Blog

NAN-ND-1
FRSC
By Isaiah Ekah
Uyo, Nov. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Akwa Ibom on Sunday said it apprehended 442 motorists in the state for overloading between January and October.

The Sector Commander, Mrs Cecilia Alao, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

Alao said that the command had zero tolerance to overloading and would not compromise those that indulged in it.

She said the FRSC Establishment Act 2007 Section 10 (4) forbade people from loading their vehicles with goods or passengers above the prescribed limit.

The sector commander said that the fine for violation of the law was N10,000 and warned drivers
against overloading, saying it blocked their view to maneuver during emergency and reduced the life span of their vehicles.

“We are saying that when you overload your vehicle, it does not give room for maneuvering in case of emergency.

“It also affects the chassis of the vehicle and its life span. That is why you see some commercial vehicles looking rickety after two years of plying the road,” Alao said.

She said that the command had started sensitisation at motor parks across the state on the dangers of overloading to discourage the habit.

She reminded commercial drivers that the ’ember months ‘ were not dangerous but the rate of road crashes increased during the period because motorists disobeyed safety rules.

She said “in Akwa Ibom State, we are aiming at not recording any road crash throughout the months of festival.

“We are not going to wait until it happens and we are called for rescue. We are appealing to the drivers and passengers to imbibe safety in all its ramifications to stay alive.”

The sector commander also advised commercial drivers to install speed limit devices in their vehicles to avoid over speeding.

`She added that “even as a passenger, you are advised to make sure the vehicle you are boarding is installed with a speed limiting device.” (NAN)
IE/EMO/HA
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Edited by Ejike Obeta/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-ND-3

Donation

By Joy Odigie

Benin, Nov. 27, 2016 (NAN) The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Edo chapter, has lauded the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for donating farm equipment worth N14 million to the association.

The branch chairman of AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, made this commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Sunday.

Odigie said that the farm machineries including two tractors, a harrower, a planter and a harvester, were donated to the association a month ago.

He said that the use of the equipment would promote large scale farming and make it attractive to youths in the state.

‘’I want to commend the NDDC for this kind gesture because before now, farmers in the state found it difficult to access tractors.

‘’We have introduced cluster farming, where 10 or more farmers can come together to carry out farming operations in one location.

‘’So the tractors will help immensely in farm clearing, harrowing and planting.

‘’It will also motivate the youth to go into farming and transform the subsistence farmers into commercial farmers,” he said.

He said that the tractors would be hired out on first come, first serve basis and urged farmers in the state to take advantage of this.

‘’The farmers will pay a token to cover the operation and maintenance cost,’’ he added.  (NAN)

OOJ/EMO/YEMI

Edited by Ejike Obeta/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

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Gender
By Ben Ezugwu
Calabar, Nov. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Cross River Government says it will set up a technical working committee to sensitise the people against gender-based violence in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Ms Helen Isamoh, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.

Isamoh said sensitisation had become necessary in view of the disturbing cases of gender violence in the state.

She added that “we will establish a technical working committee on gender-based violence, especially on violence against women and children, who are the vulnerable groups in the society.”

She explained that the state government was partnering with relevant stakeholders, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and YouLead, an NGO, to sensitise the public on the dangers.

“Every woman deserves a chance; every child must be given an opportunity and it is no longer the time for women to be relegated to the background”, she said.

She called on the public to stand up against such violence to ensure harmonious existence of all in the society. (NAN)
BEN/EMO/HA
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Edited by Ejike Obeta/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-8
Pageant
By Dianabasi Effiong
Calabar, Nov. 27, 2016 (NAN) Angola’s Neurite Mendes on Saturday night in Calabar emerged winner of the maiden Miss Africa 2016.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that by the victory, Mendes is the first “Miss Africa Climate Change Ambassador’’.

Miss South Africa, Refilwe Mthimunwe and Miss Cameroon, Jencey Anwifoge, were the first and second runner-ups respectively.

The maiden edition of the beauty pageant with the theme “Green Economy, a tool for Sustainable Development’’ took place at the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC) in Cross River.

NAN reports that Miss Angola also won a brand new 2016 Ford Escape and a 25,000-dollar
prize money.

The pageant, sponsored by the Cross River Government, was to produce what the organisers called a “true African Queen’’ who would campaign on issues concerning climate change.

Nollywood stars including Kate Henshaw, Juliet Ibrahim and Uti Nwachukwu were selected as host and judges, while 30 beauty queens, representing 30 African countries including Nigeria, competed for the star prize.

On arrival, the Queens spent two nights at the Obudu Mountain Resort and participated in the second Dry Run for the 2016 Carnival Calabar.

The pageant is a new addition and serves as prelude to herald the 32-day annual Calabar festival, launched on Nov. 30 of every year.

NAN reports that the cost of attending the event included a table for 10 at N200, 000, N10,000 for VIP ticket and N2,000 for regular ticket. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Tennis

Kano, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN)‎ Sylvester Emmanuel and Christy Agugbom on Saturday became the men and women champions respectively of the 30th Dala Hard Court Tennis Tournament in Kano.‎

The tournament which the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) President, Sani Ndanusa, described as the biggest tennis tournament in Northern Nigeria, featured players from across the country.

Emmanuel defeated Michael Moses by two sets 7/5 6/4 in two hours to win the N800,000, men’s singles prize money, with Moses taking the N400,000 second position prize.‎

In the women category, Agugbom beat her closest rival, Blessing Samuel ‎6/2, 6/7(4), 7/6(4) to pick the top prize and the accompanying N500,000 cash reward.

At the end of the event, an elated Emmanuel expressed his happiness at winning the championship.‎

“As the defending champion I am very happy for winning in the men’s category,” Emmanuel said.

Speaking at the end of the event, Ndanusa commended the organisers for sustaining the competition for the past 30 years.

He said: “We are indeed commending organisers of this tournament, under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Bashari Gumel. I appreciate the players’ talent and creativity in all categories,” he said.‎

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Kano State Sport Commission, Ibrahim Galadima, commended the organisers for their efforts.

He called on governments at all levels to help the development of tennis.

The tournament was jointly sponsored by Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Dangote Group and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company‎. (NAN)

MNT/IS

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Women farmers urges Kaduna govt to provide single digit credit line to boost food production

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Access

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Women farmers in Kaduna State on Saturday urged the state government to provide them with credit facilities to enhance food production.

Mrs Agera Liti, Coordinator, Small Scale Women Farmers Origination in Nigeria, made the appeal at a two-day capacity building workshop for women farmers, held in Kaduna.

NAN report that the workshop was funded by Action Aid, and Trust Africa, as part of the Malabo Declaration to boost food and security in Africa.

Liti said the government should open cedit line at single digit interest rate and remove conditions that required collateral and guarantors, to make farming gender friendly.

“We need processing and packaging equipment, and facilities should be provided for small holder women farmers.

“The government should also provide silos, dryers and other facilities to control post–harvest losses for small holder women farmers.”

The coordinator canvassed that government budget process should be open, to encourage participation of women farmers in its planning and implementation.

She said that seven unions comprising over 9,000 women under the group were engaged in crop, fish, poultry and livestock farming in the state.

She said the two-day training would boost cooperative group management and increase the production skills of women.

Mr Dauda Ashafa, Programme Manager, Kaduna State Agricultural Development Project, said the government was committed to upgrading the standard of farming by women in the state.

Ashafa urged women and youth to form cooperative groups, so as to benefit from various packages introduced by the government to promote agricultural production, processing, packaging and marketing.

Ashafa, who was represented by Mrs Deborah Yusuf, Head of Women in Agriculture unit in the Agency, advised the group to tap into the Anchor Borrowers Scheme supported by Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Agriculture.

He said that the Agency had registered 75 farmers cooperative groups benefitting from its various programmes.(NAN)

TJ/DS/MZA

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Edited by Dauda Shehu/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-45
Universities
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerian universities and the private sector to collaborate more to make “Made-in-Nigeria products and services’’ contribute to national development.

The president made the call at the 39th convocation ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),  Zaria, Kaduna State, on Saturday.

Buhari, who is the Visitor to the university, was represented by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Haruna-Rasheed.

He said the call was necessary considering foreign universities’ roles in solving their societal challenges.

“To this end, I will be delighted to see a more active and purposeful handshake between Nigerian universities and the private sector toward the development of homemade products and services.

“In the developed world, the private sector and the universities are in constant touch trying to solve challenges in medical procedures, drugs, energy and so on.

“I am pleased to lean that ABU is leading the way in this regard in providing a blueprint for the revitalisation of the agricultural sector and the development of drought resistant crops,” he said.

Buhari advised all Nigerian universities to desist from acts capable of disturbing and disrupting the internal peace and stability of the institutions.

“Government is monitoring with concern the escalating crisis in a number of federal universities in the last few months.

“The crisis bordered on allegations of corruption, mismanagement of resources and gross indiscipline in running the affairs of the centres of learning,” he said.

The president said government would, within the next few weeks, constitute and inaugurate visitation panels to review the performance of all federal universities and inter-university centres.

According to him, such visitation panel are normally constituted once in every five years to, among other things; look into the financial management of the institutions, including statutory allocations and internally generated funds.

“Let me make a passionate appeal to Nigerian education sector to, as a matter of urgency, look into the curricula of Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions to make them more functional and competitive.”

He urged the graduating students to remain steadfast, focused and determined and to creatively deploy their thought and skills to deal whatever challenges that might come their way.

“Our country Nigeria is moving towards the path of a new life that will be characterised by honesty, patriotism self-sacrifice, commitment to duty, diversification of the economy and a better life for all citizens irrespective of tribe, creed or gender.

“You must redouble your efforts to ensure that we collectively wake Nigeria up from its slumber to become the giant of Africa that she truly is.

“You must not rely on government jobs. You must use the training given to you in entrepreneurship to be self-reliant while government continues its efforts’’ to make ‘’the Nigerian economy to create more jobs,” he said.

Earlier, the Chancellor of the university and Oni of Onisha, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, said a prestigious award in Fine Art had been introduced for excellence in the school.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convocation featured the award of certificates and degrees to 11,713 students. (NAN)
KLM/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-44

Contestants

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Mr Jide Ojo, a political analyst, has called on contestants in the Ondo Governorship election not to see the election as a do or die exercise in the interest peace and development of the state.

He made the call on Saturday in Abuja while commenting on the election, adding that aggrieved contestants should seek redress in the law court if they noticed any discrepancies in the election.

Ojo advised that the incoming governor should form an all inclusive government irrespective of political affliation of stakeholders that would contribute meaningfully to the state.

The collation of ballot papers for the governorship election that saw 28 parties vying has commenced in many parts of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that 203 registration areas, 3,010 polling unit and 1,66,002,055 registered voters took part in the Saturday exercise. (NAN)

EEM/DUA/IS
Edited by Dada Ahmed
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Kaduna Vigilante Coordinator cautions members against molesting suspects

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Vigilante

Kafanchan (Kaduna) Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Coordinator, Kaduna State Vigilante Service, Col. David Anto (Rtd), has cautioned members of the group against molesting members of the public, including those suspected of committing offences.

Anto gave the warning on Saturday during a sensitization tour of various units of the vigilante service in Jema’a Local Government Area.

He said the group was set up to enhance security in communities across the state and urged the members to work in harmony with traditional rulers for the maintenance of law and order.

Anto explained that “the service can neither prosecute nor convict persons”, and cautioned members against overzealousness.

The coordinator stressed that since the signing of the law setting up the vigilante service, the activities of all other vigilante groups remained proscribed.

He said that such groups must now come under the platform of the service.

Also speaking, the State Commander of the vigilance service, Alhaji Mohammed Ali, urged members to set aside their differences and work as a unit for the attainment of set goals.

Ali said efforts were underway to provide identity cards and uniforms for members of the service.

In his remarks, Interim Chairman of the local government, Dr Bege Katuka, applauded the state government for placing emphasis on community policing.

Katuka expressed the hope that the service would play very effective role in ensuring law and order in the state.

He said that the local council would support the vigilance service to perform its duties effectively.(NAN)

MGK/DS/MZA

Edited by Dauda Shehu/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-39

Sanitation

Aisha Ahmed

Ungogo (Kano State), Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Zangon Rimi community in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, has urged the state government to provide dumpsite in the area, to ensure clean environment.

The Chairman, Zangon Rimi Self help Groups, Alhaji Sa’ad Sani, made the plea when the Managing Director, State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board, Alhaji Muhammed Adamu monitored the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the area.

Sani told the managing director that the community members were trying their best in cleaning the environment, but the absence of designated refuse dumps was thwarting their efforts.

He also urged the government to construct drains, as the area usually becomes inaccessible during rainy season due to flood.

Also, the ward head of the area, Alhaji Shugaba Miko, appealed to the government to conduct aerial spray in the area against mosquitoes that had posed threat to the lives of the people.

Responding, the managing director, who was in the area on behalf of the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ali Makoda, lauded the efforts of the community and pledged to conduct an aerial fumigation of the area during the coming week.

He also pledged that the government would meet with the community to earmark a suitable dumpsite for the area.

The official, who also visited Yan Lemo, urged other communities to emulate the commitment displayed by Zango community in promoting environmental sanitation. (NAN)

AAA/DS/MZA

Edited by Dauda Shehu/Maharazu Ahmed