Author: Isah Mukhtar

52.3% voters in Kogi West endorse Melaye’s recall

NAN-H-83
Recall
Lokoja, June 19, 2017 ( NAN ) 188, 588 voters, representing 52.3 per cent of the total number of registered voters in Kogi West senatorial district have approved the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye from the senate.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on political affairs, Mr Pius Kolawole announced this on Monday in Lokoja while addressing party members from the district.

He said that the collation of signatures of voters to that effect was carried out successfully on June 17.

Kolawole commended voters in the district for turning out en masse for the exercise, saying that Section 69 of the 1999 constitution backed their action.

“In 2015, we voted for Dino and now we are using the same method to return him home,” he said.

Announcing the result of the collation, the Returning Officer, Mr Adamu Yusuf said that 188, 588 out of the 360,098 in the senatorial district endowed Melaye’s recall.

While giving the breakdown of the result per the seven local governments in the district, Yusuf said that 18, 374 of the total number of 35,331 registered voters in Yagba East approved the recall.

Others are 9, 186, out of 18,356 voters in Mopa-Muro local government, 24, 703 out of 46, 810 voters in Yagba West, 63,736 out of 116,296 in Lokoja Local Government and 24,283 out of 46,819 in Ijumu Local Government.

In Kabba/Bunu Local Government, 28,277 out of 60, 520 voters endorsed the recall, while 24,703 out of 46,810 voters in Kogi Local Government voted for move to recall Melaye.

According to Yusuf, with this, the next move is to submit the document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the next action. (NAN)
KKA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide

NAN-H-30
Manhole
Lagos, June 18, 2017 (NAN) Motorists and pedestrians within Lagos metropolis have expressed worries over uncovered manholes on some roads in the city, describing the situation as dangerous.

Some of those who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday said that they had continuously incurred huge expenses after their vehicles’ tyres  had  entered uncovered manholes while speeding.

NAN reports that a manhole; alternatively called  a utility hole, cable chamber, maintenance hole, inspection chamber, access chamber and sewer hole, or confined space, is the top opening to an underground utility vault.

It is used to house an access point for making connections, inspection, valve adjustments or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including water, sewers, telephone, electricity, storm drains, district heating and gas.

NAN also reports that there are 18 open manholes, located between Barracks Bus Stops and Costain Bus Stops on the Apapa Bound Carriageway on Ikorodu Road and 12 manholes without cover on Eko Bridge on
the CMS bound carriageway.

Similarly, there are 21 open manholes on the same bridge median.

Also the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway from Oshodi down to Apapa is not left out of uncovered manholes on both carriageways.

The road users, however, said that the situation was usually worse whenever it rains when the roads’ surfaces are covered by flood.

They said that it was always difficult for them to notice the uncovered manholes.

Mr Daniel Onwe, a Lagos-based lawyer, told NAN that to allow uncovered manhole on the road was a violation of human rights to free movements.

Onwe added, “It is also a threat to the lives of the blind.’

He called on both the Federal and the Lagos State Governments to ensure that uncovered manholes are covered to save the lives of the residents of the state.

Onwe said that  that there was the urgent need for to safeguard the lives of the blind and other pedestrians who risked falling into open manholes.

“Agencies of either the Federal or the state government saddled with the responsibilities of covering the manholes should be alive to their duties always.

“They must not wait for when an accident occur especially when it affects persons with disabilities before acting.

“ I appeal to both the Federal and the Lagos State Governments to urgently do something to avert such hazardous situation,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Oluwale  Omolanke, a commercial bus driver, said he lost two tyres and a wheel damaged  when his vehicle entered an open manhole located in Mende area of Maryland.

“On that day, there was another vehicle right ahead of mine; and before I could realise it, I found my tyres hooked inside the manhole and I could not continue.

“Unfortunately, it was raining so I remained at the spot until the rain was over before I pleaded with people to help out,’’   the driver said.

Another driver, Mr Moses Coker, said he lost a tyre and its wheel to the open manhole located at Alaka Bus-Stop, describing the situation as bad.

NAN also reports that the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure during its 2017 ministerial briefing in May, said that plans were in place to install inner locks on the manhole covers to prevent theft.

The Permanent Secretary in  the ministry, Mr Temidayo Erinle, said that the state government had awarded a contract to a contractor aimed at replacing manhole covers in the state with expensive fibre covers that would be useless to vandals.

Erinle said that the project was on and would be executed simultaneously with applying inner locks until the fibre covers were installed on manholes across the state. (NAN)
GA/ENN/PAD
===========
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Dada

NAN-DS-9

Kidnap

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, June 15, 2017 ( NAN) Former Director of Press in the Kogi State House of Assembly, David Ehimony, had been kidnapped by gunmen.

A family source told newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday that Ehimoni was kidnaped on Ayere-Ikare road on Wednesday.

He was said to be going to Ikare, Ondo State, to pick two of his children from school the midterm break.

The retired director was taken away in his car along with his junior brother who drove the car.

Ehimoni is the current National Deputy Secretary of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON).

The family source said the abductors early Thursday morning made a telephone call to his wife to demand for N40 million ransom for his release.

The source added that Ehimoni, who retired from the Kogi civil service in 2015 had not received his monthly pension for the past 18 months.

The Police Public Relation Officer in Ondo State, Mr Femi Joseph who spoke to newsmen on phone confirmed the abduction of Ehimoni on Thursday.

Joseph also confirmed that the abductors had called to demand for N40 million ransom.

He advised the family not to pay the ransom.  (NAN)
KKA/HA

NAN-DS-3
Ban
Lokoja, June 14, 2017 ( NAN) The police command in Kogi on Wednesday announced an indefinite ban on rally, public procession and demonstration in all parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Wilson Inalegwu, who made disclosure in Lokoja during a meeting with area commanders, divisional police officers and senior police personnel, said that the ban takes immediate effect.

He said unknown gunmen attacked people at a rally being addressed by Sen. Dino Melaye in Lokoja on June 12 and the current tensed security situation in the state informed the decision.

Inalegwu added that the decision was approved during an emergency meeting of the state security council held on June 13 and would remain in force until the the situation improved.

He said no public rally, procession or demonstration would be allowed in the state again without comprehensive threat assessment report from the area commanders and divisional police officers and final approval from him.

The commissioner described the invasion of the rally being addressed by Melaye as unfortunate, sad and avoidable, reiterating, however, that the senator did not obtain permission before holding the rally.

He directed his officers to start arresting motorists engaging in illegal use of siren on highways in the state as from June 22.

He said vehicles with covered numbers plates and illegible number plates should also be impounded and their drivers arrested.

The police commissioner said that a task force that would implement the decision had been set up.

He, however, added that the state governor, his deputy, ambulances, emergency response vehicles and the Central Bank of Nigeria bullion vans were exempted from the ban.

He directed police area commanders and divisional police officers to formally inform local government chairmen, commissioners, traditional rulers and others
in writing, about the ban on siren.

He said “no abuses will be tolerated; it is strictly for crime control and not any other motive.”

The police boss described the situation in the state as calm, saying that the rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes had reduced.

He stressed the need for the police to be ahead of hoodlums always and urged officers to constantly raid criminals’ hideouts based on intelligence and in line with best practices and respect for human rights. ( NAN)
KKA/HA
========
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-S-55

Award

By Stanley Nwanosike

Enugu, June 14, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ebere Amaraizu, the Director, National Nationwide League One (NLO) in-charge of the South-East, has bagged an award for grassroots football management and promotion in the zone and the Nigeria Police Force.

Mr Shina Philips, the Managing Director of Match-makers Consult International, presented the award to the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Danmallam Mohammed, in Enugu on Wednesday.

He said that the award followed a rigorous voting exercise of the Electoral College.

Philips, whose organisation put together Nigeria Pitch Awards, said that the Electoral College was handled by an independent auditing firm, aimed at adding credibility and transparency to the process.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Amaraizu also doubles as the  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Police Command.

He argued that the award to Amaraizu came under ‘‘Special Recognition Awards for Football Management and Promotion in Nigeria’’.

Responding, Mohammed thanked the presenter and his organisation for doing a good job, noting that the recipient is a man of many parts.

The police commissioner, however, urged the recipient, Amaraizu not to relent in his passion and efforts to improve sports, especially football, in the country.

Receiving the award from the commissioner, Amaraizu dedicated it to all those who had lost their lives for the growth and development of football in the South-East zone.

Amaraizu, who thanked God for revealing the mystery of football development to him, lauded the commissioner and the command’s police officers for their support.

He also lauded the sports journalists for their role in projecting grassroots football in the area.

NAN recalls that the fourth edition of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards, endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation, took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom recently. (NAN)
KSN/MOL/YEMI
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Police say no arrest over  attack on Melaye

NAN -DS –5
Arrest
Lokoja, June 13, 2017 ( NAN) Police in Lokoja said that no arrest has been made in connection with the Monday gun attack on Sen. Dino Melaye.

The Kogi State police command spokesman, ASP William Aya disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Tuesday in Lokoja.

He said that the Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department who is in charge of investigation into the attack was still on the assignment.

Aya said that the situation in the state capital had become normal, adding that there was no cause for alarm.

A Correspondent of NAN who visited the scene of the attack today observed that armed soldiers were still in strategic points to maintain the peace.

Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West, had on Monday stopped over in front of the gate of the Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja to address his supporters, party members , workers and students.

He was addressing them when unknown gunmen invaded the rally and started firing shots in different directions.

Two persons, including one of the gunmen, were killed while two operative of Department of State Security attached to Melaye sustained gunshot wounds.

The Rector of the polytechnic , Mr Mohammed Yisah, had claimed that one of the persons killed, Saka Seidu, was a student of the polytechnic but the police in a statement described him as a passerby.

NAN reports that many residents spoken to said they were still in shock over the  shooting incident which lasted well over 30 minutes and expressed surprise over police claim that no arrest was made. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ
========

NAN-H-72

Attack

Lokoja, June 12, 2017 (NAN) Sen. Dino Melaye escaped death on Monday in Lokoja when unknown gunmen attacked him during a rally in Lokoja.

Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, was said to be rounding off his speech at the rally in front of Kogi State Polytechnic when the invaders attacked with guns and cutlasses.

Traffic on Lokoja-Abuja highway was disrupted for almost one hour as motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered for safety.

Traders at Lokoja main market also hurriedly abandoned their wares and escaped into nearby bushes and houses.

A student of the polytechnic simply identified as Saka Seidu and one other person were said to have been shot dead while two operatives of the Directorate of State Service (DSS) attached to Melaye received gunshot injuries in the attack.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Mohammed Yisah, confirmed the death of one the student.

The senator’s Prado Jeep was riddled with bullets and was towed to the Police headquarters in Lokoja.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, who rushed to the scene, told newsmen that Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department had been directed to commence investigation in the case.

Inalegwu, however, said that Melaye did not notify the police of his intention to hold the rally, and called on politicians to give police adequate notice before holding any rally.

The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who later visited the scene, urged security agencies to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

The governor confirmed the death of one person in the incident.

He recalled that a report was made in February to the Presidency, DSS and police alleging that Melaye and his cohorts planned to cause a breach of the peace in the state.

He, however, assured the people of the state of adequate security of life and property, and advised them to go about their daily activities as the situation had been brought under control.

Melaye had on April 15, 2017 escaped death when his house at Ayetoro Gbede in Lokoja was attached by gunmen.

Six persons, including the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government Area, suspected to be involved in attack were arrested and later charged to court. (NAN)

KKA/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-AE-2
Beneficiaries
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, June 12, 2017 (NAN) Some beneficiaries of FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) project in Oyo State say the project has impacted positively on the lives of the rural dwellers in the state.

Mr Giwa Lasisi, the Chairman of FADAMA Federated Community Association (FFCA) and Igba Otun Cassava Production Cluster, conveyed the beneficiaries’ appreciation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

Lasisi said that the beneficiaries of the project’s cassava and rice value chains had witnessed positive changes with the adoption of good agronomic practices, which had increased their farm yields and revenue.

“FADAMA III AF project has helped its participants to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, and this has really improved our income and standard of living.

“We now package our rice and garri, and this has added value to our products, as we now sell in some supermarkets, unlike the local way we used to market our produce in the past,’’ he said.

Lasisi urged the Federal Government and the World Bank to fund the FFCA proposal which was submitted to the FADAMA National Office, adding that the proposed project would boost the productivity of FADAMA III AF project beneficiaries.

Also speaking, Mr Moses Babalola, the Caretaker Chairman, Kajola Local Government Council, said that the FADAMA III AF project had provided jobs for youths and women, while boosting food production in the state.

Babalola urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate roads, linking villages across the state, to facilitate the transportation of farm produce to markets by the production clusters.

Also, Mr Nath Olayinka, State Project Coordinator of FADAMA, said that the goals of the FADAMA III AF project had been achieved in the state.

Olayinka said that farmers in the state had been sensitised to their expectations in the FADAMA III AF project, while over 400 business plans for crop production and processing have been prepared, awaiting approval by the National Office.

NAN recalls that the mid-term review team, led by Mr Ahmed Shehu of the World Bank, recently visited Oyo State and expressed satisfaction over reports and on-the-field observations on FADAMA III AF project in the state. (NAN)
ROK/OFN/OOK
===========

Edited by Felix Nwadioha and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-H-22
Command
By Henry Oladele
Lagos, June 12, 2017 (NAN) Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke on Monday formally took over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos,  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

In a brief ceremony at the headquarters of the Division on Victoria Island, Lagos, Dauke’s  predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Ebenezer Oyefolu, handed over the division’s flag to the new GOC.

The handover took place after signing the handing and taking over notes.

Oyefolu is now the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Training Command, Kontangora, Niger.

The highlight of the occasion was the inspection of quarter guard where the old flag was lowered and the new one hoisted.

In his remarks, the outgoing GOC said that he was thankful to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the opportunity given to him serve in 81 Division.

“I pray that God grants our president good health. I had an interesting time working with the commanders, staff and officers of the division.

“I am fulfilled although it was a short stay. I give God the glory for the peaceful environment.

“We overcame every challenge that crossed our path, and I enjoin everyone to give cooperation to the new GOC,” he said.

Dauke said that he would do everything in his powers to improve on what his predecessor did.

Until his appointment, Duke was the GOC of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos. (NAN)
HOB/ENN/IGO
===========
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-AE-1
FADAMA
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, June 12, 2017 (NAN) The assessment team of World Bank-supported projects has applauded the successes of FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) programme in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno.

In a statement by Mr Tunde Olodunjoyelo, Media Consultant for World Bank on FADAMA 111 AF, in Abuja on Monday, the team, led by Mr Christopher Torgersen, made the commendation after an assessment tour of projects in the neighbourhood.

NAN reports that the projects were executed under FADAMA 111 AF programme in the North East tagged “Food and Livelihoods Support’’ scheme, which was inaugurated on March 1, 2016.

The statement said that the 50 million-dollar scheme, which mainly involved the drilling of boreholes, was executed in communities in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states.

Torgersen was quoted as saying that the team had interactions with some people at the Jumbo Borehole site at Bololo, on the outskirts of Mafa town.

“Some herdsmen, women and youths really appreciated the borehole project; we commend the Borno State FADAMA for its service delivery.

“We also appreciate the partnership with some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to scale up the project activities for the benefit of the worst-hit victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state,” he said.

Mr Bukar Talba, Borno State Fadama Project Coordinator, told the team that boreholes were also drilled in Nganzai, Chibok, Gwoza and Kaga Local Government Area of the state.

Talba said the state government had also ensured that the boreholes were solar-powered so as to guarantee regular, hitch-free water supply at all times. (NAN)
ROK/JI/OOK
==========
Editing by Joseph Idika and Dayo Komolafe