3 policemen dismissed in Kogi for drug trafficking
NAN-H-18
Dismissal
Lokoja, Dec 12, 2017 ( NAN) Kogi State Police Command has dismissed three of its officers for their alleged involvement in the trafficking of 30 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, who confirmed this on Wednesday in Lokoja, said that the officers were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) for prosecution
According to him, the officers were dismissed after they were found guilty by a board room trial conducted by the police.
He said that their dismissal followed due process, saying that the NDLEA will handle their prosecution.
It would be recalled that the NDLEA had on Nov. 7 arrested a mobile policeman for escorting a vehicle carrying 30 sacks of Indian hemp out of Lokoja.
The drug was conveyed in a Toyota Picnic car with registration number Kogi KNA 185 LG when it was intercepted by NDLEA operatives.
The policeman who escorted the vehicle was arrested along with two other accomplices as well as the driver of the vehicle. (NAN)
KKA/WOJ
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NAN-H-13
Airways
By Adekunle Williams
Lagos, Dec. 13, 2017 (NAN) Virgin Atlantic Airways has invested over one million dollars in the outgoing year to help promising Nigerian entrepreneurs to develop their commercial skills and businesses.
The airlines’s Country Manager, Mr Samuel Lindfield, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos at a media parley.
Lindfield said that the airline in the year collaborated with the winners of the British Council “Enterprise Challenge’’, Nasir Yammama and Sophia Onu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nasir Yammama is a 26-year-old from the northern part of the country with a knack for technology.
He was raised as a farmer’s child and most of his siblings are still active farmers.
Once Nasir became old enough, he ventured out from the fields and into the Institute and Creative Technology at Middlesex University, London.
“Nasir and Sophia were the faces of the entrepreneur advertising campaign recently run in Nigeria.
“Sophia Onu also took part in the Virgin Atlantic `Business is an Adventure’ series, offering unrivalled levels of exposure to her growing business, The 5KShop.
Also, Sophia Onu is a B.Sc. holder in Architecture from Covenant University and a Masters degree holder in International Architectural Regeneration and Development from Oxford Brookes University.
She is the Founder and CEO of The 5kShop; an online retail store, that stocks and sells fashion and home solutions all under the price cap of N5,000.
She is also the co-founder of DRYV.ME; an online service that allows users to request for drivers on demand.
“Both entrepreneurs received mentoring sessions from Sir Richard Branson himself.
“Our support for Nigerian entrepreneurs demonstrates the commitment to be Nigeria’s airline of choice for business,’’ Lindfield said.
The country manager noted that the airline and the British Council launched the “Enterprise Challenge’’ in 2014.
Lindfield said: “With many analysts now projecting Nigeria’s population to reach 500 million by 2050, we see Nigeria as a land of immense opportunity.
“A growing population will create new opportunities for domestic and international business.
“We look forward to leading that growth by facilitating air travel from Nigeria to the world and by supporting Nigerian communities and businesses at their core.
“We have certainly built a rich tapestry of experiences, history and tradition over our 16 years of flying to Lagos from London, carrying in excess of three million passengers.
“We look forward to adding to that rich tapestry over the next 16 years and beyond”.
Lindfield thanked Nigerians for their support of the airline daily service to London over the last 16 years.
According to him, Virgin Atlantic has enjoyed a very successful 2017, which leaves the airline optimistic and ambitious for 2018 and beyond for operating from Nigeria.
He added that Virgin Atlantic is about to embark on a further significant programme of investment to the fleet with the introduction of the A350-1000 from early 2019.
“This aircraft will offer a superlative level of customer experience, a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption versus equivalent aircraft, and an ambient mood lighting to reduce the effects of jetlag.
“When combined with the brand new 789-9s and modern A330s, Virgin Atlantic will boast of being one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the sky,’’ Lindfield added. (NAN)
WAC/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)
Lokoja, Dec. 12, 2017 (NAN) Mr Garba Ladi, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okene branch, Kogi has cautioned drivers against reckless driving during the yuletide to prevent accidents.
The NURTW chairman gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Ladi warned drivers to avoid speeding and obey traffic laws before, during and after the yuletide.
He also urged passengers to be alert at all always by ensuring they caution drivers when they violate traffic regulations.
According to him, lives and properties of our members and passengers are more precious to the union and the nation, hence the need to work together to prevent accidents.
“We should, therefore, not kill ourselves and others because of carelessness on the roads.
“Our drivers must not be reckless behind the wheels and passengers must also caution drivers whenever they observe that drivers were becoming reckless on the roads for the benefit of all.
“Safety is number one in our job. We can stop all preventable human and material losses on our roads.
“It is the union’s responsibility to sensitise its members on the need to shun reckless driving, obey traffic laws and traffic wardens in order to prevent motor accidents,’’ he said.
The chairman, who also urged drivers to be patient on the road, cautioned against driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Our members should shun hard drugs and all tendencies to be in haste or trying to intimidate and compete with other road users without regard to their safety,’’ he said.
Ladi, however, urged the three tiers of government to improve on road infrastructure for the safety of the people.
He also appealed to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to be more visible on the roads and do more sensitisation on road safety.
Commenting on the fuel scarcity, the union leader urged the Federal Government to put an end to it, with a view to reducing the hardship being faced by passengers and motorists presently.
He appealed to all drivers to always check their tyres, engine oil and other necessary parts before embarking on any journey.
The chairman wished all drivers and commuters the best of the season, urging Nigerians to drive with care. (NAN)
Lagos, Dec. 11, 2017 (NAN) A coalition of civil society organisations on Monday staged a peaceful rally to the Lagos Office of the EFCC to drum up support for the ongoing fight against corruption.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CSOs include Women Arise for Change Initiative, Mobilisation Against Corruption and Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA),among others.
Over 100 members of the groups marched from Tafawa Balewa Square to the the EFCC office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi carrying placards with anti-corruption inscriptions.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Walking against the Evil called Corruption”, “Corruption is enemy within, kill it’, “End corruption now”, ‘Kill corruptions before it kills Nigeria’.
Addressing the rally, the group’s spokesperson, Mrs Joe Odumakin, urged Nigerians to unite in the fight against corruption which, she said, was restricting the nation’s development.
In order to break the menace of corruption, Odumakin urged government to strengthen the anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary to speed up graft cases and bring ofenders to book to serve as deterrence to others.
“We must all create massive awareness to fight corruption and government must strengthen all the anti-corruption institutions like the EFCC, ICPC.
“The judiciary must speed up cases of corruption and with the special court, people will be brought to book and serve as deterence to others..
“The disease plaqueing this country today is corruption and the vaccine is transparency,” said Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative.
Receiving the group, Mr Garba Dugum, EFCC Head of Lagos Operations, said that corruption and economic crimes has been the bane of development of the country.
“To put it mildly, I wonder if anyone would wish that the corruption monster is allowed to walk the land unfettered.
“Especially when we realize the volume of public funds as well as assets that have found their ways into some private hands in very condemnable and criminal ways in the past years.
“The EFCC, has continuously proclaimed its zero tolerance for corruption and economic crimes, which is the bane of development of the country,” Dugum said.
According to him, the EFCC is not ready to halt its agressive anti-corruption campaigns which it has activated.(NAN)
Kano, Dec. 10, 2017 (NAN) Alhaji Ladan Baba, the Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano state says 500 corps members in the state were offered loan to establish their own business.
Baba disclosed this on Sunday in Kano while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the graduation of 2017 Batch ‘B’ Stream ll corps member’s Skills acquisition training.
He said the loan was through the scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED).
According to him, the 10-day training for the corps members, undergoing three weeks orientation in Karaye Local Government Area, was part of the Federal government efforts to make the youths self reliant.
The NYSC coordinator explained that after the training, the corps members would be provided with loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI) and Direct Credit Company Ltd.
“Recently, over 500 corps members were given loan to establish their own businesses and some are presently undergoing the process to obtain the loan”, Baba said.
Baba also said that more that 2,368 corps members posted to the state had participated in Agro allied, Food processing and preservation, Culture and Tourism and Cosmetology training.
“Others, he said were;Information and Communication Technology, Construction, Environment, Horticulture and Landscaping, Power and Energy, Education, Film Photography and Automobile.
The NYSC coordinator appealed to philanthropists, wealthy individuals and private organisations to construct skills acquisition centre at the orientation camp for the benefit of the state and the country in general.
He said the construction of such centre would enable the scheme train corps members and also the residents in the state on different trades.
Baba said the introduction of the skills acquisition programme during the three weeks orientation was to provide the youths with skills that could assist them to be self reliant after graduation..
“The programme is also contributing so much toward reduction of unemployment among the youth and also to make them depend less on government jobs.”
‘’Therefore, we are appealing to other wealthy individuals and private organisations to invest their wealth through the construction of the skills centre to benefit the youths in the state”.
Baba described the scheme as the best and major channel through which the youths could be empowered.
Speaking to the NAN, one of the corps members who recently passed out, Mr Thank-God John, from Benue, said he would remain in Kano, adding that he had established two Photography shops in Kano.
“It is as a result of the NYSC skills acquisition programme that I was able to get my photography training after which I was given loan to commence the business.
”With this business, I don’t think I am going back to my state except to visit my family and friends, I have employed other people who are working under me,” John said.
A female corps member from Ogun, Oshola Oluwa-Tosin, who also benefited from the training, pledged to remain in Kano after her service to train people on make-up. (NAN)
From Left, Eze Igbo Lagos State Igbo 1, Chief Uche Nwachukwu; The Asiwaju of Kirikiri Land, Chief Babalola Shabi and Udoatuegwu Ndigbo, Chief Emeka Elemuwa, at the Orlu Gburugburu Culture Union end of the Year get to gether Special Award in Lagos on Saturday (9/12/17) (NAN)
NAN-H-17
Igbo
By Yemi Adeyemi
Lagos, (NAN) An Ndi-Igbo Group, Orlu Gburugburu Cultural Union of Nigeria has called on Southeast states governors and parents, to ensure compulsory teaching and learning of the Igbo language to preserve Igbo cultural heritages.
Chief Nwokedi Orabuchi, chairman of group, spoke at the group’s End of the Year Get Together and Award Presentation in Kirikiri Town, Lagos.
“We are here to bring to the knowledge of our people the Igbos – that our language that is going into extinction should be revived for the good of our prosperity.
“Our language is our identity, our security, our strength, and our pride.
“It is sad to see many of our children today who cannot speak our language. Many cultural heritages are dying and many of us do not care or look at this, ‘’ Orabuchi said.
Orabuchi added: “It is our culture that defines us and make our children behave well. We see a lot of misbehaviour and abnormality today because our language which represents our language has been eroded away.
“It is sad to observe that our Igbo families, especially those living outside Igbo lands, have pushed aside our culture and values and embraced the western style of life”.
According to him, parents have closed their eyes to the use of Igbo language in their homes, preferring to have conversations with their children in English.
“This is indeed a misnomer, an anomaly and misplaced priority as our children are gradually becoming strangers in their own lands.
“Every child is supposed to speak, read and write in Igbo Language. All governors from the south east region must make Igbo language compulsory in all public and private schools.
“If the children understand the language from the cradle, they will not leave the language anywhere they go.
“It is unfortunately that when we even travel home and speak Igbo to our children, they reply in English. Our language is now far from us.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch our culture and values go into extinction because if we do, it will have a ripple effect on our whole being.”
He expressed concern that Ndi-Igbo’s mode of dressing, social institutions like the Ozo title, New Year festival, marriage practices, burial rites, settlement patterns among others have been relegated to the background.
According to him, “a people without the knowledge of their culture are like a tree without roots.’’
The chairman, who commended the Lagos State Government for promoting Yoruba language, urged governors to take a cue from the state and develop indigenous language.
He said that group comprised of 12 local government areas from Imo state that constituted Orlu Senatorial District, adding that the organisation was dedicated to promoting Igbo cultural heritages.
Also speaking, Mr Edwin Agha, the Patron of the group said that Igbo language was dying.
Agha said: “The rate at which Igbo language is dying now is alarming, we need to come together and if we allow it to continue, there is no hope for the feature generation.”
The patron, who commended Gov. Rocha Okorocha of Imo for promoting Igbo language especially by using the language to conduct some government businesses, urged others to take cue.
He urged parents from Igbo descent to encourage their children and wards to speak the language.
The traditional ruler of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, who made cash donation to the group, said `without Igbo’s there will be no Lagos state.’
Shabi, the Asiwaju of Kirikiri land, called for love and harmonious living among different ethnic groups in the state.
Chief Metche Nnadiekwe, a member of the group and President, United Berger Motor Dealers Association added: “Every Igbo man and woman must know his or her roots, language and culture.
“All our governors, traditional rulers and parents must promote and preserve Igbo cultural values and language.”
A U.S.-based Nigerian educationist, Dr Acho Orabuchi and one of the 14 distinguished personalities, who received different awards of excellence, commended the group for recognising his humanitarian activities.
Orabuchi, who received a Merit Award as a Worthy Ambassador, said that the award was an inspiration that would motivated him to do more for his people.
NAN reports that the event, which had in attendance Igbo traditional rulers, title holders, Orlu descents, featured awards presentation and fund raising for the advancement of the group. (NAN)
AYO/ENN/EAL
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ekemini Ladejobi
NAN-HE-7
Energy
By Simon Akoje
Lagos, Dec. 8, 2017 (NAN) A Renewable Energy Expert, Mr Yomi Kolawole, has urged the Federal Government to create more business atmosphere that would enable the spread of renewable energy, to tackle communities without electricity.
Kolawole, who is also Chief Executive Officer, Topain Energy Solution Ltd., Lagos, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
He said that it was important to have a suitable atmosphere to accelerate the spread of renewable energy, adding that the hydro power plants had not been able to bridge the energy needs sufficiently.
“To expedite the spread of renewable energy, government should grant five years or more tax rebates for importers and assemblers of Nigerians in the sector.
“However, government should pass a law to compel Nigerians to patronise local producers in order to boost the sector adequately,’’ Kolawole said.
He noted that the importance of renewable energy could not be over emphasized because of its environmental friendly nature.
The expert added that it was disturbing that in spite the potential of renewable energy in the country, the nation’s economy could not distribute beyond 10,000 Megawatts of energy.
“We must begin to take the immense advantage of sunlight, especially in the Northern part of the country to boost our solar energy needs.
“Even the possibilities of wind energy are not yet harnessed enough to reduce the electricity lag in spite the potential of the sector and the presumed prospect.’’
Despite efforts by the Federal Government to provide electricity in the country, the World Bank had said that over 80 million Nigerians had no access to electricity.
The World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, stated this at the 4th Action Learning event on Upscaling Mini Grids for low-cost and timely access to electricity.
The occasion was organised by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, in Abuja.
Benmessaoud, however, said the Bank had provided $350m loan for the development of rural electrification projects in Nigeria. (NAN)
STA/ENN/DUA
NAN-AE-4
Rice
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Dec. 7, 2017 (NAN) Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) has started sensitising school children across the country to the benefits of locally produced rice in terms of its quality and availability.
Mr Kojo Sagoe, Policy Advisor for CARI, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the celebration of Nigerian rice and cultural day of Asokoro Community Staff Secondary School.
He said that the Policy Advocacy Unit of CARI just developed the initiative to convey the message on local rice to the parents through their children.
“The programme entails identifying one or two schools that would organise end-of-the-year party for students, while finding out the quantity rice they would need to feed the students and supplying it free of charge.
“CARI aims to significantly improve the livelihoods of rice farmers in selected African countries by increasing the competitiveness of domestic rice supply to meet the demand.
“It is also to announce the accessibility and availability of locally produced rice in the country, while promoting made-in-Nigeria rice, in line with the Federal Government’s policy,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Micheal Ahmed, Agricultural Officer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Federal Government had been promoting the acceptance of locally produced rice via different strategies.
“One of the strategies put in place is the distribution of over 100 units of rice milling machines to rice farmers and millers. Besides, farm inputs like chemicals, fertilisers and seeds were also distributed as subsidised rates.
“All these were put in place to ensure we attain self-sufficiency in rice production and the Federal Government has been collaborating with different organisations to train rice millers and farmers to improve the standard of their production,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr Seidu Ahmed, the Principal of the school, said that the cultural day of the school was also aimed at promoting the acceptability of local rice.
“We appreciate CARI for the initiative because our culture is highly represented, as some of the major indices of culture are food, dressing, greeting and music.
“We showcase Nigerian cuisines and we selected some ethnic groups to cook rice in their local ways to enrich our cultural day,’’ he said.
Miss Bolutife Omowumi, Social Prefect of the school, said that the annual cultural day celebration was all about promoting the diverse cultures of Nigeria.
“Basically, the event is to create and foster the awareness of different cultures of the students of our school.
“The event will also enrich the people’s acceptance of local rice; Nigerian rice has very unique taste, compared to foreign rice, and it also contains basic nutrients which the body needs.
“We appreciate what the Federal Government is doing to promote local rice in schools; it is a very good initiative that will encourage more Nigerians to consume local rice, while improving oosting our economy,’’ she said. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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Buildings collapse: LASBCA urges engineers to report safety violations
NAN-H-19
Visit
By Grace Alegba
Lagos, Dec. 6, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has urged engineers to utilise its whistleblowing facility by reporting safety standard violations resulting in buildings collapse in the state.
LASBCA General Manager, Olalekan Shodeinde, made the appeal when the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) paid him a courtesy visit in Ikeja.
“Whistle blowing is an avenue to give us whatever information on any structure, be it construction or reconstruction, that is structurally defective,” Shodeinde said.
He urged engineers and concerned members of the public to call the agency’s toll free lines to give information of deviation from approved permits and approvals and other atrocities on sites capable of jeopardising safety.
Shodeinde listed the agency’s toll free lines as 070050504040 and 07000527222.
He appealed to APWEN members to sensitise building professionals against shoddy deals that compromised safety and standard of buildings.
“We need floods of information.
“We need to get professionals to get the force behind materials to avoid safety reduction in construction,” he said.
He said that Lagos, with about two million households, was the only mega city growing horizontally instead of vertically.
According to him, developments in various parts of the state usually preceded governance such that hinterlands would have been built up without requisite building approvals and permits before government would get the information.
He said that the involvement of engineers to expose atrocities in building sites was important for an all-inclusive fight against buildings collapse.
According to him, builders on sites often shun LASBCA advice and stressed the need for constant presence of professionals on construction sites.
He admitted the slow rate of getting building permits and approvals, adding that many developers deviated from approved plans to short change government thereby compromising safety.
Earlier, both APWEN National President, Mrs Felicia Agubata, and its state Chairperson, Mrs Laolu Adedapo-Aisida, took turns to share the visions of the association.
They said the association has embarked on career mentoring of more females into engineering in tertiary institutions to accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement.
Other members of APWEN delegation included, Mrs Funmi Akingbagbohun, Mrs Edith Alagbe, Mrs Atinuke Wuraola-Owolabi, Mrs Shakira Subair among others. (NAN)
GA/WOJ
Security: Kogi to conduct Biometric registration of Fulanis
NAN-DS-9
Security
Registration
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Dec. 6, 2017 ( NAN) Kogi Government is to conduct a biometric registration of all Fulanis resident in the state, according to a Government statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday.
The statement was signed by the Information Officer in the Department of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Jordan Akpata.
Akpata said the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Mr Abubakar Ohere, disclosed this during a meeting with traditional rulers.
He quoted Ohere as saying that the move was to further enhance peace and security in the state.
“ This will help in identifying the genuine Fulanis in Kogi and help in unearthing the strangers and miscreants who may enter the communities under the cover of herdsmen to threaten the peace and security in the land,” he said.
He did not disclose when the exercise would commence but said that the idea was to re-enact the olden days when Fulanis and farmers co-habited, co-worshipped and engaged in commercial activities in the same communities peacefully.
Ohere charged the traditional rulers to be on top of security matters in their domains.
He said he believed strongly that farmers and herdsmen could live together in peace and harmony without jeopardising the peace in the state.
He said Gov. Yahaya Bello was a strong believer in the Constitution of the Nation, saying that Fulanis and indeed any other Nigerians, were free to move about and reside in every part of the state.
The Special Adviser told the traditional rulers to comply with the recent directive of the governor, asking them to appoint Fulanis into the traditional councils in the 21 local government areas.
“ The existence of peace in the state has given room for accelerated development and the peace must be consolidated for sustainable progress in the state,” he said.
While appealing to them to hold regular meeting with the Fulanis in their communities, Ohere lauded them for their cooperation and support for the state government and urged them to support the policies and programmes of the present Administration.
Responding on behalf of other traditional rulers, the Attah Igala, Michael Ameh Oboni, appreciated the efforts of the government at ensuring peace in the state, saying that traditional rulers would continue to support the efforts.
Attah Igala, who is also the President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers, also commended the governor for ensuring the good welfare of members of the council. ( NAN)
KKA /AMY/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf
