Death
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The first military governor of Kwara, retired Brig.-Gen. David Bamigboye, is dead.
The younger brother to the deceased, retired Col. Theophilus Bamigboye, confirmed the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday on the telephone.
He said the late military governor died on Friday during a brief illness in Lagos.
NAN reports that the deceased was born on Dec. 7, 1940, and was the military governor of Kwara between May 1967 and July 1975.
He was credited with establishing the Kwara State Polytechnic in 1972. (NAN)
OOH/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)
Tricycle rider docked for alleged joint act, causing grievous hurt
Hurt
By Nana Musa
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Police on Friday arraigned a 21-year-old tricycle rider, Ibrahim Umaru, in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for alleged joint act, causing grievous hurt and extortion.
Umaru, of no fixed address had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge levelled against him.
The prosecutor, Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that one Simon Peter of Jabi Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on Sept. 17.
Ukagha said that the complainant reported that on that same date, he boarded the defendant tricycle from Dape village to Jabi.
While on transit, the defendant and others now at large, allegedly collected his cell phone, valued at N50, 000 and forcefully pushed him down from the moving tricycle.
Ukagha said that the complainant sustained injuries on his knees and hand.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant was taken to the Gwarimpa General Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.
During police investigation, the defendant was arrested and all efforts made to arrest the remaining suspects proved abortive.
She said the offences contravened Sections 79, 245 and 292 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Oct. 23, for hearing. (NAN)
Waste
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) An agricultural expert, Mr Tunji Owoeye, on Friday urged the government to provide an enabling environment to attract potential investors to invest in agricultural waste-to-wealth projects.
Owoeye, who is the Managing Director, Elephant Group Plc., made this call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He noted that a lot of agricultural waste could be converted into useful products via money-spinning ventures if potential investors were sure of getting good returns on their investment.
“Investors are looking for an enabling environment that could safeguard their investments in any sector.
“For investors to be attracted to invest in agricultural waste conversion projects, they want to be assured of the viability of their investment.
“For instance, waste generated from rice production can be used for so many things like generating electricity and producing rice oil, among others.
“Besides, a lot of things could be done with the waste generated from over 100 agricultural produce that we have but there has to be some protection and encouragement for any investment in those areas.
“Investors can come in once they are sure of getting value for their money in such ventures.
“If there are enlightenment activities on the opportunities existing in such ventures and the protectionist policies put in place, it will be easier to get more investors interested in the conversion of agricultural waste into wealth,’’ he said.
Owoeye said that the protectionist policies could be in the form of tax relief for pioneer companies, among others, adding that the policies would go a long way to encourage potential investors to set up agricultural waste conversion projects.
“This is because before taking critical decisions on investing in agricultural waste conversion projects, entrepreneurs would want to look at for the political environment as well as the stability and sustainability of the investment.
“If they harbour some doubts on the sustainability of the investment, it would be difficult for them to go on and invest in such ventures,’’ he said.
Owoeye said that agricultural waste recycling projects were currently undertaken at minor levels, adding, however, that the government should provide an environment that was conducive to the establishment of commercial waste conversion projects. (NAN)
ACA/OOK
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Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) A security guard, Levis Marcus, was on Friday docked in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing 230 bags of cement.
Marcus, 32, of Idu-okoro Abuja, was arraigned on a count charge of stealing.
The prosecutor, Mrs Ukagha Ijeoma, told the court that one Boniface Awodi of Plot 312 Umar Dikko St. Jabi, Abuja, reported the matter on Dec. 1, 2017 at the Karmo Police Station.
Ijeoma said that the complainant employed Marcus as a security guard to secure his property at Idu-okoro, but he dishonestly stole 230 bags of cement.
She alleged that during police investigation, Marcus admitted committing the crime, while the money for 150 bags of cement he sold was recovered from him.
The prosecutor told the court that all effort made to recover the remaining 80 bags valued at N205, 400 prove abortive.
Ijeoma said that the offence contravened Section 287of the Penal Code.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, while the judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, granted him bail in the sum of N300, 000, and a surety in like sum.
The case was adjourned until Oct. 10 for hearing. (NAN)
Enugu, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 250 victims of flood and other natural disasters in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State have received relief materials from the state government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons also donated farm implements to the victims.
Mrs Nkechi Eneh, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said on Friday in Enugu, that the beneficiaries were victims of a flood disaster that occurred in August.
Eneh, while handing over the items to the victims, said that over 70 houses were submerged and other property were destroyed by the flood.
“When we received the information, our response team visited the scenes for an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.
“The level of damage we saw was huge but we thank God no life was lost,” she said.
The executive secretary said that the state government had immediately after the assessment provided temporary relief to the victims.
Eneh appealed to the residents of the flood-prone area to always heed early warnings in order to be safe at such times.
She also cautioned against building on waterways and blockage of drains, adding that in extreme cases “you relocate when there is threat of flood.
“We have been sensitising people on the dangers of building on waterways and blocking drainages and we cannot be saying this every rainy season,” she said.
Eneh said it was necessary for the people to embark on activities that would make the environment sustainable.
In a goodwill message, Mrs Jane Molokwu, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said the commission was pained by the plight of the victims.
Molukwu urged them to always take proactive measures in managing incidences of flood as some were human induced.
She said that the donation by the commission was a way of empathising with the victims, adding that it would in no way equate with their losses.
The Secretary of the local government area, Mr Moses Agudiegwu, said that they were excited to have been remembered by the federal and state governments.
Agudiegwu, who received the materials on behalf of the victims, said the intervention had given them some measures of relief, adding that they would ever remain appreciative of such kindness.
One of the victims, Mr Nnamdi Ochi, who recounted his predicament during the incident, said that over 70 per cent of the houses in the area were affected by the rainstorm and flood.
Ochi said that it took them over two weeks to return to their homes after the disaster.
“The situation has not abated. Each time the rains come we usually build trenches where we hide our families. Our family property is not even in our houses as we speak,” he said.
The victim said that flood had ravaged the roads leading to their communities such that it had become so difficult to connect with other localities in the area.
NAN reports that some of the items donated included grinding machines, hoes, wheel-barrows, bags of cement, rice, beans, garri, rain booths, matrasses, roofing sheets and wrappers. (NAN)
FERMA partners SERVICOM on `ease of doing business’
Business
By Uche Bibilari
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr Nuruddeen Rafindadi, has expressed his commitment in actualising the success of the SERVICOM initiative “on transparency and ease of doing business.”
Mrs Maryam Sanusi, Director, Head of Communication and Public Relations (FERMA), quoted the managing director as making the assertion in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Rafindadi said that the initiative is in line with the implementation of the executive order 001 “on transparency and ease of doing business.”
He said carrying out the agency’s mandate executive order 001 was important and promised to support SERVICOM for a smooth and successful operation.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli said they were in FERMA to sensitise the management and staff of the Agency on the Executive Order 001.
Akajemeli said the Order would help to identify key points in service delivery and develop steps in improving current ranking, linking it with Service charter.(NAN)
UU/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide
Ikeja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) A 22-year-old man, Ridwan Fatai, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole rice worth N3,300, was on Friday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Fatai, whose address was not provided, was docked for shop-breaking and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Matthew Akhaluode, told the court that Fatai committed the alleged offences on Aug. 27, at Akinpelu Street, Oko-Oba, Agege in Lagos.
Akhaluode said Fatai broke into the shop of the complainant, Mrs Omowunmi Ojo, in the early hours of the same day to steal the item.
“Fatai stole rice valued at N3,300 from the shop of the complainant,” he said.
The prosecutor said the accused was caught while trying to escape with the stolen items by vigilance team in the area.
Fatai , however, pleaded not guilty to the offence, that contravened Sections 287 and 309 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Section 287 stipulates a seven-year jail term for offenders, while Section 309 provides three years for shop-breaking.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Adetunji, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Sept. 28, for hearing. (NAN)
By Vivian Ibobo
Ikeja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) A 35-year-old man, Sunday Adekeye, on Friday, appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly breaking into an apartment and stealing a cash sum of N70, 000.
Adekeye, whose address was not provided, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of house-breaking and stealing brought against him.
The prosecutor, Insp Matthew Akhaluode, told the court that Adekeye committed the offences on Aug. 27 at No. 23, Afeez Lawal St., Alagbado, a Lagos Suburb.
Akhaluode said that Adekeye broke into the complainant Miss Bukky Adetona’s apartment and stole the money.
“Adekeye ransacked the house and stole the N70,000 cash kept in Adetona’s handbag,” he said.
The prosecutor said the accused was caught by the complainant neighbours while trying to escape.
The offence contravened Sections 287 and 309 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Section 287 stipulates a seven-year jail term for offenders while Section 309 provides three years for shop-breaking.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Adetunji, admitted him to a N30,000 bail with one surety in like sum.
Adetunji said that the surety should be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos state government.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Sept. 27, for hearing. (NAN)
Gwagwalada residents appeal to area council, FCTA to repair bad roads
Roads
By Uche Bibilari/Jacinta Nwachukwu
Gwagwalada (FCT), Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Some residents of Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have appealed to the council’s chairman and FCT Administration to repair bad roads in the council area.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gwagwalada, saying that so many roads in the area were not passable and needed urgent attention.
According to them, some of the roads have deteriorated so badly, especially during this rainy season.
Mr Sule Hassan, a Civil Servant, said the poor state of roads in the area made movement in the council very stressful and also contribute to accidents.
He appealed to the Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Zakari Dobi to come to the aid of the residents.
“Almost all the roads in Gwagwalada are in bad condition; even some that they are rehabilitating have been abandoned; they should address road problem in the area.
“Cars are damaged always as a result of the bad roads; there is need to rehabilitate these roads for the benefit of the masses,’’ Hassan said.
Mrs Jane Nnoli, another Civil Servant, said that a lot needed to be done to repair these roads, saying that the repairs of these roads should be solid to reduce frequent damage.
Nnoli said that residents were not enjoying the roads at all and all the roads virtually need attention.
She also attributed the damage on the roads to poor drainage systems in the council, saying that some streets do not have gutters.
Also, Mrs Eunice Udensi, another resident, said the bad roads have made the cost of transportation more expensive in the area.
She explained that distance of N50 on motorcycle, which was the main cost of transportation, now goes for N80 to N100 as a result of bad roads.
According to her, the bad roads also contribute to high cost of some commodity, especially fruits and other perishable goods.
Udensi, however, appealed to the Chairman and FCTA to do fix the roads urgent so as to reduce the stress residents were going through.
Mr Ishiaku Mohammed, a commercial motorcyclist, said that the roads in Gwagwalada have made their work very hectic as they now spend more time on some roads.
Mohammed said that the bad road was also affecting their motorcycle, adding that they hardly ply on some of the roads.
“The condition of the roads in Gwagwalada is terrible, I choose places I go to, I do not ply on those roads that are very bad.
“If at all I need to go to any of these roads I will charge more; the nature of the roads have brought hardship to the people living in these areas, because they need to pay more to get to their location.
“The council needs to urgently attend to these roads, if they cannot construct new ones, they should grade the existing ones,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Usman Babalado, said that the council was working on the roads, adding that road construction is not done at once.
Babalado said that the council has constructed some roads such as One-way road, Demonstration road, Kabu road, among others.
He said that some roads were still under construction and that the council cannot construct all the roads in Gwagwalada at once as a result of lack of funds.
“The people have to be patient with us because we have meagre resources; we cannot construct all roads in Gwagwalada at once within two to three years.
“We inherited these roads from past administrations, we have many rural roads that need to be constructed,’’ he said.
He said that the council was collaborating with Satellite Development Agency to ensure that some of these roads were in good condition.
He, therefore, appealed to residents to be patient with the council as efforts were being made to fix some of the roads.(NAN)
UU/JIN/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide
Classrooms
By Aminu Garko
Minna, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Niger State Universal Basic Education Board says it has spent about N952 on the construction of 578 blocks of classrooms in different parts of the state.
The acting chairman of the board, Alhaji Abdullahi Ndakogi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Friday.
He said that all the classrooms had since been completed and inaugurated.
He explained that the board embarked on the projects because of its commitment towards the provision of conducive learning atmosphere for pupils in the state.
”Provision of qualitative education will only be possible in conducive learning atmosphere for which the board is fully committed to,” he said.
He said that new furniture and other basic learning facilities had also been procured and distributed to all public schools to improve the teaching and learning atmosphere.
Ndakogi explained that the board would continue to give priority to the provision of modern learning facilities in all public schools in the state.
He called on parents to reciprocate the government gestures by enrolling their children in school as well as safeguard schools against destruction.
He said that the board has already reached out to the traditional and religious leaders in sensitising parents on the importance of the girl-child education.
He said that the involvement of stakeholders would greatly assist in mobilising parents to allow their children embrace western education.
The chairman called on the benefiting communities to protect facilities in their wards against the activities of vandals. (NAN)
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