoted Boateng as telling CCTV Africa.

“If there would be a chance to play a third World Cup I would not say no.

“There are not a lot of players who can say they played in three World Cups.

“But before this happens we have to have a lot of talks because I don’t want to go back with a bad spirit.

“If I would go back, I want everything to be perfect so we can work perfectly together.’’

Boateng was suspended from the team in 2014 for refusing to apologise for insulting then coach, Kwesi Appiah.

The half-brother of Germany’s World Cup winning defender Jerome Boateng, Kevin-Prince has often struggled to fulfil his potential but is currently playing well for Las Palmas in Spain.

His former clubs include Italian giants AC Milan, with whom he won the Serie A title in 2011, and perennial German underachievers Schalke. (dpa/NAN)
TON
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Report: Klose to join Loew’s Germany coaching team

NAN-S-6
Loew
Berlin, Nov. 2016 (dpa/NAN) Germany’s record goalscorer Miroslav Klose is set for a return to the National team as part of Joachim Loew’s coaching staff, a report said on Tuesday.

Klose is set to work alongside Loew and Germany staff for the upcoming World Cup qualifier in San Marino on Nov. 11 and the friendly with Italy in Milan four days later, according to the Bild newspaper.

The arrangement is then set to continue for the games with England and Azerbaijan in March 2017 and the Confederations Cup in Russia.

Neither the German Football Association (DFB) or Klose confirmed the deal on Tuesday. On Monday, the DFB announced Loew had extended his contract as coach to 2020.

The 38-year-old Klose scored a record 71 goals in 137 caps for Germany and retired from international football after winning the 2014 World Cup.

He is the record scorer at World Cup finals with 16 goals.

Klose played for Serie A outfit Lazio until the end of last season but has since been without a club.

He has said previously that he would considering becoming a coach upon ending his playing career. (dpa/NAN)
TON
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NAN-DS-2

Accident

By Abiodun Lawal

Abeokuta, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, says about 60 per cent of road accidents in the state are caused by drivers of articulated vehicles.

Oladele made this known on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to members of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun Council in Abeokuta.

He explained that most of the accidents that happened on the highways in the state were due to excessive speed which could have been avoided.

According to him, though, Ogun is blessed with highways; it is however, among the 10 most dangerous highways in the country, going by road accidents recorded in recent times.

He said that some of the highways included Lagos /Ibadan, Lagos /Abeokuta, Abeokuta /Sagamu and Odeda /Ibadan.

The sector commander said that 32 road traffic crashes were recorded in the state in August and it rose to 47 in September.

Oladele expressed the commitment of the command to get to the root cause of the high rate of road crashes in the state.

“We have a platform which says that for every operator that has minimum of five vehicles, it must register with road safety and annually, we certify them.

“When you don’t meet the basic requirements, we decertify you.

“We recognise that almost 60 per cent of these crashes that cause deaths are caused by these articulated vehicles, so we want to get to the root, so that we can address it.

“The FRSC has started to remove abandoned vehicles; we have to ensure that there is no obstruction that can cause road crashes.

“We want to leave the township patrol for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), so that we now face where most of the crashes are happening.

“We want to mobilise our strength and face the highway but that does not mean that occasionally, when we see issues that happen in township, we won’t attend to them.

“We will try to see how we can empower TRACE, for it to become bigger, stronger and to be able to tackle the urban challenges.’’

Oladele said that FRSC in Ogun had prepared a strategic document which would be driven by the people to reduce road accident and loss of lives on the highways.

He said that the document would have the inputs of all stakeholders, adding that the governor would be fully involved to devise means on how to make the roads safer.

On speed limit device, he said that majority of the drivers had yet to use the device; however, it was introduced by FRSC to reduce road accidents.

According to him, between Oct. 1 and Oct 29, we have stopped 3,670 vehicles in the state and only 43 of them have speed limiting devise.

“If we have impounded these vehicles, maybe we would have grounded the economy of the state.

“We have encouraged transport unions to contact the vendors and be paying by instalment to enable them purchase the devise.

“By Jan. 1, we are going to arrest any vehicle that does not have speed limiter.”

Earlier, Alhaji Kunle Olayeni, the chapel Chairman, commended the FRSC command in the state for ensuring that roads in the state were safe.

Olayeni expressed the readiness of the media to collaborate with the FRSC in order to ensure considerable reduction in road accidents. (NAN)

LKA/DUA/MO/

Edited by Dada Ahmed/Morayo Omolade

1. Gov. Lalong of Plateau meets with leaders of the leaders of All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Jos over measures to minimise post-harvest losses in the state.
2. The Police Command in Kogi arraigns 2 herdsmen over armed robbery.
3. Taraba Commissioner for Agriculture briefs newsmen on steps toward promoting mechanised farming in the state.
4. Senate Committee on Agriculture visits International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, over a proposed partnership deal.
5. An HIV/AIDS programme, organised by USAID in partnership with the Kwara State Government holds in Ilorin.
6. Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun holds interactive session with youths to commemorate the 2016 African Youth Day.
7. Ajumuse Food Bank, an initiative of the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, organises activities in Igboora.
8. The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, meets with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
9. House of Representatives’ Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration meets with the Director-General of NIMASA in Abuja.
10. Senate resumes plenary to consider the report of the Committee on Customs service.
11. Dave Omokaro Foundation, an NGO, organises workshop in Abuja on ageing policy in Nigeria.
12. The Court of Appeal hears the appeal filed by the Caretaker Committee of the PDP against affirmation of Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the party.
13. The trial of Olisa Metuh, a former PDP National Publicity Secretary, continues in Abuja.

NAN-H-5
Silence
Makurdi, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) A social critic, Mr Joseph Boko, has condemned the organised labour for not speaking out in support of efforts by the government to rid the judiciary of corruption.
Boko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi that the silence of the labour unions over the arrest and detention of some judges was undignified.
“Organised labour are always in the forefront of agitations for salary increment and are unrelenting in their fight against increases in petrol pump prices, so, why are they keeping mute now.
“Their silence could only mean that their actions are self-serving and not in the interest of the nation.
“If not, why are they not mobilizing the workforce against corruption and impunity in the judiciary,’’ the social critic said.
He, therefore, called on the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to “stand up’’ in support of President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to rid the country of corruption.
He said corruption was a major obstacle to development in the country and appealed to all Nigerians to support Buhari’s efforts in purging all sectors of the society of corruption.
Boko also blamed the “fast-eroding’’ respect for the courts on corruption and assured that the clean-up in the sector would restore the dignity of the bench. (NAN)
PD/WOJ
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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

1. Hearing continues in an FCT High Court, Maitama, in a case of alleged armed robbery preferred against Abdullah Ahmed and 3 others.

2. An FCT High Court Apo continues hearing in a case of alleged impersonation and giving false statements filed against Ugwu Martins.

3. An FCT High Court, Wuse, continues hearing in a case of alleged armed robbery filed against three men.

4. The Court of Appeal rules on Eyitayo Jegede’s motion to appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in the Ondo governorship tussle.

5. PDP in Akure holds news conference, following controversy over its governorship candidates in the Nov. 26 election in Ondo State.

6. The Enugu Zonal office of EFCC summons Federal Director of Works in Enugu over petitions
on alleged shoddy deal they said left most federal roads in the South-East in deplorable condition.

7. Free medical outreach programme, organised by Borno chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) comes up in IDP camps in Maiduguri.

8. Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno inaugurates constructed 1,000 housing units by the state government for IDPs in Benesheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of the state.

9. The Chief of Naval Staff tour of naval formations in the South-South continues.

10. All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) meets.

11. House of Representatives Committee on Housing meets.

12.The African Development Bank to launch the 2015 African Development report at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.

13. Organisers of the 2016 Family Planning (FP) and Annual Population Lecture Series holds news conference in Abuja.

14. Society for the Promotion of People`s Right, an NGO, holds a media roundtable in Maitama on promoting environmental health in the FCT.

15. Minister of Transportation hosts the Joint Senate and House Committee on Land Transport on oversight visit to the ministry.