Author: Isah Mukhtar

Ohaneze youth wing does not exist— Attamah

Ohaneze
By Christian Njoku/ Jirai Amayah
Abuja, April 6, 2018 (NAN) Ohaneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians to disregard statements by one Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Okwu Nnabuike claiming to be president and secretary of the youth wing of the association.

The special adviser to the President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Emeka Attamah, in a release in Enugu dismissed a claim by the two that they were officials of Ohaneze  youth wing.

Attamah said the group would not join issues with the two men but needed to clear some misrepresentations that they made.

He said the men, in search of cheap popularity, cast aspersions on the person of the President- General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

Attamah said that the youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo was dissolved in 2016 by Ime-Obi led National Executive Council, while the tenure of the women wing expired in 2017.

He said the so-called Ohaneze youth wing executive did not exist as the new executives for both the youth and women wings would soon be elected.

He said the National Executive of Ohaneze Ndigbo existed at the instance of the General Assembly, which had demonstrated confidence on the executive committee led by Nwodo.

Attamah added that Nwodo had continued to enjoy the confidence of the National Executive Council of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

He said the president-general was the only member among the executive prohibited by the constitution from participating in party politics.

He said it was preposterous to imagine that Nwodo could romance with any political aspirant, let alone determine his choice of a running mate.

Attamah said that associating Nwodo with politics could only be the handiwork of some politicians. (NAN)
CBN/JAS/MUYI/JCE
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Chukwudi Ekezie

Fish

By Biola Lawal

Abuja, April 5, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says there is no plastic fish in circulation in Nigeria.

NAFDAC Management said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that its finding followed “a thorough investigation and analysis of some unsuspected plastic fish samples’’ in its laboratory.

The agency said that “the investigation was triggered by a report from a consumer in Abuja who claimed that he bought a fish which refused to cook when set on fire for several minutes.

“The suspected sample of the fish, after thorough investigation, was confirmed to contain protein and fat which is normal to fish.

“The fish was, however, found to be unwholesome due to serious bacterial contamination, NAFDAC said.

“While encouraging Nigerians to watch carefully the kind of fish they buy, it is however important to stress that there is no plastic fish in Nigeria.’’

The management noted that few weeks ago, there had been the circulation of suspected plastic fish in some parts of the world on the social media but stressed that no single case had been found in Nigeria, so far.

The agency urged Nigerians to“ report any suspected unwholesome product, including fish to the nearest NAFDAC office for further investigation’’.(NAN)

BL/MUYI/DUA

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Dada Ahmed

Application

By Biola Lawal

Abuja, April 5, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government has opened invitation for young potential innovators and entrepreneurs from the North-Central and South-East regions to apply for support under its private-sector led “Startup Nigeria’’ empowerment programme.

Mr Godwin Arigbonu, the Communication Associate of the programme said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Arigbonu said “applications into the Startup Nigeria programme by the coordinating private firms would be opened from April 7 to April 19.

“Interested candidates are invited to apply via the website www.startupnigeria.ng to take advantage of this opportunity and have their innovative ideas taken from mind to market,’’ he said.

He assured them that the empowering programme would help hem a great deal in entrepreneurship development team ‘’with the powerful backing of the government.’’

Arigbonu said The Startup Nigeria coordinating private firms, which he described as Emerging Platforms, were partnering with Ventures Platform Foundation and Genesys Tech Hub to implement the programme in the North-Central and South-Eastern for the Federal Government.

He, however, said the programme “has been designed by the Federal Government to help Nigerians with amazing, innovative ideas, create viable products go to market and gain traction’’.

“The Startup Nigeria project is an incubation programme in partnership with existing hubs and enterprise development organisations for young Nigerian startups in the North-Central and South-East regions in the early traction phase of their enterprises.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Startup Nigeria is being anchored by the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) in the Office of the Vice President as part of the Federal Government’s support for Innovation Hubs across the country.

He said the current programme “will mainly be focused on finding startups/innovators who either had ideas or start-up to solve the challenges of agriculture and governance in the North-Central region.

According to Arigbonu, the programme will also look into commerce and finance in the South-Eastern areas of Nigeria.

He noted that the implementation of the programme was a fulfilment of Federal Government’s promise to support entrepreneurial growth in the country.

“ The APC-led government of Nigeria has made great strides in fulfilling its promise to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the nation by partnering with existing enterprise development organisations across the country,” he said.

Vice-President Yemi Osinabjo had stated that the Federal Government would support eight private sector-led innovation hubs in the country with one in each of the six geo-political zones of the country with Lagos and Abuja having each of the private sector-led hubs.

Arigbonu quoted the partnering firms as assuring that “the entire programme would be transparent, adding that ‘’everyone is invited to be a part of the journey by connecting with Startup Nigeria’s social media platforms.

The platforms, according to him are; – @startsng – on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for people to leave feedback and support the selected candidates. (NAN)

BL/MO/DUA

Edited by Omolade Michael/Dada Ahmed

Fire

By Mateen Badru

Lagos, April 5, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Fire Service (FFS) in Lagos on Thursday took delivery of 23 fire-fighting trucks to further equip its men for the protection of lives and property of Nigerians.

Inaugurating the equipment, the Minister for Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Rahman Danbazzau (Rtd), said that the Federal Government had last December procured 10 fire-fighting trucks for the FFS in Abuja.
“Two years ago when I was here, there was no functional equipment. This place was an eyesore and being a central place in the heart of Lagos.

“Though, Lagos State Government made an attempt to do something too, but I said we also have to come in because we serve the people,’’ the minister said.
Dambazzau said that the federal government would not only focus on purchasing equipment but would also pay attention to the welfare of personnel.
He urged the Service to focus on training to improve the response time of fire fighters and maintain the equipment which were purchased with public funds.

“Two weeks ago, the federal government approved the procurement of a simulation equipment which will give personnel training opportunity.

“A lot still needs to be done in the Federal Fire Service as it is an important agency of the government because it has to do with protection of lives and property, he said.
He urged the fire fighters to be professional in their duties despite the fact that the fire service was a risky business.
Earlier, Controller General, FFS, Mr Joseph Anebi, said that the delivery of the trucks symbolized additional efforts aimed at complementing efforts of state fire services.

“We have been able to create a good relationship with the various state fire services to ensure partnership for efficient service delivery to Nigerians.
“In the area of training and capacity building, the service had upgraded the National Fire Academy to a degree awarding institution by affiliating it with Nigeria Defence Academy,” he said

He added that a training school had also been established in Minna, Niger State, for the training of junior fire officers.
Mr Olisa Machie, FFS Commanding Officer in Lagos State, thanked the federal government for the support and gave assurance that the equipment would be maintained and utilised effectively. (NAN)
BOM/WOJ
Edited by Wale Ojetimi

Consulate
By Oladele Eniola
Cotonou (Benin Republic) April 5, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria would soon establish a consulate in northern part of Benin Republic to provide diplomatic services to its citizens in the area, Nigeria’s Ambassador in Cotonou, Kayode Oguntuase, has said.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Cotonou that the new consulate would be established to meet diplomatic and consular needs of Nigerians in that country.
“We are in the process of establishing consulate office in other parts of Benin Republic, especially the northern side, because of the distance that our people have to cover when coming to Cotonou.
“For the time being, our consulate officials always go to these places every week to ensure that the needs of our people are provided for them, especially in terms of documentation.

“We are committed to ensuring that the diplomatic needs of our people are met without any problem,” the Nigerian envoy said.
He advised Nigerians resident in Benin to cooperate with the embassy in its efforts to serve them better.
Oguntuase said there was need for the nation’s borders to be well-equipped with basic facilities to enhance effective policing of the areas.
“Border communities must be developed for the agencies who operate in the communities as this would help in boosting security across the border.
“Security agencies who operate in border areas must ensure that they work together with the communities in securing the borders.
“They must be provided with the basic social amenities so this would serve as motivation for the host communities to work with the agencies,” the envoy said
He called on the relevant authorities to cater for the security agencies by providing barracks and necessary equipment for a conducive working environment.

Oguntuase advised Nigerians against the smuggling of petrol across the border, causing scarcity of fuel in Nigeria.
“We must realise that the government needs our help to eradicate some vices so we must stop engaging in smuggling of fuel because this affects the economy and the country is losing a lot of revenue to the illicit act,” the envoy said. (NAN)

ENI/WOJ
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Edited by Wale Ojetimi

IGP reinstates Janga as Kogi police commissioner

Police

Lokoja, April 5, 2018 ( NAN) Mr Ali Janga has been reinstated as the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, the state police command spokesman, ASP William Aya, has confirmed.

Aya told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday that Janga returned to office on April 3 on the order of the Inspector -General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

He said that Janga was reinstated after meeting the one week ultimatum given to him by the Inspector -General of Police to re-arrest the suspects who escaped from police custody.

The police spokesman confirmed that all the six suspects that escaped from lawful police custody on March 28 had been re-arrested.

Aya also said that 13 persons that aided the escape of the suspects had been arrested in Lokoja.

According to him, those arrested are commercial tricycles operators that ferried the suspects to safety after their escape and the owners of the houses where they slept after their escape from custody.

He said that all the suspects would be charged to court after conclusion of investigation.

Janga had on March 28 announced that six suspects, including Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salisu, who had named Sen. Dino Melaye as their gun supplier escaped from lawful police custody in Lokoja.

Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, removed Janga as the state Commissioner of Police and named Mr Sunday Ogbu as his replacement.

Aya said that the 13 policemen that were on duty on the day of the incident had gone to the police headquarters for interrogation as directed by the IGP, saying that they had started returning to their duty posts. ( NAN)
KKA/WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

Rice
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, April 4, 2018 (NAN) The Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) programme says its second phase is aimed at enhancing rice production and farmers’ income in West and East Africa.

Dr Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Programme Director of CARI, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kachelriess-Matthess said that CARI programme had been in operation in Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Tanzania since 2013, adding that its first phase would wind up in June this year.

He said that the first phase of CARI had been ranked successful in all the five criteria of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which included relevance, effectiveness, impact, efficiency, and sustainability.

“On the basis of the very good results regarding the achievement of Objectives 1 and 2 and the potential for improvement towards Objectives 3 and 4, the evaluation mission recommended to plan another phase for CARI.’’

He recalled that in December 2017, CARI Phase 2 was launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

He said that the execution of the CARI Phase 2 programme would start on July 1, 2018.

“The Phase II of CARI will foster relationship between the actors and rice value chain in Nigeria, Ghana Boukina Faso and Tanzania.

“It will also promote productivity, income and rice value chain, while increasing food security at the regional level in West and East Africa.

“CARI Phase II will be executed, in partnership with the Alliance of Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), in the four countries, with a focus on how to involve and help more farmers in Africa.

“We will try and look into some of the challenges which the first phase of CARI is facing in Africa in terms of increasing population and demand for rice,’’ he said.

Kachelriess-Matthess said: “We need to meet with the demand of rice consumers so that they can have enough food.

“We need to organise the value chain in such a way that it can receive additional support through the actors already available in those countries and financial institutes because agriculture production in the field requires a lot of resources.

“It also needs processing requirements, marketing, storage and transport resources; all these financial resources need to come from within the system and partnerships with financial institutions.’’

Alhaji Muhammed Auwal, National Secretary of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), said that CARI has been exposing rice farmers to basic skills in modern rice production.

“There is ongoing training at Farmers’ Business School in Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs); the training is to teach farmers how to use fertilisers and have high yields.

“This has really helped to grow our yield per hectare. Prior to the inception of CARI, we do have  2.5 tonnes per hectare but our yield increased to 5.6 tonnes per hectare 2016 and it later increased to between 8.5 and 9 metric tonnes in 2017, which is a remarkable increment.’’

Auwal commended CARI for equipping farmers with the technical know-how on rice production, building their capacity to sustain the increase in rice yield per hectare and providing them with access to finance, inputs and GAPs.

“We are ready to partner with CARI II so as to continue to enjoy the dividends of this tremendous rice revolution in Nigeria, while achieving increased productivity.

“We urge CARI to carry more farmers along in its second phase because most of the non-beneficiaries of the programme have seen the increasing yields of the beneficiaries and they wish to be included in the programme.’’

Auwal said that with the support of the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, rice importation into the country had drastically reduced by over 90 per cent.

He noted that many citizens were now eating locally produced rice which was more nutritious. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

Easter: Civil Servants in Ekiti, Benin, Lokoja resume work

By Bolanle Lawal/Joy Odigie/Aledare Akinwale
Workers
Abuja, April 3, 2018 (NAN) Civil servants in Ekiti, Kogi and Edo States resumed work on Tuesday after two days Easter public holidays declared by the Federal Government.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondents, who went round the State Secretariats and other Federal Agencies, reports that normal activities have started in most of the states.

Some of the civil servants who spoke with NAN said that they were impressed with the high turnout of workers at work after the Easter celebration.

Civil servants at all the Federal Secretariats and Agencies visited were back to their duty posts in large numbers, thanking God for bringing them back to work hale and healthy.

Mr Aina, a Federal worker in Ado-Ekiti, said he enjoyed the Easter holidays, saying that it was a time for him to relax with his families and loved ones.

Another state civil servant, who pleaded anonymity said he didn’t enjoy the Easter celebration as the government did not pay their salaries, hence making it unpleasant for him and his family.

“I see no reason staying at home after the holiday, everywhere was boring to me, this made me resume work.

“Also, the fear of saying I don’t have to my children, who are still on holiday hastened my resumption to work.

“I want to appeal to the state government to pay our salaries so as to feed our families as well as pay for children school fees when they resume,” he pleaded.

Another worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged the State government to always make sure it pays workers’ salaries ahead of any celebration so as to make it enjoyable and stress free.

In Benin, as work resumed on Tuesday, Edo Government Secretariat and other government offices in Benin, witnessed impressive turn out of civil servants.

A NAN correspondent, who monitored the resumption of work at the secretariat, noted that the gate was opened for normal activities with workers showing up before 8:00 a.m.

Some of the workers, who spoke with NAN, said the break afforded them the opportunity to relax with friends and family members.

Mr Peterson Okojie, a staff member of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said he used the break to relax with his family.

“I took my family to the Oga Zoological garden in Benin to see the animals as well as see the Oga River that flows through the zoo.

“it was a well spent time and I am happy to resume work again,” Okojie said.

Similarly, Miss Faith Adolo, member of staff of the State Civil Service Commission, said she used the break to travel to see her parents in the village as she could not do so during the Christmas celebration.

“ I am happy to resume work and I believe I will be more productive after the break.

NAN reports that enterprises around the government offices were also opened to the public.

In Lokoja, NAN reports that Kogi civil servants have resumed work after the Easter vacation.

Mr Isa Dauda, who works at the ministry of youths and sport, noted that the long vacation was a splendid one which helped workers to relax and prepare for days ahead.

“We are back to work now after our long vacation, work has started and we must return to work,” he said.

Mrs Veronica Amos, who works with the ministry of solid minerals, said the vacation was a big relief to her as she had enough time to rest.

She noted that there was enough time to have fun with her family, in spite of the non payment of salaries in the state.

Mrs Esther Ilori, said workers have resumed and are ready to start work immediately.

“We have gone on a long break and we must resume at the right time and follow our schedule of work,” she said.

Mr Dele Ayewunmi, a staff in the Secretariat, also noted that he was overwhelmed that many workers had resumed today.

He urged the state government to continue to give priority to welfare of workers and prompt payment of salaries.

Mr Segun Abubakar, appealed to the state government to always take workers’ welfare seriously as they are the bedrock of the civil service.(NAN)
WAL/FFB/OOJ/OSA/AFA
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Esan/Felix Ajide

Kogi governor fell off car, injured left foot – official

Bello

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, April 3, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State fell off while alighting from his official car on Friday, March 30, and injured his left foot, a statement from the Kogi Government House, Lokoja, said on Tuesday.

The statement signed by Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Director–General, Media and Publicity to the governor, said that the incident happened at the old market area in Lokoja, when the governor was waiting to receive the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tanimu Dogara.

The Speaker had visited Lokoja for the burial of Mr Umar Buba Jibril, a member of the House of Representative, who died in Abuja on that Friday.

“The injury prevented the governor from attending the burial of Jibril. He was represented by his deputy, Mr Simon Achuba,” the statement said.

It dismissed claims that Bello was hospitalised and incapacitated, stating that the governor was promptly treated by his doctors, who bandaged the leg and discharged him.

The statement thanked the governor’s supporters for their concern over his health, saying that Bello was doing well and would resume work after the Easter holidays.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clarification was necessitated by reports that the governor was critically injured in the accident. ( NAN)
KKA /ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Gunmen invade Kogi police station, kill two policemen on duty

Invasion

Lokoja, April 3, 2018 ( NAN) Some gunmen early on Tuesday invaded the police station at Gegu village on Lokoja – Abuja road, killing two of the policemen on duty.

Spokesman for Kogi State Police Command, ASP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that the gunmen also injured one of the suspects in police cell.

He said that the corpses of the slain policemen had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where the injured suspect is also receiving treatment.

Aya said that investigation had commenced into the incident which happened at about 2:15 am.

Meanwhile, some of the villagers told newsmen that the gunmen, about five in number, came on motorcycles.

The suspects, according to the villagers, immediately opened fire on arrival at the police station, killing two of the policemen on duty and fatally injuring one of the suspects in cell.

The incident, the villagers said, led to disruption in traffic movement in the ever busy Lokoja – Abuja road.

Normal traffic movement had since resumed on the road. ( NAN)
KKA/WOJ
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Edited by Wale Ojetimi