Blog

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Screening
Maiduguri, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Borno Government on Thursday said that it had inaugurated HIV/AIDS screening for individuals, under its Status Assessment programme, in liberated communities in seven Local Government Areas of the state.

Malam Barkindo Saidu, the Executive Secretary, Borno Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, disclosed this while visiting Malam Babakura Jatau, the Sole Administrator of the state Radio/Television Authority in Maiduguri.

Saidu explained that the object was to determine the status of the individuals in the communities as well as provide counselling where necessary.

He said the Local Government Areas are Monguno, Bama, Gwoza, Damboa, Kala-Balge, Kaga and Dikwa.

Saidu said that the agency had also conducted need assessment requirements in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri and Jere area councils, as well as provided counselling services where necessary.

“We have began screening of persons for HIV/AIDS in liberated communities in seven local governments areas comprising Monguno, Bama, Gwoza, Damboa, Kala-Balge, Kaga and Dikwa. The exercise is under our Status Assessment programme.

“We also provided counselling for individuals after the screening especially to those that have tested positive. Those in need of medications and further tests have also been referred accordingly, ” he said.

He said that the agency was working on plans to start a new enlightenment campaign against the spread of the disease in the state.

Saidu solicited for the support of the station towards achieving its aim.

Responding, Jatau thanked the executive secretary for the visit and promised to collaborate with the agency in the campaign against the spread of the disease. (NAN)

ABI/MOL/IS
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-38
Ownership
Warri (Delta), Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) Two communities, Ukpiovwin and Oghior both in Udu Local Government Area of Delta may be heading for a showdown once more over ownership of right of way of an Oil Mining Lease (OML).
Both communities are holding sway to the ownership of the land where spill and subsequent fire occurred recently in the Abura Flowline OML 65 operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Addressing newsmen on Thursday at the Ukpiovwin Community Town hall, the community’s President-General Mr Lucky Ejenavwo said that the briefing was sequel to the Nov. 29 publication in one of the national dailies by Oghior community.
According to him, the Oghior community had claimed to be the owner of the land where spill and subsequent fire occurred at Abura Flowline OML 65.
Ejenavwo, who briefed the media with youth and community elders in attendance, said that the publication was credited to the President-General of Oghior Community.
He insisted that the land belonged to Ukpiovwin.
“The publication by Oghior Community with respect to the oil spill and subsequent fire incident at Abura Flowline published on page 33 of the Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday Nov. 29, is amusing,’’ he said.
He explained that the Abura Flowline OML 65 transverses seven communities which also included Emadadja, Ubogo, Ogbe-Udu, Ogolor-waterside and Ogolor-inland.
Ejenavwo, who is also a Surveillance Contractor, said that when spill occurred on the Abura Flowline, he drew the attention of the NPDC officials to the development.
“Following my report, NPDC on Oct. 27, send a team for the JIV text. The JIV text was concluded on Nov. 25.
“On Nov. 27, within the hours of 800 and 900 hours, my Youth Leader, Mr Adile James, called my cell phone to inform me that there was fire incident at the Abura Flowline where the spill occurred.
“I immediately sent a text message to the Manager, Security Department, NPDC and Warri Field Office (WFO) to send fire fighters to the scene.
“We make bold to say that the land where the spill and subsequent fire incident occurred at Abura Flowline OML 65, belongs to Ukpiovwin Community and not Oghior as claimed by Ghaghara and his cohorts,” he said.
He said that the publication as frivolous, baseless and a calculated attempt to cause disaffection between both communities.
Ejenavwo, however, appealed to the community to remain calm, while urging Nigerians including the NPDC to disregard the publication.
It would be recalled that both communities had earlier in the year engaged each other in a fight over land issue in which scores were injured. (NAN)
EDI/LAB/GY
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Grace Yussuf

Man bags 4 months imprisonment for stealing 10 cat fish

NAN-H-36

Fish

By Monday Ajogun

Benin, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court, Benin City, on Thursday sentenced one Sylvester Livinus, 22, to four months imprisonment for stealing 10 cat fish.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs C.E. Oghuma, however, gave the convict N 5, 000 option of fine.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Olatoye Oluwaseun, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 18, at about 2:45p.m. at No. 1, Toronto St. Benin.

Oluwaseun said that the cat fish which belonged to one Noma Okunbor, was valued at  N10, 000.

He said the offence contravened Section 309 (9) of the Criminal Code. (NAN)

AJOM/DEB/OU

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Edited by Debo Oshundun/Obike Ukoh

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NAN-HE-3
Gas
Lagos, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday urged retailers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) (cooking gas), to get license before January 2017.

Mr Etukudo Etim of the gas department, DPR Lagos zonal office, made the appeal at a safety training workshop, organised by the LPG retailers in Lagos.

According to him, the department would clampdown on unlicensed retailers in Lagos and Ogun States as part of measures to enforce the law regulating LPG’s business.

“DPR has begun data collection of sales of LPG by cooking gas retailers as part of efforts to develop a robust data base for the domestic consumption of LPG in the country,’’ Etim said.

He noted that countries like Ghana, Togo and Angola have statistics on the local consumption of LPG but Nigeria was yet to do it.

Etim said that absence of such data makes planning by government difficult.

He solicited for the cooperation of the retailers in order to help the LPG sector move to the next level.

Etim said enforcement of the regulations was necessary considering the rate at which more LPG shops mostly handled by untrained and unlicensed retailers were coming up.

He said the attendant result of the negligence of enforcement of regulations had led to several fire outbreaks.

Etim explained that an operator was expected to get a license for a single outlet at the cost of N5,000, renewable  after two years.

“For example, if you operate five shops in different location in Lagos, it is expected that you must have five licenses.

“A license for a shop in Ikorodu is not valid in Surulere, even if the shop operates under the same company name.

“Beyond obtaining the license, each shop is expected to have in place, two fire extinguishers.

“Retailers should also have bucket of sharp sand, well ventilated shop, display of appropriate warning signs and emergency numbers and distance from fire sources,’’ he said.

Mr David Okenwa, the Chairman of LPG’s retailers in Lagos, said the essence of the safety workshop was to acquaint members with basic fire fighting skills in case of any fire incident.

He urged retailers to take advantage of the period between now and January to obtain the DPR license.

Okenwa warned that, after the one month grace period,  any member found operating illegally would face the wrath of the law.(NAN)
YO/AOM/MZA
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(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed)

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Hausa
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) The population of Hausa speakers in Nigeria has reached about 120 million, a colloquium has said.

This was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday at the end of a one-day colloquium organised by the Department of African Languages and Cultures, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Kaduna State.

The communiqué, which was signed by Dr Balarabe Danladi and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said numerical strength, was a major consideration in which language becomes official.

“This is because, it has speakers all over the world and the speakers are grouped into native and non-native speakers.

“In Nigeria, native Hausa speakers exceed 70 million and non-native speakers who use Hausa as second language are likely to be between 40 and 50 million on a conservative estimate,” it added.

The communiqué said it had also been observed that more than one-third of the total population of Nigeria, understood Hausa language, and that for being widely spread, within and outside Nigeria had established the fact that “Hausa is a lingua-franca in Nigeria.

“This position has made it easier for Government to promote Hausa to the level of an official language in Nigeria.

“The argument is that a language that acquires lingua-franca status demands little effort from the government and scholars to qualify as an official language”, it noted.

It said Hausa language is used in Mosques, Churches, business transactions and a host of other social and political activities.

The communiqué said Hausa language had international recognition which served as a good index to initiate the process of making it an official one.

It said Hausa had been recognised internationally in various spheres such as Microsoft, foreign universities, international media, Face book and other international works, and that adoption of indigenous language, particularly Hausa, would facilitate national growth and development. (NAN)

KLM/AO/IS

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Ismail Abdulaziz

Power generation drops by 964mw
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Megawatts

By Yusuf Yunus

Lagos, Dec.1, 2016 (NAN) The nation’s power generation capacity has dropped from 4,285 megawatts recorded on Sept. 16 to 3,321 megawatts on Dec. 1 due to dearth of gas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that this figure was obtained frokm the website of Nigerian Electricity System Operator on Thursday.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), puts the total output of all the generation companies at 3,321.50 megawatts, which had been transferred to the 11 distribution companies across the country.

An official of TCN, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that electricity generation had been dwindling due to challenges of accessing gas by generation companies.

The official said that the country’s power generation dropped from over 4,000 megawatts recorded in September and October to 3,321.50 megawatts current recording as Dec. 1.

Similarly, a top management official of Egbin Power Station, who also pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the power plant was generating over 1,000 megawatts.

He said the plant, which is located in Lagos, now generates and distributes between 250 megawatts and 300 megawatts due to shortage of gas.

The official said that Egbin, with an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts, has the capacity to wheel over 1,000 megawatts daily.

According to him, the plant is now limited to less than 300 megawatts due to shortage of gas.

Meanwhile, Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Communications of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, attributed recent frequent outages within the company’s network to the drop in energy allocation to it.

Idemudia told NAN that the company was receiving less than 300 megawatts instead of 1,300 megawatts needed to service its consumers.

He said that the company had reached agreement with independent power companies to argument the little energy being received from the national grid to meet energy demands of its customers.

According to him, Eko DISCO secured additional 160 megawatts of electricity to augment its allocation from the national grid.

“We have entered into bilateral agreements with Egbin Power Plc and Paras Energy & Natural Resources Development Limited for 100 megawatts and 60 megawatts respectively.

“But the generation companies are constrained by gas challenges.

“We are also working on embedded power programme aimed at producing 480 megawatts for distribution to our customers’’, Idemudia told NAN.

NAN recalls that some residents of Ikosi, Arepo and Obanikoro in Lagos within Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s operations had staged series of protests over power outages in their areas.

The protesters, who came in their hundreds, chanted songs to drive home their grievances and prevented officials of the company and other consumers from entering the premises.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “All we are saying, give us supply’’ and “what is our offence that Ikeja Electric refuses to give us electricity?’’ (NAN)

YO/AIB/IEA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-HE-1

Professionalism

By Olawunmi Ashafa

Lagos, Dec.1, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) says it is committed to deepening professionalism among its members to gain investors’ confidence.

Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, ABCON’s President, said this at the South-West zonal meeting of the association on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the body believed that professionalism engendered foreign investors’ confidence in the Nigerian foreign exchange market.

Gwadabe called on Bureaux De Change (BDCs) operators to distinguish themselves from parallel market operators by rendering efficient services and complying with regulations.

He said that while the pressure on the naira was due to liquidity problems and confidence, professionalism on the part of BDCs would help boost foreign investors’ confidence in the nation’s foreign exchange market.

“ABCON is committed to boosting foreign investors’ confidence as this will help attract the much needed liquidity into the market and reduce pressure on the naira exchange rate.

“You have to distinguish yourselves from parallel market.

“We are the ones licensed to operate the business, but we must prove this by distinguishing ourselves through the way we serve our customers.

“Before now, there were criticisms about BDCs but now we are the new bride of the regulators,’’ Gwadabe said.

The president also urged members of the association to comply with the necessary requirements in their businesses, to ensure that they sustain the renewed regulatory interest and confidence in BDCs.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria is willing to expand our scope of business, but this is conditioned on our willingness to increase our level of professionalism.’’

Gwadabe advised BDCs not to limit their services to foreign exchange needs for Personal Travel Allowance (PTA).

“Why is everybody just doing PTA, when you can do mortgage, school fees and medical expenses?

“You can do mortgage, medical and school fees on cash basis, provided you don’t exceed $5,000, and you ensure all the necessary documentations are provided.’’

Gwadabe assured members that the association had started addressing the challenges experienced by BDCs in verifying Biometric Verification Numbers (BVNs) and the international passports of prospective customers.

He added that ABCON had started discussions with the management of Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), on the need to provide dedicated channel for BDCs to verify BVNs and international passports.

He, however, advised BDCs to be patient and continue to use the available channel to verify BVNs and the international passports of customers.

He also advised BDCs to deal with people they were familiar with to ensure compliance with the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Gwadabe also said that the association had set up a surveillance committee to monitor the activities in the BDC sector.

He called on members of the association to help facilitate the work of the committee by providing it with information on any observed malpractice, by any operator. (NAN)

AWA/AIB/DUA
Edited by Abdulfatai Babatunde and Dada Ahmed

NAN-S-1
Sports
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) Mr Abayomi Oke, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, says efforts are underway to rebrand Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan.

He stated this in Ibadan at the sports summit organised by the Oyo State chapter of Sports Writers Association (SWAN).

The commissioner said the initiatives would make the club more attractive to investors and soccer fans.

Earlier, Mr Niyi Alebiosu, the Chairman of SWAN in the state, had said the summit was organised as part of the association’s contribution to sports development.

NAN reports that in attendance at the forum were Mr Toye Arulogun, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism and Hon. Busari Gbolagade, the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Information.

Also in attendance were Mr Waheed Ekun, the Chairman of Oyo State Table Tennis Association and Hon. Fatai Adesina, the Chairman Sports Committee of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Mr Gboyega Makinde, the Acting General Manager, Oyo State Sports Council and Dr Steve Olarinoye, the Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports in the South West Zone were also at the occasion.

Four former administrators of Shooting Stars Sports Club, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Dr Felix Owolabi-Akinloye as well as Pa Niyi Akande were also present.

Meanwhile, a communique issued at the end of the summit called for probity and accountability among sports stakeholders “ because it is the only way the sector would attract sponsors and investors.”

Participants identified sports writers and others stakeholders as partners in the development of the sector, urging sports journalists to be professional, objective and factual in the discharge of their duties.(NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Nigeria can save N24bn in foreign exchange from agricultural research innovation – IITRED

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Exchange
By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Dec. 30,2016 (NAN) The International Institute for Tranining, Reaserach and Economic Development  (IITRED) says  the agricultural research innovation technology, designed to produce  high yield, can  generate N24 billion  in foreign exchange for Nigeria.

It says the target can be achieved when fully commercialised.

It also said that the technology  would help the clean  up of the Nigeria- Delta due to its absorbent capacity of managing oil spill in the Niger-Delta area

The information is provided in a statement by Dr Sani Dawop in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dawop said that IITRED was an international, independent and non-profit making organization.

He said that the organization was designed to  provide  value training and conduct issue based research.

The institute  organises conferences, seminars; specialises in  training programmes for capacity  building  to address human and environmental challenges .

He said the institute would  organise its annual  award seminar in its series  on Thursday at Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja.

According to him, the theme of the event, “Bringing Nigeria Agricultural Research into use”, would feature presentations by renowned researchers and notable public officials.

The 2016 IITRED research Prize Winner is Dr Morufat Balogun of the University of Ibadan, while IITRED honours award is Dangote Sugar and NASCO Cornflakes.(NAN)
KC/IA
Edited by Idris abdulrahman

NAN-H-82

Trial

By Sandra Umeh

Lagos, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Court of Appeal Lagos, has set aside the ruling of a Federal High Court that cleared former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, of money laundering charges.

The appellate court in a unanimous judgment set aside the verdict of the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, holding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had made out a prima facie case against the accused.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Biobela Georgewill, the court also ordered that trial should start ‘de novo’ (afresh) before another judge other than Justice Buba, in light of the far-reaching findings already made by him.

Other members of the three-man panel include Justice Side Bage and Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Justice Buba, had on Sep. 26, 2014, discharged Ikuforiji and Atoyebi of a 56-count charge of conspiracy and laundering the sum of N500 million belonging to the Assembly.

The offences, according to the EFCC, contravenes the provisions of Sections 15 (1d) and 16(1d) of Money Laundry Act, MLA, 2004 and 2011.

The trial Judge, who discharged the Speaker and Atoyebi, while ruling on a no-case submission filed by the accused persons held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima-facie case against them.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC through its counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) filed the Notice of Appeal dated Sep. 30, 2014.

Obla asked the Court of Appeal to hold that Justice Buba erred in law when he held that counts two to 48 were incompetent because they were filed pursuant to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 which was repealed by an Act in 2011.

The EFCC further argued that the lower court erred in law when it held that the provisions of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and 2011 only applied to natural persons and corporate bodies other than government.

The commission also submitted that the trial judge erred in law when he held and concluded that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses supported the innocence of the respondents.

Justice Georgewill in his lead judgment held that the offences created by Section 1 of the MLA 2004 and 2011 respectively were strict liability offences.

The judge also said that their proof does not depend on the purposes the money was used for if the amount was above the threshold stipulated by law.

“Regrettably, the court below went on a voyage of its own, discussing cash payment of million made to the Super Eagles in Brazil, even without any scintilla of evidence before it, instead of remaining focused on the issue at hand.

“Does the fact that all persons likely to have committed a particular alleged offence have not been prosecuted become a reason for the court to decline jurisdiction of one of them being prosecuted? certainly not.

“I consider many of the issues raised so randomly by the court below as irrelevant and inconsequential to the just determination of the question before it, which is, whether the appellant made out a prima facie case.

“Very worrisome to me, is the attitude of the court below, considering between the decision of this court and its own decision on which one to follow, even when its attention was called to the decision of this court.

“I find this attitude quite bizarre and not in sync with judicial attitude toward the time honoured doctrine of stare decisis. It is pure rascality, impertinence and disregard for judicial hierarchy in this country.

“In light of my finding above, I have no difficulty resolving the sole issue for determination in the negative against the respondents in favour of the appellant.

“I hold firmly therefore, that the appeal has merit and ought to be allowed; the ruling of the lower court is hereby set aside,” Justice Georgewill held. (NAN)

UNS/HAS/EEE

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Edited By Hajia Sani/Ese E. Ekama