Blog

5 arrested in Kwara for strangulating widow farmer
NAN-H-26
Arrest
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Nov 28, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara Police Command on Monday says it has arrested five suspects who allegedly strangulated a widow on her farm at Chikanda in Baruten Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the arrest in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.
Florence Ede, a mother of four, was on Thursday strangulated by unknown persons on her rice farm at the Kwara border town.
The suspects also stole her money and 12 bags of rice she had just harvested.
Okasanmi told NAN that the suspects would be paraded before the media on Thursday.
“Yes we have arrested five of them; the vehicle and the rice had be recovered,” he said.
The police spokesman said that the leader of the group was, however, at large, adding that his father had been arrested to assist the police in tracking him down. (NAN)
AUO/ASS/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-S-3
Competition
By Martha Agas

Jos, Nov. 28, 2016(NAN) Prof. Mathew Sule, Chairman of Plateau Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) says physically challenged students will now be involved in public primary schools’ sports competition to widen their horizon.

Sule made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.
According to him, the measure is part of the initiatives to ensure inclusiveness for the special group.
He said that the last competitions held earlier in the year showcased talents in different sports and enhanced the selection of those to represent the state in bigger sports platforms.
“ The all public primary school competitions involve sports, debate, essay writing, arts and craft exhibitions earlier in the year and it was last organised in  1990.
“ It is a great opportunity for our young children to showcase their sports talents, one of the best footballers during the event was picked to play for an under- 13 Football Club in Nigeria.’’
Sule said that the preparation for the 2017 competition had since begun and commended the National Lottery Fund for donating sports equipment to 47 schools in Plateau recently.
He said the gesture would further shore up efforts to sustain sports as an extracurricular activity required for the curriculum for the primary schools.
Sule said that sports was an agent of socialisation that created avenue for social interaction, integration and unity as many developed countries adopted sports to promote unity among their citizens.
He said sports should be encouraged in schools to achieve the same objectives, especially at the basic level of child development. (NAN)
MAA/DS/MO

==========

Edited by Morayo Omolade

NAN-H-37
Verification
Bauchi, Nov.28,2016 (NAN) The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Monday commenced the verification of core civil service pensioners in some states of the North East geopolitical zone, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr Taiwo Ogundipe, Director in charge of Parastatals Pension unit of PTAD, told NAN in Bauchi that at the end of the weeklong exercise, a credible operational database of pensioners would be created.

“The exercise, aimed at verifying genuine pensioners and addressing other problems, is taking place simultaneously in Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states.

“It will not only help in detecting ghost pensioners and addressing complaints from genuine pensioner, but also provide us with an accurate database of beneficiaries,” he said.

According to him, some of the issues to be addressed include the over-payment and under-payment of pensioners, inclusion of names of pensioners omitted from the payroll, as well as elimination of ghost pensioners.

He listed the categories of pensioner s for verification to include former Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Service, as well as federal civil servants who retired from Grade Level 14 and below.

He said others were state pensioners with federal share, next of kin of deceased pensioners and those enjoying differed pension benefits.

Ogundipe explained that the exercise, which would feature thorough verification of documents, data X-ray and biometric capture, would be an opportunity to address all complaints of pensioners.

When NAN visited the Police Officers Mess, Bauchi, venue of the exercise, verification  was going on orderly as tents had been erected and enough PTAD personnel provided.

A date will be fixed for the conduct of a similar exercise in Yobe and Borno, the two states in the North East left out in the current verification. (NAN)
AE/ASH/ASH

NAN-H-20
Defilement
By Boboye Moronke.
Lagos, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) For alleged defilement of his neighbour’s daughter, a 37-year-old trader was on Monday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, Jimoh Jibunor, who lives at Opeloyeru St., Idimu, Lagos, is facing one-count charge of defilement.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed on Nov. 4 at the accused residence.
“The accused sent the 10-year-old girl on an errand and at her return, he shut the door and defiled her,’’ he said.
The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. O Osunsanmi, granted the accused N400, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case to Jan. 30 for mention. (NAN)
MTO/DEB/WOJ
============
(Edited by Debo Oshundun / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-19

NSCDC

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Lack of office accommodation is a major problem affecting operations of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Crops (NSCDC) in Niger State.

Mr Philip Ayuba, the state Commandant of the Corps, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.

“We have been operating in a residential area due to lack of office accommodation since inception.

“We wrote several letters to the state government soliciting office accommodation to enable us operate effectively, but no response had been received so far.

“We required a befitting office accommodation to enable us fashion out blueprint  to confront the present security challenges in the state,” he said.

He said that there was no way the corps could operate effectively while operatingfrom a three-bed room flat. (NAN)
AAG/DS/TA

Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-17
Rice
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Nov.28, 2016 (NAN) Agricultural stakeholders in Ebonyi have called for caution on the State Government’s planned ban of the sales of imported rice in its markets and other sales’ outlets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi recently announced the ban on the sales of foreign rice in the state though remarking that the implementation was yet to commence.

Umahi said that he would personally lead a State Executive Council task force to carry out the order while sellers of the produce would provide certification of its quality.

Also, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, during a recent visit to the state in company with the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had commended Umahi for the decision.
Ogbeh said then that the Ebonyi Government had shown enough commitment by ensuring massive production of rice and promised to assist the state with agricultural equipment such as : rice harvesters, threshers and par- boiling drums.

However, a rice dealer, Mr Basil Ekeleme, in Ebonyi Local Government Area, said that such a ban would be effective when there had been massive local-rice production.

“The state government and other stakeholders have ensured that rice farmers cultivated large quantities but the government must wait till after harvest to ascertain the level of bounty produce before making sensitive pronouncements.

“Rice farmers were confronted with challenges such as rice pest-gaulmidge attack, unavailability of rice seedlings, processing challenges among others,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Francis Ibe-Enwo, an Agronomy expert said that the Federal Government ought to have first made the pronouncement while the Ebonyi Government should have followed it up.

“The Federal Government only removed rice from the list of items that it would provide foreign exchange (forex) for its procurement and this does not imply ban of any sort.

“The Ebonyi Government should realise that much funds were invested in importing the produce and many dealers and sellers depend on its sales for survival,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Anita Mgbo, a rice farmer, said that the sales of foreign rice would automatically fizzle out when there is an influx of locally-produced rice in the markets.

“When the rice massively cultivated this farming season floods the market, its low prices will make consumers shift attention from foreign rice consumption.

“It will automatically affect its importation and sales.

“The government should instead of the ban, provide irrigational facilities to rice growers to ensure dry season farming and ensure that processing, distribution, packaging and marketing challenges confronting rice farmers are checked,” she said. (NAN)

RCO/FAT/PAD
============
Edited by Fatima Sule, Peter Dada

NAN-H-15
Donation
Kano, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government has donated four vehicles to the Global Partnership for Education to enable the organisation to carry out its duties more effectively in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, said in Kano on Monday that the vehicles were provided to assist the project coordinator his team members to reach selected areas for the programme implementation.

Abubakar, also the state Commissioner for Education, said that the donated vehicles were two Hilux, a Toyota Corolla and a bus.

He urged the team to make good use of the vehicles and ensure that every child in the state would receive quality basic education under the programme.

Responding, the Project Coordinator, Dr Tunde Adekola, thanked the Kano State Government for the gesture.

Adekola said that, under the project, five states – Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara – were among the first batch of beneficiaries of the partnership.

He said that the donation demonstrated the state government’s zeal to give education deserved attention.

The coordinator pledged that the organisation would use the vehicles to reach the remote parts of the state to implement its programmes. (NAN)
BO/FAT/IGO
===========
(Editing by Fatima Sule/Ijeoma Popoola)

IBB Golf Club seeks annual ground rent waiver from FCTA
NAN-S-7
Rent
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Maj.-Gen. IBM Haruna, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IBB International Golf Club, on Monday asked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to waive the annual ground rent paid by the club.
Haruna made the call when members of the club visited Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, in Abuja.
The chairman also appealed to the minister and his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Environment to pay the club annual subvention for the maintenance of its grounds.
Haruna lauded the efforts of the current FCT administration in the areas of security, environment and road rehabilitation.
Responding, the FCT minister said the administration would assist to bring back the club’s past glory to enable it take its proper position as heritage tourism landmark in the country.
According to Bello, the club is an international tourism landmark that should be restored to the first class standard it was at inception.
“We must join hands to strengthen the beauty and serenity of the place for the benefit of the entire Federal Capital City, Abuja,” the minister said.
He promised to visit the club to identify the cause of flooding and its attendant deposit of waste on the grounds.
Bello pledged that the problem would be identified and solved before the next raining season.
He said that this would go a long way to protect both the aesthetic beauty of the heritage landmark and the aquatic life of some of its marine animals.
The IBB Golf Club, a recreational and tourist attraction located on Aso Drive, Abuja, occupied about 101 hectares with good scenery and a playing distance of 6,098 meters.
Commissioned in 1991, it ranked as one of the best in Africa and is reputed to be one of the most beautiful parkland courses in sub-Saharan Africa. (NAN)
KM/AOS
========
(Edited by Bayo Sekoni / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H- 14
Donation
By Muhammed Nasir Basir
Dutse, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) A philanthropist, Alhaji Sabi’u Botsotsuwa, has built two blocks of classroom and 30 units of toilets for the Babura Local Education Authority (BLEA) of Jigawa.
The council’s Information Officer, Alhaji Sunusi Sulaiman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Dutse that the philanthropist also donated learning materials to the council.
The other items donated by him include: 30 packs of exercise books, 30 packs of pencils and 90 sets of school uniforms.
He said the donations were Botsotsuwa’s contributions toward complementing the state government’s efforts at improving education at the grassroots.
The Education Secretary of the council, Alhaji Jazuli Dan-Azumi, also commended the businessman for the donations and urged other public spirited people to emulate Botsosuwa’s philanthropic gesture.
Dan-Azumi said contributions from private individuals would complement the state and local governments’ efforts toward enhancing education development at the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of Government Girls Secondary School, Suletankarkar, in Suletankarkar Local Government Area of the state had held a one-day stakeholders’ meeting to discuss challenges facing the school.
Alhaji Sulaiman Daudu, the council’s Information Officer, told NAN in Suletankarkar that the PTA’s chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Abdulhamid, assured the school of the association’s resolve to assist it to improve teaching and learning in the school.
According to him, the association discussed all the challenges facing the school, adding that suggestions were received on how to improve the standard of the school.
Dauda said that the school’s principal, Hajiya Amina Yusif, commended the PTA members for their efforts to uplift the standard of the school. (NAN)
MNB/AIB/PAD
============
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde, Peter Dada

NAN-H-12
Demurrage
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) Mr Uche Ejesieme, the Public Relations Officer, Tin-Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has advised freight forwarders and shippers to avoid demurrage by desisting from false declaration of cargoes.

Ejesieme gave advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

The Customs spokesmen described demurrage as a “whirlwind that blows no one any good.’’

“There is need for us to check arrangements that tend to induce demurrage and save our country the much-needed investment capital.

“Most Customs agents and shippers try to cut corners by false declaration of cargoes, thereby exposing their cargoes to undue delays that lead to demurrage,’’ Ejesieme told NAN.

He said that monies paid as demurrage by the shippers (importers and exporters) to foreign shipping operators found their way out of the country.

Ejesieme advised shippers and their representatives to help in trade facilitation by making genuine declaration of cargoes.

“It is not to our (Customs) advantage that cargoes are delayed; not even to the advantage of shippers too,’’ the Customs spokesman said.

He said that the service would assist in trade facilitation. (NAN)
EUC/FF/AJA
==========
(Edited by  Fela Fashoro/Adeleye Ajayi)