Blog

Arrest

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Dutse, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said it had arrested a suspected armed robber at Gujungu town, Taura Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The corps’ spokesman, Mr Adamu Abdullahi, made this known in a statement in Dutse on Monday.

Abdullahi said the suspect was arrested on Dec. 21, at about 8:30 p.m., by NSCDC operatives.

“On Dec. 21, at about 8:30 p.m., our officers on their way coming back to Dutse from Auyo LGA where they have gone for a special assignment, got information from motorists, who could not proceed further because of fear of being robbed that the road was blocked by some men suspected to be armed robbers.

“With that in mind, the officers decided to confront them and on getting to the scene, they sighted about four vehicles being stopped and people lying down on the road with some men standing over them in military uniforms flashing torch lights.

“Our officers decided to fire warning shots in the air, which made the suspected armed robbers to take to their heels, leaving behind sticks and machetes.

“One person was arrested in the process and brought to the office for further investigation, while four of his accomplices are still at large.

“The arrested suspect is a 40-year-old from Chai-Chai, a town under Ringim LGA.

“Amongst those allegedly robbed were a very Senior Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and his family members on their way home for Christmas,” Abdullahi said.

He denied a report credited to him that it was the family of the Comptroller General of NIS that was robbed by the suspects.

“It was the family of a very senior officer of NIS that was robbed, not the family of the Comptroller General of Immigration as reported by other media houses.

“Civil Defence never mentioned the CGI in its interview.

The spokesman added that the robbers seized the senior officer’s ID Card and international passport.

“And several victims complained that their money and cellphones were collected by the robbers.

“Put together, and based on complaints received, at least N450,000 was taken from the robbery victims,” he said.

According to him, NSCDC will soon hand over the suspect to the Police for further investigation.

He assured that the corps had launched manhunt to arrest the four fleeing suspect. (NAN)

MNB/YEE

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

• Women

By David Adeoye

Ibadan, Dec 24, 2018(NAN) No fewer than 112 women are among the candidates to contest the 32 seats in the Oyo State House of Assembly election come 2019, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Investigation conducted by NAN in Ibadan on Monday revealed that 511 males will join their female contestants from various respective political parties to contest the state Assembly seats.

A total of 49 political parties fielded candidates for the assembly seats.

Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC).in the state, told NAN that the final list of the candidates for the State  Assembly and governorship election would be published on Jan 31,2019.

” This is in line with Section 34 of the Electoral Activities 2010 (as amended), “he said.

Agboke urged all the candidates and leaders of the respective political parties to prevail on their party members/supporters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He disclosed that the State had 2,954,720 registered voters, ”but 927,225 PVCs uncollected are still in the custody of INEC.

”The commission has just received another batch of 103,737 PVCs for voters that sought transfer, replacement of lost and defaced PVCs.”

He urged those concerned to visit INEC offices where they registered for collection but stessed that would be no collection of PVCs by proxy.

The REC promised not to leave any stone unturned in improving the electoral proceedings for a successful polls in 2019.(NAN)

DAK/FF/DUA

Edited by Fela Fashoro/Dada Ahmed

By Patricia Amogu

Love

Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Nora Idowu, the Head, SoundMinds International School Abuja,  has described Christmas season as a time to be joyous, to show love, and to share the good things of life with neighbours.

Idowu said this at the Christmas Carol Service for 2018, organised by the management of the school in Abuja.

“When you look at all the things that are happening around us, you would think that  there is nothing to be joyous about.

“So we thought, why don’t we change the narrative a bit and look inward and find that thing within us that God has placed in us and that will make us happy  and we chose the theme: `Arise and Shine for your light has come’.

“Though darkness may cover the earth – gross darkness – and the people, God commanded us to arise and shine.

“There’s a light within everyone of us and if we can find that light, walk in that light, wherever we go, we’ll outshine darkness, overwhelming darkness, or so it seems, all around us,’’ she said.

According to the head of the school, one of the reasons for organizing the carol, is to provide a platform for the pupils and students of the school to express themselves and for them to imbibe virtues that will prepare them for the future.

Pupils of the school, both male and female, took turns to do choreography, just as parents took turns to extol the virtues of the management of the school. (NAN)

POA/YEE/IA

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim/Idris Abdulrahman

Facilities
By Muhammad Bello
Sokoto Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Sokoto state House of Assembly on Monday approved Gov. Aminu Tambuwal request to access N5.1 billion banking facilities for counterpart funding.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the approval followed the consideration of a letter to the Assembly by the governor and presented by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.

Tambuwal in the letter formally informed the Assembly of government’s desire to meet its obligations with some development partners and agencies.

“These obligations are in relation to providing counterpart funding to allow the state participate fully in the programmes outlined by our partners.

“In view of the importance of this partnership, we would appreciate a House resolution which will allow government to access facilities offered by the banks on term and conditions very favourable and considerate.

“N2 billion UBA facility with 12 months repayment period for the state sponsored counterpart funding for SDGs programme.

“N2 billion Zenith Bank facility with 24 months repayment period finance counterparts contribution in respect of Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), Youth empowerment programme and Social Development Agency (CSDA).

“N600 million and N500 million from Fidelity Bank for development project across the state and to finance recurrent expenditure respectively, with seven months repayment period,” it said.

The members unanimously accepted the request in a voice vote by the speaker. (NAN)
BMN/IS
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Patronage
Enugu, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Hair-stylists in Enugu have expressed joy over  business boom in the metropolis as customers are parting with  between N 2,000 and N 5, 000 for a style.

Some  of the stylists who spoke with a News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) correspondent  on Monday,  said women interested in wearing new hair-styles  during the yuletide, engaged their services at any price.

Mrs Wilfred Ozor, a salon operator, explained that various events within the metropolis and surrounding communities during the festive period encouraged many women to go for the best hair-dos at whatever price.

Ozor added that she had been fixing artificial hair for many women, girls and braiding children’s hair for the past one week.

She explained that fixing a normal hair style like all back, half parting and centre parting went for N1,500 as against N800 before the season while other styles were  between N1,800 and N2,000.

Mrs Agatha Ilobe, a hair braider, said that she had been busy braiding her customers’ hairs up till odd hours, noting that her clients would like their looks to improve in the spirit of the season.

Ilobe said that she was smiling to the bank  because of the number of clients  handled daily, adding that she was capable of paying her children’s school fees  next term when they would resume.

She says  that to braid `twisting or Bob-Marley’ style without combining colours of artificial hair goes for N3,000 while a combined style is between N3,500 and N5,000.

Another hair-stylist, Mr Uchenna Muoneke, said he had been fully engaged since the beginning of the Christmas  celebration, working round the clock.

Muoneke added that he was also doing manicure and pedicure for his customers  who  asked  for fixing and painting nails as well as shaving of eyelids.

He expressed satisfaction at the rise in the volume of  his business, praying God to ensure the  high patronage continued even after the yuletide.

“I am so happy for the number of patronage I have gotten since last two weeks, I have made a huge profit so far.

“I pray God will continue to bless me with the kind of business I am getting during this Christmas season. (NAN)
OJI/OSA/IA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Idris Abdulrahman

Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze to thick dust haze weather conditions with reduced visibility over most parts of the country on Tuesday.

NiMet’s Weather Outlook on Monday in Abuja predicted dust haze condition with visibility range of two to five kilometres over the central states during the forecast period.

It added that localised visibility of less than 1000km were expected to prevail over the region throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 28 to 35 and 9 to 20 degrees Celsius respectively.

The agency predicted that the Northern States would experience thick dust haze conditions throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 25 to 32 and 10 to 16 degrees Celsius respectively.

According to NiMet, Southern States will experience dust haze condition with visibility range of two to five kilometres and localised visibility of less than 1000km is expected to prevail over the inland cities.

“Moderate dust haze condition is expected in the coastal axis during the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 32 to 35 and 16 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.

“The presence of fresh dust in suspension over the source region, while thick dust haze conditions are expected to prevail over the north

“Central and inland cities are expected to experience dust haze condition with visibility range of two to five kilometres while the coastal states will be under moderate dust haze condition in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
OYS/MUYI/IS
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Ismail Abdulaziz

Campaign

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo thrilled some residents of Abuja to `Next Level’, a song composed from the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign slogan for the 2019 general elections.

The vice president addressed a crowd of enthusiastic residents, then paid a visit to the family of Abdulwaheed Yusuf in Garki Area 1, before visiting the family of Col. Ahmed Zubair (rtd) in Wuse Zone 7.

Addressing cheering residents of Wuse Zone 7, Osinbajo bellowed “APC!’’, and the crowd responded “Next Level!’’ as many times as the vice president mentioned Next level.

The vice president, who spoke partly in Pidgin English, told the residents that the message he had for them from President Muhammadu Buhari was: “No shaking, na Next level we dey go; we don finish with the kind leaders wey dey chop money’’.

He said people that looted Nigeria’s money would not be allowed to come back.

“Dey no go come back again; Baba Buhari na mai Gaskiya; he will not steal your money; he will use the money for the benefit of the people.

“From now on, we are making sure that people have money to do their trading and young people have jobs; the only way to do is only if we do not allow these people who want to steal to come back.

“They will not come back; we are going forward; we are going to the Next level; by the Grace of God, four more years.

“There is one song that we sing now on radio; we are going higher, higher, Next level; we are going higher, higher, we are going higher, higher, higher Next level,’’ he sang.

The excited residents sang in unison with the Vice President and later switched to repeatedly singing “Four plus four, Next level; four plus four, Next level’’.

Earlier in Garki Area 1, Osinbajo told the residents that Buhari would not allow any form of looting as he would deploy Nigeria’s resources to improve the lives of the people.

According to him, the Buhari-led administration will use Nigeria’s money to help Nigerians.

“Traders will have more money for their trading; people who are working will have more; young people will have jobs; our women will go to market to sell; enough things to sell so that every Nigerian will prosper.

“Mr President has said that he will not allow a situation where people steal our money; that is why we are not going back to the past.

“Our money must be used for Nigerians; for all of you who are here.

“That is why we are doing MarketMoni, TraderMoni; every trader will have something to do; every young person will have a job.

“By God’s grace, everybody will prosper during Buhari’s next four years as president,’’ he said.

The crowd, comprising mostly women and youths, sang and walked with the vice president for about 200 metres in Area 1 before he departed for Wuse Zone 7 aboard his motorcade. (NAN)
CJ/HAS
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Edited by Hajia Sani

NBC reopens Ekiti Radio, TV, 5 months after closure

Commission

By Ariwidola Idowu

Ado Ekiti, Dec. 24, 2018, (NAN) The Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) will reopen transmmittion on Jan. 1 2019, five months after its indefinite closure by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Kayode Fayemi, broke the cheering news on Monday in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Mr Yinka Oyebode.

This followed NBC directive of its reopening after Gov. Fayemi’s intervention.

NAN recalls that NBC shut BSES radio and television on July 15 over various infractions, including unauthorised airing of completely different version of results of July 14, 2018 governorship election in the state.

The re-opening was also sequel to the submission of report of the panel set up by the state government to look into the remote and immediate causes of the closure.

”Following the governor’s engagement with NBC leadership, the regulatory body agreed to an instalmental payment of the fines slammed on the station.

”Consequently, the governor approved the Jan. 1, 2019 commencement date, and directed that all arrangements for the re-opening be concluded within the next one week.

”While appreciating NBC management under the leadership of Isha’q Modibbo Kawu for its understanding, Gov. Fayemi said government would put necessary structures in place to ensure that BSES is henceforth run professionally,” the statement said.

NAN learnt that Mr Idowu Oguntuase, a senior BSES official, had been appointed  Acting General Manager of the corporation, pending the outcome of the White Paper on the Visitation Panel report. (NAN)

ARIS/FF/WOJ

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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Wale Ojetimi

Mission steps into a case of Nigerian detained in U.S., says Dabiri-Erewa

Intervention
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018: (NAN)  The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the  Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa,  says the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta has stepped into the case  of a Nigerian, Mr Okufolajimi Abegunde arrested  in U.S. since June 25.

Dabiri-Erewa said this in statement by her Media Aide, Abudul-Ramon Balogun on Monday in Abuja.

She said that her office had got more insight into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Abegunde.

The presidential aide said that the consulate had written a letter to U. S.  Authority requesting consular access to Abegunde.

She noted that U. S. department of Justice in June arrested and charged eight   people including Abegunde with cybercrime and business email compromise conspiracy.

”They were alleged to have defrauded some U.S. Companies and individuals to the tune of 15 million dollars.

”However, Abegunde claimed innocence, saying his address was used by a friend of his, Mr Ayodeji Ojo, who was apparently being previously charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and is currently at large.

”Abegunde along with the seven others, currently have a criminal case against them in the U.S., had his detention hearing on June 25, ” she said.

She said, however, when the Nigerian consulate in Atlanta became aware of his detention it wrote a letter to the West Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason, Tennessee where he was detained requesting consular access.

”The consulate in Atlanta is awaiting response for consular access to Abegunde through the U.S. Department of State in Washington.

.

”The consulate will undertake a consular visit to Abegunde as soon as consular access is granted by the U.S authorities,” she said.

She warned that the case of Abegunde underscored  the need for Nigerians to be careful in how they deal with people, even acquaintances, especially when it comes to financial matters.

”Abegunde ‘s pleas that his friend, Mr Ayodeji Olumide Ojo, used his address to open a bank account in a U.S. bank, will hopefully be proved right in court

”Unfortunately, Ojo , his friend, who  has been  previously indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud is currently at large,” she said.(NAN)

IAA/DCU
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Edited by Donald Ugwu

Care

By Moses Kolo

Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Mrs. Maureen Lekwot, APC aspirant for the Zango-Kataf Constituency seat in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has urged Christians to demonstrate love and care to the less privilege during the yuletide.

Lekwot told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kafanchan, that the Christmas season was for the faithful to replicate God’s love to humanity, which made him to send his son to save it from eternal condemnation.

“There is a great divide between the rich and less privilege, but seasons like Christmas offer the opportunity to demonstrate a hand of fellowship to those who can barely make ends meet,” she said.

Lekwot advised youths to desist from anti-social behaviors during and after the yuletide, and particularly cautioned them against drunkenness, drug abuse and violence.

The aspirant urged Christians to pray for a hitch free-general election in 2019, and advised the people to vote candidate based on merit so as not to regret in future. (NAN)

MGK/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin