Author: Isah Mukhtar

(NAN PHOTO)

Night fire razes 3 duplexes in Gowon Estate, Lagos
NAN-H-1
Fire
By Edwin Nwachukwu

Lagos, Jan. 20, 2018 (NAN) Fire on Friday night gutted three duplexes on 34 Road, B Close of Gowon Estate, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Egbada, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAM) reports.

NAN also reports that there was no casualty recorded in the inferno.

An eyewitness, who spoke to NAN, said that the fire was first noticed at about 7.15pm in one of the duplexes before spreading to others.

He said that an occupant in one of duplexes, who had just returned, opened the door and met the raging fire, immediately raised an alarm which attracted neighbours and sympathisers.

According to the witness, the bewildered occupant’s action quickly attracted more sympathisers’ who ran helter-skelter in assisting to put-off the fire, but their efforts were not enough.

But the arrival and efforts of a combined team of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and State Fire Service officials to the scene helped to quench the fire.

Some of the residents, who also spoke to NAN, commended the early arrival of the LASEMA personnel, saying that they got to the scene 30 minutes after being called.

“They came with five trucks, all with sufficient water that tackled the inferno before it was finally put-off,’’ the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Mr Nathanel Okoro, said.

He also praised the DPO of the Gowon Estate Police Station, Mr Adeniyi Adedeji, for personally leading his team to the scene to provide security.

“Although the LASEMA official did not know the location of the fire incident if not for the assistance of the police who escorted them,’’ he said.

A LASEMA officer, who identified himself as Mr Olaolu Odufuwa, told NAN that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately.

The estate had also recorded a late night inferno on Nov. 28, 2017, which gutted five of eight shops attached to a Union Bank building on 411 Road Junction. (NAN)
ENN/IA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Idris Abdulrahman

Caption: Officials of supermarket chain SPAR Nigeria at the launch of in store Wi-Fi for shoppers in Ilupeju, Lagos.JPG
NAN-H-16
Wi-Fi
By Henry Oladele
Lagos, Jan. 19, 2018 (NAN) A leading supermarket chain, SPAR, has introduced free Wi-Fi in its 12 stores across the country.

The free Wi-Fi, which began its debut at the Ilupeju branch of the hyper-market, would be implemented across other SPAR stores nationwide.

SPAR spokesperson, John Goldsmith, said in a statement that the free Wi-Fi service would be available to shoppers using a smartphone, tablet or a laptop that has built-in Wi-Fi.

“We are glad to announce the launch of Free Wi-Fi service from SPAR Ilupeju store. We are sure the Free Wi-Fi service is in line with our shopper
expectation and it will surely delight our shoppers and add joy to their shopping experience,” he said.

According to him, Wi-Fi routers are placed in strategic locations inside the store so that shoppers can enjoy a seamless browsing experience in each and every corner of the store.
“We have done an extensive heat mapping of the shopper flow inside our stores and identified the best locations to deploy the routers.
“As it happens in all product and service launches, we too will go through a learning phase which will help us fine tune service to deliver superior connectivity for all our shoppers,” Goldsmith said.

He said SPAR shoppers would need to complete a one-time registration with their email address after which they would be able to use a maximum of 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi daily.

“Shoppers can come every day and use Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes which is a fair approximation to time spent in the store.

“One of the core pillars of SPAR is customer service and free Wi-Fi is one of the must have for today’s aspiring customer in a modern retail store.
“In Africa’s emerging economy, free Wi-Fi is one such value-added service that shopper especially the youth segment looks for in any place of shopping location.

“Our most exciting moments are captured when our shoppers come into our stores, have a fantastic experience and leave satisfied,’’ said the SPAR spokesperson. (NAN)
HOB/WOJ
(Edited By Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-25
Girls
By Mateen Badru
Lagos, Jan 18, 2018 (NAN) About 200 school girls in Lagos have been mobilised for training on the prevention of gender-based violence and abuse in secondary schools in the state.
The project, targeted primarily at secondary school girls between the ages of 13 and 16 years, was initiated by Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), an NGO, in partnership with Diamond Bank.
Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, WARIF Chief Executive, said in a statement that training tools and learning processes were inculcated into the school curriculum to educate and re-orientate the pupils against gender-based violence and abuse.

“Girls will learn to speak up and say no to any form of abuse. Boys will be thought likewise but more importantly, to be shields and protectors of girls instead of been abusers or enablers.

“Boys will learn to respect girls from that age and girls will be taught likewise; to love and value themselves as equals with their male counterparts,’’ she said.

According to DaSilva-Ibru, trained WARIF facilitators will be educating and working with the children in a focus group/learning setting to enable the children open up and be free.

She said that the project was carried out under WARIF Educational School Programme (WESP), a preventive initiative against the prevalence of sexual assault and rape cases among secondary school children in Lagos State
“We are extremely excited about our recent partnership with Diamond Bank. With their support and sponsorship, we are going back to schools in Lagos State and will expand WESP to include an additional number of affected adolescent school children.
“This will provide the necessary tool-kit that is vital in educating and re-orienting the mind set of our future generation of young men and women and will put an end to gender-based violence in our society,” she said.
Diamond Bank spokesperson, Chioma Afe, said that the partnership with WARIF was an opportunity to re-orientate and educate women and young students on issues around gender-based violence.
“Women’s health and wellbeing form core part of the bank’s approach toward corporate sustainability and WARIF’s efforts provide a good platform through which to empower not only Nigerian women but the younger generation,” said the Diamond Bank official.
She said that the initiative would help in reducing the incidences of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
WARIF was incorporated in 2016 in response to the high incidence of sexual assault, rape and human trafficking occurring among young girls and women across Nigeria.
The Foundation says its sexual assault referral centre in Yaba, Lagos has so far treated and offered free medical care, counselling, shelter, legal aid and 24-hour confidential helpline to 446 young girls and women in need. (NAN)
BOM/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-AE-7
Projects
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Jan. 17, 2018 (NAN) The FADAMA III Second Additional Financing (AFII) Programme has started the execution of infrastructural projects in some rural communities across Yobe.

A statement by Mr Tunde Oladunjoyelo, the World Bank Media Consultant on FADAMA, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement quoted Mr Musa Garba, the State Project Coordinator as saying that one project would be executed in each of the beneficiary communities to bridge the infrastructural gaps created by activities of insurgents.

“The insurgents had wantonly destroyed basic amenities like water facilities, culverts, access roads and market stalls, among others, in the affected communities and the projects are to help the returnees to rebuild their lives.

“I urge all the contractors to ensure that they mobilise to their respective project sites in time and ensure quality work, as agreed in the contract terms.

“The FADAMA 111 programme will not accept substandard work from any contractor or any delay in the completion of the works given to them,’’ it said.

The statement urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations working with the FADAMA III (AF II) Project to sensitise the beneficiary communities to the need to own the projects executed for them.

It also urged the local government areas where the projects were located to complement the efforts of all the stakeholders striving to help the victims of the insurgency to recover and return to normal life.

“The project will help victims to recover their normal life with sustainable means of livelihoods and access to basic infrastructure by making life easier for the returnees in their localities.

“The FADAMA III (AF II) programme has been supporting displaced persons and returnees with food assistance and livelihood packages.

“The project is now needed in communities which have lost hope of getting these projects but for the timely intervention of the FADAMA programme.’’ (NAN)
ROK/OIF/OOK
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Dayo Komolafe

Kogi gets 21 new permanent secretaries

NAN–H–22

Appointment

Lokoja, Jan. 17 , 2018 ( NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has approved the appointment of 21 new permanent secretaries into the state civil service.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule said in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday that the appointments were made in furtherance of the ongoing reform of the state civil service.

She said that the permanent secretaries were selected after going through rigorous and painstaking processes, including written and oral examinations.

According to her, three old permanent secretaries were retained, bringing to 24 the number of permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

The chief press secretary said the appointments were based on merit, and were fairly and equitably distributed across the 21 local governments in the state.

She quoted Bello as assuring the people that appointment under his administration will continue to reflect the core values of justice, equity and fairness to all, irrespective of differences in tribe and religion.

Akinti-Onyegbule said that the governor had charged the new permanent secretaries to discharge their duties with the interest of the state at heart at all times without fear or favour.

The new permanent secretaries are Mr Musa Yahaya Omoyi , Mr Odei Adinoyi Johnson ,Dr. Eje Celestine Ukubile, Mr Negudu Arome Steve , Mr Akpama Paul Sylvanus, Mr Akowe Abimaje Awana, Mr Usman Dan Victor, Mrs Alfa Ruth Alolo, Mr Igata Boniface Ugwoke, Mr Mohammed Seria Oyenihi and Mr Shehu Abdullahi.

Others are Mr Momoh Abdulkadir Angulu,Mr Alonge Ayo Daniel, Mr Okeme Jibril Abdullahi, Mr Stephen Ojo Peter, Mrs Odiyo Hannah Onyinoyi, Mr Jimoh Adinoyi Mohammed, Mr Idenyi Emmanuel Samson, Mr Idakwoje Labaran Idris, Mr Ikuborue Olutoyin Davies and Mr Aina Eric Dele.

The retained permanent secretaries are Mr Mahmoud Kassim, Hajia Memunat Audu and Mr J.F. Kolawole. ( NAN)
KKA /SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

 Victims Support Fund trains 500 teachers in North East

NAN-H-89

Support

By Biola lawal

Abuja, Jan. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Victims Support Fund (VSF) has commenced the training of 500 teachers in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to enhance their professional capabilities.

VSF said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the training “is to enable teachers to employ teaching techniques that would aid knowledge retention and critical thinking”.

It will also build their capacity to provide classroom management, pedagogy and psychosocial support to students.

The training courses “include General Introduction to Student Centered Learning (SCL), Pedagogical Approaches, Classroom Arrangement, Classroom Management and  School Records.

Others include Formative Assessment, Psycho-social Care, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL),   Classroom Observation and Head Teacher Shadowing.

 VSF said that the training “is a follow up to the Train-the-Trainer exercise that was concluded on 13th January” in those states.

“VSFs assessments revealed that after years of being away from the classroom due to schools closure during the insurgency, it became imperative to train teachers on current and relevant techniques on imparting knowledge and psychosocial support,” it stated.

“Building their capacity will enable teachers to provide adequate support and impact to children in post-conflict situations as well as equip them with relevant skills to improve the outcomes of their teaching and their daily interactions with the pupils,” it said.

VSF, which is a national foundation established to cater for victims of insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, is headed by Prof. Sunday Ochoche as Executive Director.(NAN)

BL/IA

Man, 50, in Police custody over death of wife in Jigawa

NAN-DS-
Death
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, Jan. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Police in Jigawa have arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly causing the death of his 40-year-old wife, Ai’sha Musa, in Birninkudu Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Jinjiri Abdu, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.

Jinjiri said that the suspect, allegedly beat the deceased when they quarreled on Jan. 14, in their matrimonial home in Daurawa village at about 6.30 a.m.

‘‘According to reports, on January 14, the suspect allegedly beat the deceased while quarreling around 6.30 a.m. at their matrimonial home in Daurawa village of Birninkudu Local Government Area.

‘‘It was gathered that the suspect had returned from a journey and proceeded straight to the house of his recently wedded second wife.

‘‘And when the deceased heard about it, she followed him there and protested that he was supposed to be with her, and not the new wife.

‘‘The reports also further indicated that before the suspect travelled, he was with the deceased and was supposed to be with the new wife after returning from his journey.

‘‘But the new wife permitted the suspect to go with the senior wife so that he will come back to her after the journey, so that peace can reign.

‘‘But unfortunately, the quarrel continued between the suspect and the deceased, and in the process, he beat her severally which led her to collapse.

‘‘It was at this juncture that the suspect rushed the deceased to the hospital where she died before medical personnel could attend to her,’’ Jinjiri said.

He said the corpse of the deceased had been handed over to her family for burial.

The police spokesman stated that investigation had commenced into the case after which the suspect would be charged to court. (NAN)
MNB/MOL/MZA
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Maharazu Ahmed

VSF rebuilt schools, hospitals with N6.7b in 2017 – Ochoche

NAN-H-

VSF

By BiolaLawal

Abuja, Jan. 14, 2018 (NAN)

Victims Support Fund (VSF) spent N6.7 billion in 2017 on rebuilding infrastructure in areas in the North East of Nigeria, ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. Part of the fund was also used to empower victims of the insurgency.

VSF Executive Director, Prof. Sunday Ochoche told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the bulk of the amount was spent on rebuilding schools and hospitals that were  destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“Twenty four primary and secondary schools have been rebuilt by VSF’’ along with some general hospitals and local government secretariats which were  razed by the insurgents, Ochoche told NAN

He said that the rebuilding was done through direct labour with materials bought from markets in the affected areas as part of VSF strategies to reflate the economy of the states, save cost and achieve high quality project execution.

“When we reconstruct, we try to reconstruct better structures and facilities than those destroyed,’’ the Executive Director said, adding that plans were on to fence the rebuilt schools to enhance protection for the pupils and students.

Ochoche said that about 19,000 women in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states are  benefitting from the Fund’s economic empowerment programme. The programme was  designed for women whose husbands were killed by Boko Haram, resulting in their becoming family breadwinners.

“We gave them grants through civil society organisations to engage in small scale ventures like cap making ,’’ he said, adding that the partnering civil organisations helped VSF to monitor the women and promote the culture of savings among them.

Some of the VSF women economic cells “now have up to one million naira in their accounts” confirming the increasing success of the VSF savings culture promotion initiative , he told NAN.

Ochoche said that the Fund was also helping to meet the medical needs of victims in the few remaining Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

He noted that the need for substantial health care support for victims as experienced in the previous years of intense insurgents attacks had reduced due to the successes recorded by the military against the insurgents.

The VSF Boss commended the Nigerian military for restoring normalcy in most part of the north east and for providing security support to VSF workers.

Victim Support Fund is a Nigerian Foundation established to cater for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the north eastern part of Nigeria. The Fund is being run by 33 personnel headed by Prof. Sunday Ochoche  , the Executive Director.

Ochoche has over 30 years’ experience in the UN system, government and academia.

Between 2006 and 2013, he served with the United Nations as Senior Political Affairs Officer in the UN Missions in Sierra Leone and Darfur, Sudan; Senior Policy Advisor with the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) of the UNDP, New York; and Director of Political Affairs at the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), Mogadishu.

The Fund also has a national Committee with Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), a former Minister of Defence, as Chairman and Fola Adeola, a co-founder of GT Bank as Deputy Chairman, along with several other Nigerian billionaires and prominent politicians as members.(NAN)

BL/FFP/

NAN-H-24
Reporting
By Edwin Nwachukwu
Lagos, Jan.13, 2018 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the media to be mindful of its reportage of electoral events during the 2019 general elections.

The commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the plea at an event “Agenda for the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ Retreat’’ organised by the U.S. Mission Nigeria-Public Affairs Section in Lagos.

Yakubu, represented by Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC in Lagos, said that this would have “a great effect on facilitating credible elections and corresponding social order’’.

According to him, it is important to observe that in the previous elections, the report of the media on electoral process has high degree of superficiality.

“Some reports on the process were not properly investigated, and some basics facts were glossed over,’’ INEC chief said.

He said that as stakeholders in the electoral system, the media was expected to maintain a high level of sustainability in the coverage of all electoral activities to ensure that records and facts were not distorted.

“We expect the media, being a veritable tool for information disseminating, to ensure that they apply a professional acumen to their reports so as not to leave prospective voters helpless and confused due to distorted information.

“The 2019 General Elections demands that reportage of the process meets the prime concern of media coverage of elections which entails the right of voters to full and accurate information and also their rights to participate in debates and dialogue on political matters.

“Inherent to this task is the entitlement of parties to use the media as platform for interaction with the public,’’ Yakubu said.

The INEC chief, however, advised the media to resist the temptation of being used to fan the embers of ethno-religious crisis prevalent in nascent democracy.

He also urged the media to give prominence to bringing out voters through adequate sensitisation of the citizens.

The Chairman of Channels Media Group, Mr John Momoh, expressed concerns over the role of social media and the phenomenon of fake news in the nation’s media landscape.

Momoh, who spoke on “What the Future Hold for The Media’’, said that creative ideas could be transformed into innovative media products.

“The subject matter at this retreat is so appropriate. What does the future hold for the Nigerian Media?

“How do we transform creative ideas into innovative media products? How do we leverage international partnerships for profitability?

“For those of us who have been in the broadcast industry for a decade or more, we know what we mean when we say the industry has digitally disrupted.

“Today, new markets are being created, with a new set of values that now threatened the existing markets,” Momoh, who is also the Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), said.

He said that the use of social media gives a lot of concern as the 2019 Elections was approaching, because of “ease way of spreading fake news online.

“Social media, blogs and the ‘fake news’ phenomenon have all thrown the media into a precarious position.

“Those of us who still believe in the civic value of good journalism has been left in a quandary, as politicians are having a field day; taking a cue from the U.S. President Donald Trump, lambasting journalists for false reportage and balance.

“These aren’t the best times for journalists; social media, which many hoped will be a saviour with its open access and extensive reach, has actually compounded the problem by rewarding speed and sensation over accuracy,” he said.

Momoh said that broadcast and print media were faced with the challenge of unprofessionally reducing the quality of information disseminated.

“The broadcaster now faces the endemic challenge of unprofessional activities of some content producers, who create content that does not meet the minimum requirement of the objectives of the mass media.

“The unprofessional activities were all in the drive to wrongly influence the society.

“Newspapers are trying to adjust to the times by creating websites of their own, but that also leads to the decline in their print readership since they now put all their content online for free.

“A pointer to the fact that newspapers of the future will mainly take digital form,” Momoh added.

In his comments, Prof. Lai Osho, a former Dean, School of Communications, Lagos State University, Ojo, called for the strengthening of the gate-keeping in chain of news processes.

Osho noted that the media were going through tough time, ranging from economy pressure to technology arising from the activities of online/social media, among others. (NAN)
ENN/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye
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NURTW pledges to partner FRSC on speed limit device

NAN-H-28
Partnership
Aledare Akinwale
Lokoja, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) Mr Alaba Ajibade, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kabba/Bunu Chapter, says the union will partner the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on speed limit device for commercial buses in the area.

Ajibade made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday.

He noted that the union would start sensitisation programmes for every driver on the need to get the speed limit device, adding that it would help monitor level of speed while driving.

Ajibade said the union was trying to ensure that none of its members get involved in any form of accident, stressing that the device could help prevent avoidable death on our roads.

He advised drivers to change their mindset and project the good image of the union to the public.

Ajibade said that FRSC would be officially invited to sensitise every driver and also ensure a form of synergy in the area of cost of the device.

He said the union would arrange a price reduction for every commercial driver so that it would make it easier for them to install the device.

Ajibade said he was looking forward to a better 2018 and free of any forms of road accident.

He urged all members to always obey traffic rules and regulations. (NAN)
WAL/GOM/AFA
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide