Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-H-31
PDP
By Aledare Akinwale
Lokoja, Dec. 5, 2017 (NAN) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi says it will explore the possibility of presenting a consensus candidate for the position of National Publicity Secretary at the Dec. 9  convention of the party.

The party’s Deputy Chairman in Kogi, Mr Sam Abenemi,  dropped the hint on Tuesday  while receiving one of the aspirants for the position of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan,  at the party’s state secretariat in Lokoja.

Abenemi said: “There is no point having three candidates for the position of National Publicity Secretary from the same state.

“We in the party would find time before the election to talk to the candidates on the need to choose just one person to represent the state.”

He, however,  said that Ologbondiyan was qualified for the position as he would  make a good spokesman for the party if given the chance.

Abenemi said that the aspirant’s professional track record in the media and exploits as a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the former Senate President, David Mark,  placed him ahead of other contestants.

Addressing the delegates, Ologbondiyan lauded the PDP leaders in the state for keeping the party afloat after the poor outing at the 2015 general elections.

He promised to work with other members to put the party in a good state for the 2019 general elections if elected as the new National Publicity secretary.

“I know all the routes and the areas of function and I am sure if elected, I will make the party great again,” he said.

Ologbondiyan said he was the best man for the job of out of all others contesting for the position, asking for the support of the delegates towards realising his dream. .( NAN)
WAL/KKA/ABI/OJO
================
(Edited by Ali Inuwa/Mufutau Ojo)

Sen. Arise, 2 others kidnapped in Kogi, Police deny claim

NAN-DS-11

Denial

Lokoja, Dec. 4, 2017 (NAN) Sen. Ayo Arise, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was kidnapped on Sunday, along Okene-Lokoja road.

NAN reports that the senator was abducted along with his Personal Assistant and driver while returning to Abuja.

A reliable family source told NAN in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that the kidnappers led the three into the nearby bush at gunpoint.

Ayo Arise represented Ekiti North Senatorial District, in the 7th National Assembly

According to family sources, the gunmen have contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.

One of the closest allies of Arise, who wanted to remain anonymous, told NAN, “They (kidnappers) have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80million ransom.

“We are worried because we don’t know his situation.

“The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies, including the police to come to our aid.’’

Meanwhile the Police Command in Kogi said it was not aware of the kidnap, its Public Relations Officer ASP William Aya, told NAN in Lokoja on Monday.

Aya said that Okene -Lokoja road where the senator was said to have been kidnapped on Dec. 3 was under effective policing, saying that the claim was doubtful.(NAN)

ARIS/KKA/GOM/DUA
Edited by /Idowu Ariwola Kola Adeyemi/Gregory Mmaduakolam /Dada Ahmed

NAN-AE-1
Policy
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Dec. 4, 2017 (NAN) Participants at the inaugural consultative committee meeting for federal and state governments policy alignment have commended Synergos Nigeria for preparing a agricultural policy document and building the capacity of farmers.

The participants told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that many beneficiary farmers of the Synergos programme had recorded high yields in those crops, in which they had comparative advantages

Mrs Jummai Kathleen, the Director of Agricultural Services, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, said that since the state joined the Synergos programme this year, the collaboration had been effective and purposeful.

She said that some of the achievements of Synergos in Kaduna State included building the capacity of agricultural extension agents, solving technical issues and presenting latest information on agricultural production to them.

“Synergos with the Technoserve Nigeria have prepared production guidelines for maize, rice and ginger, while building the capacity of our farmers.

“We now have modern ginger cleaning centre to boost the quality of ginger we produce and train our farmers on how to clean, dry and package their ginger.

“Our farmers have learnt a lot, not only in agricultural production but also in imbibing good agricultural practices, and we are following the agricultural calendar,’’ she said.

Besides, Kathleen said: “We have a success story in the area of innovation; the water trap technology was introduced to our maize farmers, although it came late but they are now getting 20 per cent more yield than what they were getting before.

“We have improved our production in the area of maize to an average yield of 5.6 tonnes per hectare in 2017; the same goes for ginger production which has increased from 17 tonnes to 21tonnes per hectare.’’

Kathleen said that Synergos had trained women and youthsin agribusiness, while building their capacity as to proper packaging and branding of their products.

“Our women have recorded appreciable advances in their product packaging; they only need to continue to gather and push for finance to enable them to record more progress,’’ she said.

The director said that Kaduna State just validated its agricultural investment plan last week, adding that this would go a long way to encourage people to invest in agribusiness in the state.

“We do not have an investment plan for agriculture before but with the help of Synergos, we have developed an investment plan for state,’’ she said.

Mr Thomas Unongo, the Director of Agricultural Services, Benue State Ministry of Agriculture, also lauded Synergos for assisting the state government to articulate its agricultural policy document, which was validated last month.

“Synergos has done great things to our farmers; we have been able to convert cassava waste, which was hitherto having negative impact on our environment, into wealth in Benue.

“The cassava peels have been converted to animal and poultry feeds, and this has somewhat brought peace to our state.

“The Synergos factory will now enable Benue State to produces feeds for pastoralists who want to engage in cattle ranching. Agriculture as a business is being promoted by Synergos,’’ Unongo added.

Besides, Dr Isa Ochepa, the Acting Permanent Secretary of Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, commended Synergos for assisting the state to draft an agricultural policy document and build the capacity of farmers.

“We have just perfected the document two months ago; although the state has its own policy document on agriculture before but Synergos contributed a lot towards perfecting the document.

“We are going to adopt it as our agricultural policy because it has really facilitated the collaboration we are now having with different partners,’’ he added. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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Let’s build a united nation from our diverse ethnic nationalities, Covenant Varsity DVC tasks Nigerians
NAN-H-17
Nation
By Raji Rasak
Sango-Ota (Ogun) Dec. 3, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Shalom Chinedu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Covenant University, Ota, on Sunday called on Nigerians to build a strong nation out of the multi ethnic nationalities in the country.

Chinedu made the call in his keynote address at the 24th Biennial National Convention of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA) in Ota, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the convention is: “Restoring the Dignity of the Nigerian Man in a Recessed Economy”.

The deputy vice-chancellor said that the task of blending the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria into a united nation was not vigorously pursued after independence.

“This, I believe, is where our founding fathers got it wrong: They mistook independence to mean an end rather than beginning of nationhood.

“This left the nation vulnerable to the divisive tendencies of ethnicity resulting in the collapse of the first republic,” Chinedu said.

He called for an end to militancy and insurgency which had
continued to disrupt economic activities in different regions of the country.

On the fight against corruption, Chinedu urged the Federal Government to strengthen the law and give teeth to the enforcement drive of the nation’s graft agencies.

He said that the common man had been at the receiving of the nation’s economic woes caused largely by endemic corruption and bad leadership.

“How do we restore the dignity of the Nigerian man in a recessed economy? An understanding of where we got it wrong as a nation will help us identify ways of getting it done,” he said.

Chief Andrew Oru, National President, UNAA, said the convention theme was carefully chosen to proffer solutions on how to restore the eroding dignity of the Nigerian man which was being challenged due to the economic downturn in the country.

NAN reports that 10 alumni, including Kingsley Okolo, Ijora Service Manager of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, received various awards for their selfless services to society. (NAN)
ROR/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

Encourage children to study Islamic Finance, cleric advises parents

NAN-H-16

Advice

By Egbogota Clara
Lagos, Dec. 3, 2017 (NAN) Dr Tajudeen Yusuf, Acting President, Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (IIFP), has advised parents to encourage their children to study Islamic finance to benefit from new opportunities emerging from the sector.

Yusuf gave the advice on Sunday at the 34th Triennial Conference of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Surulere, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the theme of the national conference is ‘Path to National Economic Recovery, Growth and Development – The Islamic Perspective’.

According to him, Islamic Finance helps to redistribute wealth and reduce income inequality and poverty as well as promotes inclusiveness through stakeholders participation.

“Nigeria does not have business with poverty because all the indices and indicators for any nation to grow are in place but the problem of Nigeria is the redistribution of its resources.

“Our problem is greed and lack of contentment; for us to have even distribution of resources is through Islamic finance because no country can survive on interest.

“Islamic finance shares your risks and so let us change our attitude by encouraging our children to be educated in Islamic finance in view of the huge opportunities emerging from that sector,” the IIFP president said.

He said that the role of the IIFP was to assist in the formation of Islamic finance model suitable for individuals and organisations through the provision of broad range of interest-free financial services.

Alhaji Sulaimon Yusuf, National President of MAN, said that the association believed that the country’s current economic situation was redeemable.

“We have confidence in the economic packages and policies of the present administration and feel that a lot more needs to be done to alleviate the sufferings of the masses,” the MAN president said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Lawal Pedro, Chairman, Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, decried the rate at which warehouses and manufacturing companies were converted to places of worship and event centers.

He said that there would not be sustainable growth and development in the country without industries and manufacturing companies.

“Go to our industrial estates, all the factories have closed down, they are no longer manufacturing; a nation whose manufacturing outfits have been converted to worship and event centers is not economically sustainable,” Pedro said.

NAN reports that a new national executive was elected at the conference to run the affairs of the organization for the next three years.

They included Alhaji Tajudeen Ojikutu (President), Dr Dhikrullah Yagboyaju (Vice President), Mr Ganiu Salawu (Secretary) and Mrs Nurat Adebayo (Public Relations Officer}.

Founded in Lagos in 1959, MAN was established to propagate Islam and Islamic education across Nigeria.(NAN)
ECO/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-6
Prayer
Aledare Akinwale
Lokoja, Dec. 3, 2017 (NAN) Pastor Ayo Ogundeji of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jordan Parish, Lokoja, has urged Nigerians to pray for political leaders across the country in the face of prevailing economic hardship.

He made the call in Lokoja on Sunday during Church service.

He said with persistent prayers and commitment from Nigerians, the challenges before the nation and its leaders were surmountable, adding that the country was
blessed with both human and material resources to surmount her challenges.

Ogundeji, who spoke on “The Grace Attached to Christ”, urged Nigerians to pray for the country, especially as the yuletide season approaches.

He noted that Nigerians and the nation require prayers more than ever, saying the nation would witness more peace during this festivity.

He prayed to God to grant the nation all the prayers attached to the birth of Jesus Christ, saying that Christmas was a time to seek the face of God.

He appealed to the Church to always praise God for keeping the nation together over the years in spite of challenges, noting that “God has promised to restore every lost glory of the nation.” (NAN)
WAL/HA
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NAN-H-26

Drugs

By Adepote Arowojobe

Lagos, Dec.1, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NIS) has received large consignment of drugs to cater for the health needs of its inmates.
The state Controller of Prisons, Mr Tunde Ladipo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the medications would be distributed among the five prisons in Lagos State.

The five prison formations in Lagos State are Maximum, Medium, Female (all in Kirikiri), Ikoyi and Badagry.

He said that it was the first time the command was receiving such large consignment of medications from NIS headquarters in several years.

Ladipo said that prisons in Lagos had until now lacked essential drugs for sick inmates, forcing the command to seek assistance from NGOs and religious bodies.

““I am highly elated because we have been having problems with drug supply in the time past.

““I am very surprised because this is the first time we will have this kind of consignment in many years.

““These are very expensive drugs that cover all kinds of ailments,” the prisons boss said.

He commended the Comptroller General of Prisons, Alhaji Ja’ afaru Ahmed, for the procurement of drugs and improvement of welfare of inmates and staff in his bid to reform the service.

“”Lagos State have the largest supply because of our population, as you can see the drugs are many, so the doctors and nurses will have enough drugs to administer on inmates who are sick,’’ Ladipo said.

NAN reports that there are over 8,600 inmates in the five prisons in Lagos State. (NAN)

ADEX/FF/WOJ
============
(Edited by Olufela FASHORO/Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-AE-2
Committee
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) Synergos Nigeria, a global non-profit organisation, on Friday inaugurated a consultative committee, with 25 members from five states, to enhance federal and state policy alignment to move agriculture forward in Nigeria.

Mrs Vivienne Bamgboye, a Senior Manager of Synergos, inaugurated the committee at a stakeholders meeting organised by Synergos in Abuja.

Bamgboye said that the committee was set up by Synergos to provide opportunities of learning — in the field and from key stakeholders — the benefits of mutual exchange and reinforcement in implementing government policies.

“It will strengthen public sector leadership and participatory strategies to reinforce programme delivery in priority Agricultural Development (AGDEV) areas.

“It will provide a forum for evaluating the effectiveness of public service delivery for farming communities, while reviewing organisational and policy inefficiencies that hinder development outcomes.

“It will also strengthen the leadership decision-making capacity though the use of evidence and information,’’ she said.

Bamgboye said that the committee would, in Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Oyo and Benue states, identify evolving priorities of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and state Ministries of Agriculture in AGDEV schemes in need of alignment.

“It will hold periodic meetings and engagements with captains of industry, high-profile Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector organisations, regulators and other key stakeholders for learning and reviewing policy gaps and inefficiencies.

“It will also facilitate the translation of recommendations and action plans into progress for the states and FMARD,’’ she said.

Earlier, the Country Director of Synergos, Mr Adewale Ajadi, said that the committee would be a platform for effective alignment between the federal and state governments to work together to move agriculture forward in the country.

He said that it also represented an avenue for states to understand and reflect on the priorities of the Federal Government regarding institutional investments.

“It will be a chance for the Federal Government to ensure that its role to coordinate and engage is firmly accepted by the states.

“Overall, we are jointly responsible to shift this economy from mono-economy to a diversified economy that thrives for all.

“It is one more way to let Nigeria realise its potential as a global power in the agricultural sector, especially in the provision of food and prosperity for our people,’’ he said.

Mr Atilola Adewale, Permanent Secretary, Oyo state Ministry of Agriculture, said that the platform was a window for all stakeholders from the states to share knowledge and key into everything the Federal Government was doing.

“We will even have an opportunity to learn from what other states are doing and it will serve as problem solving centre to solve each state’s problems; all in efforts to move agriculture forward.

“The committee will also bridge a lot of gaps in the agricultural value chain and make inputs in the Federal Government’s Green Alternative Programme to flow well in the states,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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NAN-H-1

Convention

Adediran Muftau

Akure, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Dr Eddy Olafeso led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West, has headed to the appeal court few days to the party’s national convention slated for Dec. 9.

Mr Remi Olatubora, counsel to the Olafeso group, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Akure.

Olatubora said he had filed a motion on Nov. 29 at the Court of Appeal in Ado Ekiti for a stay of execution against an interim order of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Federal High Court, which was delivered on Nov. 8.

NAN recalls that the federal high court had ordered the Olafeso faction to stop parading itself as executive members of the party in the South-West.

NAN also reports that the order of the federal high court was at the instance of another faction led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, which had earlier dragged Olafeso group to court.

Olatubora said that the implication of the interim order was to deprive the Olafeso-led faction of its legal right to attend and participate in the Dec. 9 national convention of the party.

He said that the Olafeso-led executive was elected in the South West zonal congress which was duly convened on May 14, 2016 in Akure.

“We have filed a motion for a stay of execution and further proceedings in Suit No. FHC/AD/CS/18/2017, now pending before the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti Division.

“We have duly served the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti to notify His Lordship, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo for necessary actions.

“With this appeal for a stay of execution, the Eddy Olafeso-led executive remains the South West PDP leaders, who will lead delegates to the national convention in Abuja, come Dec. 9,” Olatubora said. (NAN)

MA/YEMI

Edited by Adediran Muftau/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-1

Convention

Adediran Muftau

Akure, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Dr Eddy Olafeso led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South West, has headed to the appeal court a few days to the party’s national convention slated for Dec. 9.

Mr Remi Olatubora, counsel to the Olafeso group, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Akure.

Olatubora said he had filed a motion on Nov. 29 at the Court of Appeal in Ado Ekiti for a stay of execution against an interim order of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Federal High Court, which was delivered on Nov. 8.

NAN recalls that the federal high court had ordered the Olafeso faction to stop parading itself as executive members of the party in the South-West.

NAN also reports that the order of the federal high court was at the instance of another faction led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, which had earlier dragged Olafeso group to court.

Olatubora said that the implication of the interim order was to deprive the Olafeso-led faction of its legal right to attend and participate in the Dec. 9 national convention of the party.

He said that the Olafeso-led executive was elected in the South West zonal congress which was duly convened on May 14, 2016 in Akure.

“We have filed a motion for a stay of execution and further proceedings in Suit No. FHC/AD/CS/18/2017, now pending before the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti Division.

“We have duly served the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti to notify His Lordship, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo for necessary actions.

“With this appeal for a stay of execution, the Eddy Olafeso-led executive remains the South West PDP leaders, who will lead delegates to the national convention in Abuja, come Dec. 9,” Olatubora said. (NAN)

MA/YEMI

Edited by Adediran Muftau