Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-S-17
Donation
Lokoja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) The National Lottery Trust Fund on Tuesday donated sports equipment worth N5 million to 57 public primary schools in Kogi State.

The Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr Habu Gumel, while handing over the equipment to the Kogi State Government in Lokoja, said that the donation was made in line with the laws establishing the fund.

According to him, the fund is empowered to utilise proceeds from lottery operations for the execution of projects that will add value to ordinary Nigerians across the country.

He said that areas covered by the mandate included promotion of sports development, education, social services, public welfare and relief and management of natural disasters in Nigeria.

Gumel charged lottery operators and other business promoters who engage in any form of promotional lottery to keep to their obligations of remitting 20 per cent of lottery proceeds to the Trust Fund.

He warned that government would no longer tolerate sharp practices that undermine the growth and development of lottery good causes in the country.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for education, Mr Sunday Tolorunleke, thanked the fund for the donation.

He commended the Federal Government for setting aside a percentage of lottery proceeds for the execution of projects that impact positively on the society.

He pledged that the equipment would be deployed the 57 benefitting schools in a fair and just manner.

The commissioner further stressed the need to include more schools in the project coverage to ensure even spread across the three senatorial districts. (NAN)
KKA/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo
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kaskol36@gmail.com or 08033702984

NAN-S-3
Race-walking
By Modupe Oremule
Lagos, March 14, 2017 (NAN) Fadekemi Olude, a 2015 African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) race-walking gold medallist, says dearth of sponsorship has forced many athletes to abandon the sport.

“Lack of sponsorship has made many athletes to completely avoid the sport,” she told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Race-walking is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times.

It is held on road or running tracks;  common distances vary from 3000m to 100km.

Olude, however, called on corporate organisations and philanthropists to support the track and field event in a bid to promote it.

She noted that athletes also shunned the sport because of its unpopularity compared to other sports.

The athlete, who said the road to stardom was not easy, pointed out that her driving force remained the passion for race-walking.

“Race walking is my love but in Nigeria, lack of international exposure is depriving athletes of opportunities to improve themselves. I am
grateful that I was given the opportunity at the 2015 AYAC.

“Due to the lack of encouragement, a lot of athletes are running away from the sport. They are all going to sports that are known or popular.

“It is my passion, it is what I love doing, I cannot run away from it,” she told NAN.

Olude, who recently found a new love in marathon, said she was grateful to God for the talent she has for race-walking.

“I just thank God for what has been happening in my life in race-walking and marathon. Training without good food and multivitamins has
not been easy.

“If I am able to win more money from marathon, I will use it to improve myself in both sports.”

She said corporate organisations should also extend sponsorship to the sport in the same manner and interest they had shown in marathon, adding “race-walking has a lot of health benefits.”

NAN also reports that Olude finished first in the Nigeria female category of the 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with a time of 2 hour, 55 minutes and 16 seconds. (NAN)

MJO/ENN/DA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dele Akinsola

Fear grips Ikorodu community as militants return to terrorise Isawo residents

NAN-H-36
Militants
By Moses Omorogieva / Henry Oladele
Lagos, March 13, 2017 (NAN) Residents of Isawo in Ikorodu, Lagos State, say they now live in palpable fear following the return of militants who are terrorising people in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the militants, mostly kidnapers and pipeline vandals, were chased out of the area in August last year following bloody clashes in the community.

NAN reports that scores of people were killed in 2016 during clashes between militants and residents of Isawo community, leading to the deployment of a joint military taskforce in the area.

Residents told NAN on Monday that many of the hoodlums had returned to Isawo and neighbouring communities, robbing and terrorising residents.

“The militants are back to Isawo area. They brandish guns openly during daytime and rob people at night; many residents are now living in fear.

“The men are boasting that they are back to revenge the killings of their people in Isawo last year.

“For instance, Olusola Oke Street junction in Isawo near Majidun is one of the militants’ meeting points where they smoke Indian hemp openly.

“Residents don’t go out daily until 7a.m, and before 6 p.m., everyone is back home,’’ a female resident, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN in Isawo.

She said some residents had relocated from the area for their safety since the return of the hoodlums.

Another resident, who also sought anonymity, told NAN: “When we thought that these people were gone forever, they came again.

“We want the military and the police to check them before they start killing again.’’

Reacting to the development, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, Lagos State Police spokesman, told NAN that the command was re-strategizing the security arrangements in the state, including Ikorodu area.
Famous-Cole said more police patrol teams would be deployed in the area, and urged residents to provide useful information on the activities of the hoodlums.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Fergusson Bobai, told NAN :”I don’t have any report yet to suggest that militants are back in those areas.

“But Lagos State Governor has approved the return of swamp buggies to open up the creeks in those areas to enable us carry out in-depth patrols,” he said.

The swamp buggy is a motor vehicle used to traverse boggy swamp terrain.

Buggies are able to move about on dry land, shallow mud, sand, shallow water and deep mud.

NAN recalls that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Idris Ibrahim, on Aug. 4, 2016 visited Isawo creeks in Ikorodu neighbourhood over the activities of militants. (NAN)

MIO/HOB/WOJ

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NAN- H-34
Suspects
Lokoja, March 12, 2017 ( NAN) The Police Command in Kogi State, on Sunday in Lokoja, confirmed the killing of three armed robbery suspects during an operation along Agbede -Oshokoso-Kabba road.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP William Aya, told newsmen that the suspected armed robbers were killed by members of a Vigilante Group operating in the area.

Aya said that the suspects, who were fully armed and masked, were robbing innocent Nigerians of their belongings when members of a nearby vigilante group met them on the scene.

He said that the suspects engaged the vigilante men in a gun duel and it was in the process that a police detachment came to assist them.

“On sighting the police, the suspects who were about 10 in number fled into the bush and it was when combing the bush that three dead bodies were recovered by the police,’’ he said.

Aya said that police came to the scene after the the Kabba Police Division received a distress call from the vigilante group.

He said that the corpses of the suspected armed robbers were delivered to the Police Area Command Office at Kabba. (NAN)
KKA/MO

========Edited by Morayo Omolade
 

NAN-H-19

Pension

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, March 12, 2017 ( NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi had approved N1.338 billion for the payment of 14 months’ arrears to pensioners in the state.

A statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday said that Bello made the approval during the last state executive council meeting held on March 9.

Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General (D-G) to the governor on media and strategy, said in the statement that the money was to cover outstanding pension arrears of retirees from January 2016 to February 2017.

He, however, said that those to be paid were pensioners on the cleared-list of the just concluded screening.

According to him, payment will commence immediately as all necessary arrangements have been put in place.

The D-G quoted the governor as commending the pensioners for bearing with the government during the period of the screening, it said.

The governor was said to have promised to continue to place top priority on the pensioners’ welfare. (NAN)
KKA/PAD
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Edited by Peter Dada

91 athletes for national powerlifting trials in Ibadan

NAN-S-4
Powerlifting
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, March 10, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Para-powerlifting Federation (NPPF) on Friday said that 91 athletes are currently participating in a national trials holding in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The federation’s Technical Director, Samuel Ekeoma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the trials was meant to select athletes to  represent the country in 2020 Paralympic qualifiers.

Ekeoma said two major international competitions that would served as qualifications for the 2020 would hold later in the year.

“Qualifications for the 2020 Paralympics are around the corner and what we are doing in Ibadan is to select the best that will qualify the country for the powerlifting event of the Games.

“We have various international competitions this year but we are expected to participate in the World Championship slated for May in Hungary and a World Cup scheduled for Mexico in October.

“Failure to attend these competitions may deprive the country from participating in the powerlifting event of 2020 paralympics,’’ he said.

He added that 18 athletes would be selected at the end of the trials to represent the country.

The director commended the Nigeria Paralympics Committee for bankrolling the event in order to kick start the country preparations ahead of the Games.

NAN reports that Nigeria won six gold, two silver and a bronze medal in the powerlifting event of the 2016 Paralympics Games. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/MZA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-1

Buhari
By Zango Yusuf

Abuja, March 10, 2017 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has returned  home on Friday from the UK after a medical vacation.

The president’s jet landed  at the VIP Wing of  401 Training School of Nigeria Air Force , Kaduna, at 7.40 a.m.

He was received by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Barnabas Bantex.

The president was later flown by a presidential helicopter to Abuja.

He was received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, service chiefs and ministers.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Senior Special Adviser, Media and Publicity confirmed on Thursday that the president would return after his 49-day vacation, which has raised controversies.

The president left the country on Jan. 19 when he asked for 10 days medical leave from the Senate.

He said that in his absence that Osinbajo would act as the president of the country.

The president later wrote the Senate for an extension of the leave to enable him to undergo more medical tests based on the advice of his doctors.

He did not, however, state the time he would return. (NAN)

YAZ/JCE
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NAN-H-41

Traders
By Chukwudi Ekezie

Abuja, March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced two policemen to death and discharged three  others over the killing of six traders in Apo, Federal Capital Territory, in 2005.

Those condemned to death are Emmanuel Baba and Ezekiel Acheneje, while Danjuma Ibrahim, Nicholas Zakariah and Sadiq Salami were discharged.

The five were among six arraigned over the killing of the traders on June 7, 2005 on suspicion that they were armed robbers.

The sixth person on the charge sheet, Othman Abdulsalam, who was the Divisional Police Officer in Apo, is currently on the run. (NAN)
JCE
===

Apo 6: Federal High Court, Abuja, sentences 2 to death, discharges  3.

NAN-H-135
Adebayo
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado- Ekiti, March 8, 2017 (NAN) Oba John Ademola Ajakaiye, monarch of Iyin-Ekiti, hometown of late Gen. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, has extolled the virtues of the late former Governor of defunct Western State of Nigeria.

The Oba, a pioneer Chief Judge of Ekiti State and former Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, told newsmen at his palace on Wednesday that he was devastated by the news of his death.

He commiserated with the family and Nigerians on the death of Adebayo, who is also the patriarch of Adebayo family.

NAN reports that this is coming just as Ekiti State Government expressed shock at his demise.

Oba Ajakaiye described late Adebayo as a patriot, nationalist and great Nigerian who was one of the oldest surviving generals of the Nigerian Army.

According to the monarch, late Adebayo’s tenure as military governor of old Western Region and later Western State was instrumental to the rapid development of the area.

‘‘He served as the Military Governor of Western Region in 1966. It was while he was governor of that region that he was instrumental to provision of some essential infrastructure in Ekiti.

‘‘He created Ekiti into four divisions: Ekiti South, Ekiti Central, Ekiti North and Ekiti West, with Ado-Ekiti as the capital.

‘‘Because of this step, Ekiti was able to develop rapidly in all rounds rather than merely developing as a division.

‘‘This gave birth to further development. He was a nationalist and a very disciplined man as a military man.

‘‘Former President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) was his Aide De Camp.

‘‘President Buhari also worked with him, so did Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

‘‘He was the leader of the Yoruba Council of Elders. He wasn’t a tribalist and believed in the Nigerian Project.

“After serving as Western state Governor, he went to Kaduna to head the Military Training School where soldiers were trained; he once led the Nigerian troop to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

‘‘He was a father figure to all governors in Ekiti.

‘‘His departure is though a great loss, but we give thanks for his life. We are not mourning but celebrating his transition.

‘‘As a Christian he has only departed into glory. We recently honoured him by naming a Church after him.

‘‘He was a governor of the state and had his son as governor of the same state; no Nigeria has had such a record.

‘‘He gave approval for the establishment of the Eyemote Comprehensive High School in Iyin 50 years ago. Although, he lived in Lagos, he was always coming home.

“He was a traditional chieftaincy title holder in our town as Chief Aro of Iyin.

‘‘He was always participating in anything that concerns the town and was always around during the community’s day celebration.’’

Also, Gov. Ayo Fayose in a statement, described Adebayo’s demise as the worse incident to happen to the state in recent times.

The governor said the state would miss his fatherly role as an unbiased umpire, trying to bring everybody together under one roof no matter the political differences.

A former Governorship Candidate and top indigene of the town, Mr Michael Bamidele, said the death of Adebayo had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.

Adebayo was the former governor of the now defunct Western State of Nigeria, 1966–1971. He became governor after Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi’s death in the 1966 coup d’état

Adebayo was born March9, 1928 and retired from the Nigeria Army as a major general in 1975.

Adebayo became an officer in 1953, Platoon Commander, 1954-1955 and Regimental signal officer, 1955-1957.

Between 1957 and 1958, he was an aide-de-camp to a British governor-general (the last British governor-general of Nigeria– Sir James Robertson-1957)

He was a Company and Detachment Commander, Ikoyi, 1958 to 1960

Adebayo was the first Nigerian General Staff Officer, Grade 2 (Intelligence) at the United Nations Headquarters in 1961

He was the first National General Staff Officer, Grade 2 Nigerian Army Headquarters, 1961–1962

Also, he was the first Nigerian to be appointed General Staff Officer Grade 1, 1962–1963, Commander, Nigerian contingent in the Congo, 1963

He served as staff officer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the Congo crisis, 1961–1963.

He was the Chief of staff, Nigerian Army Headquarters, February 1964 – November 1965.

Adebayo was the first indigenous Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army.

Also, he was the Chairman, Organinisation of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee, 1963–1965 and Head of Nigerian delegation to the OAU Summit in Ethiopia, November 1966.

Adebayo was the Military Governor, Western Nigeria, 1966–1971, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, 1971–1972.

He was given ceremonial military duties, 1972–1975 and retired from the Nigerian Army with the rank of Major-General, July 1975.

Adebayo was one of the founders of and Vice Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) 1979–1983.

He died in Lagos on the eve of his 89^th birthday. (NAN)

ARIS/MOL/MO

==========Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Morayo Omolade