Blog

Insecurity
By Sunday John
Akon (Nasarawa State), Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Mr Labaran Maku, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, has promised to end insecurity in the state, if elected in 2019.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, made the promise on Friday while addressing some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Akon, Obi Local Government Area.

He said that he would ensure that peace returned to all parts of the state within his first 100 days in office.

Maku, who is also the National Secretary of APGA, said that his administration would convene a peace, unity and security summit, where the template for the restoration of peace and the people’s integration would be fine-tuned.

“By the grace of God and the commitment of my government, we will make sure that no community is taken over by any militia group.

“We will make the state too hot for any militia group to operate; we will also defend our people in all parts of the state from attacks,’’ he added.

Maku said that if he was elected, his administration would empower community leaders with communication gadgets to enable them to report any suspicious activities in their domains to the government for prompt action.

He bemoaned the alarming rate of kidnapping, assassination, rape and attack in communities across the state, vowing that his government would bring the masterminds of the violent activities to book.

The governorship candidate said that the Tiv people were most marginalised ethnic group in the state because of factors such as under-representation in government, among others.

Maku stressed that he would be fair and just in treating all matters relating to the majority and minority ethnic groups in the state, if elected governor in 2019.

Speaking, Mr Francis Iyua, the leader of the IDPs, said that the Tiv people had no any other choice than to vote for Maku in order to ensure their safety.

He said that Maku had, over the years, demonstrated that he had the capacity to govern the state with a clear vision and purpose.

Iyua recalled that suspected militia groups had ravaged their communities, killing and maiming some residents.

“Out of all the governorship candidates, it is only Labaran Maku who has empathised with us, while speaking against the injustice meted out to us.

“Therefore, voting for Maku is voting for our peace, unity, security, progress and development,’’ he added. (NAN)
SDJ/OOK
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Stealing

By Blessing Ibegbu

Abuja, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) A Grade I Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a 23-year-old welder, Usman Yongo, to 14 months in prison for stealing a phone in a mosque.

The judge, Sani Mohammed, sentenced Yongo after he pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and theft.

Mohammed, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N40,000 fine.

`For the offence of theft, the defendant is sentenced to seven months in jail or an option of N40,000 fine, also.”

Earlier, the prosecutor, Vincent Osuji, told the court that the matter was reported by one Shefianu Ibrahim of Ammar BN Yasir Mosque, Karu, Abuja, at the Karu Police Station, on Dec. 4.

Osuji said that the convict criminally entered the mosque and stole a ZTE cell phone, plugged to charge, belonging to the complainant.

According to him, during police interrogation, the convict admitted to the crime and the phone was recovered from him.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

BLE/FLP/SH

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edited by Folorunso Poroye/Sadiya Hamza

Hurt
By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) A 43-year-old driver, Jibril Mohammed, on Friday appeared in a Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly beating an official of  the Airport Junction Motor Park in Jabi, Abuja.

Mohammed, who resides in  Lugbe village, Abuja, is charged with assault and causing grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution, Mrs Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that the matter was reported on Nov. 13, at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, by one Biliyaminu Aminu, an official of the park.

Ijeoma said that at about 1. 40 p.m. one Bashiru Abdullahi, who operated an unpainted taxi picked up passengers against the union rules around the motor park.

He said that Aminu politely approached the driver to stop violating park rules, adding that the accused some others, jumped him and beat him up with sticks.

Ijeoma said that in the process the complainant sustained serious injuries.

She said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79, 265 and 246 of the Penal Code.

The judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, admitted the accused ro bail in the sum of N30, 000, with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Feb. 14, 2019 for hearing. (NAN)
UGO/JI/SH

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editing by Joseph Idika/Sadiya Hamza

Fayemi presents N129.9bn budget for 2019
Budget
Ariwodola Idowu/ Bolanle Lawal
Ado Ekiti, Dec. 21, 2018, (NAN) Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, on Friday presented a budget of N129.9billion for 2019 to the state House of Assembly for consideration.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the budget, christened, “Budget of Restoration”, is made up of N57.8billion capital expenditure and N72.7billion recurrent expenditure.
The capital expenditure represents 44 per cent, while the recurrent expenditure is about 56 per cent of the budget.
Fayemi said the budget was tailored after the 4-pillars of his administration, which are Social Investment, Knowledge Economy, Infrastructure and Industrial Development and Agriculture and Rural Development.
He listed the policy thrust and objectives of the budget to include establishment of an effective strategy to revamp the state’s economy as well as improving Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), among others.
According to him, the budget has been structured in a manner that will liberate the state from poverty and underdevelopment.
“I am not on a revenge mission, but rather, I am back as a healing balm on a painful wound. We as a responsible government are not interested in trials by media, political witch hunt or playing to the gallery merely to achieve cheap popularity.
“That is why this administration is not set out to abandon any of the ongoing projects embarked upon by my predecessor, especially considering the fact that such projects are being financed by the state tax payers.
“A bottom- line approach was adopted in preparing the budget to really meet the yearnings of the people and return the state to its rightful place among the comity of states.
“This was why I made sure government consulted widely and gathered the inputs of all stakeholders in achieving a budget that will reflect collective aspirations, needs and demands for sustainable growth of all the 16 Local Government Areas,” he said.
Responding, the Speaker, Mr Adeniran Alagbada commended the governor for the early presentation of the budget and promised to accord it accelerated consideration so that people of the state can begin to enjoy dividends of democracy under the new All progressive Congress led administration.(NAN)
ARIS/ FFB/ABI
Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Fines

London, Dec.21, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been fined a total of 95,000 pounds ($120,051) for failing to control their players during this month’s Premier League derby, the English Football Association said on Thursday.

Spurs midfielder Eric Dier’s goal celebration in his side’s 4-2 defeat on Dec. 2 sparked angry scenes on the touchline, with Arsenal’s substitutes unhappy with the England player.

“Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been fined 45,000 pounds and 50,000 pounds respectively after both clubs admitted an FA charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion,” the FA said in a statement.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace and strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira had helped Arsenal cancel out goals from Dier and Harry Kane to win the match.

The ill-tempered contest saw a banana skin thrown on to the Emirates Stadium pitch by a supporter after Aubameyang scored. Tottenham later promised to ban the culprit.

The Metropolitan Police then charged four men after incidents during the match.

Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final meeting between the two teams was also mired in controversy after Tottenham’s Dele Alli was hit in the back of the head by a plastic water bottle.

This was shortly after he scored their second goal in a 2-0 win.

Arsenal said on Thursday they have identified an image of the individual who threw a bottle at the Emirates Stadium and are working with police to apprehend the suspect. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/MZA
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Maharazu Ahmed

Shippers export beans through neighbouring ports n- official
Beans
By Uchenna Eletuo
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Dr Vincent Isegbe, the Coordinating Director of Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), says Nigerian shippers are exporting beans through neighbouring ports due to the ban on Nigerian beans export by the European Union.
Isegbe told newsmen in Lagos on Friday that some Nigerian exporters had devised new means of exporting the commodity through neighbouring ports.

“Right now, beans from Nigeria are going to the UK, but how is it going, they pass through another country and change the certificate of origin.
“When they get there, the beans are offloaded into a warehouse, the country’s quarantine service is called upon to inspect them and certify them okay.

“By so doing, it will now look as if the beans are from that country. It is a tedious process compared to you as a shipper, shipping from your country.”

Isegbe, however, said that this practice was not illegal, stressing that the procedure was allowed in international trade.

“It is only that it costs you more. You have to pay all necessary taxes and registration in that country you are stopping over.

“The EU were to come here in December, but when they saw the different advocacies we were doing like going to the markets, training the farmers, the dosage of chemicals acceptable and so on. When they saw all these, they have their own agents here.

“So, they wrote us that they have postponed their coming because they know we are making a lot of efforts.

“Any moment from now, there is no doubt that they would lift the ban,” he said.

Meanwhile, the service said it had begun the regulation of all beans sellers in Nigeria.

According to the agency, all beans sellers in the market will now have to get the products from distributors accredited by NAQS.

Isegbe said that the move was necessitated by the recent reports that Nigerian beans were being preserved with dangerous chemicals like ‘sniper’ which is harmful for human consumption. (NAN)
EUC/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Welfare
By Monday Ajogun (08034514384)
Benin, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Edo Government on Friday in Benin assured players and management of the Bendel Insurance FC of a robust welfare package next season.

Deputy Gov. Philip Shaibu gave the assurance while addressing the players and officials at the training ground of the University of Benin Sports Complex.

He said that the players and officials  deserved an improved welfare package  because they had worked for it.

Shaibu said that the state government would ensure  fulfillment of all promises to the team.

“We have always been paying you people as and when due; what it means is that we are going to improve on your welfare package.

“Your new salary structure will be announced by next year January, during the unveiling of your 2018/2019 season jersey,” he said.

In his remarks, the team’s Head Coach, Monday Odigie, thanked the state government for continued  moral and financial support to the entire team.

Odigie assured the government that the team would continue to put in its best. (NAN)

AJOM/ERO/IGO
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Ijeoma Popoola

Power
By Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Residents of Ojokoro Estate, Ikorodu in Lagos State, have threatened court action over high estimated billings by the Ikeja Electricity Company.

Mr Amos Ifedayo, Chairman, Ojokoro Community Development Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the residents were determined to resist rising electricity tariff in the area.

Ifedayo said that the residents would no longer pay the high estimated bills being issued, noting that the community had adopted a position of “no prepaid meter, no more payment of estimated bills”.

He said that the issue of non-supply of meters had been reoccurring before and after the privatisation of the power sector.

He alleged that post-privatisation estimated bills were four times higher than the figures paid by consumers before the privatisation exercise.

He accused the disco of sabotaging efforts to supply meters to consumers.

He said: “It must be noted that before privatisation, crazy and high estimated bills have not been as bogus as after the privatisation of the discos, where crazy and estimated billings are currently four times higher.

“This has encouraged the discos to deliberately continue to stall the supply of meters to electricity consumers.

“We make bold to state that meter manufacturers in Nigeria currently have over two million meters that meet local and international standards, waiting in their warehouses for interested electricity distributor.

NAN reports that the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had on July 10, directed the Nigerian Electricity Regularly Commission (NERC) to ensure that power distribution companies (DisCos) provide meters to customers and eliminate estimated electricity bills.

He told NERC to step in to ensure that the Discos improve on their distribution equipment and capacity to take up the available 2,000 megawatts in order to optimise the use of the electrical resource produced by the Gencos.

“NERC should enforce the contract of the Discos to supply meters and act to ensure the urgent and speedy supply and installation of meters with a view to eliminating estimated billing and promote efficient industry and market structures.

“NERC should stop the Discos from threatening private entrepreneurs from entering the market to supply consumers, whom the Discos cannot supply.

“If we take into consideration that after five years of privatisation, there are still people and businesses that do not have power or enough power, common sense and public interest demand that we must not resist ordinary people, small businesses like shops and markets from seeking alternative sources of energy.

“If the Discos are not resisting the generator sellers, who are contributing to pollution, what is the logic of resisting small entrepreneurs bringing mini-gas plants to supply a market need”. (NAN)
YO/BOLA/WOJ
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Wale Ojetimi

Housing

Lilian Okoro
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) says Nigeria should adopt the urban-regeneration scheme to boost its housing delivery and overcome its housing deficit.

Its immediate past president, Dr Bolarinde Patunola-Ajayi, made the observation on Friday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Patunola-Ajayi said that urban regeneration would entail the removal and demolition of the small apartments, shanties, and bungalows that were scattered across the country.

They would have to be replaced with modern structures that would accommodate more people.

He said that this would also entail the complete upgrading of slums which he said formed 70 per cent of the environment.

“Urban regeneration can be in the form of demolishing the shanties to construct modern and high-rise structures that will accommodate more people.

“With urban regeneration scheme, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme will be encouraged.

“The scheme will not completely be a government scheme, it will involve the private sector business ventures.

“All that government needs do is to acquire very large hectares of land and give it to the private sector to develop.

“The government will also be expected to provide the enabling environment and facilities for the private operators to have a smooth operation,” he said.

Patunola-Ajayi said that countries such as China and Singapore embraced the scheme to develop their countries and grow their housing sector.

He, however, said that the scarcity of land had been a major factor hindering the growth of housing development in the country.

According to him, urban regeneration will pave the way for maximum/optimal ultilisation of the limited land to construct the needed number of houses.

“With urban regeneration, land will be optimally ultilised to construct buildings that will accommodate more people because the shanties occupying spaces will be demolished,” he said. (NAN)

LUC/BOLA/PAD
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Peter Dada

Cricket

Sydney, Dec. 21, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Former Australia captain Steve Smith said on Friday he had not been involved in planning to tamper with the ball during the Cape Town test against South Africa.

He, however, took responsibility as a leader for failing to put a stop to it.

Smith, along with Vice-captain David Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, was suspended for his part in the ball-tampering incident which shocked the cricket world and torpedoed Australia’s sporting reputation.

Facing Australian media for the first time since his teary apology at a news conference at Sydney airport on March 29, Smith said he had learned of the plan when he overheard a conversation in the team’s dressing room at Newlands.

“I think it’s been documented pretty heavily, sort of, what went on,” he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“For me in the room, I walked past something and had the opportunity to stop it and I didn’t do it and that was my leadership failure.

“It was the potential for something to happen and it went on and happened out in the field.

“I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t want to know anything about it’ and that was my failure of leadership. And you know I’ve taken responsibility for that.”

Smith declined to name the players involved but reiterated that he had told them, “I don’t want to know about it”, and then walked away.

Smith has kept a low media profile since the scandal, despite playing at Twenty20 tournaments in Canada and the Caribbean, and turning out for his Sydney club side Sutherland.

However, in recent weeks he has made gradual moves to rehabilitate his public image and joined his former Australia team mates at training sessions.

Smith has also tested the waters to see how his brand power has fared after the incident, linking up with Britain’s Vodafone Group to shoot an advertisement which played on his shame and hopes of redemption.

The commercial, and Smith’s involvement in it, was criticised by some media pundits and generated mixed responses on social media.

Smith said he was getting paid for the campaign but also “putting forward” funds from it to “Gotcha4Life’’, a local men’s mental health charity.

The 29-year-old added that it had been tough at times watching Australia play from the sidelines and said he was determined to break back into the one-day side for the May 30-July 14 World Cup and the test team for the Ashes beyond that.

“I’m just moving forward day to day.

“Doing what I need to do to prepare to hopefully get another opportunity to play for Australia and if that’s the World Cup and Ashes, so be it,” Smith told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“No doubt the English crowd will be incredibly hostile. I’m ready for that if that happens.

“I’ll keep working hard and if I get that opportunity again, that’d be great.”

Australia, led by Smith’s replacement as captain Tim Paine, are tied 1-1 in a four-test series with India ahead of the third contest in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day.

Smith and Warner’s bans will be lifted at the end of March, with Bancroft’s expiring on Dec. 29.
(Reuters/NAN)
ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)