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Kano traffic agency generates N40m revenue in 2018

Traffic

By Abbas Bamalli

Kano, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Managing Director of Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Alhaji Ibrahim Kabara, says the agency generated N40 million revenue for the State Government in 2018.

Kabara disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Kano.
He, however, explained that the initial target was to generate N60 million in the year.
“With few days to the end of the year, the agency is N20 million short.

“I believe that this happened because the rate of traffic offences by the road-users had reduced significantly in the state.

“The agency is not primarily a revenue generating one, but to ensure smooth and safe road traffic in the state.

“We have been doing everything possible to ensure that road users abide by road traffic laws,” Kabara said.

According to him, the agency had also proposed to commence training and re-training of its officers and men, as they had not been retrained since their recruitment in 2012.

He said that the training will assist in enhancing their ability to deliver on their duties efficiently.

Kabara also stated that, in 2019, the agency would embark on general road marking across the city, adding that such would also assist its officials in discharging their duties.

He assured the staff that in 2019 hazard allowance would be included in their salary, therefore calling on them to redouble their efforts. (NAN)

AABS/KTO/ABI

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Farmers favour use of organic fertiliser for fruit, vegetable farming

Fertiliser
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) Zero Hunger Commodity Farmers Association (ZHCFA) has called for exclusive use of organic fertilisers for the production of fruits and vegetables that are consumed without being processed because of the  health benefits.

The association made the call in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Abuja and released in Ilorin on Sunday.

The communiqué was signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Dr Tunde Arosanyin.

The association resolved to train farmers on post-harvest handling of  produce, particularly on the use of dichorophos to preserve beans, also known as cowpea.

It expressed concern over the dearth of agriculture extension officers  for the training farmers on technology application.

It commended the effort of the Federal Government in the agricultural sector but called for the expansion of programmes to cover tree crops and livestock farming.

The association commended the leadership role of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Zero Hunger programme, especially in the recently held farmers’ exhibition and chat meeting in Sokoto State.

“The meeting also advised government on a rethink of the sale of the Bank of Agriculture and silos, in view of the importance of those items to agriculture and food security in the country.

“Nigerians, most especially hunters, herdsmen and farmers are advised to desist from indiscriminate bush burning and felling of trees, adding that the environment must tendered and managed to sustain human survival,” the association stated. (NAN)

AUO/KTO

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Chukwudi Ekezie

Sultan urges Muslim students to promote national peace, unity
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Peace
Sokoto, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Sunday called on Muslim students in the country to always promote national peace and unity in their activities.
Abubakar made the appeal in Sokoto while addressing participants of the 76th National Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Zone A Headquarters.
The theme of the course is: “Societal Reformation: The Role of a Proactive Ummah’’.
The Sultan said that Muslims should always uphold the tenets of Islam, sacrifice to live peacefully with non-Muslims and respect leaders.
“Nigeria is a country of different religions, tribes and culture, but as Muslims we must believe that the non-Muslims are our brothers in progress.
“As such, we most uphold the tenets of our religion, live peacefully with our brothers and respect leaders for us to achieve success,” he said.
Abubakar further called on Muslims to hold their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) firmly in order to vote for candidates of their choice in the 2019 general elections.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State had earlier commended MSSN for organising the programme in the state.
Tambuwal pledged to support Muslim organisations across the country and announced a donation of N10,000 for each participant at the course.
The Kebbi State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Mukhtar Bunza, also urged leaders to seek knowledge to be able to establish real reform in the society.
Bunza said: “Societal reformation could only be possible with leaders, as such they must seek for knowledge to enable them change the society.’’
The commissioner added that women and youths must also be educated in order to make viable and successful change in the society.
He called on parents to always take the responsibility of sponsoring the education of their children and wards seriously.
The event was attended by participants from the 19 Northern states and Abuja. (NAN)
BMN/JPE/MST
Edited by joseph Edeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

FG graduates 1,000 N-Power tech beneficiaries in N/East
By Muhammad Auwal
N-Power
Yola, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 1,000 beneficiaries of the Federal Government N- Power Technical Programme have graduated from six states of the North East region, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Addressing the beneficiaries on Sunday in Yola, Mr Gbenga Odubayo, the North East Coordinator of the programme, said that the project was part of federal government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).
Odubayo said that the trainees were selected from six states of the North East, comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.
He said that the beneficiaries received eight weeks training on hardware Information and Communication Technology (ICT) repairs and entrepreneurship.
“Today, we are graduating a total of 1,000 set of N-Power Tech Youths from six states of North East region.
“The project is part of Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programme aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment among graduates and non-graduate youths.
“The beneficiaries have been trained in various hardware repair techniques that include how to repair laptops, cellular phones and I- phones, among others,” Odubayo said.
Mr Usman Sali, the Adamawa Focal Person, National Social Investment Programme, implored the participants to use the knowledge acquired effectively and handle the repair kits with care.
According to Sali, training youths on entrepreneurship development will go a long way in developing the economy of the country.
“The only way we can get more entrepreneurs that would drive our economy is through involvement of youths to learn different Tech-systems,’’ Sali said.
Responding, one of the trainees from Borno, Mr Benedict Stephen, said that from the knowledge acquired, he could dismantle a laptop or an I-Phone and repair it perfectly.
Stephen thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led adminstration for introducing the programme, saying it will go a long way in assisting millions of jobless youths in the country earn a living. (NAN)
AMA/WS/MST
Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

(more…)

Election

By Aminu Garko

Minna, Dec.23,2018 ( NAN) The Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Martins Uzuokwu, has  called on Nigerians to love one another, irrespective of tribe, religious and political differences to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Uzuokwu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday, after the mass.

He said the desire of Nigerians to have credible leaders at the helm would only be possible if eligible Nigerians demonstrate love for one another and vote for leaders of their choice.

He,however, urged leaders of political parties, especially those seeking elective positions at all levels to maintain harmony and tolerance to attract attention from their followers.

The cleric also called on the church to keep praying for political leaders and the unity of the country.

“We must resist temptation of any kind and ensure peace and unity of our country,“he said.

He also called on the Federal Government to provide a level playing ground for all the political parties to ensure peaceful implementation of the electoral process.

” Peaceful political atmosphere will guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

“The  Federal Government must end all forms of wanton mayhem being visited on innocent villagers by kidnappers, cattle rustlers  ,armed robbers, militants for peace, progress and political stability of the nation.”

Uzoukwu also said it was time for the government to  step up security as  2019 general elections gathered mometum.

The Bishop appealed to Nigerians to support the effort of security personnel with the required intelligence information that would aid successful fight against crime in the country.

He said that fighting crime and criminality must be seen as a collective responsibility. (NAN)

AAG/JPE/DUA

Edited by Joseph Edeh/Dada Ahmed

08037874101

Consultant cautions NEMA on excessive focus on relief
Relief
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) A Consultant to the UN Development (UNDP), Mr Seth Vordzorgbe, has advised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on excessive focus on providing relief materials after emergencies and disasters.
Vordzorgbe, the Project Technical Adviser (UNDP) to NEMA gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He spoke after a 2-day workshop on validation of the National Disaster Risk Management (NDRM) policy.
NDRM outlines government’s policy direction on current challenges to reducing risks from hazards in the country and it articulates government’s commitment to disaster risk reduction.
The Adviser said the agency should be more proactive and ensure effective collaboration with other agencies in managing emergencies and disasters.
“Relief is important but it should not be the focus of disaster management. Also, NEMA and Ministry of Environment need to collaborate to manage emergencies effectively,’’ he said
According to him, Nigeria is going to have best policy on disaster management in Africa.
“This policy is a very innovative one; it is a module, it is not a traditional disaster management policy. It speaks to the issue of climate change, conflicts, insurance etc.
“The document is completed and final; the policy will soon be handed over to NEMA and it will be ready for inauguration.
“The first thing to do after the inauguration of the policy is to integrate and harmonise all the documents on disaster response and management and bring coherence to all the policies in the country.
“Also, it should be sent to all State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and it should be simplified, translated into local languages and posted online.’’
The consultant, however, said it should be the responsibility of all the stakeholders to implement the Policy, adding that government should guide and coordinate the actions of the stakeholders.
Vordzorgbe also called for the review of the NEMA Act, which he said was an establishment Act not A Disaster Risk Management Act.
“If we do it right, Nigeria would be equipped to handle disaster like the 2012 flood, and every policy states what to do but the implementation is the problem.
“If the policy is diligently implemented, the country will be able to handle that kind of disaster,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the 2012 nation –wide flood led to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment and subsequently the NDRM Policy was designed in 2013.
The first draft of the Policy was designed in 2014 but change in government affected the revision of the policy until 2018.
The NDRM policy, a 10-year plan, is expected to be inaugurated by the Federal Government by first quarter of 2019. (NAN)
CIA/ABI
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Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Fire destroys property worth millions of naira in Ilorin

Fire

By Usman Aliyu

Ilorin, Dec 23, 2018 (NAN) An early morning inferno on Sunday destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira at a shopping complex along Lanjorin Street in Ilorin.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that about 16 shops and five-room apartment were affected in the fire disaster.

A victim, Mr Akeem Oyeniyi, popularly known as Murphy, blamed the disaster on the burning of cables by scavengers that lived behind the shops.

Oyeniyi, who explained that the inferno gulped all property in the shops, asserted that the shop owners had at several times warned the scavengers against such activities.

“They live behind these shops and burn the cables to remove aluminium. We have warned them several times.

“They used to burn it in the day, but because we used to complain, they changed the time to the night when we would have closed for the day.

“Immediately they knew of the incident, they fled the place leaving us with a huge loss”, he said.

NAN reports that one Mr Sola Anifowose lost warehoused furniture and upholstery such as sets of cushion chairs, doors and tables, among others in the disaster.

Another victim, Mr Abayomi Owoola, popularly known as Yomex Promoter, said all his musical instruments were lost to the inferno.

“About 30 ready-made imported pairs of speakers sold at N270, 000 each, Plasma television sets, air conditioners, mixers and engines are gutted by the fire.

“Not even a pin I was able to salvage,” he said, urging both federal and the state government to provide succour for the victims.

Mrs Florence Ogundele, who operated a soft drink depot, said she had lost all her capital which was sourced from bank and cooperative loans to the inferno.

She appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency and the state Emergency Management agency to come to their aid to ameliorate the loss.

NAN correspondent who visited the scene reports that the victims were seen with some sympathisers wailing over the incident with an appeal to government, corporate bodies and individuals to assist.

Mr Akeem Hassan, Spokesman for Kwara State Fire Service, in a telephone interview, confirmed the disaster to NAN.

He said that it was a passerby that called the agency to alert it of the fire incident.

Hassan said that the service was able to put off the fire and saved it from extending to other parts of the shopping complex and some residential apartments attached to it.

He warned people to be cautious of the way they handle power and fire during this harmattan season.

Hassan also warned residents and shop owners to always put off their electrical appliances when not in use to avoid fire outbreak. (NAN)

AUO/ESAN/WOJ

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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Wale Ojetimi

Relief

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Dec. 23, 2018 ( NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) says it has concluded the distribution of relief items to flood victims in four local government areas of Kogi.

NEMA Team Leader in charge of Emergency Operation Centre B Mr Tope Ajayi told newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday, that the beneficiaries were from Ajaokuta , Ofu, Igala-Mela and Idah local government areas.

Ajayi listed the items distributed to include food and non food items, including rice, beans, corns, groundnut oil, millo, milk, sugar, salt, detergents, mattresses, mats, tin tomatoes.

Others, he added were clothes, blankets, roofing sheets among others.

He further disclosed that over 6,000 households in the areas mentioned benefitted, adding that the gesture was a continuation of the agency’s intervention in communities affected by the 2018 floods in the state.

Ajayi said that the assistance was also in line with the desire of the Federal Government to provide succour to flood victims across the country, through the agency.

While handing over the relief items, Ajayi expressed the sympathy of the Managing Director of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, to the victims and advised them to see the disaster as an act of God.

He stated that victims in all the local governments affected by the flood n the state would be reached out to by NEMA.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, commended the Federal Government for aiding the victims.

He said the victims required the support of all to start life afresh.

The commissioner was represented at the occasion by his Personal Assistant, Mr Musa Muhammed.

He said that gesture complemented earlier assistance.rendered to the victims by the state government and other donors. ( NAN)
KKA /DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed

Yuletide:Bauchi Govt. distributes foodstuffs, clothes to 150 women groups
Distribution
By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, Dec. 23, 2018(NAN) The Bauchi State Ministry for Women Affairs on Sunday began distribution of foodstuffs and clothes to 150 women groups in the spirit of the Christmas.
Speaking on the occasion at Tudun Maizamani in Bauchi, the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, said the items were meant to gladden the hearts of indigent women in the state.
She urged Christians to pray for the state and the nation as a whole while celebrating Christmas.
She also appealed to parents to remain committed to the moral upbringing of their wards to enable them to live useful lives in the society.
Hadiza further stressed the need for women to acquire skills and vocational training to enable them to operate their own businesses and support their families.
In her remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Rukaiya Kewa said the items include millet, rice, maize, palm oil, sugar and clothes, pointing out that N25 million was used to purchase them.
Earlier, the community head of Tudun Maizamani, Mr Baiko Maizamani applauded the gesture, promising that the items would be justly distributed to the beneficiaries in the community.(NAN)
AE/OSA/ABI
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ali Baba-Inuwa