Author: Isah Mukhtar

NSCDC arrests 3 IDPs for vandalising high tension copper cable in Borno

NAN-DS-7

Arrest

By Hamza Suleiman

Maiduguri, March 24, 2017 (NAN) The Borno Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had arrested three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for allegedly vandalising high tension copper cable.

The Commandant of the corps, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, disclosed this in Maiduguri on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ibrahim said the suspects were arrested at Kalari, Konduga Local Government Area.

Ibrahim said the suspects were arrested with the material in a pick-up van near Aloe dam area.

He said the copper wire belonged to the Yola Electric Distribution Company (YEDC) which was expected to supply electricity to Konduga and Bama.

‘‘The command got the information through our surveillance team which is monitoring vandalism of cable and other critical infrastructure in the area. (NAN)
HMS/MOL/AMY
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Abdullahi Yusuf
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NAN-AE-20
Erosion
Samaru (Kaduna State), March 23, 2017 (NAN) The Mekera Community Development Association of Hayin-Dogo, Samaru, in Kaduna State has appealed to the state government to rescue the community from the gully erosion plaguing the area.

The association’s Chairman, Capt. Emmanuel Osuji, made the appeal on Thursday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Samaru, Sagongari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

He said that the gully erosion was as a result of an abandoned road reconstruction project at Cemetery Road at Makera in Samaru District.

Osuji expressed regret that the erosion had now become a threat to the lives of all the people living in the area.

“Cemetery Road is an important major road which links the community with the burial ground for both Muslims and Christians but the road project, which started in 2013, had since been abandoned.

“The abandonment of this project had left the people’s lives at risk.

“We, therefore, wish to call on government at all levels to come to our aid in order to save the lives of the citizens.

“The project is a constituency project, initiated by the lawmaker representing Sabongari in the House of Representatives, Rep. Muhammad Datti-Babawo, but along the line, it was abandoned,’’ he said.

Osuji said that the essence of forming the association was to contribute to the development of the area through communal efforts.

Also commenting, the association’s Patron, Ustaz Ibrahim Aliyu, said the entire community of Hayin-Dogo in particular, and Samaru in general, had no access to the burial ground other than through Cemetery Road, hence the call for the government’s assistance.

“The abandoned road construction project made it possible for all water coming from different directions to accumulate at the tail end of Cemetery Road; that’s what induced the devastating gully erosion.

“This project is so huge that our association and even the entire community cannot even afford to complete its execution.

“We, therefore, plead with government to revisit the construction site to avert the dangers that could emanate from the site,’’ he said.

Aliyu said that the association had spent some money to check the erosion from causing further damage but the association was constrained by paucity of funds, as the project was beyond its capacity.

All efforts by NAN to speak with Rep. Datti-Babawo on the project were futile. (NAN)
KLM/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-AE-17
Empowerment
By Tosin Kolade
Illah (Delta), March 23, 2017 (NAN) The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, on Thursday, said that 80 unemployed youths were benefiting from Federal Government’s Graduate and Youth Empowerment Scheme on irrigation farming.

Adamu, who spoke at the official inauguration of the scheme in Illah, Delta, said that the programme was part of efforts to revitalise the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) to boost the nation’s agricultural production.

He said that the revitalisation of the RBDAs was targeted at creating job opportunities via irrigation farming and aquaculture, while boosting Nigeria’s efforts to attain food security.

He said that the scheme was an offshoot of an agreement signed between the Federal Government and Songhai Integrated Farms Ltd. in Benin Republic.

The minister recalled that the agreement stressed the need to reposition and strengthen the RBDAs to become major economic nerve-centres of the country.

“This is in line with the economic diversification policy and the change agenda of the present administration.

“The main objective of this scheme is massive job creation for young graduates, with all-year-round agricultural production and other value chain activities,” he said.

Adamu assured Nigerians that the scheme was laudable as it supported the vision and objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans for food security and youth empowerment.

He urged the beneficiaries and all stakeholders to provide maximum support for the scheme through their active participation in its operations and maintenance.

He added that the scheme was a tool for reducing poverty and youth restiveness in the country.
Mr Saliu Ahmed, Managing Director, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (RBDA), called on the Federal Government to expand the irrigation facilities in the authority’s catchment area.

He said that the RBDA had undertaken irrigation projects in Ewulu and Illah in Delta; Ukhun, Illushi-Ega-Oria in Edo; Owena Multipurpose Dam; Erusu Dam and Iju-Ita-Ogbolu in Ondo State.

Ahmed said that the Illah/Ebu irrigation project was one of the priority projects of the river basin authority.

He said that the project had a capacity of developing over 3,000 hectares of irrigable land, adding that 550 hectares had so far been developed for the cultivation of rice, water melon and cucumber.

Ahmed said it was the desire of the RBDA to increase the participants of the scheme to 1,000, calling for more support from the Federal Government.

“We need the government support to enable us to rehabilitate our broken-down tractors and acquire new ones, while procuring equipment such as rice harvesters and planters.

“We also desire to prepare farmlands to accommodate more prospective farmers,” he said.

Ahmed called on the host communities to take ownership of the project and assist in effective management of all the facilities.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that similar projects had been inaugurated in Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, Kano, Cross River, IMO and Nasarawa States. (NAN)
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-H-103

Kidnappers

Lokoja, March 23, 2017 (NAN) The Police in Lokoja on Thursday paraded 20 persons suspected to be kidnappers and armed robbers.

The Commissioner of police in the State, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said some of them were arrested for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and culpable homicide.

He said the suspects were arrested at Igalamela/Odolu, Ankpa, Ibaji, Odo-ere, Okene and Odo-Ape during security operations by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squads (SARS).

Those paraded were Musa Audu, Adamu Lamun and Bodori Ide for allegedly kidnapping one Aishetu Shehu on Feb. 4, 2017.

Inalegwu said the suspects collected N500,000 ransom before releasing her.

He said that Enemona Godwin, Solomon Anthony, Yakubu Abdullahi, Hassan Abdullahi, Ekele Attah, Umar Abubakar, Ahmadu Panya, Jeremiah Olorunmowaju, Idris Umar, Umar Mohammed and Hussaini Yahaya were arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping.
According to him, four pump action guns, four AK47, two pistols, two double barrel guns, two Dane guns, 200 live cartridges, 150 wraps of Indian hemps, military cap, boots and belts are some of the items recovered from the suspects.

Inalegwu said the new security strategies he introduced had started yielding results.

The commissioner, who assumed office barely a month ago, commended members of the local vigilance groups for their contribution to the fight against crime and promised to make the state safer for people.

Last week, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, accompanied by Inalegwu and other members of the state security council, supervised the demolition of two houses used by terrorists and armed robbers in Okene.

In recent time, many commuters had been kidnapped or robbed while passing through the state. (NAN)
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Edited by Idahosa Asowata

NAN-S-4
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, March 23, 2017 (NAN) To improve on its 2016 performance at the DStv Basketball Men’s League, Customs Basketball Club of Lagos, on Thursday expressed confidence in their ongoing recruitment of players and training.

The Head Coach, Scott Nnaji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the club was working tirelessly to perform credibly and win the title.

NAN reports that the 2017 edition comes up on April 1 with 16 clubs in the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences to begin the quest for the crown.

Nnaji said: “We did very well in the 2016 by emerging second behind Kano Pillars.

“It was our best performance in the history of the club and which was against all expectations.

“Looking at the coming season which will dunk off on April 1, we are very certain that we can do better by winning the competition’’.

According to the gaffer, Customs have come of age and are fearless; they cannot be intimidated by any club in the Atlantic and the Savannah Conferences.

“We have been consistent over the years and our achievement in the 2016 crowned our efforts as one of the formidable clubs in the conference.

“Also our performance at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Basketball Championships, held in Togo in October, was an eye opener which sets us up on what the big stage looks like.

“Indeed we want to continue at this level and for this we must work harder with quality players and committed personnel,’’ Nnaji added.

He said that the team had recruited new players and that they would be unveiled soon to the delight of fans and well-wishers.

“We carry the pride of Lagos and as a team, we are aware of our responsibilities to represent the centre of excellence with a wonderful performance in the 2017 campaign.

“We are doing everything possible to see that we surpass all expectations and prove to our teeming fans why we are the pride of Lagos.

“To win the championship title is not a child’s play as every other club wants that as well, but we are confident of our lineup to achieve that at the end,’’ Nnaji added.

NAN reports that Kano Pillars defeated Customs to emerge the overall winners of the 2016 edition, while both teams represented Nigeria in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Basketball Champions Cup. (NAN)
BAO/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

Jigawa Govt. targets 1.7m children for Immunisation in March

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Immunisation
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, March 23, 2017 (NAN) The Jigawa Government says it is targeting 1.7 million children for the March Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari, disclosed this while speaking at the launching of Universal Health Coverage, in Jaudi village in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the state government intends to vaccinate 1,680,000 children starting from today through Tuesday.

“It should be kept in record that the state government has provided all the needed political and financial support in all the rounds of IPDs we have had in the last two years.

“I will like to use this opportunity to sincerely thank our traditional and religious leaders for their sustained support in the fight against polio and other health activities in the state,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise would be conducted simultaneously across the 27 local government areas of the state.

NAN also reports that the exercise, which began on March 23, would end on March 28. (NAN)
MNB/JIE/AFA
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Felix Ajide

NAN-AE-5
Water
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, March 22, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says no fewer than 1.8 billion people across the world are at risk of contracting cholera for drinking water contaminated with faeces.

Mr Amose Kudzala, the officer-in-charge of Enugu Field Office of UNICEF, said this on Wednesday in Enugu at the 2017 World Water Day celebration.

Kudzala said that exposure and usage of contaminated water had become a major health challenge, adding that fresh water constituted only three per cent of the people’s water sources.

“Fresh water constitutes just three per cent of overall water used across the world. In Nigeria, however, we are blessed with good sources of water,” he said.

The UNICEF official said that more than 80 per cent of waste water generated by society usually flowed back into the ecosystem without any kind of treatment.

He said that over 842,000 deaths occurred from the usage of unsafe water or poor sanitation every year.

Kudzala said that UNICEF and other relevant organisations were concerned with specific actions that would improve the collection and treatment of waste water.

He said that safely managed waste water was an affordable and sustainable source of potable water.

He stressed that water and sanitation were human right issues which should be recognised as such.

He said that the usage of safe and improved water sources was very important to the UN, as it was the focus of Goal Six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Kudzala said that purposeful water resource management would mitigate the impact of climate change and variability.

He underscored the need to treat water, particularly water from uncertain sources.

In a goodwill message, Mr Okenwa Omeje, the General Manager of Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASSA), said that the issue of water usage necessitated a positive behavioural change.

Omeje said that the vision of ENRUWASSA was to provide adequate potable water, while improving the sanitation of rural communities.

He expressed the agency’s gratitude to donor agencies for their assistance and urged them to step up their interventions in support of the state government’s efforts.

Omeje said that the state government had demonstrated the willpower to ensure that residents of the state had access to potable water.

Meanwhile, Mrs Elizabeth Achuagu, the Coordinator of Media Network on Water Aid, has called on the government at all levels to redouble its efforts to provide potable for the people.

Achuagu said that the call had become imperative as part of efforts to attain of the sixth goal of the SDGs which related to improvement of water, health and sanitation.

She bemoaned the fact that many rural communities still lacked access to potable water, adding that residents of rural communities were often plagued by water-related diseases.

Achuagu underscored the need to sensitise the citizens to the dangers of dumping refuse in water sources like rivers and streams, saying that this was the usual practice in many rural communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the 2017 World Water Day is: “Why Waste Water’’. (NAN)
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-H-78
Designer
By Priscilla Osaje
Mararaba (Nasarawa State), March 22, 2017 (NAN) A website designer, Baraka Terry, 29, was on Wednesday remanded at Keffi Prisons by a Mararaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a plasma television in a hotel.

Terry, residing at Gwagwalade in the FCT, is facing a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.

The accused, however, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

According to the Police Prosecutor, Mr Olusegun Eabiyi, Terry committed the offences at 11.20 a.m. on March 16 at De-Moual Hotel, Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

Fabiyi had told court that one Austine Ogbaje, in the hotel had arrested and bought Terry to the ‘A’ Divisional Police State in Mararaba.

According to Fabiyi, the complainant alleged that on the faithful day, Terry came to the hotel to lodge, paying N7, 500 for three rooms.

The prosecutor told court that the complainant removed three plasma television sets, valued at N150, 000 and packed them in a bag, with intention to stealing them.

He said the accused was subsequently, arrested at the hotel’s gate.

The prosecutor said further that during police investigations, the accused was similarly, arrested on March 5, at Royal Dream Hotel in Mararaba after stealing a plasma television set, valued at N65, 000.

He said that on March 7, the accused also went to Eddy Guest Inn at Mararaba and stole four plasma television sets, valued at N160, 000.

He said that the offences were contrary to Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Vincent Gwehemba, ordered that the accused should be remanded till April 24 for conclusion of investigations and consideration of bail application. (NAN)
PO/JIE/SN
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Silas Nwoha

NAN-H-56

Theft

By Vivian Ibobo

Lagos, March 22, 2017 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday arraigned a 22-year-old sales boy, Kogbekeloye Peter, who allegedly stole N202,000 from his master’s shop.

Peter, who resides at Oko-Oba, Agege area of Lagos State, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge bordering on stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada had told the court that Peter committed the offence on March 11, at Able God Ventures, Alagbado Area of Lagos.

Eruada said the accused stole the sum of N202, 000 from his master’s shop, Mr Olawumi Temidayo, and ran way.

He said the complainant reported the incident at the police station which led to the arrest of the accused.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The offence attracts a three-year jail term, if found guilty according to the Provisions of Section 285.

The magistrate, Mrs G.O. Anifowoshe granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

She said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and must provide evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned till April 5, for mention. (NAN)

IZU/ JIE/EEE

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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Ese E. Ekama

NAN-H-77
Election
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja, March 20, 2017(NAN) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) said only one out of the 167 elections conducted under his watch had so far been nullified by the court.

Yakubu disclosed this while answering questions from journalists on the credibility of INEC, at the commission’s first quarter meeting with the media on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the commission was working to ensure that its actions were guided by the Electoral Act.

Yakubu said that another scorecards of the commission was the level at which the validity of elections conducted under his watch were upheld in the court of law.

“We have so far conducted 167 elections, and so far only one has been nullified by the court.

“We will continue to do what we do courageously, maybe when we are not here, somebody will say the commission has done very well,’’ Yakubu said.

He said that though the commission had also been accused of conducting inconclusive elections, over 75 of the election conducted by the current administration were concluded at first ballot.

The chairman, however, said the elections declared inconclusive were done in line with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections, adding that INEC would not lower the bar in the conduct of credible election.

“We are conscious of our responsibilities and we are going to proceed as we have been doing’’.

On the court ordered re-run election, Yakubu said that the commission was left with Anambra Central Senatorial District legislative poll as the only one outstanding.

The chairman, who said that this was as a result of litigation surrounding the poll, expressed the hope that the litigation would be addressed for INEC to conclude the election.

He further said that the commission had two other bye-elections to conduct as a result of the death of two elected members.

These, according to him, were Warri South I State Constituency, Delta as well as the Mashi/Dutsi Federal constituency election, Katsina state.

Speaking on INEC staff indicted in election malpractices, Yakubu said that though it was painful that some members of staff of INEC were indicted, ‘’the givers of the bribes should also be sanctioned.

“What we have been hearing about corruption in the electoral process is that, it has focused more on the taker, not about the giver. Somebody must have given for a person to take.

“I am not excusing the taker at all, but if we must solve this problem, we must also beam our searchlight on the givers.

‘’If there is nothing to give, there will be nothing to take.
“So if we must have comprehensive solution to this problem, we must deal with both the givers and the takers.’’(NAN)
OBE/DO/DUA

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Dada Ahmed