Blog

Gov. Aregbesola promises to complete ongoing projects

NAN-H-54

Projects

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has promised to complete all ongoing projects in the state before the end of his tenure.

Aregbesola made the pledge at a Colloquium organised to mark the second anniversary of his second term in office on Friday in Osogbo.

The governor said since his assumption of office, he had laid a foundation in every sphere of live that would put the state on the path of progress.

Speaking on his achievement, the governor said ‎in less than 100 days of his inauguration, he engaged 20,000 youths in public works through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). ‎

‎He said the OYES initiative had gone a long way in taking a lot of idle youths off the streets, redefining their lives for a better future.

On education, Aregbesola said his administration had spent billions of naira in the provision of free meals for 252,000 pupils as well as building of several state-of-the-art model schools across the state.

The governor also said that his administration had constructed more than 800 kilometres of quality, stone based roads with concrete drainages across the state.

He said he would continue to position the state on the path of economic stability, progress and prosperity.

Prof. Akin Oyebode, who was the guest speaker at the event, commended the governor for being consistent in threading the path of economic development.

Oyebode spoke on the theme “Democracy, Good Governance and Sustainable Economic Development: Value Added Approach’’.

Oyebode, who described politics and governance as instruments deliberately designed to give hope to the people, said Aregbesola’s administration had clearly resuscitated the already lost hope of the people in the state. (NAN)

VE/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-66
Journalism
By Ugonne Uzoma
Owerri, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Friday called on journalists to be more investigative in their reports.
Okorocha made the call at the opening of the 3rd quarterly National Executive Council meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Owerri on Friday.
The governor urged journalists to be constructive in their reportage and that he welcomes constructive criticism.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said the country was experiencing a difficult period and urged journalists to be less critical in their reportage.
Iwuanyanwu urged Igbos to forget about secession from Nigeria, adding that it would cause the nation further deterioration.
“All Igbos are biafrans, just as Hausas are arewas and Yorubas are oduduwas but most importantly we are all Nigerians.
“I belong to a major tribe in this country and should not break away from Nigeria”, he said.
Chairman of Imo state council of the NUJ, Mr Innocent Igwe, commended the governor for keeping the press informed on the socio-political and economic developments in the state.
Igwe also commended him for approving a N20,000,000 agric loan to journalists to encourage farming as a way to overcome the economic recession in the country.
The chairman called on employers of journalists to “tacitly assuage their pitiable welfare to enable them to meet their statutory check off obligations to the union. (NAN)
UOI/IEA
Edited by Idahosa Asowata

NAN-S-18

Judo
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Amaechi Akawo, Secretary-General of Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), says 210 judokas have registered for the maiden edition of the Japan Ambassador National Open Judo Championship.

Akawo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that these judokas are drawn from 18 states and four clubs.

He said the event, slated to hold from Sunday to Thursday and which would be organised in collaboration with the federation, was aimed at discovering new talents.

Akawo said the competition would also feature judokas drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the para-military organs.

“We are also having judokas from schools such as the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, the University of Benin, among others,’’ the NJF secretary-general said.

He said the competition was open to all state judo associations and clubs, adding that the championship would also have the judokas competing in three categories of cadet, junior and senior.

“Our focus is in the junior category is to pick new talents and to build on the ones discovered at the National Youth Games (NYG) held in Ilorin in September.

“The federation is looking at using the championship to pick judokas for our national teams ahead of the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,’’ he said.

Akawo said the federation was working closely with the Japanese Embassy to groom judokas to ensure that Nigerians feature in the sport at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He said the best overall team would get the Japan Ambassador award, the gold medal and a certificate of participation.

Speaking also on the championship, Bashir Bassey, an international coach, told NAN that the event would help to discover talents and revive the game in the country.

“This is the only competition for judokas in the country, apart from the NYG, and it is a good development,’’ he said.

Bassey however called for more of such championships to help the federation grow more young talents.(NAN)
DE/OLAL
========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-HE-17

Dividends

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says more than N29.2 billion has been paid to investors out of the N80 billion unclaimed dividends in the market through e-dividend registration payment system.

Mr Mounir Gwarzo, SEC Director-General said this while addressing Journalists during the post fourth Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting in Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the payment, unclaimed dividends in the market had dropped to N50.80 billion.

Gwarzo said that the payment followed the renewed awareness for capital market investors to embrace the e-dividend registration system of payment introduced by the commission.

He also said that about 1.4 million investors had keyed into the e-dividend system between November 2015 and October 2016.

NAN reports that e-dividend payment platform was introduced to address the rising incidence of unclaimed dividends in the Nigerian capital market.

It is also expected to address the lingering problem of unclaimed dividends, which the market had sought solution for the past 20 years.

Gwarzo said that efforts made by the commission to ensure that the era of stale dividends and huge unclaimed dividends in the market become a thing of the past was already achieving result with the e-dividend registration system.

According to him, from November, 2015 to October till date, more than N29.2 billion unclaimed dividends have been paid to investors.

“When we started the e dividend, the major challenge was for people to key into the e dividend mandate.

“There are unclaimed dividends that have not been claimed, the registrars have been compelled to pay all the arrears of unclaimed dividends.

“From November 2015 to October this year, over N29.2 billion unclaimed dividends have been paid out.

“In this country, we have never had this kind of initiative that has reduced unclaimed dividends like we had today.

“Apart from the investor getting his dividends where ever he is, that investor will be able to get dividends that in the last five years he has not been able to get.

“The e-dividend is for the interest of retail investors.

“Since we started implementing the master plan, our focus had been the retail investors to make sure they come back to the market and ensure that some of the issues they complain about are addressed,” Gwarzo stated.

He said that the commission had concluded plans to make the Direct Cash Settlement become operational by the first quarter of 2017, apart from tackling the issue of unclaimed dividends to woo retail investors back to the market.

“The direct cash settlement where we mandated the broker who has the mandate of a client should credit the clients account when shares of the client are sold.

“This is against the initial idea that when they sell the shares, the proceeds are credited into the brokers account,’’ Gwarzo added.

He also said that the commission plans to certify licences for various exchanges.

“What we are doing is also to certify licence for an exchange.

“What we have today are unified requirements for companies to set up an exchange now the stratification will lessen the requirement.

“For instance, if you want to set up an exchange under tier 2, the requirement will be lesser than that of tier 1 and if you want to set up under tier 3, the requirement will also be light.

“And the kind of company that will also be listed will be lesser than the other one.

“We think it will draw some of these SMEs to be listed because over the last 20 to 25 years, we have not seen any much progress in the second tier securities market.

“There a few companies that want to set up a few trading platform and we think we have to give them the prerogative to do that,’’ Gwarzo added. (NAN)

JNC/AK/EEE

==========

Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Ese E. Ekama

NAN-H-63

Role

Eket (Akwa Ibom) Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The paramount ruler of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, Edidem Etim Abia, has called on the Federal Government to give the traditional rulers constitutional role in the country.

Abia made the call at his coronation as the Paramount Ruler of Eket Local Government Area in Eket on Friday.

He said the maintenance of law and order in the communities cannot be effective without active participation of the traditional rulers.

He said the royal fathers should be assigned roles based on constitutional provisions.

“Security cannot be maintained without the active cooperation and participation of the traditional rulers”, Abia reiterated.

He also appealed to the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly to make law authorising the local government councils to fund the traditional institutions with some percentage of their revenue.

The monarch thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing some Akwa Ibom
sons into his government at the federal level.

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom described Abia as a man of integrity, character and great intellect.

“We need somebody who will lead us and understand the needs of the people for tomorrow, and the paramount ruler is one of them.

“We need people with analytical mind, professionals that can deliver, discipline people, people of high level of integrity and character”, Emmanuel said.

The governor said he shared the same professional calling of accountancy with Abia adding that accountants were people of high integrity.

““I am really very excited about the choice of the monarch in Eket and I am very sure once we join hands together so many things will be done”, he said.

The governor announced that he would inaugurate Eket-Ibeno road in March 2017 for easy access to the industrial area of ExxonMobil Corporation in the state.

Mr Frank Archibong, the transitional Chairman of Eket local government area, described Abia as a respected monarch.

Archibong said the monarch was well educated and had cognate working experience in government and the industrial world.

“Eket is lucky to have as our king this eminently distinguished and positively unique personality, who is well-groomed, well-trained, learned, highly cerebral and adequately equipped”, Archibong said.

The governor presented Abia with a jeep.

Abia was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, South Eastern State in 1970 under the military administration of Late Brig.-Gen. Jacob Esuene.

He retired in 1974 and ventured into manufacturing and construction where he also became Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom. (NAN)

IE/BB/IEA
========
Edited by Bassey Bassey/Idahosa Asowata

Kano Govt promotes radiography practice

NAN-HG-11

Radiography

By Aisha Ahmed

Kano, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has pledged to promote radiography practice in the state.

Ganduje made the promise on Friday at the opening of the 48th Annual Conference and Scientific Workshop organised by Kano branch of the Association of Radiography in Kano.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Getso, said government has taken steps in repositioning healthcare delivery in the state to the best attainable standard.

The government, he said, has been at its best to strengthen quality healthcare through institutionalising sound policies and programmes that would respond to the challenges of the health sector based on global best practices.

The governor described radiography practice as critical in any diagnosis of any ailments without which there would be no correct and proper management of diseases.

Earlier in their remarks, the President of the association, Dr Mark Okeji, and state Chairman of the association, Mr Muhammad Sidi, commended the state government for its strategies in tackling health issues by providing specialised medical equipment in some facilities and renovating and upgrading them. (NAN)

AAA/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Development: Auto designer recommends collective strategic innovation

NAN-H-52

Lecture

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) A famous global Automotive Designer, Mr Jelani Aliyu of General Motors, U.S.A., on Friday said building a nation of incredible accomplishments required collective strategic innovation.

He said this at the 39th Convocation Lecture organised by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) held at the main campus, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jelani spoke on: “Innovation key to economic growth and development”.

He said: “Together, through strategic innovation, we can build a nation of incredible accomplishments; a Nigeria of peace, abundance and enlightenment for everyone, everywhere.”

According to him, the innovative concepts presented in his lecture and others like them are what are needed to collectively create a better future for Nigeria.

He observed that the intellectual capacity and vision of individual citizens were technically viable for development.

“So, we must strategically ensure that the population is empowered to dream big, to imagine boldly and to go for the impossible, only then can we as a nation move forward and achieve good success.

“The very survival of our nation, and specifically that of our people, is at stake. For so long we have unnecessarily endured challenges, even though solutions lie within our grasp.

“We must unlock those powerful capabilities within us, and leverage them to innovate and develop applicable new technologies, products and business models,” Jelani said.

The genius advocated that initiatives to support innovation must be set in place early to promote and prepare for culture of discovery at the tertiary level of education and beyond.

In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion and ABU Chancellor, Mr Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, said despite hurdles, Jelani had broken all barriers to become the best global person in his chosen carrier.

The Royal Father observed that: “Great societies are not built by government(s) but by people like Jelani and people like you and I.”

Earlier, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, said it was always a tradition of ABU to look out for the best and that’s what informed the decision to select Jelani for this year’s convocation lecture.

The vice chancellor said the university had for quite a long time tried to develop a “made in Nigeria vehicle” and it eventually actualised its dream.

“The car invented by ABU is not for pleasure or luxury, but it is a car meant for racing,” Garba however said. (NAN)
KLM/TO/MST

Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-51

Diplomacy

By Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) China on Friday called for a stronger and more mutually beneficial bilateral relationship between it and Nigeria.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Zhou Pinjian, made the appeal at the 2nd China-Nigeria Consular Forum in Abuja.

Pinjian said that diplomatic relationships were based on friendship, sincerity, trust, confidence, security, justice and shared values.

He noted that the 45 years of Chinese bilateral relationship with Nigeria was growing and called for a deeper diplomatic tie.

The ambassador cautioned against what he described as a miscommunication on both sides to avoid unwanted diplomatic row.

According to him, Nigeria possesses the political will to develop better China, but advised that Nigeria should adopt a systematic and phased approach to attain national development.

Pinjian explained that the forum was designed to facilitate communication and strengthen diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

The envoy pledged Chinese resolve to support and cooperate with Nigeria to realise its national and global aspirations.

On his part, the Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Dang Ying, charged the Chinese community in Nigeria to be law abiding and stay in peace with their host communities.

However, Ying urged the Nigerian government to enforce laws justly and diligently.

Amb. Rabiu Dagari, the Director, Consular and Immigration Services, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Nigeria was inspired by the successes recorded by China in the areas of agriculture, science, information, communication and technological development.

While urging China to support Nigeria to achieve similar strides tremendously, Dagari also called on China to ease its visa processes for public officials and genuine businessmen and women.

He further urged China to stop treating all Nigerians visiting or staying in China as common criminals as not all Nigerians were violating their laws.

The director called for a mutually beneficially diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, represented by his deputy, DIG Gambo Lawal, in charge of Administration and Finance, assured the diplomatic community of police protection and security of their lives and property in the country.

Idris said the police had identified the Chinese as one of the most peaceful and law abiding foreign nationals in Nigeria.

However, he advised them to liaise with the police for their personal security, family and businesses.

Similarly, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, retired Col. Hameed Ali, represented by Mr Isyaku Kabiru, said the Service was ready to ease facilitation of businesses in the country and enjoined foreign investors to comply with extant rules.

NAN also reports that the forum was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Jigawa Government, the media and Chinese companies, among others. (NAN)

MST/MST/AMY

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola/Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-AE-4
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Saturday.

NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Friday.

It said that the région would have day and Night temperatures of between 30 and 37 degrees Celsius and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The agency also predicted that the inland cities and coast belt of the south would experience cloudy to partly cloudy condition in the morning.

It also predicted afternoon and evening thunderstorms over Port Harcourt, Yenegoa, Warri, Ikom and Eket with day and Night temperature of 33 to 36 and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

According to NiMet, northern states will be under sunny and hazy conditions throughout the forecast period with day and night time temperatures of 37 to 40 degrees Celsius and 16 to 21 degrees Celsius, respectively.(NAN)
OYS/AMY/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-61

Corruption
Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has called on EU members to support its efforts in the fight against corruption by making it difficult to lodge illicit assets from Nigeria in their countries.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olusola Enikanolaye, made the call on Friday in Abuja at the fourth session of Nigeria-European Human Right Dialogue.

Enikaonolaye expressed concern that the illicit financial assets harboured abroad in safe haven invariably denied Nigerians the enjoyment of their national wealth.

“The present administration is fighting corruption head-long on the basis of the rule of law and reforming our own internal system and processes for us to make the fight sustainable.

“I urge friends and countries like yours who harboured these illicit assets to assist us in discouraging and defeating corruption and returning all ill gotten assets.

“And making it more difficult for these assets to be lodged abroad,” he said.

The permanent secretary commended the EU for its support to Nigeria during the 2015 general elections.

Enikanolaye assured that the Federal Government would continue to ensure that Independent National Electoral Commission improved on its capability to deliver better election outcomes at all levels.

“In our diplomatic pursuit, the promotion of human right and democracy are the foremost guiding principles of Nigerian foreign policy delivery since independence.

“Nigeria achieved a major mile stone in our quest to enthrone human right by successfully carrying out of the comprehensive review of the human right commission act.

“By the provision of the act, the national human right commission is now truly independent more than ever before to pursue its agenda for the protection and promotion of human right in Nigeria.

“Furthermore, women’s right- women protection is one of the major priority areas for continuous inclusion in Nigerian development planning and programme,” he said.

Michel Arrion, the Head of EU delegation to Nigeria expressed concern on the non implementation of human rights in the country.

“Nigeria is signatory to many international human right instruments and has passed and enacted important laws in the field of human right.

“Implementation and fulfilment of the obligation of women in this legal responsibility remain a challenge when security forces are involved,” he said.

He urged the meeting to work on how to achieve gender equal opportunity, and women empowerment issue as well as ending violence against women. (NAN)
IAA/GY
======

Edited by Grace Yussuf