Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-HE-16

Tollgates

By Franca Ofili

Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Dr Tunji Olaopa, Executive Vice- Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, has said that  the reintroduction of tollgates on highways can be used to address Nigeria’s current economic recession.

Olaopa expressed the view at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on Thursday on reducing the cost of governance.

His paper at the conference was entitled,  “ Using the Instrumentality of Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Reduction of Cost of Governance in Nigeria’’.

“Toll abolition in 2004 was too hasty, especially as the Road Fund designed to replace it for the maintenance of major highways in the country was not achieved in the absence of required enabling law.

“Nigeria has, therefore, lost the little revenue from tolling its highways that could have come handy in this period of recession.

“The effect can be seen in the success story of Lekki Road Concession and the impact on the economy of Lagos State and attendant improvement of standard of residents in that area of Lagos.

“It should be clear that tolling of highways is a revenue spinner,’’ Olaopa said.

He said that research had shown that private companies were  usually better than governments at building, operating and maintaining infrastructure in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Olaopa said when the private sector bore the risks of operations, maintenance and construction, project costs should  presumably be lower and should reduce costs to be borne by the government.

He advised that the system of Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) could be used in building more refineries and move Nigeria more strongly on the diversification curve.

According to him, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model is, however. not advised with the record of inefficiency of commercial operations of public enterprises.

“In this period of pipeline vandalism and destruction in the Niger Delta, BTO is advised,’’ Olaopa said.

Also, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Chief Executive Officer, Development Associates Limited, said for diversification to happen, the country must return to development planning

Adetunmbi said in a paper, “ Diversification of the economy as a strategy for reduction of cost of governance’’, that diversification must involve good thinking to introduce   policies. (NAN)

FNO/JCE

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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-24
Cynthia
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct.  13, 2016 (NAN) An Igbosere High Court sitting on Lagos Island has foreclosed the right of a defendant, Olisaeloka Ezike, to file his final written address in the trial of the four men, who allegedly murdered Cynthia Osokogu in Lagos after being lured by a facebook lover.

‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osokogu was allegedly murdered on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her facebook lover.

Ezike, the second defendant, is standing trial alongside Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25, over the murder.

They are facing trial on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, ordered the Prosecutor, Mrs Bola Akinshete, a Lagos State Senior Counsel, to file her reply to the final written addresses of all the defendants.

The judge gave this order following the delay by the ‎second defendant’s counsel in filing his final written address, after several adjournments had been given by the judge to file the address.

Justice Akinlade said: “I am not going to wait indefinitely for the second defendant’s counsel to file his final written address.

“It is on record that the court has given the second defendant several opportunities to file his written address.

“Since the Defence closed its case, till now he has ‎been unable to file.

“It is obvious that the counsel is not ready to file his final written ‎address. I hereby foreclose his right to file the final written address.

“The prosecution should therefore file her reply to the final addresses’’.

However, the judge adjourned the case to Dec. 8 for adoption of the final written addresses.

Earlier, the prosecutor had urged the court to foreclose the right of the second defendant from filing his final written address to enable her to file her reply on the addresses.

“Since the last adjournment on June 8, despite the order of your lordship for the second defendant to file his final written address, he has refused to comply.

“I, therefore, urge Your Lordship to foreclose his right to filing ‎the address to enable us make progress in this case,’’ Akinshete said.

NAN recalls Akinlade had at the last adjournment on June 8 expressed displeasure over the delay of the second Defence counsel in filing his final written address.

Akinlade, however, threatened to award a substantial cost to the second defendant over his failure to do so.

According to the judge, the Defence counsel was delaying the case which was of interest to the public.

She said people always had the notion that it was the court that was using delay tactics to prolong the case without knowing that it was caused by the defendant’s counsel.

The prosecutor said the 25-year-old Osokogu, who was resident in Abuja, was lured to Lagos before she was killed.

The offences violated Sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)
OCC/ENN/DA
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

Distance learning, virile alternative to limited spaces in varsities – Don
NAN-H-19
Education
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) An educationist, Prof. Amos Adewole, has described distance learning education as a virile alternative to the limited spaces in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Adewole, who lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.
He noted that distance learning education was the only way to curb the desperation for admission into the public universities amongst school leavers, which paved way for corruption.
‘’You will agree with me that there is no way the government can solve the problem of influx of university applicants through the establishment of more universities like they did recently.
‘’Obviously, the government lacks the resources to cater for millions of candidates that are applying to public universities yearly, which is heating up the system.
‘’Of course, government has to look inward to create a robust alternative for these young chaps who are the future of our dear nation, because no country can develop without education,’’ Adewole said.

The don cited the example of some prominent Nigerians who did not have the opportunity of university education through the classrooms but became educated via distance learning.
According to the educationist, prominent legal luminaries like Chief Afe Babalola as well as the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, bagged their law degree though correspondence.
‘’Did that form of education make them inferior to their contemporaries who went to regular universities? No, they were even better than many of those people in all ramifications,’’ Adewole said.
Among the salient factors that made distance learning education imperative and inevitable were the poor state of the economy and the menace of unemployment, the university teacher said.
“Many of our youths really desire university education but they cannot afford it on the regular basis without doing something to support themselves, hence the need for alternative.
“These individuals deserve to be considered and the only way this can be done is by making it possible for them to work and learn at the same time,” Adewole said.

On the quality of distance learning education, Adewole said: ‘’if distance learning education is arranged in line with global best practice, it will be the best form of education so far.
‘’And the only way we can achieved that is through the introduction of e-learning that will make students in their thousands to study at their own pace without stress.
‘’I visited Open University of United Kingdom recently, where over 150, 000 students receive lectures without seeing any of them on campus. About 7,000 of them are here in Nigeria.
‘’I enjoin the government of the day to take a clue and make it possible for many of our teeming youths to be educated,” Adewole said. (NAN)
DOO/ORO/WOJ
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(Editing by Razak Owolabi / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-AE-3
Communication
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, the Media Consultant for World Bank, has advocated for the effective use of Information and Communication Technology for successful implementation of second Additional Financing AF II in the North-East Nigeria.

Oladunjoye gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He added that the success of Fadama III AF in Nigeria was traced to effective role of information and communication.

He said that communication was the vehicle with which the aims and objectives of an organisation were transported to its internal and external publics and feedback obtained for the attainment of set goals.

“ The contribution from both local and International media generated lot of awareness creation for Fadama III AF Project all over the country and abroad.

“ The use of Mass media in the project communication strategy is a well-informed decision because they have the monopoly of the airwaves, airtime, as well as the professional competence,” he said.

NAN reports that the North-East is a major an agrarian region blessed with natural and agricultural resources such as groundnut, rice, tomato, yam, sorghum, cattle hide and beef, pepper, citrus, among others.

According to him, the World Bank rightly declares that sustained and well-designed communication about the project will be critical to its effectiveness and the transparency of all its processes.

“ The credibility of the intervention with returning farmers and the wider project community would be a great achievement of the project in the region.

“ Strong and open communications, with demonstrably effective grievance redressed mechanisms, will also help limit negative criticisms and risks for those supporting the project and its goals.

“ The communication is the project and the project is the communication because effective use of it is the key to success,” he said.

He stated the role of the World Bank toward the success of the project was to provide accurate and timely information about the progress and issues in line with its transparency and in the interest of proactive outreach.

Oladunjoye suggested formal and informal channels, local, national, and international media, print, radio and television stations, social media as channels of information and communication to be used in the project implementation.

Others, he added, should be interactive sessions, which would include online newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations, specialised journals on agriculture and development, community radio and AF II ambassadors.

He also called for the inputs by religious leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs and Community-based Originations (CBOs), community leaders and traditional rulers and interactive session for the stakeholders in the implementation of the project.

He said that facility tours and field surveys and capacity building for the project staff, through local and international training, would go a long way to aid the success of the project. (NAN)
ROK/DUA/AFA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-32
Chibokgirls
Ismaila Chafe
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016(NAN) The Presidency has confirmed the release of 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls by their abductors.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, announced the release on his twitter handle on Thursday.

Shehu said the released girls were in the custody of the Department of Security Services (DSS).

He said the Director-General of DSS, Malam Lawal Daura, had briefed Buhari on the development. (NAN)
SYC/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

Presidency confirms the release of 21 Chibok girls, says they are in the custody of DSS.

Bierhoff: Germany looking at 2018 World Cup quarters in Moscow area

NAN-S-6
Bierhoff
Berlin, Oct. 13, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Title-holders Germany are set to have their 2018 World Cup base camp in the Moscow area, team general manager Oliver Bierhoff told Thursday’s edition of Kicker sports magazine.

“We must make a decision before the draw and we won’t know where we will be playing. At the moment it looks like the best quarters options are around Moscow,’’ Bierhoff said.

Dpa learnt they include the facilities of the Saturn Ramenskoye club some 50 kilometres south-east of Moscow.

Provided they qualify for the June 14 to July 15, 2018 tournament in Russia, Germany are to be seeded and would play at least one group match in Moscow. The World Cup draw is on Dec. 1, 2017.

A German delegation including coach Joachim Loew will be in Russia for the Nov. 26 Confederations Cup draw, and Loew said that the World Cup camp issue is also on their agenda.

Germany had their own hotel built in a remote area at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil which they won. But Bierhoff said “you can’t build a Campo Bahia everywhere, and it won’t be possible in Russia.’’ (dpa/NAN)
TON
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1.  Health workshop on pain management by Federal Medical Centre, Enugu.

2. Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, opens 16th regular meeting of the National Council on Women Societies in Kaduna.

3. Chief Medical Director, Jos University Teaching Hospital briefs newsmen on cochlea implants.

4. Commissioner for Women Affairs briefs newsmen in Makurdi on state of Benue Rehabilitation Home.

5. Kogi House of Assembly considers motion asking the state government to initiate school feeding scheme.

6. Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly, briefs newsmen in Jalingo on findings of the House from recent oversight visits to various government establishments.

7. Lioness Club organises free eye screening and surgery programme in Ibadan as part of activities to mark World Sight Day.

8. Trial of former Chief of Air Staff Mohammed Umar for alleged arms procurement scam while in office continues at Federal High Court.

9. Trial on police pension funds scam continues at FCT High Court.

10. Chief Judge of FCT begins jail delivery in prisons in Abuja.

11. Former Plateau governor Joshua Dariye’s alleged N1.16 billion fraud case continues at
an FCT High Court, Gudu.

12. National Judicial Council meeting continues as it enters third day.

13. CAF ‘C’ Licence Coaching Course continues at FIFA Goal Project.

Atletico Madrid are keen to continue atop Spanish Liga

NAN-S-5
Atletico
Madrid, Oct. 13, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Practically all football experts in Spain predicted that twin giants Barcelona and Real Madrid would continue with their bipolar hegemony in La Liga this season.

However, the team on top of the greasy pole at the moment is not one of that pair but instead hard-working Atletico Madrid, who are keen to repeat their surprise title snatch-and-grab of three years ago.

“We have not spent the last 10 days staring at the league table. We do not want to attach too much importance to the table so early in the season,’’ Atletico coach Diego Simeone said ahead of Saturday’s home clash with bottom club Granada.

“But I must admit that it is good to be top, above clubs which have a much higher budget than us … Now our aim is to stay up there.’’

Simeone might be tempted to give a rare start to veteran Fernando Torres or even little Angel Correa, given that Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Carrasco returned weary and bruised on Wednesday, after playing two full matches each for France and Belgium respectively.

Griezmann is joint top Liga scorer along with Barca’s Luis Suarez, though he has missed four of his last six penalties for Atletico.

In spite of his spot-kick nightmare, Griezmann has recently convinced almost the entire footballing world of his quality – although compatriot Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich has said: “Griezmann is clearly a good player, but not yet one of the very highest class.

“When he has been at the very top for 10 or 11 years like me, then we will be able to say he is world class.’’

Back on the troubled Granada bench will be old hand Lucas Alcaraz, who has replaced the unpopular Paco Jemez. This will be Alcaraz’s fourth spell at his hometown club.

“What we need here is tranquility and hard work. The situation of a football team can change very quickly, with those two ingredients.’’

Atletico have a better goal difference than neighbours Real, who will be without Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro and Luka Modric for Saturday’s visit to lowly Real Betis.

Bossing the midfield for The Whites will be the elegant Toni Kroos, who extended his contract to 2022 this week.

Also Saturday, stumbling Barcelona will host midtable Deportivo La Coruna.

Barca have made their worst start since 2005, already dropping eight points, and will be without injured full-backs Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba.

However, Lionel Messi will be ready to return, as will Samuel Umtiti.

Barca are fourth, two points behind the Madrid leaders, and one below third-placed Sevilla, who will visit solid Leganes.

Sunday will see fifth-placed Villarreal host Celta Vigo, and Athletic Bilbao – who are sixth – host Basque rivals Real Sociedad.

The weekend’s other games are Las Palmas v Espanyol, Alaves v Malaga, Sporting Gijon v Valencia and Eibar v Osasuna. (dpa/NAN)
TON
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Boxer Tyson Fury gives sup world titles to focus on medical treatment

NAN-S-4
Title
Sydney, Oct. 13, 2016 (dpa/NAN) British boxing world champion Tyson Fury has vacated his three heavyweight titles to focus on his recovery from “a serious medical condition’’ his management said in a statement late on Wednesday.

The step comes after a long break from boxing which Fury took after taking Wladimir Klitschko’s IBF, WBA and WBO belts with a victory in Germany last November.

Since then he has admitted to taking drugs and suffering from manic depression in an interview.

“I’m unable to defend (my titles) at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured World titles and wish the next in-line contenders all the very best,’’ Fury said in the statement on the website of his management Hennessy Sports.

“I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer,’’ he added.

On Monday, the World Boxing Organisation issued a deadline telling Fury to demonstrate why his title “should not be vacated due to inactivity, breach of contract and performance enhancing drugs and stimulants.’’ (dpa/NAN)
TON
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Controlled by Tony Nezianya