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4 Shiite members arrested for attacking Police in Zaria

Arrest
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Four members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly called Shiites, have been arrested for attacking the police during a procession at Muchiya, Sabongari, Zaria, Kaduna State on Thursday.

The Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, DSP Yakubu Sabo confirmed the arrest in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Sabo said “I can authoritatively confirm to you that we have arrested four members of Shiite group at Muchiya, Sabongari, Zaria, who attacked the police during an illegal procession.

“They blocked the road preventing people from carrying out their daily activities, in an attempt to open the road, they vehemently responded using catapults to attack our people from all angles.

“They used catapult with iron rode shooting at the police, as a result of these attacks, one of our vehicles was smashed,” the spokesman said.

He said the arrested persons have been transfers to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation.

Sabo assured the citizens to go about their normal businesses as the police were doing everything possible to protect lives and property.

“We swore to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, this is our legitimate duty and we will continue to do so.

“In line with this, we carried a ‘show of force’ across the state to forestall breach of peace.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had declared the IMN as an illegal organisation and proscribed it.

The state government had also banned all procession across the state with a view to maintain peace, stability, law and order. (NAN)
KLM/MZA
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Insurgency
By Constance Imasuen
Abuja, Sept 2o, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Air Force have agreed  to collaborate on capacity building of personnel to end insurgency in the country.

Prof Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar and senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force visited the commission.

Danbatta said that NCC was ready to collaborate with the Air Force on capacity building of its personnel, especially in the knowledge of Information Communication Technology, “which is key in securing our territory’’.

He said that the partnership that the Air Force sought for was in line with it is 8-point agenda strategic collaboration and partnership “and we are willing to do this’’.

“Fortunately, we have a training arm of NCC, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) aimed at developing capacity for the telecommunication industry not only in this country but in the West Africa sub-region and even in the Africa.

“And the engagement with the DBI can take place as soon as possible when we agree on areas of training required to secure our borders and beyond,‘’  he said.

The NCC boss assured that in the areas where the Air Force would expand its operation, NCC would give priority to those areas to ensure there was access to telecommunication infrastructure.

He said that the commission and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USFP), the intervention unit of the NCC would look at the map and pick point areas where there are access gap.

Danbatta also commended the Air Force for their effort in securing the country.

“We have seen the massive mobilisation of human resources in security prone areas of the country and over time we have seen the spectacular result attained with military precision.

“We have also noticed what is happening in other insurgency prone areas in the country and I would attest to the very important work that the Nigerian Air Force is doing in securing this country, ‘’ he added.

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff called on NCC to support the Air Force in building the capacity of its personnel, especially in the area of ICT.

Sadiq said that the Nigerian Air Force as a highly technical service, which required capacity building to function effectively.

He said that the force needed the right caliber of personnel to be trained to operate and make the service function effectively to ensure Nigeria was secured and its citizens were able to pursue their legitimate aspiration without any hindrance.

“On assumption of office, we realized that there was a huge gap in terms of capacity in certain areas particularly IT and we have taken steps to train quite a number of people.

“We have trained about 12 officers in the U.S. and trained eight officers in Indian but we decided to look inward as we believe that we have capacity within Nigeria.

“It is important for us to partner with those agencies of government that will think can help us in building capacity so that we can manage our information and communication properly,’’ he said.

Sadiq said that the Air Force was expanding its number of air ranges for air weapon delivery so that pilot could practice how to shoot with an aircraft.

He said that the force was about to have one range in Toro Local Government Area “and we are also looking at one in Lugu Forest somewhere between Katsina and Zamfara states.

“We have noticed there are gaps in communication in these area and there is no way we can have an air range in a location where it is difficult to communicate.

“And telecom services are not there, so we solicit the support of NCC or persuade service providers to take a look at these areas as it is a security issue.

“And there are also a lot people in the area that need telecom services,’’ he said. (NAN)
COA/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Expert harps on healthy dietary guide for children
By Talatu Maiwada
Nutrition
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Sarah Abagai, the Head of Department Dietetics, National Hospital, Abuja, has called on parents and schools to acquire healthy dietary guide to encourage healthy nutrition for children.
Abagai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that poor nutrition was detrimental and risky to childhood obesity, hence the need to encourage healthy nutrition.
She said partnership between schools and experts would help provide a standardised nutrition programme towards healthy living.
“Experts such as Nutritionists and Dieticians could partner with school managements to provide healthy dietary guide in order to avoid grooming obsessed and unhealthy children in the society.

“Eating right lies within the influence of parents, therefore schools can educate parents on nutritious diet such as fruits and vegetables like carrots, banana, water, yoghurt as snacks in lunch boxes.
“Going organic is another important step toward better eating, improved digestion and good health for our children.
“Organic foods are not sprayed with chemicals or preservatives during the planting or growing process and are easier for many children to digest and absorb nutrients properly.
“What you introduce to a child is what that child appreciates; educate the children aright so they appreciate whatever is kept in their lunch box,’’ she said.
According to Abagai, research has shown that children of the 21st century were mostly overweight and obsessed while at risk of developing lifestyle related diseases early in life.
She noted that many children and adolescents are now developing diabetes, high blood pressure due to the high consumption of sugar, salt and fat in their food.
She added that the reduction of fat, sugar and salt in foods could help normalise body weight, blood glucose levels, control of blood lipid level while reducing the risk of heart diseases.
Abagai urged parents not to encourage bad nutrition as children do not know the implication of weight gain but rather concerned about consuming fast foods.
“The lifestyle a child is predisposed to in the family as to do with the food habit and the level of activity they engage in.
“Assorted fruits like apples, banana, pawpaw, carrot, yoghurt and nuts should be encouraged.
“While meals such as French fries with omelet, fried sausages, tea with full cream milk, burger, cakes, sugar are unhealthy snacks and should be discouraged.
“The more calories a child consumes the more the demand for physical activities to burn down the calories to stay healthy,’’ Abagai said.
She stressed that poor dietary habits results in disease conditions that develop slowly without the knowledge and realisation of the harm it does to the body.
However, she said that good dietary choices are designed to nourish and sustain our bodies for healthy living. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Osun governorship poll: TMG tasks INEC on legal implications of vote buying

Enlightenment

By Taiye Agbaje
.
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to step up its campaign on legal implications of vote buying as people of Osun prepare for Saturday’s governorship election.

Its Chairperson, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, spoke on Thursday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that the electoral umpire had announced that although voters could come along with their electronic gadgets, including phones, to polling units, the voters would not be allowed to go with them to the point of voting as a way of checkmating vote buying.

TMG, a coalition of civil right groups, which commended INEC on its decision, said the call became necessary because majority of the electorate were unaware of the legal implications of such electoral offence.

”I think that INEC has taken the right step within its powers because INEC is not the agency that arrests. Their work is to conduct elections.

”So what it can do is to safeguard the conduct of the election in a manner that it will not give room to vote buying.

”Often times, vote buying is done outside of the polling units. It was until recently that it became an open market where it became a vote trading.

”Now, for me, beyond what INEC has done, it is important for people to understand the legal implications of vote buying, to understand that it is a crime by virtue of the law of the land to sell or buy vote.

”I would expect that beyond what INEC has done, the Voter Education Department of INEC would paste all around the polling units the legal implications of vote buying.

”The reason people do it is that it is an abnormal thing that has turned normal and they are even ignorant of the consequences.

”However, we hope that in this coming election, there will be prosecution of those culpable of vote buying,” she said.

According to her, until people are prosecuted, there will be no deterrent.

She said it was disheartening that presently, vote buying was still being done with impunity in the country.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who said she was already in Osun to monitor the election, added that TMG had deployed 300 observers across the 30 local government areas of the state for the poll. (NAN)

TOA/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Ooni

By Dorcas Elusogbon

Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 20, 2018 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has warned youths against political violence before, during and after the Osun gubernatorial election coming up on Saturday.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the warning during the courtesy visit of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Iyiola Omisore to his Palace, on Thursday, in Ile-Ife.

He said that it is only the Almighty Allah that has the power to elevate whoever He wants to the post, “For He is in Heaven doing what pleases Him”.

According to him, people don’t need to fight each other over getting to a post, but should rather allow God’s will to come into perfection.

The royal father, therefore, appealed to all and sundry to maintain peaceful coexistence in the forthcoming election, saying there is no gain in blood shedding.

The Ooni acknowledged stakeholders, philanthropists, artisans, students and all Osun indigenes for rallying round and supporting Sen. Omisore in his campaign across the state and for giving peace a chance.

Earlier, Omisore lauded the Ooni for his fatherly role and for supporting his aspirations to rule the state.

Omisore also thanked Ife and Osun indigenes, for rallying round him in his campaign and appealed to all and sundry to support him by casting their votes for him during the election.

He promised them that he will not disappoint them if elected as the next governor of the state. (NAN)

EDA/CHOM/MTM
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Tukur Muntari.

FRSC cautions motorists on over-speeding, overloading in ember months
By Constance Imasuen
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on motorists to desist from over-speeding and overloading to avoid road crashes during the ember months.
The FRSC Sector Commander FCT, Mr Wobin Gora made the call at the Special Marshal Unit of Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) code ‘Unit 30’ Public Enlightenment Campaign on Thursday in Abuja.
The campaign is to sensitise commercial drivers in Garki, Area 1, 2 and 3 in the Federal Capital Territory on the dangers of reckless driving.
Wobin said that over-speeding was one of the main factors behind road crashes in the country.
He said the maximum speed limit on Nigerian roads is 100km/hr and if all drivers adhere to this, the risk of accidents would be reduced to the barest minimum.
According to him, the campaign is targeted at educating road users on safety tips and daily vehicles maintenance, with a view to reducing the level of risk during the ember months.
He also advised all road users to be of good behavior while on the road, as anyone caught misbehaving would be asked to go for mental evaluation.
“We want all drivers who are still using the old plate numbers to change before it is too late, or they will be dealt with accordingly,’’ he said.
On his part, Mr Sanni Adisa, the Secretary Special Marshals FCT urged motorists to drive carefully to avoid accidents.
Adisa commended NIPOST for organising the campaign during the period of the “ember months’’.
“We need to caution ourselves and be safety conscious on the roads this period to arrive safely at our destinations,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Jude Chukwuendi, the Area 3 Park Manager, also told the drivers to avoid reckless driving.
Chukwuendi explained that all rules and regulations given by the FRSC were for the benefit of road users.
He urged the drivers to aviod alcohol drinking or ingesting harmful substances that might hinder their sense of judgment while on the road.
“It is very important to know that the best driver is the one that arrives at his location safely. No matter how professional you are; it is essential to abide by the laid down rules and regulations,” he said.
Mr Benjamin Peter, Head, Administration Area 3 Park, stressed the need for drivers to aviod excessive drinking especially while driving.
“We need to be very careful during the ember months. We know that drinking is a big issue for most drivers. We need to change in that regards,” he said.(NAN)
COA/GOM/ABI
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Ali Baba-Inuwa

FG donates house to late Ocholi’s family

House
By Kate Obande-Okewu
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government on Thursday redeemed its pledge to donate a house to the family of late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi.

The donation was made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.

Mustapha, represented by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, said the presentation was to fulfill one of the promises government made to the surviving children of late Ocholi.

According to him, “It is a promise kept”.

He said that the government made three promises to the family during the burial ceremony namely; scholarship for children in school, employment for the graduates and acquisition of a befitting house in Abuja.

He said that he promises were made by the president in recognition of the diligent service to the country by the late minister.

He said that the house “is a four- bedroom terrace house in Flower Gate Estate, along Apo Resettlement, Abuja.’’

Receiving the document of the property on behalf of the family, Mr Aaron Ocholi, son of the late minister, commended the government for keeping to its promise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Mr James Ocholi died in March 2016 with his wife and son on the Abuja-Kaduna express way in a ghastly accident.

The presentation of the house documents was made in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) not at the location of the house.
(NAN)
KTE/GOM/GY
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Grace Yussuf

pipeline
By Edith Ike-Eboh
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has recorded a 48.21 per cent reduction in the rate of pipeline vandalism in the month of April 2018.

The corporation disclosed this in its monthly Financial Report, released in Abuja, on Thursday.

It said that vandalism fell to 166 from 224 vandalised points in the previous month.

According to the report, the Aba-Enugu pipeline segment accounted for 78 vandalised points, representing 84.78 per cent of total vandalized points on the nation’s network of products pipelines.

The report, the 33rd edition since NNPC commenced the monthly publication was part of efforts to instill a culture of transparency and keep stakeholders and the general public informed of its activities.

It noted that the NNPC had consolidated on its operational performance with a trading surplus of ₦17.16 billion in the month under review.

The report noted that the surplus indicated a ₦5.43 billion improvement representing 46.29 per cent on the trading surplus recorded in the previous month of March, 2018.

“The trading surplus was achieved through a combined higher performance by the upstream, midstream (refineries) and downstream sectors as well as a reduction in Corporate Headquarters’ operational expenditure.

“This enhanced performance is attributable to robust revenues from sales of crude oil and petroleum products by NPDC and PPMC as well as the upsurge in refineries’ performance, particularly in the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC)”, the report said.

On the gas production and supply front, the report indicated that the average daily production for April stood at 8,054.46 billion cubic feet (bcf), out of which an average of 835.27 million metric standard cubic feet (mmscf), equivalent of 3,283 megawatts of electricity, was supplied to the power sector daily during the period under review.

“The result when compared with that of April, 2017, implies an increase of 496mw of power generated relative to same period last year,” it added.

It further showed that in the period under review, a total of 1.61 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was supplied by NNPC in furtherance of the zero fuel queue policy of the Federal Government.(NAN)

ENO/MTM

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Edited by Tukur Muntari.

Assistance
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, says Federal Government will  provide technical assistance for the success of Sao Tome and Principe Parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 7.

Onyeama made this known on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of valedictory meeting on the retirement of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Olukunle Bamgbose.

The minister, who was speaking on his Wednesday’s visit to Sao Tome and Principe, said that he was there to represent President Mohammadu Buhari.

“It was to provide technical assistance to Sao Tome and Principe, the country is having election very soon and we are very keen and we are working towards how to make it peaceful

“Mr President really believe and is interested in supporting  neighbouring countries, so it was part of what made the president to send assistance to them,” he said.

The minister, who in his remarks earlier commended the retired permanent secretary, described Bamgbose as a right man to work with.

“He is a hardworking man that is ready to put his best; he has all the qualities that I admire, very hard working, very loyal as well.

“I like his kind of person, if he doesn’t agree with me, he will tell me why he doesn’t; he will advise me and he was very productive; so we really enjoyed him,” he said.

Bamgbose in his remarks said that he was fulfilled as a permanent secretary, adding that he achieved all his set goals as in that position.

“I came up with “quick wins“, and in one year, all the things I thought I could do, I did all of them, so I am going out as a permanent secretary fulfilled.

“I am not going with any regrets because I did all I was supposed to do.

“I am fully satisfied now that I addressed some of the challenges identified when I was growing up in the ministry,” he said.

The outgoing Permanent Secretary urged the staff of the ministry to remain focused and sustain the legacy he left behind.

“What is important is that the work is continuous, I have done my own part, others will also do theirs, when you do your bit, things will move forward.

“I am challenging the officers behind me to follow some of the things I laid down.

“With the combined efforts, we can make some changes in the foreign services with beautiful decisions, every officer can come and serve and make impact,” he said. (NAN)

IAA/CHOM/GY
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Grace Yussuf

Assistance

By Mohammed Nur Tijani

Kano, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Kano State Government has approved N100 million as direct financial assistance to victims of flood disaster which ravaged 15 local government areas of the state.

The state commissioner for Information, Malam Mohammed Garba disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Thursday.

‎Garba said the state government found it necessary to give immediate direct support to flood victims in the eight affected local government areas of the state in view of the magnitude of the disaster.

He , however, called on the federal government for special intervention to further alleviate the sufferings of the affected communities.

Garba said the state government was still compiling reports of the areas hit by the disaster to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the disaster.

The commissioner also condoled on behalf of the state government with families who lost their loved ones in the disaster.

He then cautioned the public, particularly those living in flood prone areas against building structures on the waterways as it was one the major causes of flooding.

Garba also called for a collaboration with relevant stakeholders to give the necessary support to the state government in managing the disaster.

NAN recalls that 31 people lost their lives and no fewer than 10,000 houses were destroyed by flood in 15 local government areas of the state.

NAN also recalls that no fewer than 5, 000 hectares of rice farms were also destroyed in addition to other food and cash crops worth millions of Naira were by the flood.

The affected local government areas include; Dawakin Kudu, Shanono, Warawa, Wudil, Gabasawa, Gaya, Garko, Rimin Gado and Bunkure, among  others.(NAN)

MNT/MTM

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Edited by Tukur Muntari.