Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-AE-1
FADAMA
By Kudirat Ogunyemi and Philomina Attah
Abuja, June 1, 2017 (NAN) The World Bank, through the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) project, is reviewing and finding solutions to some problems ‎facing FADAMA farmers so as to boost their productivity.

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, the World Bank Task Team Leader on FADAMA III (AF) project, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday on the sidelines of the mid-term review, said that the activity would also improve the farmers’ income.

Oredipe said that the mid-term review of FADAMA activities was an opportunity to critically analyse some challenges identified during World Bank’s FADAMA mission to the states.

He said that the supervision gave the World Bank Team, the FADAMA Office and officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture an ‎opportunity to assess the level of the farmers’ activities on the field and recommend ways of attaining better yields.

“There was a change of government at the federal and state levels when the project began three years ago; priorities must have changed because value of the naira has also changed.

“We need to ask ourselves if the objectives of the project are still relevant. That is why we normally embark on a supervising mission in every six months.

“We have to assess the level of progress in efforts to achieve the targets that had been set under the project.

“Our chains of interest include cassava, rice, sorghum and tomato. But are they still relevant or has government priorities changed on what type of value chain the project should develop?

“So far, we have received good stories from farmers in FCT, Niger, Ogun and Ebonyi and according to what we supervised; there are lot of improvement in terms of production and packaging,’’ he said.

Oredipe, however, said that things ought to move faster in some areas in order to meet the set targets before the close of the project in 2019 and the review period “so that we will have good stories to tell.

“If there are needs for restructuring, we will then embark on restructuring,’’ he added.

He, nonetheless, expressed satisfaction with the reports so far received on the production and packaging sides.

He also assured the Federal Government of the World Bank’s continued support for its efforts to achieve food security in the country and stop food imports.

Also speaking, Mr Tayo Adewumi, the FADAMA National Programme Coordinator, said that the mid-term report was to take stock of their activities to know what was right and provide solutions to any challenges.

“The project started three years ago and now, we are to look at how far we have gone, what we have done right and what needs to be done in the second part of the project.

“Are we in line with the project’s objectives? If there are things based on government’s request, at the mid-term review we can discuss them so that they can be taken into consideration.

“The project is demand-driven because the community participation is very vital. Once we look at what the governments are asking for, we put them together and make better plans,’’ he added.

Adewumi commended the participating states for their efforts toward the success of the FADAMA III AF project. (NAN)
ROK/APA/OOK
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NAN-H-20

Students

By Moses Omorogieva

Lagos, May 30, 2017 (NAN) Seven secondary school students who were arrested for alleged hooliganism and criminal breach of public peace would on Wednesday appear before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students are from Iponri Senior High School, Akinto Senior High School, Surulere, Stadium High School and Oloye Comprehensive College, Orile.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Iponri Police Station, Mr Fesesan Ibrahim, told NAN that the suspects were part of gangs terrorising and molesting innocent citizens after school hours.

“We arrested the students on May 19 for always causing trouble every Friday at Costain, Alaka and Orile areas.

“The last incident that led to their arrest was the attack of some innocent persons with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“They were released to their parents on bail, with a view to produce them at the station for prosecution due to their ages,’’ the DPO said.

He said that the police was on the trail of one of the students who was released on bail to his mother but escaped.

According to the DPO, the police are also keeping surveillance on Gbaja Boys’ High School and Stadium Senior Secondary School, Surulere for similar cases. (NAN)

MIO/WOJ

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-DS-4
Groups
Abuja, , May 30, 2017 (NAN) As some pro-Biafra groups marked the 50th anniversary of Biafra, the police and other security agents monitored events in towns, such as Onitsha, Anambra, and Aba in Abia, to ensure event did not get out of hand.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that in Onitsha as in other parts of the Southeast on Tuesday, banks, schools, markets and government offices remained closed. .
Also, transporters withdrew their services, while the police, army, navy and personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps )NSCDC) stationed themselves at strategic points in the town.
The security personnel were stationed at Upper Iweka, DMSGS Roundabout, MCC, FEGGE, Onitsha Bridgehead and 33 areas, among others.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Sam Okaula, said no incident had been reported in any part of the state at noon.
“No incident of crisis that is noteworthy has been reported apart from pockets of reports where some hoodlums tried to hijack the process by burning tyres on road.
“They have been dispersed while some persons were arrested. Besides, that, the area is generally calm and there is no cause for alarm,” Okaula, who was on patrol in Onitsha, told NAN.
Meanwhile, Mr Dede Uzor, the National Publicity Secretary of Campaign for Democracy, commended the agitators for maintaining law and order.
Uzor also commended security operatives for “the mature manner they handled the situation.
“The Igbos have exercised their right by staying away from their businesses as mark of honour to those, who died during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, 50 years after; and this they did peacefully.
“I think they should be commended for their peaceful conduct and the security operates for their mature manner of handling the situation,” the activist said.
Travellers from Asaba to Onitsha were stranded as no commercial vehicles ventured to the commercial city.
The Asaba-Onitsha highway was lonely as buses avoided the road while few private vehicles were sited on the road.
Commercial vehicles from Benin and beyond heading to Onitsha parked by the roadside and many filling stations along the highway remained closed.
A heavily armed police detachment from the Police Command in Delta was stationed at the Asaba end of the Niger Bridge.
Some soldiers at the bridge head post were also on guard.
Policemen also guarded strategic points in Asaba, while the Abraka Food Market, one kilometre from the Niger Bridge, and shops at the nearby motor spare-parts market remained closed.
However, banks, government offices and the Ogbe-Ogonogo Market in Asaba remained open for business.
Residents of Enugu also obeyed the sit-at-home call with few vehicles on the road.
At the Ogbette Main Market and Motor Spare Parts Market in Coal Camp, some traders, who shut their shops, discussed the situation in hushed tones.
At some government establishments, including the state secretariat, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board and Independent National Electoral Commission offices, only a handful of workers reported for work.
Some public schools, including Urban Secondary School, Independence Layout and Institute of Management and Technology as well as Enugu State College of Education (Technical), were also empty.
In Aba, all the five markets including Ariaria International Market, were shut, while roads in the commercial city were devoid of vehicular traffic.
The military, police and NSCDC mounted joint patrols in strategic areas and also stationed Armoured Personnel Carriers in volatile areas of the city.
Also, the police carried out aerial surveillance in police helicopters hovering over the city.

Some Aba residents expressed satisfaction with compliance to the call.
A resident, Mr Azubuike Ibe said the compliance had demonstrated unity among the Igbos.

“I am happy for this total compliance because since we were children, no government has ever given us this feeling of oneness.

“But today, we are seeing this; we are happy and thank God for it. It shows that Igbos will progress from now on,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Kelechi Nkemdirim, said the people were marking the 50th anniversary of Biafra and also mourned those who sacrificed their lives during the Nigerian civil war.

‘’I am happy that all Igbos have come to realise the importance of the day and given it the attention it deserves,’’ Nkemdirim said. (NAN)
Reporters/MNA/OFN/JCE
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Felix Nwadioha/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-DS-3
Biafra (Re-Opened)
Abuja, May 30, 2017 (NAN) Social and economic activities were paralysed in parts of the Southeast as the people obeyed a call by two pro-Biafra groups for a public holiday to commemorate the declaration of the defunct republic.

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had declared May 30 a public holiday for their supporters to commemorate 50 years of the declaration of Biafra.

They also said they wanted to remember those who died in the Nigerian civil war fought between Nigerian troops and rebel Biafra forces.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that markets, schools, government and private offices were shut in obedience to the call.

Meanwhile, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of MASSOB and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) said the two groups under him were not part of the call for sit-at-home.

In Umuahia, workers in federal establishments and those of the Abia Government stayed away from their offices.

Abia State Secretariat Complex, public and private schools, markets and major supermarkets in the city were shut and transporters stayed off the roads.

Umuahia city centre, known as Isi-gate, was empty and quiet, while the shops in the area and the adjoining streets were all closed.

Many residents remained indoors, while children used the opportunity to play football on some streets.

On the streets,  detachments of police and other security agents patrolled, while a police helicopter  hovered in the sky to monitor events.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Abia, Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, told NAN by telephone that there was no threat to public peace.

He said that security operatives were adequately deployed in all parts of the state to checkmate any possible breach of the peace.

Ogbonna said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, was leading a combined team of all  -security agencies to maintain the peace.

“The commissioner has been leading the heads of other security agencies in the state to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.

“Abia is calm and people are going about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation,” Ogbonna said.

In Owerri, two major markets, Eke Onuwa and Relief Markets, remained closed, likewise shops on some major streets, Wetheral Road and Mbaise Road.

The busy Douglas Road, which usually bustles with heavy traffic, was free as traders stayed home.

Banks, eateries and boutiques also closed business activities.

A bank worker, who pleaded  anonymity, said the workers were awaiting further directives from their headquarters before they could open for business.

There were few commercial vehicles on the road, while Imo Transport Company shut operations.

Some passengers who arrived at motor-parks early to leave the city were stranded.

Mrs Oluchi Uchenwa said she arrive in Owerri at 7a.m. to travel to Port Harcourt but could not get a vehicle.

Students also failed to turn up in school in spite of their teachers coming to work.

The situation also affected activities at the courts with   some sitting and others not working.

A lawyer who did not want to be named, called on the Federal Government to look into the agitation of the pro-Biafra groups and others.

“This kind of situation does not tell good for the corporate image and identity of Nigeria that we are in one country, yet everyday it is Biafra agitation, the other day it is Boko Haram and OPC,’’ the lawyer said.

Uwazuruike  said: “The position of MASSOB and BIM under my watch is that we are not part of any sit-at-home order, all what I am aware is the week-long celebration to mark 18^th  anniversary of MASSOB and 50th anniversary of Biafra.

“Anybody talking about sit-at-home is on his own and I have nothing to tell anybody on such activity neither should any problem associated to it be attributed to me,’’ he said. (NAN)
Reporters/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN – H –87

Democracy Day

Lokoja, May 29, 2017 ( NAN) The Kogi  government said it has completed payment of salary to 95 per cent of of its workers that were cleared in the just concluded staff screening and verification.

The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, made the assertion on Monday in Lokoja in a statement issued to mark this year’s democracy day celebration.

“ I can confirm that people are still getting payment alerts as we do our best to meet the May 31 timeline which we set for ourselves to complete all payments,” the governor said.

Bello said that government was deploying integrated staff and payroll automation solutions to consolidate the gains from the screening  in line with the ongoing civil service and pension reforms.

With the conclusion of the exercise, he assured workers and pensioners of prompt payment of salary and pensions.

According to Bello, the government has been able to tame the widespread insecurity of lives and property which it inherited.

”Today, the incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes has dropped to almost zero,” the governor said in the statement personally signed by him.

He said that the state internally generated revenue had increased from between N350m and N400m per month to over N1 billion per month .

The governor said that more than 1000 appointments had been made in the Ministries of Environment, Justice and the Revenue Board in the past 15 months while advert had been placed for massive recruitment into the health sector.

Bello said plans were nearing completion for the construction of 239 blocks of two Classrooms, one in each of the 239 wards in the state under the GYB Model Primary School Initiative.

He also announced that students in tertiary institutions will henceforth receive N10,000 as bursary as against former N3,500.

He thanked the people for their support for his administration since assumption of office 15 months ago, saying that government will continue to cater for their welfare through provision of more democracy dividends.

Bello also advised those in opposition to embrace peace and join hands with him to work for the progress and development of the state. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ

NAN-H-48

Parents

By Aledare Akinwale

Lokoja, May 27, 2017(NAN) Mr Simeon Durowaiye, Proprietor, Bridgehead Academy, Lokoja has advised “busy” parents to always create time for their children so as to be part of their upbringing.

“There are parents that are very busy. But I want to advise that no parent should be so busy that he or she cannot spare time to monitor the growth and development of the children.

“While it is true that parents have to put in a lot at work so as to feed the families and pay the school fees, no parent should neglect the crucial role of bringing up the child in a proper way,” Durowaiye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lokoja.

He said that it was “very dangerous” to neglect a growing child, pointing out that the society would always pay the price for such neglect.

The Proprietor said that the 2017 Children’s Day celebration was a time for parents to rekindle parental care.

“Parents should use the period to ask themselves whether they have been living up to their roles as parents; they should also ask whether their children have been brought up to be assets to the society,” he said.

He urged adequate care and guidance for children at all levels, noting that the current generation of children were fast learners and needed constant monitoring against learning the wrong tendencies.

Durowaiye advised government to ensure stability in the education sector, and cautioned against incessant strikes that could affect the learning process. (NAN)

WAL/FLP/ETS

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Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Ephraims Sheyin

‎

NAN-H-1
Hygiene
Aledare Akinwale
‎Lokoja, May 27, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Victoria Olayemi, an environmentalist with the Federal Ministry of Environment, has called on Nigerians to always imbibe good hygienic culture.

Olayemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in lokoja on Saturday that most sicknesses were outcome of poor and bad hygiene.

She decried the ways and manner Nigerians feed, pointing out that 30 per cent of deaths in the country were as a result of poor living conditions.

Olayemi also said that people must take the issue of air pollution seriously because it was also hazardous to human health.

She urged Nigerians to always observe the monthly sanitation, stressing that it helps ‎curbing dirty environment and a healthy life. (NAN)
WAL/OFN/AFA
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Felix Ajide

NAN – H -85

Conduct

Lokoja, May 26, 2017 ( NAN) A civil servant in Kogi, Mrs Husseina  Mohammed has returned the sum N1, 780,500 paid in excess of her March salary to the coffers of the state government.

Mohammed said this on Friday in Lokoja while on a courtesy visit to the Director – General, Bureau of Information and Grassrrots Mobilisation, Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdulamlik .

She said that she received an alert from her bank in the afternoon of May 21 and discovered that a huge sum had been credited in her favour.

Mohammed said that she immediately called the attention of her husband to the development and a decision was taken to return the money to the coffers of the government.

The civil servant, who works at the state Teaching Service Commission, said that she started the process of returning the money back to government on May 22, saying that the money was paid into the government account with the Lokoja branch of the Zenith Bank Plc.

She then handed over the bank teller and other documents used in paying back the money into the government bank account to the Director General

Mohammed praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for paying her salary up till March, 2017,  saying that she was not in any way affected by just concluded staff screening and verification exercise.

She, however, pleaded with the state government to reciprocate her good gesture by paying the outstanding 15 month salary arrears of her husband, Mr Yakubu Mohammed.

The civil servant said that the salary of her husband was being withheld for the discrepancy in his age declaration, saying that the discrepancy had since been rectified.

In his response, the Director- General commended Mohammed for her honesty.

He said with people like her in the society, Nigeria was sure of winning the ongoing war against corruption.

The Director -General urged other civil servants and residents of the state to emulate Mrs. Mohammed.

He said that her good conduct would  not go unrewarded, adding that her exemplary conduct would be recorded for generation yet unborn to learn and emulate.

Abdulmalik also reiterated the resolve of Gov. Yahaya Bello to carry the restructuring of the state civil service to the end. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ
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NAN-AE-5
Tomato
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, May 26, 2017 (NAN) The World Bank, through the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) project, has pledged support for Plateau farmers in efforts to eradicate Tuta Absoluta, a pest currently ravaging tomato farms across the state.

Mr Gideon Dandam, the FADAMA III (AF) Coordinator in Plateau State, made the promise in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

He noted that tomato farming had been a major occupation of farmers in the state, adding that the tomato farmers had also been exposed to various ways of addressing or controlling diseases during cropping.

Dandam, however, said that the FADAMA III AF project had scaled up the farmers’ understanding of the application of best agronomic practices, adding that the knowledge led to the expansion of their farms due to the seeds they were expecting.

“They were, however, caught unawares by the Tuta Absoluta pest because it has never affected their farmlands in the past; they only hear news of the pest on radio and television.

“When I received the report, I rushed to some farms to assess the level of damage which Tuta Absoluta, the tomato disease, had caused.

“What I discovered left me discouraged; as I helplessly looked at the resources, which the World Bank, the federal and state governments have expended on efforts to help the farmers come out of poverty, being destroyed,’’ he said.

Dandam said that he had directed some agronomists to engage farmers and advise them on ways to attract collaboration with agencies and institutions to provide solutions that would mitigate the effect of Tuta Absoluta on their farms.
“I quickly reported the situation to the FADAMA National Coordination Office, Abuja; immediate action was taken and some officials were sent to assess the situation.

“We have funded about 2,090 farmers to cultivate one hectare of tomato each in the 2017 dry season farming; it is discouraging that the Tuta Absoluta pest is destroying our efforts,’’ he said.

The coordinator also said that some tomato farmers in Plateau had partaken in a train-the-trainers workshop in Kano to empower them to assist other farmers in efforts to contain the tomato disease.

“The state government is also looking at ways of eradicating this disease because of its plans to set up a tomato paste manufacturing company.

“The government’s aim of setting up the company in the state is to reduce post-harvest losses, which farmers usually complain of due to poor storage facilities, while boosting the farmers’ income,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the state is one of the states participating in the tomato value chains aspect of the FADAMA III AF project. (NAN)
ROK/JIE/OOK
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-H-42

Demolition

Lokoja, May 25, 2017 (NAN) Eighteen houses serving as hideouts for kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals have been demolished in Kogi, an official has said.

Cmdr Mr Jerry Omodara (retired), Special Adviser to the governor on security, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja that the houses were destroyed in line with the provisions of the state’s law on kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes.

He said that 17 of the houses were demolished in Kogi central senatorial district while one, an estate, was demolished in Kogi East senatorial district.

Omodara said that more houses were being identified, adding that any house where arms and ammunition were recovered, would be pulled down.

He restated Gov. Yahaya Bello’s resolve to rid the state of criminals, and declared that there was no going back on that stance.

Omodara advised criminals to steer clear of Kogi in their own interest. ( NAN)
KKA/ETS

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Edited by Ephaims Sheyin