Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-AE-12
Fertiliser
By Isaiah Eka
Uyo, April 20, 2017 (NAN) The Akwa Ibom Government says it has procured 3,000 tonnes of fertiliser for distribution to farmers in the state to increase food production.

Gov. Udom Emmanuel made the disclosure in his remarks during A-3 day Agricultural Policy and Food Summit in Uyo on Thursday.

Represented by Mr Moses Ekpo, his deputy, Emmanuel also said his administration had taken giant strides in repositioning the agricultural sector in the state.

He said it was the critical role that agriculture played in the state economy that informed the need by the state government to prioritise its five-point economic agenda.

According to him, agriculture is providing the pivot role to wealth creation, poverty alleviation and job creation.

“For me, it is already given that agriculture will not only form the bedrock of my administration’s policy, but it will also remain the major pre-occupation of our active populace.

“I consider the agricultural sector as the true foundation of our local economy, given its huge potential to create value chain as well as sustain every other sector of the economy.

“The state government has procured 3,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to ensure increased farm yield and food security for the state.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has started distribution of the fertiliser at subsidised rate to farmers for an improved yield,” he said.

He urged youths in the state to embrace agriculture as it was the most sustainable source of livelihood, instead of running after politicians.

The governor promised that the government would continue to encourage farmers by providing them with farm inputs.

He expressed the hope that the summit would come up with effective strategies and policy frame work that would address poverty in the area.

Earlier, one of the facilitators of the summit, Prof. Obafemi Ajibola, said that the summit would strive to formulate strategies and ensure sustainable agriculture sector for adequate food production for the citizenry.

Ajibola, who presented a Draft Policy Document on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency Strategy at the occasion, urged farmers in the state to embrace agriculture as a viable venture.

He assured them that their effort would yield returns at the end of every cropping season. (NAN)
IE/MOL/DUA

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Dada Ahmed
 

NAN-H-58
Stealing
Ibadan, April 20, 2017 (NAN) A 34 – year old Ahmed Kelani on Thursday, appeared in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court, Ibadan for alleged house breaking and stealing.

Kelani, who has no fixed address and his plea not taken, is facing a four -count charge of conspiracy, break and entering, stealing and break and entering.

The prosecutor, Sgt James Oriola, told the court that Kelani and others now at large on April 9, conspired to commit felony to with stealing.

Oriola also said Kelani, on April 9 at about 5 a.m at Abese zone 6, Teachers Estate, Ibadan broke and entered into the house of one Kehinde Arojojoye with intent to commit felony.

“Kelani and others now at large on March 19, at about 4: 30a.m at Graceland estate, Are Onibon, Oluyole extension, Ibadan, also broke and entered the dwelling house of one Victoria Arisemola,’’ he said.

According to Oriola, Kelani stole one HPF laptop, valued N120, 000, Techno Tablet value N50, 000 and jeweries valued N150, 000 from the house.

He said the total value of stolen items by the accused was N320, 000, property of Victoria Arisemola of Graceland Estate, Are Onibon, Elebu Oluyole extension, Ibadan.

The prosecutor also said the offence against the accused was contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 (9), 126 (2), 411 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol .II, Laws of Oyo state 2000.

Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, in his ruling, said Kelani should be remanded at Agodi prison because the court had no jurisdiction to try the case.

Oladiran said that only the high court could admit the accused to bail, adding that the court was awaiting the outcome of the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s advice on the case.

The chief magistrate adjourned the case till May 18 for mention. (NAN)

SAF/JIE/DUA

Edited by Julius Enekhuere/Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-20

Security

By Moses Omorogieva

Lagos, April 18, 2017 (NAN) Israel Ajao, Chairman, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), has said that the government-sponsored vigilante organisation was not in competition with the police in securing the state.

Ajao told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the Neighborhood Watch, recently re-launched by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, was out to complement other security agencies.

Ajao, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), said that the new security outfit would collaborate with the police and other agencies in enhancing security in the state.

“Our main duty is to gather information and pass same to the police and other security agents that should work with such information.

“We are not to compete with the police, but to compliment them and other security agents.

“That is why all the security agencies are represented on the board of the corps,’’ said the LNSC chairman.

He said that the organisation would put in place machinery for proactive policing as obtained in metropolitan states in other developed societies.

“In our contemporary world, policing is no longer reactive, but proactive.

“You don’t wait for crime to be committed by reacting, but ensure there are intelligence gathering to prevent the crime from being committed.

“In order to achieve this, our personnel will focus on motorized patrol across the state’s 57 council areas with its171 vehicles and modern communication facilities.

“We are working to make the job of the police and other security agencies easier,’’ Ajao said.

The retired DIG said the organisation’s 5,700-strong personnel had been trained in beat patrol system, practical policing, local knowledge and collaboration with different stakeholders in neighbourhoods.

According to him, community leaders, associations, educational institutions, road transport workers, market unions and civil society groups are being mobilised to ensure success of the corps.

Ajao urged Lagos residents to see the corps as partners in ensuring safety in their various communities.

“This is a newly reinvigorated and rebranded organisation and not the old neighbourhood watch, therefore, it is not business as usual.

“Our officers are polite, friendly and always ready to serve,’’ Ajao said.

The LNSC boss said the organisation would not tolerate any act of indiscipline, warning that any erring corps member would be shown the way out. (NAN)

MIO/WOJ

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-S-3
Championship
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, April 18, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Para-Badminton Federation (NPBF), on Tuesday said three of its athletes would represent the country at the maiden edition of Para-Badminton Africa Championship in Uganda.

The federation president, Samuel Ekeoma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the championship would hold from April 25 to April 30 at the Lugogo Sports Center, Kampala.

Ekeoma named the players as: Bello Oyebanji from Kwara , Victor Ikechukwu-Ozurumba from Imo and Kemi Ojo from Kaduna state.

“This championship is the first para-badminton championship in Africa and I am happy that Nigeria will be part of this historic event.

“Though we registered 10 of our players for the competition, but only three of them will participate due to paucity of fund.

“The three athletes are adequately prepared and I strongly believe they will fly the country’s flag high in Kampala,” he said.

The President NPBF also disclosed that the athletes would depart the country on April 23 for the competition.

He, however, commended the Kaduna and Abia State Governments for supporting the growth of the sport in the country and urged other states to follow their example. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/DUA

Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-35

Melaye

Lokoja, April 15, 2017 ( NAN)

Sen. Dino Melaye’s country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Kogi state was shelled by gunmen early Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered that  gunmen surrounded  the house after  midnight  and opened fire from different directions.

Two of the senator’s vehicles parked in the house were damaged. The Senator was not harmed.

Melaye, (APC-Kogi West), was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday at the time of the attack

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya told NAN that the police received a distress call from the senator at about 1 a.m. and immediately responded.

He said the hoodlums escaped before the police arrived, thereby making any arrest impossible.

Aya said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu had set up an investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to unravel those behind the attack.

On his part, Melaye said the hoodlums arrived at about midnight and started shooting sporadically at the main building in the compound.

He said the shooting lasted for almost one hour, adding that apart from the building riddled with bullets, two of his vehicles were damaged.

The senator said he suspected Mr Taufiq Isa, the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government to be behind the attack.

According to him, the attack was politically motivated, because of his criticism of the State Government.

He said: “I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the power that be  in the state which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life.

“At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullets into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth.

“If I speak the truth, I will die. If I lie, I will die. I’ve decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men, I don’t fear them.

“I am championing an administrative cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”

Melaye also chided the police for not responding quickly to his distress call, saying that the house of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town was a stone-throw from the scene of the attempt on his life.

“The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the area Commander in Kabba was not notified until I called the Commissioner of police. I suspect a Satanic collaboration between Taufiq Isa and the police in Aiyetoro because the duo held a meeting two days ago.

“Only God will protect us in this country but definitely not the police”, he said.

In a swift reaction, Isa denied having a hand in the attempt on the life of the Senator, saying that he had been busy for sometime taking care of his sick wife.

“I’ve never been a violent man. My running battle with Dino Melaye, if any, is because I have asked him to stop villifying the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“Let him (Dino) prove it. I lost my uncle a week ago; I’m still attending to my sick wife and busy supervising the APC re- registration programmes. I’m a democrat and law abiding. I challenge Dino to prove his case,” he said

(NAN) KKA/IEA ————-

Edited by Idahosa Asowata

Muslim scholar felicitates with Christians on Easter celebration

NAN-H-5
Easter
Lokoja, April 15, 2017 (NAN) Mr Abdulahi Ejiga, the Chief Imam of Aduge community in Lokoja, has felicitated with Christians on the celebration of Easter, calling for love and tolerance among religious groups.

Ejiga, who spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Saturday, urged Christians and other religious groups to emulate the doctrines of the Holy  Books.

He noted that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for everyone and therefore, need us to sacrifice for each other, things that could help us live a meaningful life.

He said the period of Easter was a time of fresh beginning, adding that the spirit of forgiveness and love should be embraced as it would help preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ejiga appealed to the privileged few in the society to reach out to the less privileged as a sign of love this season, saying that there was nothing greater than the love of Christ and loving one another.

He congratulated the Christians on this year’s Easter celebration and urged them to always reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as enshrined in the Holy book.(NAN)
WAL/JIE/AFA
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Felix Ajide

NAN-H-16
Honour
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, April 14, 2017 ( NAN) Kogi State Government on Friday named the 50-km Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina Road in Bassa Local Government Area of the state after the fallen Book Haram war hero, Lt.-Col. Mohammed Abu Ali.

Gov. Yahaya Bello, who announced this in Bassa, said the honour was part of efforts to immortalise Ali, who was killed in Maiduguri, Borno, on Nov. 4, 2016 by insurgents.

The late officer was a son to the Ettu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom, retired Brig-Gen. Abu Ali.

Bello was in the council area to flag off the rehabilitation of three roads when he announced the naming of the road after the late soldier.

“My late brother, Lt.-Col Abu Ali, paid the ultimate price for the protection of his fellow Nigerians and I am dedicating this road in his memory.

“When I came here on a condolence visit to his family, I promised to construct this road and I am grateful to God that I am performing the flag-off today to the glory of God,” he said.

He assured the people of his administration’s commitment to provide infrastructure in the area.

Bello warned criminals to keep off, saying the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

“The state has become a no-go area for criminals.

“By now, criminals must know that there is a new `sheriff’ in town. I will not condone any form of criminality. Those still hiding will be flushed out; poverty is not an excuse for criminality,” the governor said

The Administrator of the local government area,  Mr Zakari Alumka, commended the governor for his intervention  during a recent communal clash.

Alumka also thanked the governor for the construction and rehabilitation of Mohammed Abu Ali road and two other roads  in the area.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Paul Maiwada, who is from the area, expressed the gratitude of Bassa people to the governor for the honour done their late son, Ali. ( NAN)
KKA/DA

Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN–H–128
Probe

Lokoja, April 12, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has said that the decision to probe finances of the state, from 2003 to 2016, was not aimed at settling political scores with his predecessors.

The governor stated this in Lokoja on Wednesday, while receiving the report of a commission of inquiry set up to probe the finances of the state under two previous administrations.

He said that the attempt to look into what went wrong in the past would guide his administration against repeating similar mistakes.

According to him, the exercise is “not a witch hunt or blackmail”.

He lamented that Kogi, created 25 years ago, had remained largely undeveloped due to mismanagement and massive looting of available resources, declaring that the situation would be corrected.

“Today, we are looking into the past; I am prepared to move to the future by looking at the past,” he said.

Bello commended members of the commission for the diligence and commitment with which they carried out the assignment.

The Chairman of the commission, retired Justice Wada Abubakar Umar, while presenting the report to Bello, recalled that the terms of reference included investigating all contracts awarded by the two previous governments.

According to him, the committee was also mandated to determine whether the contracts were executed in line with contractual agreements.

He said that the committee was equally expected to ascertain monies that accrued to the state during the period and how they were expended.

“We were also expected to trace and recover all monies and properties belonging to the state, but which have not been captured.

“We were also mandated to look into all cases of maladministration within the period under investigation,” he said.

Umar said that the commission relied on memoranda, summons and public hearings to execute its mandate, adding that 71 witnesses testified on the activities of the two previous administrations under probe.

The retired justice expressed the hope that the report would help in deepening good governance, transparency and accountability, if implemented. ( NAN)
KKA/ETS
———–
Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

NAN-H-107

Accident

Lokoja, April 12, 2017 ( NAN) Eleven people have lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident at Ohiana on Okene –Auchi road in Kogi State.

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Segun Martins, confirmed this to newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday.

He said the accident occurred at about 5p.m. on April 11.

He said seven of the victims died on the spot while four died between Tuesday and Wednesday morning at the hospital where they were receiving treatment.

The sector commander explained that a Toyota Hilux bus belonging Big Joe Transport Company and a truck loaded with cement collided head on.

According to him, the bus, with registration number Delta AYB 939 XP was travelling to Warri from Abuja while the truck was coming from Okpela, Edo State.

He said 22 passengers were involved in the accident.
Martins said the corpses were deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Okene where the injured victims are also being treated. (NAN)
KKA/IEA
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Edited by Idahosa Asowata
08033702984

NAN-H-82
Wages
Lokoja, April 11, 2017 (NAN) Mr Sanmi Ige, an official of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello to support the proposed N56,000 minimum wage for workers.

Ige, who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Wednesday, urged the governor to take up the matter at the Governors Forum.

He said there was need for salary increment as the present minimum wage of N18, 000 was no longer realistic considering the suffering of the people due to the economic situation of the country.

Ige held that the market value of commodities remained high while minimum wage remained stagnant.

According to him, everyone goes to the same market to buy things, but don’t earn the same salary, urging the federal government to look into the issue.

Ige contended that if the governors’ forum could support the cause, he was optimistic that the Federal Government would approve it.

He said that it was no longer news that the workers were suffering untold hardship.

He also called on the federal government to remove the disparities in the salary scheme, adding that salary structures should be the same all over the country. (NAN)

WAL/JIE/IEA
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Idhosa Asowata