Blog

(more…)

Arrests
By Mujidat Oyewole
Ilorin, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)  on Friday said  it had arrested 115 suspects for different offences since January.

The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Adeyinka Fasiu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in his office in Ilorin.

Fasiu said the command arrested 115 suspects for 10  different crimes committed, with  most of them  settled out of court while some were undergoing  court processes.

“We were able to settle some cases out of court;  a total number of 78 arrests were settled through the Alternative Dispute Unit,’’ he said.

The Commandant further said that the rate of crime in the state was worrisome, especially among the youths with most of those arrested below 30 years of age.

“Most of these boys are products of broken homes in which the parents are divorced and there is no proper arrangements for the children’s upkeep, so they end up dropping out of school and joining bad gangs.

“Some parents and guardians also have nonchallant attitude toward their children and so they do not counsel them and guide them right.

“ This is resulting in most youths misbehaving and getting involved in criminal activities,” he said.(NAN)
MOB/CHOM/OJO
==============
(Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Mufutau Ojo)

Support
By Cecilia Ijuo
Owerri Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has declared support for the Imo All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma.

The APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole made this known at a rally to flag-off Uzodimma’s campaign in Owerri on Friday.

He urged Imo people to disregard people from unknown parties, who were juxtaposing Buhari’s picture with theirs, saying Uzodinma was the only candidate endorsed by Buhari.

“Those who are putting Buhari with their faces because they are unknown are fake. Buhari has APC as his party.

“Buhari has adopted Uzodinma as his governorship candidate.

“We brought you a message of hope not a message of lamentation and family business.

“We have come to deliver the message of hope that although things have gone wrong in the recent past, we have come to say how we will return the governance of the state to the people.

“The government that is coming will bring development for every son and daughter of Imo. Today is not a concert but a day to pass the message of hope.

“You have a reason for demanding change,” he said.

Oshiomole assured civil servants in the state that they would not be neglected in Uzodinma’s government.

He noted that civil servants in the state were being treated with levity in spite of their relevance to the development of the state.

He added that other people including traditional rulers and pensioners would be given their right of place and treated with dignity.

“You want a governorship candidate whose purpose is to bring development to all Imo people including civil servants who no longer know what a pay day is like.

“I want to assure workers that have been lamenting and families whose breadwinners cannot fend for them that the days are over.

“Never again will your governor look at you and say your salary depends on when you work not when it is due.

“You will now have a person that will lead by example and do not be deceived. Anybody who believes in APC must support Uzodinma.

“Pensioners too will smile. Traditional rulers will have dominion over their areas without intimidation.

“We will make sure the bailout money is returned.

“The days are gone when a governor will look at the people and say there is money for other things but not for paying salaries.

“In Uzodinma’s government, appointments will be based on merit and not family connection. We will not domesticate happiness in the hands of a few people because all Imo people will be happy,” he said.

The national chairman stressed that “roads and other contracts will not be awarded to in-laws but to genuine men and women of Imo State”.

“Democracy is about the people and as such we will run an inclusive government, the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

“Never again shall we govern on the basis of family connection. Knowing somebody or not, or marrying from a family or not will no longer matter. Your money will be used to develop Imo,” oshiomhole said.

He said Nigeria needed to produce leaders that would be accepted by the people.

He expressed disappointment over the state government’s refusal to release the stadium booked for the rally.

According to him, it is absurd for a governor who is in the same party with the governorship candidate to deny access to the stadium.

He stressed that it was worrisome that a place built with tax payers’ money was put under lock and key.

“If out of the people’s innocence they elected a man that denied them use of a place that belongs to them, it can only translate to electoral victory.”

While promising that the party would be in the state for another rally, Oshiomole urged the people to come out en mass to vote for Buhari and Uzodinma in the 2019 general elections.
(NAN)
CJM/CHOM/IS
===========
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ismail Abdulaziz

Atiku
By Muhammad Bello
Sokoto, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) A Coalition of Youth Organisations in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State says Atiku Abubakar’s claim of being an indigene of the area is false.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Atiku, the 2019 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the North West rally in Sokoto on Dec. 3, said that his background was from Wurno local government area of the state.

NAN also reports that Wurno is the home town of the first Sultan of Sokoto, Late Muhammadu Bello, the son of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio.

Reacting to the claim on Friday in Sokoto, the group in a statement jointly signed by Alhaji Murtala Wurno and Alhaji Kabiru Wurno Chairmen of Garlic Farmers Association and Rice Farmers Association of the council respectively, said Atiku had nothing to do with the area.

They said that the claim was intended for cheap political popularity.

“The PDP presidential candidate’s claim of being an indigene of Wurno local government is just for his political gain in order to get the votes of the people of Sokoto state.

“We, the coalition of youth organisations in Wurno have dissociated our area from this claim.

“We urge Atiku to concentrate on his Agenda for Nigeria and stop making spurious claims.

“Wurno local government is a famous town blessed with people of good reputation and scholars who always succeeded in preaching the best for humanity.” (NAN)
BMN/CHOM/IS
===========
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ismail Abdulaziz

Kogi Assembly commends Dogara over efforts to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company

Commendation

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Dec. 21, 2018 {NAN) The Kogi State House of Assembly has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, for his efforts toward reviving the comatose Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

The Lawmakers said they recognised Dodara’s leadership and advocacy in revitalising the steel company ”which has the potential of generating over three million jobs when fully functional.”

The Speaker of the state assembly, Mr Prince Kolawole, gave the commendation in a letter released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja, by Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media to Dogara.

According to the letter, the lawmakers said they deliberated exhaustively on Dogara’s working visit to the state for an on-the-spot assessment, and his personal determination to revitalise the moribund steel company.

“The Assembly, do herewith and accordingly, forward to your good offices its commendation for your personal and official roles in making Ajaokuta Steel Company work again,” the Kogi legislators said.

They further urged Dogara to continue with the good works of providing better legislation for the Country.

NAN reports that Dogara had, on Feb. 12, led some lawmakers on a visit to Ajaokuta.

Thereafter, the House, which organised a special sectoral debate on reviving the
company in a plenary, consequently passed a resolution stopping all actions that could lead to the concessioning of the steel company. (NAN)

TOA/AO/SA

Edited by Angela Okisor/Salif Atojoko

===========================

Unity

By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has urged  members  to unite to achieve victory in 2019.

George gave the advice while speaking with journalists on Friday in Lagos.

He said the goal of defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general elections could not be realized in a divided house.

George enjoined party members to put whatever grievances they had behind them and sacrifice their personal ambitions and interests to ensure PDP’s victory in 2019.

He also called for repositioning of PDP in view of the mistakes the party made in the past.

“We must unite and work closely together for the victory of the party in 2019.

“We must put old things behind us and sacrifice our personal ambitions and interests, not only for the victory of the party, but for the progress of the nation.

“We must correct things quickly before the end of the year and reposition and restabilise the party for the battle ahead.

“We are not fighting from the government side now, we are in the opposition. We must unite more than ever because a divided house is a defeated house,” he said.

George said one of the mistakes the party made in the past was its failure to micro-zone the position of the national chairmanship to South West at the last convention to elect officers.

He said the zone had never produced a national chairman and there were high expectations that the Ahmed Makarfi-led committee would give the slot to the region in line with the party’s long -standing arrangement.

George said with the eventual emergence of the chairman from the South South, the party presented the South West as if it did not matter.

The former Deputy-Chairman of the party added that shutting out of the South West in the scheme of  things gave the APC a field day in 2015 to ensure the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

George urged the party to avoid the pitfalls of the past ahead of 2019, calling for the inclusion of all regions and members in the journey to the election.

He described himself as an irredentist PDP member in spite of all , saying his support for the party’s Presidential Candidate,  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, could not be doubted.

On the relationship between him and the Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate,  Mr Jimi Agbaje, George said he had no problem with him.

He said though Agbaje erred by contesting against him for the party’s chairmanship at the elective convention just to stop him, he had forgiven him.

George said at the right time, he and some other elders of the party would be more visible in the candidate’s campaign to win Lagos.

The PDP Chieftain urged Nigerians to make peace the watch word as the country journeyed into 2019, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the people’s will prevailed.

“We should all do our bits to ensure the hitch-free conduct of the general elections. We should eshew violence.

“President Buhari should also ensure that the will of the people prevails by ensuring credible conduct.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and we should not do anything to plunge it into chaos.,” he said.

He said restructuring was a precondition for development and called for the implementation of the idea for progress. (NAN)
BHB/AO/SOA

==============

Edited by Angela Okisor/Oluwole Sogunle

Road
By David Adeoye
Oyo (Oyo State), Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Rehabilitation of failed portions of the 44.5 km Ibadan-Oyo road has reached 75 per cent completion, a Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) official in Oyo State said on Friday.

Mr Babatunde Ige, the State Coordinator of FERMA, told newsmen in Alakaara-Oyo that ongoing rehabilitation work on the road would be completed before Christmas.

He added that the completion would put an end to the untold hardship being experienced by motorists using the road.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ibadan-Oyo dual carriageway is a section of the Ibadan-Ilorin carriageway (North-South).

It is the main route for moving imported goods from Lagos through Ibadan to the northern part of the country.

“The road was completed and handed over to FERMA by the Federal Ministry of Works in 2012.

“The ongoing rehabilitation work began in early December as directed by the FERMA management, to make the road passable and ease vehicular movement during the yuletide period.

“I assure all motorists plying this road that there will be free and smooth vehicular movement on this road henceforth.

“Also, this intervention will ameliorate the suffering of motorists plying this road and increase economic activities along the route corridor.

“The quality of rehabilitation work going on will make the road last and we implore all road users to support the agency in its efforts at maintaining the road.” Ige stated.

Meanwhile, some motorists who spoke with NAN on the rehabilitation work commended the Federal Government for the intervention.

A motorist, Mr Eniayemo Kehinde, implored the Federal Government to ensure that only competent construction companies handle road projects in the country.

Kehinde lamented the fact that the Ibadan-Oyo road project, which was worth billions of Naira and completed only a few years ago, had gone so bad within a short time.

He, however, lauded government’s efforts at making the road passable again.

Also, another driver, Malam Sule Yahaya, commended the Buhari administration for the quick intervention on the road.

Yahaya said the road had claimed many lives and property running into billions of Naira have been wasted due to its deplorable condition in the last one year.

NAN recalls that the Senate Committee on Works on Nov. 13 expressed dissatisfaction with the work done by the construction company, PW Construction Company, during its oversight function to Oyo state.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, had vowed to summon the company to give an explanation on the job done.(NAN)
DAK/OSA/OLAL
===============
(Edited by Shittu Obassa and Olawale Alabi)

Yuletide

By Adekunle Williams / Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured air travelers and other airport users that her network of airports across the country are fully prepared for the usual surge in passenger traffic that is the norm during Yuletide.

FAAN gave the assurance in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Friday in Lagos.

Yakubu said in preparation for the season and beyond, FAAN had beefed up security at all airports, especially the major international gateways in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

She said :” We are also improving on our facilities and infrastructure to ensure maximum comfort for all airport users.

“Recently, a brand new international terminal was commissioned for use at the Port Harcourt International Airport. A similar facility was also inaugurated in Abuja on Dec. 20.

“At our premier airport, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the VIP lounge has been renovated to enhance passenger comfort, the carousels are working optimally, amidst other facilities upgrade currently on going.”

According to her, the stories are similar at all other airports, as the FAAN has put in place facilities, procedures and systems to ensure maximum comfort, safety and security of airport users during this season and beyond.

“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to appeal to passengers to please get to the airports early to conclude all check-in procedures in good time, so as to avoid the experience of missing their flights.

” This is important because of the heavy passenger traffic that is usually the experience around this time and also due to ongoing construction works around the Lagos and Abuja airports.

“FAAN will continue to deliver on its core values of safety, security and comfort,” Yakubu added.

Similarly, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Police Command has assured travellers and other airport users of adequate security during the Yuletide.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Joseph Alabi, gave the assurance while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Alabi said : “Passengers can rest assured that our officers are fully on ground at the airport to guarantee their safety and security during this period of festivities.

“We have posted some of them to strategic places within the airport to ensure that nothing untoward occurs.”

He also warned touts to stay away from the airport as anybody found breaching the law would be prosecuted. (NAN)

WAC /ASO/SOA

===============

Edited.by Oluwole Sogunle

NSE: Crucial indices down by 0.10% as profit taking persists

Shares

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Crucial indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday dipped by 0.10 per cent following losses by some blue chips.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the All-Share Index declined by 29.26 points or 0.10 per cent to close at 30,773.64 against 30,802.90 on Thursday.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation which opened at N11.251 trillion shed N11 billion or 0.10 per cent to close at N11.240 trillion.

Analysts attributed the development to profit taking in preparation for Yuletide celebrations by some investors.

They noted that the market would continue to experience mixed performance until the forth coming general elections.

Seplat recorded the highest loss to lead the laggards’ chart, dropping by N8.50 to close at N584.50 per share.

Dangote Cement trailed with a loss of N3 to close at N187, while Guaranty Trust Bank dipped 90k to close at N33.80 per share.

Access Bank depreciated by 35k to close at N7.05, while FCMB Group shed 8k to close at N1.65 per share.

On the other hand, Mobil Oil led the gainers’ table, gaining N16.80 to close at N184.80 per share.

Nestle followed with a gain of N10 to close at N1,470.10, while Total appreciated by N8 to close at N200 per share.

Okomu Oil garnered N3.20 to close at N76.20, while Forte Oil increased by N2.50 to close at N28.45 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank was the most active stock during the day, trading 39.76 million shares worth N1.01 billion.

Zenith Bank followed with an account of 24.94 million shares valued at N570.23 million, while FBN Holdings sold 17.34 million shares worth N134.55 million.

Transacorp exchanged 16.69 million shares valued at N20.50 million, while Access Bank sold 15.35 million shares worth N107.82 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded declined by 64.55 per cent as investors bought and sold 193.54 million shares valued at N3.67 billion in 2,922 deals.

This was against the 545.99 million shares worth N4.08 billion exchanged in 3,224 deals on Thursday. (NAN)

JNC /AO/SA

Edited by Angela Okisor/Salif Atojoko

===========================

PDP

By Thompson Yamput

Jos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) The PDP on Friday in Jos inaugurated a 41-member Campaign Council saddled with the responsibility of selling the party to Plateau people for total and outright victory in 2019 polls.

Mr Damishi Sango, the Plateau PDP Chairman, inaugurated the council, alongside Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Rtd), the party’s Plateau governorship candidate, and other party stakeholders.

While inaugurating the council, he expressed optimism that PDP would regain the state during the 2019 general elections.

“Today is the beginning of our collective statement, drive and fight for the soul of Plateau come 2019, with this inauguration of our Campaign Council.

“We shall leave no stone unturned in our campaign and resolve to rescue Plateau from the dismal leadership of APC and give our people some sense of relief and hope, ’’ Sango declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 41-member Campaign Council has Mr Abraham Yiljap, a Commissioner of Information during Gov. Jonah Jang’s administration, as the Director-General (DG).

Useni, while making his remarks, said: “the task before us is to actualise the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Plateau, who are groaning under the yoke of bad leadership.

“They (people) cannot wait any longer to get rid of a leadership that has turned against them and betrayed their trust.

“I can see that our people have never been so united and unanimous in their resolve to usher in good governance and restore the state’s past glory.

“As members of this Campaign Council, through your various committees, you must move fast, work hard and reach out to every nook and cranny to get people to vote for PDP in 2019.”

“There is no better time as this to be part of the team that will enforce the quit notice served by the people on the present administration,” he added.

Responding on behalf of the council members, Yiljap assured of the council’s preparedness and readiness to kick-start the campaign as soon as possible.

“This is for the desired victory of the party in the 2019 polls,” he said.(NAN)

TYC/OLAL

=========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)